Taylor Jenkins Reid – 5/5 Stars
Read this if you:
· are waiting for your big break
· have a forbidden love
· love a twist at the end of a book
Synopsis:
Evelyn Hugo was once Hollywood royalty. Now a recluse rarely seen in the public eye, she is ready to tell her life story of glamour and scandal. Monique Grant is an unknown magazine reporter who is shocked to find she has been specifically asked to complete this job. Unable to understand her reasons, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career. As Evelyn begins to tell her story, Monique starts to feel a bond between them but as it comes closer to the present, it is revealed that their lives intersect in a real way.
My thoughts on the book:
I have not been able to stop talking about this book since I read it last year – it was incredible! Evelyn’s story is dynamic and heartbreaking. At first she comes across as shallow, moving from husband to husband to fulfill her own dreams of becoming a huge celebrity, using people for her own gain. As the story of her true love began to unfold, I started to feel terrible for her, it was tragic that she couldn’t actually be with her soulmate. Similarly, I also enjoyed reading about Monique’s own journey through the split with her husband and her own growth from someone who felt unsuccessful in all aspects of her life into someone who started going after the things she wanted. TJR is a brilliant author and the way this book was written kept my attention from start to finish. The Old Hollywood/glamour aspect of this book sucked me right in, I almost dreaded being dragged back to the present. Apologies to everyone in advance – I don’t think I’ll ever stop talking about this book!