The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid

Title: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Publisher: Washington Square Press (Simon & Schuster), 2018 (Paperback)

Length: 385 pages

Genre: Adult; Historical Fiction

Started: July 5, 2022

Finished: July 7, 2022

Summary:

From the back cover:

Reclusive Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant to write her story, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. 

Determined to use this opportunity to jump-start her career, Monique listens in fascination. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to leaving show business in the 80s - and, of course, the seven husbands along the way - Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. But as Evelyn's story nears its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique's own in tragic and irreversible ways. 

Written with Reid's signature talent for creating "complex, likeable characters" (Real Simple), this is a mesmerizing journey through the splendour of Old Hollywood into the sobering realities of the present day as two women struggle with what it means - and what it costs - to face the truth. 

Review:

Yes, I know I am very late to get around to finally reading this book. Yes, I only picked up this book because TikTok convinced me to do so. And yes, this book's absurd popularity is damn well deserved. 

This book has a very similar plot device to The Thirteenth Tale that I read years ago, except instead of an old writer telling her life story to a young bibliophile biographer, we have an elderly actress telling her life story to a young journalist. 

Just as newspapers are reporting that an elderly Evelyn Hugo is auctioning off her collection of dresses for charity, Monique Grant is contacted about meeting Evelyn for a tell-all interview, of which the esteemed actress has never before granted. When Monique's boss offers to send a more experienced person for the interview, Evelyn refuses; she will only talk to Monique. As she learns about Evelyn's early life and Hollywood career throughout the decades, Monique uncovers Evelyn's true character: that she is highly persistent and motivated, will readily use her body as a way to further her goals, and is fiercely protective of those she loves. Eventually Monique not only emulates Evelyn's spirit in dealing with her own personal problems, but discovers why Evelyn was so incredibly insistent about choosing her over anyone else. 

I flew through this book; the story was immediately engaging and I just felt compelled to finish it to find out the rest of Evelyn's story and how Monique fit into the picture. The author truly does have a gift of creating likeable characters. Though Evelyn herself is definitely portrayed as flawed, she is never unlikeable (at least in my opinion), and Monique functions as a reader stand-in whose background and struggles are something many people can identify with. 

Recommendation:

Just read it, honestly, there's a reason why it's so popular, it's like an enchanting spell that you welcome with open arms. 

Thoughts on the cover:

I like how they included Evelyn in her signature green dress, but dislike the trend of headless women on book covers, it's objectifying. If they wanted to obscure her face they could've had her face in profile covered with a fashion scarf, or shown her from behind or something else. 

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance - Foz Meadows

Title: A Strange and Stubborn Endurance

Author: Foz Meadows

Publisher: Tor, 2022 (Hardcover)

Length: 528 pages

Genre: Adult; Fantasy

Started: July 18, 2022

Finished: July 19 2022

Summary:

From the inside cover:

"Stolen me? As well to say a caged bird can be stolen by the sky."

Velasin vin Aaro never planned to marry at all, let alone a girl from nieghbouring Tithena. When an ugly confrontation reveals his preference for men, Vel fears he's ruined the diplomatic union before it can even begin. But while his family is ready to disown him, the Tithenai envoy has a different solution: for Vel to marry his former intended's brother instead. 

Caethari Aeduria always knew he might end up in a political marriage, but his sudden betrothal to a man from Ralia, where such relationships are forbidden, comes as a shock.

With an unknown faction willing to kill to end their new alliance, Vel and Cae have no choice but to trust each other. Survival is one thing, but love - as both will learn - is quite another.

Byzantine politics, lush sexual energy, and a queer love story that is by turns sweet and sultry, A Strange and Stubborn Endurance is an exploration of gender, identity, and self-worth. It is a book that will live in your heart long after you turn the last page. 

Review:

This book has been hyped by many fortunate enough to receive an ARC of it, and since the premise sounds right up my alley I preordered this baby weeks ago. I was ecstatic when I found out my copy would be shipped out a whole week ahead of the release date, which is supposed to be next Tuesday, July 26th (as of this writing). I devoured this novel over the course of a day, my partner and children can fully attest as to the neglect of my other responsibilities in favour of finishing this book, it was just that good. 

Granted though, trigger warnings abound here: sexual assault/rape, suicidal ideation, death, etc., so consider yourself warned.

Velasin, the third son of a minor lord, lives as a closeted gay man in Ralia, a country not-so-subtly coded as conservative. Just as he hears news of his father's decision to enter him into an arranged marriage in northern Tithena to smooth trade relations, Vel is sexually assaulted by his previous partner and the act is witnessed by the Tithenai envoy who has come to discuss the marriage. Disowned by his father, Vel is in crisis until the non-binary envoy gives Vel another choice: instead of being betrothed to the daughter of the Aeduria clan, he could marry the son instead. With no other options, Vel begrudgingly accepts, anticipating nothing but further victimization. Upon arrival in Tithena, Vel's travelling party is attacked by those wanting to cast doubt on the union and its political significance. When the attacks escalate in the city of Qi-Katai, Vel must learn to trust his new husband, Caethari, not only to uncover the identity of the attackers, but also to ensure his safety in unfamiliar territory. 

The author does a wonderful job of engaging the reader right from the first few pages, and I think it's purely because of their amazing characters (I genuinely love them all). Vel is smart, stubborn, and proudly different compared to most Ralians, and how knows how to survive in a socially cutthroat environment. Vel's friendship with Markel, who is mute and communicates through sign language, is an absolute joy to read. It's rare to see a well-written platonic friendship between two men portrayed nearly anywhere, so seeing it here really added to the development of both Vel and Markel as characters right from the beginning. Caethari is witty and wonderfully sweet and protective (the romance between him and Vel is adorable), and everyone in Cae's family and the Aida (castle/keep) are genuinely engaging characters as well. 

The author's writing style is elevated enough to suit the fantasy setting but not so much as to turn away readers, and they include quite a bit of titles and vocabulary that make your brain work towards deciphering (there's no glossary but it's all easily decoded through context). The world-building is also well done. 

Recommendation: 

If you're a fantasy reader who loves a story that not only includes it all (romance, world-building, magic, political intrigue) but actually does all those things well, you need to read this book (mind the trigger warnings, though).

Thoughts on the cover:

The leaf (and arrow, sword, and ring) details with the red and gold colour scheme are really pleasing to the eye, especially the gold embossing on the title font. I especially love the tiny little gold image of Cae (left) and Vel (right) on the spine, it's a great added touch.