By Taylor Jenkins Reid
2017 • 389 Pages
3.5 Stars
All I can say— What a rollercoaster! It took me a while to pick up Seven Husbands because I’m not often a fan of “gossip” novels or high-glam settings, but Seven Husbands, while having both those elements, is so much more than that.
It’s hunger, it’s ambition, it’s heartbreak, it’s human connection and emotional complexity in a way that’s befitting a Hollywood tale. Evelyn is a moving character despite her clear flaws and I feel conflicted liking her as much as I do. The pace of the novel is perfect to me and I appreciate how Reid doesn’t linger too long on a specific husband, but still we get a sufficient taste of the relationship as a whole.
My main gripe, however, is how on-the-nose this novel is with progressive rhetoric. I love that it explores complex themes like sexuality, biracial identity, and sexism but I feel as if it was so packed with these themes that the treatment of them was almost— dare I say— superficial? Most of the novel felt like a sales pitch more than a natural portrayal of the hardships that women, queer people, and people of color face. I also found Monique a boring character, but I’m glad that most of the book focuses on Evelyn.
I would suggest this book if you’re looking for something entertaining and juicy. It’s not challenging to read, but it does bring up great topics of discussion in morality and ethics.
Sleepy Press 
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