By Girish Shukla
Copyright timesnownews
If you’ve just finished ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’, you probably know that feeling. You know the one where you close a book and immediately want to dive into another world just as captivating, just as full of secrets and surprises. Taylor Jenkins Reid gave us a story that felt like sitting with an old friend who finally decided to spill all her secrets over wine and tissues. Maybe it was Evelyn’s sharp wit that hooked you, or perhaps the way the story peeled back layers like an onion, revealing truths that made you gasp out loud on the subway. Whatever it was, you’re here because you want that feeling again. You want characters who feel real enough to text, plots that twist when you least expect them, and stories that stick with you long after the last page. And we have some good news for you, for exactly that. There are plenty of books out there ready to give you that same literary high; these eight recommendations will scratch that same itch that Evelyn Hugo created. Also Read: 8 Books to Read If You Liked ‘Before Coffee Gets Cold’ 1. City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert In 1940s New York, this story follows young Vivian Morris, who arrives at her aunt’s theatre world full of curiosity and dreams. Vivian discovers a life of late-night parties, freedom, and love affairs that change how she sees herself. Elizabeth Gilbert tells a story of female friendship, sexual freedom, and finding your own path in a world that tries to control you. The novel explores forgiveness, change, and the courage to live honestly. Through years of love, loss, and self-discovery, Vivian learns that the most important relationship is the one you have with yourself. 2. The Show Girl by Nicola Harrison When Olive McCormick leaves her small town for the bright lights of 1920s New York, she joins the famous Ziegfeld Follies. But the glamorous Broadway life is harder than she imagined, full of tough competition, long rehearsals, and complicated friendships. Nicola Harrison writes about ambition, friendship, and the cost of fame in the Jazz Age. Olive must face backstage drama, love troubles, and her changing dreams while performing for audiences who only see the sparkle. The novel captures both the excitement and the struggles of show business, where every performance brings both success and risk. 3. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton This fictional oral history tells the rise and fall of an interracial rock duo in the 1970s. Opal is a bold Black British singer, while Nev is a thoughtful white American folk musician, and together they create music that breaks both racial and musical limits. Dawnie Walton builds their story through interviews, articles, and personal accounts that show the complex nature of their partnership. The book explores art, race, and the risks of challenging a strict industry. When tragedy ruins their career at its height, both must face the results of their choices and the lasting power of their music. 4. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter The story begins in 1962 when a mysterious American actress arrives at a small Italian hotel, saying she is dying. Hotel owner Pasquale Tursi is charmed by her beauty and sadness, not knowing she is really hiding from a Hollywood scandal. Jess Walter weaves together many timelines and voices, linking the Italian coast to modern Hollywood through years of missed chances and second tries. The novel shows how one moment can change many lives. Characters search for love, meaning, and forgiveness across countries and time, learning that sometimes the most beautiful ruins are the lives we thought were lost forever. 5. Stars in Their Eyes by Jessica Jung Former K-pop star Rachel Kim thought she had left the entertainment world for a normal business life, but she is pulled back into the spotlight. Jessica Jung, using her own experience, tells a story about identity, ambition, and the pressure to be perfect. Rachel must handle celebrity culture while dealing with past pain and new challenges. The novel shows the dark side of fame, the value of true relationships, and the strength to speak in an industry that tries to silence you. It’s a story about taking back your voice and learning that the most important stage is not where you perform but how you live your truth. 6. Villa America by Liza Klaussmann In the glamorous 1920s French Riviera, this novel follows Sara and Gerald Murphy, rich Americans who create a paradise at their villa. Their world attracts famous artists, writers, and socialites, but beneath the parties and beauty, troubles grow. Liza Klaussmann explores marriage, friendship, and the search for beauty in an uncertain time. When tragedy hits their golden life, the couple must face how fragile their paradise really is. The story looks at how people handle loss, the cost of perfection, and whether lasting happiness is possible in a world that destroys beautiful things. 7. The Last Nude by Ellis Avery ‘The Last Nude’ by Ellis Avery is a lush, intoxicating novel set in 1920s Paris. It follows Rafaela Fano, a young American who becomes a muse for the celebrated Art Deco painter Tamara de Lempicka. What begins as a passionate love affair between artist and model evolves into a tale of obsession, betrayal, and ambition. Avery captures the glamour and turbulence of the era while exploring the fraught dynamics between power and vulnerability, art and desire. A sensual, haunting story of beauty and survival. 8. Elizabeth Taylor: The Grit and Glamour of an Icon by Kate Andersen Brower This biography goes past the headlines to show the real woman behind one of Hollywood’s biggest legends. It follows Elizabeth Taylor from child star to global icon, covering her eight marriages, business success, and activism. Kate Andersen Brower gives a full picture of a woman who refused to be limited by society in both her personal and professional life. The book shows how Taylor dealt with fame, love, and loss while also building an empire and fighting for causes she believed in. It’s a story of strength, reinvention, and the bravery to live life fully on your own terms. Each of these eight recommendations offers its own flavour of magic. Some will make you laugh until your sides hurt, and others might have you ugly crying in public places. A few will keep you up way past your bedtime because you absolutely must know what happens next. And at least one will probably make you text your friends at midnight with “YOU HAVE TO READ THIS RIGHT NOW.” Also Read: 8 Books to Read If You Liked ‘The Memory Police’ The best part about discovering new books through ones you’ve already loved is that it creates this beautiful web of stories in your life. Years from now, you’ll remember not just Evelyn Hugo’s seven husbands, but also the characters from these pages who made you feel just as deeply. You’ll have a whole collection of literary friends who taught you something about love, loss, family, or finding yourself. Trust me, your future reading self will thank you for it.
