The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, pt. 3: the Reading Playlist

There are a nine songs in addition to folklore, evermore, and Lover that I feel relate to Evelyn at different points in her life:

• Buzzkill - Lorde.

• Liability - Lorde. Evelyn never really got to be alone, but she spent a lot of time surrounded by people, feeling lonely and wanted, but rarely for pure reasons. To hold the character she had created for herself and keep up her charade, I think she had to keep people at a distance.

• Once More to See You - Mitski.

• Royals - Lorde.

• Sober - Lorde.

• The Lucky One - Taylor Swift. After all,

“You’re too successful,” she said. “Too many hits, too many handsome husbands. We all want to shoot you down from the air now.”

“I know, dear. I know. And when they’re done with me, they’ll come for you.”

“You’re not really famous if anybody still likes you,” (ch. 33, p. 218).

• Therefore I Am - Billie Eilish

• you should see me in a crown - Billie Eilish.

Where I hear Lover in this book: *spoiler alert*

I hear Evelyn and Celia in most of the songs. “Cruel Summer,” and “Cornelia Street” could have been written about them, about how strong their love was, about how they had to hide their relationship, and about the struggle being worth it to them. Other songs show the sweet, passionate side of the relationship- “Lover” and “Paper Rings.” “Afterglow” and “The Archer” describe Evelyn’s regret after losing Celia, when she realizes the part she played, that she let her go, that she wishes she could go back and apologize. And who hasn’t heard a hard breakup described as “Death By A Thousand Cuts” (Evelyn says it on page 271)? Even their heart wrenching ending is covered with “Daylight,” “False God,” and too soon: “Soon You’ll Get Better.” Maybe that says more about Taylor Swift’s ability to write complex, detailed lyrics that somehow relate to everyone.

That’s not all. I think Evelyn embodied “ME!” “I Think He Knows” and especially “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince” as she reveals how she played the media at every turn. And then there was the beautiful moment in chapter 42 (explanation beginning in chapter 41) when Evelyn sat down with Don years after their divorce, years later, and realized that one, he was a changed man, and two, she didn’t care. She was okay without him and despite him. Perhaps this sounds oversimplified. It is. Monique was surprised to hear Evelyn even considered working with him after what he did.

“So you felt bad for him? Your abuser?” [Monique asks.]

"Relationships are complex,” Evelyn says. “People are messy, and love can be ugly. I’m inclined to always err on the side of compassion.”

“You’re saying you had compassion for what he was going through?”

“I’m saying you should have a little compassion for how complicated it must have been for me.”

[Monique apologizes for her quick judgment.]

Evelyn smiles gently, accepting my apology. “I can’t speak for all people who have been hit by someone they love, but what I can tell you is that forgiveness is different from absolution. Don was no longer a threat to me. I was not scared of him. I felt powerful and free” (ch. 41, p. 255).

Lastly, Evelyn and Harry’s friendship fits well with “It's Nice to Have A Friend,” “You Need to Calm Down” is Evelyn’s reason for the whole damn book and “London Boy” is how I think she felt about finally telling the world how she felt about Celia.

Evelyn, of course, is The Man.

And that’s on Lover.