A review by smolfrog
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I don't feel like I can give this 5 stars, as I don't think it was perfect, but it was a wild ride and one I'll probably think about for a bit. (And I did finish it in 2 days, so you know I liked it a lot!) This is my first TJR book and I didn't initially connect with her writing style; it felt a little "basic" during the book's initial exposition with Monique. That being said, I think her strength really lies in writing frank, honest dialogue between characters with opposing views/desires, so once those scenes started coming up, I enjoyed the writing a lot more. I think the emotional climax(es) are also written well, portraying the strong emotions the characters feel in the heat of the moment.

This is a book that I felt compelled to keep reading not necessarily because of "twists", but because I wanted to see how the story unfolded. The plot moves along at a quick clip (I would say somewhere between medium- & fast-paced), and I wasn't left unsatisfied when it came to finally seeing the full picture. Some parts of the story I saw coming, some I didn't, but I am very impressed at how TJR crafted a narrative encompassing much of one woman's 80-year life. I also really enjoyed the little clippings from gossip rags and magazines to expand on the plot/world-building in certain chapters.
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