Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Absorbing, glamorous story looks at identity and love.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO, Monique is a writer at a prestigious Manhattan glossy magazine, but her career is stalled and she's not happy with her assignments. So when Hollywood living legend Evelyn Hugo contacts the magazine to offer an exclusive article to Monique, and only Monique, needless to say she and her editor are stunned, but jump at the chance. As Evelyn opens up to Monique about her life and loves, she also hints that she's not quite telling the whole story, but when she does, it will change Monique forever.
Is It Any Good?
This is an absorbing story that reads like a real Hollywood tell-all autobiography. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo offers intriguing looks into the golden age of Hollywood as well as the high-powered world of international magazine publishing. Taylor Jenkins Reid has given Evelyn and Monique authentic, clear voices, and their dark hints about secrets yet untold keep the pages turning. Their conversations thoughtfully explore issues like racial and sexual identity, different kinds of love, loss, betrayal, forgiveness, and more, without being heavy handed. Having both narrators speak in the first person might create some confusion about each of their backgrounds, but things eventually clear up. Though not intended for teens, there's not anything too graphic for older teens, and much to chew on for those curious about what adventures adulthood may hold.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the drinking in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Is it glamorized, or realistic? What are the consequences?
What about the strong language? Is it realistic? Is it a big deal?
How have society's attitudes and laws about queerness changed since the 1950s, or have they? How did the attitudes at the time affect Evelyn, Harry, and Celia?
Evelyn and Monique model strong communication skills as their interviews unravel Evelyn's life, loves, and secrets. How does their honesty and openness help them process what gets revealed?
Evelyn showed great perseverance in achieving success in her career, even if she did make some morally gray decisions at times. What does Monique take from Evelyn's journey to apply to her own career and life? What does this story make you think about when it comes to facing obstacles?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Historical Fiction
- Topics : Friendship , History
- Character Strengths : Communication , Empathy , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Atria
- Publication date : June 13, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 18 - 18
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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