Genre: Historical fiction/Contemporary

Pages: 400

Publisher: Atria Books

Publication date: June 2017

Overall rating: 5/5 stars

***

Monique Grant is an unknown journalist and is stunned when she is specifically requested to interview Hollywood icon, Evelyn Hugo. This novel tells the story of Evelyn’s glamourous life as a celebrity, what she had to do to get there and why she wants Monique to tell her story.

I’m glad to say that this novel passed my high expectations with flying colours. It was poignant, astounding and memorable.  

Evelyn Hugo is not the most likeable character. She has her flaws and will do just about anything for fame, not caring who she harms in the process. She is unapologetic and that’s what makes her so realistic and so interesting to read about. The cast of side characters all have dynamic personalities that are difficult to forget, even weeks after finishing the novel. I may not have liked the characters as people all the time, but I understood them and I think in the case of this novel that was something that made all the difference.

The book is divided into 7 parts, each named after one of Evelyn’s husbands. The writing is vivid and very apprehensible. It contains clippings from newspaper articles that will keep you completely absorbed in the writing and storyline. It is fast-paced and manages to summarise an entire life in merely 400 pages without me feeling like I was missing anything.

Something that I think this book touched on really well was the male gaze and how Evelyn was able to manipulate it to get what she wanted.

The romance was exquisitely done, showing not only a heartfelt relationship, but also the ups and downs that come with it. The friendship between two of the main characters was also perfectly written.

The ending was completely blindsiding and 100% worth sticking around for.

This is one of the best books I read in 2021 and I definitely recommend it, especially if you enjoy reading books following people who are famous.

Favourite quotes: 

• “It’s always been fascinating to me how things can be simultaneously true and false, how people can be good and bad all in one, how someone can love you in a way that is beautifully selfless while serving themselves ruthlessly.”

• “Isn’t that the very definition of power? Watching people kill themselves over something that means nothing to you?”

• “But to love someone. To care for them. To throw your lot in with theirs and think, Whatever happens, it’s you and me.”

• “I love you too much to let you live only for me.”

• “Which is about the cruellest thing you can do to someone you love, give them just enough good to make them stick through a hell of a lot of bad.”

• “The world respects people who think they should be running it.”

Until next time

Jenna x