Oh, I really loved this book. I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I picked it up at Costco of all places. Although it was originally published in 2017, Jenkins Reid is having a moment because of Daisy Jones and the Six and Netflix is supposedly turning this into something. It was in my pile of reads to enjoy while I was at the beach, or in a lawn chair, and could pick up and put down leisurely. Well, I read it in one day and wished I had taken my time.
A fictional historical novel of Old Hollywood follows actress Evelyn Hugo from her modest beginnings to the very end. I’ve read since that Jenkins Read based her on an Elizabeth Taylor type, but I’d say much more of a Rita Hayworth (Cuban ancestry that is used for her beautiful and exotic looks without ever acknowledging the Hispanic ancestry in Hollywood)… I mean, there are definitely some aspects of the Elizabeth Taylor personality we’ve been shown (7 husbands, a ruthless determination to succeed, and a timeless beauty) in Evelyn Hugo, but I think Jenkins Reid did a great job of picking interesting aspects of different actresses and actors in Old Hollywood to incorporate.
This book told a beautiful story with a mystery at the end that was well-worth the the wait. It weaves stories of LGBTQ+, women working in a male-dominated industry, and entertainment beautifully. It doesn’t shy away from having the heroine make tough choices and her own agency in those choices. Evelyn Hugo is a victim but also owns her own part and isn’t victimized.
What I also appreciated was the pace. Jenkins Reid has a real talent to keep the pace up and move the story along while also lingering on key aspects that will show you the characters and their journeys. You don’t fall in love with just the heroine, but with the supporting characters as well who come out fully formed and complex.