The Weekend Hobbyist

New favorite author unlocked.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (afilliate link) was the first of her books I ever read—and I will never forget it. I loved it so much that the moment I finished the final page, I turned right back to the beginning and read it again, straight through. That has never happened for me, and it tells you everything you need to know.

This novel pulled me in with its glamorous historical fiction vibe, old-Hollywood atmosphere, and reflective, retrospective storytelling. The structure—Evelyn looking back on her life, her choices, and the versions of herself she had to become—felt intimate and addictive. You’re not just reading a story; you’re listening to a confession.

Taylor Jenkins Reid excels at writing women who feel real—flawed, ambitious, guarded, vulnerable. Evelyn Hugo is complicated and unapologetic, and the book doesn’t ask you to love every choice she makes. It asks you to understand them.

If you enjoy:

• Historical fiction with a modern emotional core
• Reflective, interview-style or retrospective narratives
• Stories about fame, identity, love, and reinvention
• Thoughtful, well-written queer representation

…this book is for you.

And fair warning: this one hooks you. After reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I went on a full Taylor Jenkins Reid binge. In six months I read 10 of her novels, and I can honestly say I’ve never been disappointed. This book was my entry point, and it’s still one of the most memorable reading experiences I’ve had.

With a Netflix adaptation on the way, now is the perfect time to read it before the movie comes out—because this is one of those stories that lives in your head long after you close the book.

Highly recommend.
Five stars.
And yes… welcome to the TJR obsession.