The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Atria Publishing Group

Company type	Publishing company
Industry	Publishing
Products	Books

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a historical fiction novel authored by American writer Taylor Jenkins Reid and released by Atria Books in 2017. The narrative follows the fictional Old Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo, who, at the age of seventy-nine, agrees to a final interview with an obscure journalist named Monique Grant.

In 2017, the novel received a nomination for the Goodreads Choice Award in the Best Historical Fiction category.

Book structure

The novel is organized into seven sections, each titled after one of Evelyn Hugo's husbands. These segments emphasize her personal journey and shifting emotions throughout each marriage and romantic involvement. The section titles include descriptive phrases that reflect Evelyn’s viewpoint, such as "Brilliant, kindhearted, tortured Harry Cameron" and "gullible Mick Riva."

Plot

Evelyn Hugo, a once-reclusive Hollywood legend, announces she will auction off her iconic dresses to benefit a breast cancer foundation established in memory of her deceased daughter. She specifically requests that Monique Grant, a magazine reporter without any prior connection to her, conduct an exclusive interview. Evelyn discloses her intention for Monique to author her biography and promises to answer every question after she finishes narrating her life story. Monique agrees to this arrangement.

Poor Ernie Diaz

At just fourteen years old, Evelyn weds Ernie Diaz to escape an abusive father in Hell's Kitchen and pursue a career in Hollywood. Utilizing her striking appearance and figure, she cleverly builds relationships with key industry figures, including producer Harry Cameron. After seducing a studio executive to advance her prospects, she divorces Ernie as the studio orchestrates publicity marriages with well-known actors.

Goddamn Don Adler

Evelyn marries actor Don Adler, whom she initially believes to be her true love. However, he soon becomes physically abusive. While co-starring with Celia St. James in a film adaptation of Little Women, Evelyn develops a close friendship with Celia. Upon discovering Don's infidelity and experiencing career sabotage through blacklisting, Evelyn ends their marriage.

Gullible Mick Riva

Evelyn and Celia enter into a secret romantic relationship. To rejuvenate her career, Evelyn takes a role in an audacious French film directed by Max Girard. When rumors surface about her relationship with Celia following their public display of affection at a concert by singer Mick Riva, Evelyn marries Mick to divert media attention; this marriage is annulled the following day. After learning she is pregnant by Mick, Evelyn undergoes an abortion, which causes a five-year rift between her and Celia.

Clever Rex North

For publicity purposes, Evelyn marries her co-star Rex North; however, the union lacks genuine affection. When Rex impregnates his girlfriend Joy, Evelyn spreads false rumors about an affair with Harry Cameron to protect herself. Meanwhile, Harry secretly dates football quarterback John Braverman, who is married to Celia.

Brilliant, Kindhearted, Tortured Harry Cameron

Evelyn reconciles with Celia and marries Harry Cameron. They cohabit in Manhattan alongside Celia and John Braverman as two heterosexual couples. During the Stonewall Riots, they secretly begin supporting pioneers of the LGBT movement. With Celia’s blessing, they have a daughter named Connor. Later, filming an explicit scene alongside ex-husband Don causes another estrangement from Celia. John passes away from a heart attack; Harry battles alcoholism.

Disappointing Max Girard

Evelyn marries director Max Girard but soon realizes he only values her as a sex symbol. After six years and growing apart from Max, she reunites with Celia who has been diagnosed with emphysema and has limited time remaining. At Celia’s suggestion, Evelyn marries Celia’s brother Robert to oversee Celia's estate after her death. Plans are made for Evelyn to relocate to Spain with Connor and Harry during Celia’s final years. Before departing, Evelyn discovers Harry critically injured in a car accident involving Monique’s late father; she manipulates the scene to shield Harry from drunk driving charges. Harry later dies in the hospital.

Agreeable Robert Jamison

Evelyn relocates to Spain with Celia, Robert (whom she marries), and Connor. Following Celia’s death at age 61 and Robert’s passing years later, Connor succumbs to breast cancer at 39. Evelyn reveals to Monique that the deceased passenger in the accident was Monique’s father and explains that staging the scene was necessary to protect their family’s reputation. She also provides Monique with a letter from James Grant expressing his love for Harry but explaining his inability to join them.

Monique discovers that Evelyn herself has breast cancer and intends for the biography to be published posthumously. Shortly thereafter, Evelyn dies from what appears to be an accidental overdose. Monique publishes an introduction revealing Evelyn’s bisexuality and discloses that her true love was Celia St. James—not any of her seven husbands.

Background

On December 6, 2016, Reid unveiled the book cover along with an excerpt from The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in an issue of Entertainment Weekly.

The character of Evelyn Hugo draws inspiration from several iconic actresses. Notably, Elizabeth Taylor, who was married eight times to seven different men, and Ava Gardner, who openly shared her personal experiences in Ava Gardner: The Secret Conversations. Reid also mentioned Rita Hayworth as an influence, given the similarities between her early life and multiple relationships and those of Evelyn. Other sources that shaped the narrative include Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star, an autobiography highlighting LGBTQ+ stories within classic Hollywood, as well as Anne Helen Petersen’s Scandals of Classic Hollywood.

Editions

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was first released in hardcover by Atria Publishing Group on June 1, 2017. By June 13 of the same year, the book became accessible in paperback, as an audio edition via Audible, and digitally through Kindle. The novel has been translated into more than twenty languages, including but not limited to Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Greek, Turkish, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Russian, Hebrew, Vietnamese, and Chinese.

Cancelled television adaptation

In 2019, development rights were secured by Freeform and Fox 21 Television Studios. Among the producers were Jennifer Beals and Ilene Chaiken, recognized for their work on The L Word, with Reid attached to write the screenplay. By June 2021, Reid announced that the rights had shifted from Freeform to another platform and expressed optimism about the project's new trajectory.

Film adaptation

On March 24, 2022, Netflix revealed plans to transform the novel into a feature film. The screenplay was assigned to Liz Tigelaar, with Margaret Chernin serving as executive producer. Initially, Leslye Headland was slated to direct; however, in a January 2025 interview with Variety, Headland disclosed she was no longer connected with the film.

Reception

Critics responded favorably to the novel. The Globe and Mail characterized it as "a cinematic tale with hardscrabble roots, staggering highs and sickening lows." It earned a nomination for the 2017 Goodreads Choice Award in the Best Historical Fiction category and was also a contender for the Book of the Month Club's Book of the Year award in 2017.