A most beautiful read
The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a novel written by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
It is centred around the retelling of a high-status actress Evelyn Hugo who faces many successes yet challenges during her career. Evelyn is finally ready to talk about her scandalous life but when she chooses Monique Grant an unknown magazine reporter to help her tell her story.
Monique, a struggling writer who is feeling stuck in her current job, is presented with an opportunity which will send her career skyrocketing! Meeting Evelyn at her apartment Monique listens to her stories of ambition, friendship and love. They are collectively free from old social limitations and customs setting the tone for the future of femininity! Branding them as emancipated women! But when Monique meets up with the star, she begins to realise Evelyn’s story will either make or break her.
“The hold men seem to have over women”
As a newcomer to reading I was astonished and completely captured by the beauty within Reid’s writing, describing the passionate flame between Evelyn and Cecila so perfectly I cried more times than I would want to admit. As a bisexual reading the novel, I was engrossed in Evelyn’s sexuality and how she was coming to terms with her true self even though those around her began to make assumptions. Which reflects the reality of coming out as bisexual, I know this from personal experience. People seem to assume you’re in favour of one gender or worse you’re coming out because it’s a “trend”. This is so far from the truth; how could you invalidate someone’s sexuality just because people are feeling more and more comfortable in presenting themselves in their own skin. I’d even go as far to say labels don’t even matter, why limit yourself to a label, when you can just be you?
The character of Evelyn Hugo I believe is based on Marilyn Monroe. The famous Hollywood Actress. Marilyn Monroe is pictured here in white next to another Hollywood actress of the 1950’s Lauren Bacall.
Her meeting Cecila St. James was a plot twist I was so ready for, Evelyn realised early on that she was in fact bisexual and in love with Cecila, a co-star she “despised” due to her talent and beauty, when in fact we all know jealousy can also turn into something more. This is exactly what happened, the two grew very fond of each other and one thing led to another Evelyn made a move. I was made up for her as she was trapped in her second marriage that was miserably failing and included physical violence. Go Evelyn!
Evelyn’s story has such relevance to present day, her troubles are majorly relatable especially when it comes to the topics of biphobia, domestic abuse, power and women being labelled as a “whore” if they enjoy sex. These are many topics that infuriate me, resulting in me getting rather annoyed at some of the situations Evelyn endured just for attempting to take back the power men have over women and bringing forward the taboo realisation that ‘women like sex too!’
“Men were almost never with me for my personality”
Cecila’s ongoing struggle to understand Evelyn's sexuality somewhat frustrated me, as it mirrors a handful of people in the present day, just because someone is bisexual doesn’t mean they’re gay one minute and straight the next. We appreciate both genders in all their glory, their beauty, intelligence, uniqueness, nerve and talent! It’s evident Celia found it hard to come to terms with Evelyn's sexuality which unfortunately threw some spanners into the works derailing their relationship, but Evelyn is no saint, she is ruthless and selfish which I believe are not bad characteristics to have unless taken too far which she does do.
“Two pairs of heterosexuals without a heterosexual in the bunch”
It’s safe to say Evelyn Hugo has made a mark on us all for the rest of eternity I don’t want to spoil anything more than I already have, well to those who haven’t read it (I suggest seriously go read it.) I pose a question to those who have read the book. Do you really believe Evelyn was a bad person? This is a question that circulates through my brain constantly because I truly don’t think I can come up with an answer that would do this question justice.
“I spent half my time loving her and the other half hiding how much I loved her”
I have created,a Spotify playlist to accompany reading the book accompanied with songs carefully selected which will help you to fully submerge yourself within her story. Hope you enjoy it :)
“Never let anyone make you feel ordinary”
Evelyn Hugo.
Here’s a link for more information if you’re interested in the topics mentioned in this article!
More on sexuality, gender and coming out can be found in THE HUB