The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

It is twenty seventeen, and Monique Grant is a thirty five year old writer at a magazine called Vivant. Her marriage has just fallen apart, and her career is stuck on puff pieces. Then her editor tells her that Evelyn Hugo, one of the most famous movie stars ever, has asked for her by name.

A glamorous, fast and surprisingly moving novel with an unforgettable narrator, held back by a thinner present day story and one big stretch of coincidence. Four and a half out of five. Read it if: you like old hollywood and glossy drama with real feeling; you enjoy flawed, unapologetic narrators; you want a book club pick people will argue about. Skip it if: you need a likable narrator; you want a gentle, slow or purely literary read; domestic violence, grief and the exploitation of a teenage girl are too heavy right now. Review: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo →

Our ending explained covers the final chapters in full, with spoilers. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo ending explained: Celia, Harry, the car crash, why Evelyn chose Monique and how the book ends. Full spoilers. Ending explained: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo →

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter, Funny Girl by Nick Hornby, Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo. Books like it: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo →

No. Evelyn Hugo, Monique Grant and the husbands are fictional characters invented by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The book is set against real decades of Hollywood history.

Yes. It is a standalone novel, published in 2017, though Taylor Jenkins Reid links several of her books through shared characters such as the singer Mick Riva.

A Netflix film is in development. As of October 2026, Netflix says Anna Kendrick will direct and Liz Tigelaar wrote the script, but no cast or release date has been announced.

It is written for adults. It includes domestic violence, the sexual exploitation of a teenage girl, an abortion, homophobia and several explicit scenes, so parents and younger readers should check the content notes first. That is the reviewer's opinion, not an official rating.

No cast has been announced. As of October 2026, Netflix says Anna Kendrick will direct, and there is no release date yet.