“People think that intimacy is about sex. But intimacy is about truth. When you realize you can tell someone your truth, when you can show yourself to them, when you stand in front of them bare and their response is ‘you’re safe with me’- that’s intimacy.” 
― Taylor Jenkins Reid, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Evelyn was a star. Hell! Evelyn is a star!

This 2017 read has been hard to get out of my mind since I finished it last week. I had been putting off reading it since almost 7-9 months on account of receiving a pirated copy from Amazon, but when I did, I devoured it in 4 days straight! (Thankyou #Bookstagram ).

What can I say in praise of this book that hasn’t been said before. Like I said already, I am late to the party and already halfway to be a prime member of the ‘Taylor Jenkins Reid Fan Club’ (courtesy Daisy Jones and One True Loves).

The Hollywood life of Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo will have you starstruck and on the edge of your seat from the very first chapter. Despite her stardom, and her larger than life personality Evelyn’s character is like looking in the mirror. Because, at the end of the day, aren’t we all just looking for that one person who electrifies our very being and gives reason to every good and bad thing that has happened to us until the moment we found them?

“You do not know how fast you have been running, how hard you have been working, how truly exhausted you are, until somewhat stands behind you and says, “It’s OK, you can fall down now. I’ll catch you.” 
― Taylor Jenkins Reid, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

The novel tells the story of Evelyn Hugo – an aging Hollywood icon. After steering clear of the media for the longest time Hugo wants to tell her story one last time for which she chooses struggling journalist Monique Grant. Evelyn tells Monique tales of old Hollywood, love, divorce, abuse, racism, and sexuality along which we also learn how their lives intersect. 

Explaining the plot further would lead to opening a flood gate of spoilers. So I’ll just move on to talk about everything this book made me feel, and request y’all to pray that I recover!

Saying that The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a page turner would be an understatement. This book will take you to places inside of you, you didn’t even know existed. And force you to feel feelings you never thought you’ll be capable of feeling. This book is a real tearjerker so better sit with a load of tissues.

Just when you’ll think it’s all glitz and glamour, sex and stardom, you’ll be punched in the face with how much depth and richness the story has. Evelyn isn’t the kind of character you’ll feel drawn to in the very beginning, and then within no time, you’ll be wishing upon her, know all her dark secrets and life experiences, pray for her prayers, and cry her tears when she hurts. And most importantly, love when she loves, how she loves!

To love like Evelyn, to be loved by Evelyn and to be loved like Evelyn.

All in all, the story is breathtakingly beautiful (read painful). It is a powerful, yet, heartbreaking tale of true love and the ultimate price of fame. I guarantee you that Evelyn Hugo is going to leave you heartbroken in the only way that matters, and at the same time a new perspective to life.

All those great reviews that #Bookstagram has been pushing onto your faces are a 100% true. TJR has done a wonderful job bringing Evelyn, Monique, Cecelia, Harry (sobs) to life. Honestly there’ll be a moment while reading you’ll forget they are not real.

This book is worth the world, and then some. ❤