13 The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Book Club Questions

Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books are perfect for book club discussions and these Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo book club questions will give you lots of food for thought!

The fifth book by popular author Taylor Jenkins-Reid, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was hugely popular when it was released in 2017.

The story follows Monique, a writer for the fictional magazine Vivant, who is surprised at the opportunity to interview infamous Hollywood starlet Evelyn Hugo. Evelyn is something of a mystery – with seven husbands and a turbulent love life, she mostly stays quiet about her experiences as a beloved celebrity.

Evelyn wants Monique to tell the story of her life: the whole, unvarnished truth, from start to finish. What follows is an exciting and emotional journey into old-school Hollywood and the complications that come from being famous.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a great book club choice, thanks in part to the complex characters and the moral problems the story provides. Here are thirteen discussion questions for your next book club session!

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Book Club Questions

We – along with the main character Monique – get a glimpse of the infamous Evelyn Hugo before we meet her in person. The book opens with an article about Evelyn’s upcoming charity auction, and we can read the public reaction in the form of a blog post. The main idea of Monique’s interview is to get to know the real Evelyn underneath.

What were your first impressions of Evelyn before we got to meet her in person? What kind of person do you think she would be based on the opening chapters?

Monique is faced with a tough decision early in the book. She has to decide whether to take up the offer to write Evelyn’s biography in secret, betraying the trust of her magazine editor. It’s a life-changing prospect, but it does come with some strings attached.

What would you do in Monique’s situation? Would you take up Evelyn’s offer, or would you stay loyal to your employer? What did you think of Monique’s decision, and what does it say about her as a character?

“Everyone I loved is dead now,” Evelyn says in the opening of Chapter 5. “There’s no one left to protect. No one left to lie for but me.”

Evelyn is brutally honest with Monique, even when talking about her husband and best friends. It’s her chance to tell her side of the story at last.

What do you think about Evelyn’s motivation to clear the air? Do you think it was right for her to expose the secrets of her husbands, even if they aren’t alive to read the finished product?

Evelyn goes into detail about her seven husbands, each of whom she gives a nickname: Poor Ernie Diaz, Goddamn Don Adler, Gullible Mick Riva, Clever Rex North, Brilliant, Kindhearted, Tortured Harry Cameron, Disappointing Max Girard, and Agreeable Robert Jamison.

Which husband did you enjoy reading about the most? Do you think Evelyn loved all of them? Which husband made her the happiest?

Hearing about Evelyn’s exploits is a heavy load for Monique, especially later in the book.

What do you think about Monique? Did you get a real sense of who she was as a character?

Evelyn is, at times, calculating and manipulative. She is determined to escape her family background and uses her beauty to her advantage. She says in Chapter 4: “I was gorgeous, even at fourteen. Oh, I know the whole world prefers a woman who doesn’t know her power, but I’m sick of all that. I turned heads.”

However, she has complex feelings about her looks. Later, as she starts to age, she reflects on this: “When you are known for being gorgeous, you cannot imagine suffering a fate worse than standing next to someone and falling short” (Chapter 53).

What do you think of Evelyn’s views on beauty?

Evelyn marries Harry Cameron, one of her oldest friends, in a kind of protective arrangement. Evelyn is in love with her soulmate, Celia, while Harry has fallen in love with his quarterback lover John. They married each other to ‘hide’ their real relationships.

What did you think about this arrangement? Was it fair for everyone? Do you think the apparent difficulties were represented well in the book?

Evelyn’s life is marked with tragedy and heartbreak. Her daughter, Connor, dies from breast cancer at the age of 41, leaving Evelyn alone.

What did you think of Evelyn and Connor’s relationship? How did Connor’s death impact Evelyn’s decision to tell the world her story?

Celia is the love of Evelyn’s life. The ability to be able to freely talk about her is a huge relief for Evelyn, but it’s a complicated relationship with some dark moments.

What do you think about their love story? Did it resonate with you?

According to Jenkins-Reid, her inspirations for this story include Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner, and Rita Hayworth, as well as Hollywood actor Tab Hunter. Jenkins-Reid specializes in writing strong celebrity characters in her other books, especially in Malibu Rising and Daisy Jones and the Six.

Did this story remind you of other Hollywood stars? Do you think that Jenkins-Reid does a good job of depicting these larger-than-life characters?

There’s a pretty big twist at the end of the book. We come to realise that Evelyn and Monique’s lives are much more closely intertwined than Monique could have imagined: her father, James, died in a car accident as a result of Harry Cameron’s driving, which Evelyn helped to cover up.

What did you think of this moment? Did you see the twist coming? How would you feel if you were in Monique’s shoes?

With complicated feelings about these revelations, Monique realises that Evelyn intends to end her life. Monique has the chance to stop this from happening – or at least call the authorities – but she chooses not to: “I let her be. I respect her wishes.” (Chapter 69)

What do you think of Monique’s decision? Was this the kind thing to do, or should Monique have stepped in to prevent Evelyn’s suicide?

After Evelyn’s death, the book is published, and the truth of her life – and her love story with Celia – is finally set free. We don’t get to see the public reaction to this.

What do you think people would have said about Evelyn’s book? Do you think people would forgive her for her mistakes? How do you think people would feel about her love for Celia?

There’s plenty to talk about in this book! Hopefully, these book club questions for The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo have helped you to prepare for your next meeting.

Megan Bidmead

Guest writer

Megan is a freelance writer based in Somerset, England. When she’s not writing about books, video games, and pop culture, she’s running around after her two kids and trying to squeeze in the occasional walk in the countryside.