Aging Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo selects unknown journalist Monique Grant to write her tell-all biography, baffling everyone in the industry. Across the interview, Evelyn unspools the story of her seven marriages, her real great love, and the bargains she made to survive a Hollywood that punished women like her. As Monique listens, she begins to understand why Evelyn chose her specifically. The novel is structured as oral history within a frame story and is widely considered one of the most addictively readable books of the past decade.
What Works
Evelyn is an unforgettable protagonist. The structure is clever without showing off, and the final reveal recontextualizes everything in a way that earns every page.
What May Not Work
The framing device with Monique is the weakest element. A few side characters feel underdeveloped.