by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A Historical Fiction, 2017 by Atria Books, 389 Pages
What I Didn’t Like:
- There is definitely an implication here that marriage doesn’t matter and can be used entirely for convenience. That’s not a stance I agree with so that rubbed me the wrong way.
- Evelyn is conniving and manipulative. Of course, she tells you this when you first meet her. That doesn’t mean you’ll enjoy reading about all the people she hurt and how she manipulated them.
- A main “twist” is hinted at so often in the early pages that you find yourself looking for it and most readers will likely find it, meaning the twist is not really a twist at all.
What I Did Like:
- We, as a society, are obsessed with celebrities. Even, apparently, fictional ones! This story did a great job of capturing the book nation’s obsession with Evelyn Hugo and her lifestyle.
- An interesting look at the inner workings of old Hollywood through fictional characters. Readers will have no trouble believing Evelyn and her crew of friends and spouses were real people at one time because they’re so realistically written.
- Loved the ending. I loved the way little details from earlier came into play, loved the way the newspapers were brought in, and loved the final line.
Who Should Read This One:
- Fans of old Hollywood stories who want something fictional with the same vibe.
Leave a Reply