11 Books to Read after THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO (That Aren’t My Fanfic Sequel 8velyn Hugo)

This is a contemporary Hollywood story, but like many The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo read-alikes, this one is juicy, as it brings the life of a queer woman into focus and is an absolute page-turner. Plus, if you love books that happen over the span of one day, enjoy! Tackling Hollywood in the #MeToo era, this story jumps between three women in the orbit of Ted Stabler, Hollywood mogul. We meet his wife Holly, his ex-wife Phoebe, and as the title implies, his “work wife” Zanne. They all have their part to play in Ted’s success. As the three women’s stories intertwine over the day of a charity gala, they have to reckon with the moral cost of that success.

If you love the story behind the writing of a tell-all book, here you go. Chantel’s older sister Jett is a superstar. In the wake of their mom’s death, Chantel attempts to bond with Jett. Her efforts are rebuffed. Chantel responds in the best (read: pettiest) possible way. She’ll write the exposé that will knock Jett off that pedestal. But would she rather have that sweet, sweet revenge or strong family ties?

Like Seven Husbands, this book features unexpected connections between two women, one of whom is an icon. Inspired by true events, the story chronicles Alice, a Korean woman chosen to translate for Marilyn Monroe on her 4-day USO tour of Korea in 1954. Alice is suffering from the effects the Korean War had on her life. Her unlikely friendship with notoriously troubled Marilyn Monroe is emotional and touching.

Another book framed by a storied person looking back at their past, City of Girls shines a light on the 1940s New York City theater scene. Vivian, freshly kicked out of Vassar, goes to live with her Aunt Peg in Manhattan. Aunt Peg owns a slightly rundown but exciting midtown theater. Through a much older Vivan’s recollections, you’ll get to meet that theater’s cast of characters and relive Vivian’s exploits. It’s a bubbly book starring a woman whose sexual appetites do not lead to her downfall.

Among books like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, this one captures a fierce woman of living on her own terms in the unforgiving world of Old Hollywood. Also, if you’re looking for wlw books, you’ll absolutely need to read this one. Siren Queen incorporates fantasy elements in the story of Luli Wei. She’s a Chinese American woman who knows the movie studios run on blood magic but wants to be a part of that life anyway. It’s haunting, dark, and thrilling.

The watchword is “gossipy!” Instead of focusing on Hollywood, Black Bottom Saints looks to Detroit, a city with legendary sports, jazz, and politics. Ziggy Johnson, nearing the end of his life, reflects on his days as a gossip columnist for Detroit’s Black newspaper. Inspired by books of Catholic saints, he creates his own book of the 52 saints of Black Bottom, the neighborhood where Detroit’s greatest artists of the day rubbed elbows.

While Evelyn Hugo is a fictional character, the star of Sister Stardust is Talitha Getty, the real-life actress/model who married oil money heir John Paul Getty Jr. Her story is told through Claire, a country mouse who moved to London in the Swinging Sixties. Their paths cross, a friendship ensues, and the dark side of a glamorous life is revealed. The story depicts the dreaminess of being young and a little chaotic. It also shows the grave danger that can be just on the other side of fun.

Because this book is about a 1970s rock duo, one might think it’s a read-alike for Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones & the Six. Sure, it is, but it’s also about a journalist digging into decades-old secrets, so it’s perfect for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo as well. When Afro-punk Opal considers reuniting with British singer/songwriter Neville after many years, journalist Sunny creates an oral history of the duo. What Sunny discovers in her work is illuminating, thought-provoking, potentially cataclysmic, and so much more.

Berlin, 1928: Photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt catches three women within one frame. First is Marlene Dietrich, a German actress whose star is on the rise. Next is Anna May Wong, the first Chinese American movie star. Leni Riefenstahl rounds out the photo. She’s a woman whose work as a film director helped make Hitler so appealing to the masses. This novel imagines the lives that went into this photograph as well as those that spun out of it. It’s heavier than The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. But if you want a complex exploration of womanhood, queerness, fame, ambition, and more, this is the book for you.

If you like books that reflect on the price of fame, I recommend Oh! You Pretty Things. Jess Dunne is a third generation Hollywood resident. She has a very strained relationship with her mother, whose own acting career never took off. When Jess finally gets a foot in the door as a cook sought after by a rising actress, she thinks she’s living the dream. Spoiler alert: she’s not. This is a book for people who like messy characters and who hold Hollywood with both fascination and disgust.