The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of those rare books that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go. It’s not just the glitter of old Hollywood that draws you in, but the messy heart of the story—the tragedies of fame, love, identity, and the price of keeping secrets.

Evelyn Hugo, the legendary movie star at the center of the book, is one of the most fascinating characters I’ve encountered in recent books. At first, she seems like the perfect Hollywood icon—beautiful and untouchable. She is perceived in the beginning to be the most desirable person in the world, and companies will pay drastic amounts to get any piece of her story. But, as she tells her life story to Monique Grant, a struggling journalist, we begin to peel back the layers and see Evelyn as a real person, shaped by hard choices and heartache. The seven husbands she marries throughout the story are not just plot points; they symbolize different phases of her life—each one teaching her something new, each one leaving a mark.

What I loved most about this book was how it captured Evelyn’s complicated humanity. She’s ruthless when she needs to be, but she’s also vulnerable and deeply in love with Celia St. James, another actress whose relationship with Evelyn is central to the story. The way Reid explores their love—both tender and tragic—had me hooked from the very moment it was introduced. Evelyn’s struggle to balance her ambition with her need for genuine love and connection is touchingly heartbreaking. Her journey isn’t just about navigating Hollywood, it’s about trying to reconcile the person she is with the image the world wants her to be.

Monique, the journalist who is tasked with writing Evelyn’s memoir, is a great counterpart to Evelyn. At first, Monique seems like a filler piece—a character who’s just there to hear Evelyn’s story. But, as the novel unfolds, Monique’s own story becomes just as important, and the way her life intertwines with Evelyn’s in the end is unexpectedly captivating, emotional, and powerful.

What mostly stood out to me was Reid’s ability to make each and every character worth something special. Whether it was disturbing to be intrigued, heartbreaking to read, or admirable to witness, I found myself feeling like I knew each and every character personally. Evelyn’s husbands, and one wife, symbolize more than just romantic partners. They are stepping stones to a beautifully complicated life in which a movie star realizes everything she could have ever wanted would still leave her unsatisfied.

When everything finally comes together, it’s devastating in the most intriguing way possible.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a book about the masks we wear, the things we sacrifice to chase our dreams, and the love we sometimes have to hide. It’s not just a love letter to Hollywood; it’s a love letter to anyone who’s ever felt torn between who they are and who they’re expected to be. It has helped me personally to be grateful for the hardships and uncertainties, as this comes along with the lives that we are fortunate to live. It’s a book that stays with you long after you’ve closed the cover.