3.5. Infinitely readable. I was swept up in the glamour and glitz of old Hollywood and captivated by Evelyn’s story. If the history and glamour of old Hollywood does not appeal to you though, this story probably won’t be very enjoyable.

*would love to see this as a movie or tv show. ( )

Tells the fictional tale of Evelyn Hugo, a Raquel Welch-esque starlet/sexpot who uses her wits and - er - assets to achieve success. Despite the seven husbands, however, she's nursing a secret: she's bisexual, and the love of her life isn't a man.

This is a quick and easy read - entertaining enough, but neither particularly substantial nor authentic. For instance, Evelyn keeps claiming that she's no angel and that she's "hurt many people along the way," but her supposed acts of "ruthless ambition" turn out to be pretty tame, and her path to fame suspiciously uncluttered by such common Hollywood abominations as casting couches, exploitation, drugs/alcohol, etc. In fact, Reid avoids the sort of detail that might require any actual historical research/color by keeping the emphasis on Evelyn's love life rather than her acting career. None of the characters have much psychological depth, and the subplot involving the female journalist Evelyn tags to write her biography doesn't really add anything useful to the narrative. The LGBTQ+ theme adds some novelty, but even here the author plays things safe, avoiding any meaningful exploration of gay culture in early Hollywood.

I also had an issue with Reid's long passages of dialog, which too often seemed repetitive and uninspired. I get that most authentic human dialog is repetitive and uninspiring ... but isn't being spared all that one of the reasons we read novels?

Disclosure: I don't usually read chick lit, so forgive me if I am being too stuffy/critical! While there's certainly not enough substance or craft here for me to be able to recommend this for book clubs, I do imagine it would make a satisfying beach read. ( )

Monique Grant, a very junior writer on staff at a lifestyle magazine, is amazed when Evelyn Hugo requests to be interviewed by her. Evelyn was one of the hottest movie stars in past decades, known for her exquisite figure and the daring movie roles she played, and for marrying seven times. Now, she wants to write a tell-all memoir -- or, rather, she wants Monique to write it. As far as Monique knows, she has no connection to the star, and her writing credits, though exhibiting a strong style, are few. But she's intrigued by the story, as well as the money she stands to make...

I enjoyed this book fairly well, though I didn't like it as much as Daisy Jones and the Six. I guessed one of the big twists at the ending, though the others caught me by surprise. The characters were complex and the story held my interest, though there were times when it wasn't moving very fast. I can see both why it is popular, and why some people might not enjoy it. If you're intrigued by the premise, give it a try. ( )

Much better than an average chick-lit book. Fast and entertaining read. Good for a "palate cleanser" when coming off a heavier book.

4.25 stars ( )

3.5 stars.

Got mixed feelings about this one. ( )