Since then, over a million copies of the novel have been sold, and fans of Reid’s work are looking for more books similar to the popular bestseller.
In The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, reporter Monique Grant is hired to tell the story of Hollywood star, Evelyn Hugo.
However, Monique and the reader soon realize that there is more to Evelyn than meets the eye.
Part historical romance, part mystery thriller, what has made The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo such a success is its thought-provoking themes, which encourage readers to consider their own positions on questions of morality, marriage, the media, and more.
If you are looking for books like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, then you’re in luck, because we have 10 fantastic book recommendations to share with you today.
All of our book recommendations touch on similar themes to Evelyn Hugo while providing their own unique perspectives and writing styles.
Read on to discover more books like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and add more romantic thrillers to your bookshelf!
If The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo has inspired you to read more romance thrillers, you will also enjoy novels such as The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, The Great Gatsby, City of Girls, It Ends With Us, They Both Die at the End, Love and Other Words, The Paris Apartment, The Confession, and The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives.
Themes In The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo
Morality
One of the key themes in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is morality, and this ties into many of the other themes explored throughout the novel.
The book asks its readers to ponder on the gray areas of morality in the context of fame, success, and love.
The novel juxtaposes mortality against other qualities, such as ambition, and highlights the incompatibilities.
Additionally, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo raises the interesting question of when it’s acceptable to lie.
Much of the novel revolves around the idea of maintaining a facade and hiding aspects of oneself.
Power
Power dynamics feature prominently in the narrative of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Since the novel tells the story of Evelyn’s life as a Hollywood star, there is a lot of discussion about power imbalances in relationships.
As the novel progresses, Evelyn uses other people to get what she wants by leveraging her own success, power, and beauty against them.
However, Evelyn herself is also the victim of the power imbalances that women have faced throughout history, both inside and outside of Hollywood and the media.
Survival
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is ultimately a story about survival – not so much in the most literal sense of life and death, but in the sense of having to hide, deceive, and rely on facades to avoid exposure.
Throughout the novel, the survival of many aspects of Evelyn and her life hang in the balance.
The survival of her career and legacy, for example, are threatened, but avoiding that threat comes at the cost of the survival of her own identity.
They Both Die at the End is a #1 New York Times bestseller that follows two protagonists: Mateo and Rufus.
When they are informed that they will die by the end of the day, Mateo and Rufus both use the Last Friend app with the goal of making a new friend before they die.
The Young Adult novel details the remarkable adventure these strangers-turned-friends embark on during their final 24 hours.
A central aspect of this novel is the idea of looking back on life from a different perspective, as is the case in Evelyn Hugo.
Pros
Interesting and thought-provoking concept
The writing is skillful and engaging
Very emotional, which helps to keep readers invested
Cons
Because the story progresses so quickly, there isn’t much room for in-depth character development
Themes: Life and death, love and loss, grief, joy, time, friendship, relationships
The Confession is Jessie Burton’s third published novel, and it’s perfect for fans of Evelyn Hugo.
In this novel, which begins in the 1980s, Elise Morceau travels with the successful author, Constance Holden, to LA. Like in Evelyn Hugo, the novel switches between time periods.
Years later, Elise’s daughter identifies Constance as the last person to see her mother before her disappearance and goes looking for answers.
Pros
Powerful commentary on motherhood and identity
Suspenseful and intriguing plot
Fleshed-out, realistic characters
Cons
Different from Burton’s other work, which may be disappointing for fans
It Ends With Us is one of many popular romance novels written by Colleen Hoover.
In this novel, business owner Lily meets neurosurgeon Ryle and finds herself in an abusive relationship that mirrors her parents’ own marriage.
Between discovering that she is pregnant and reconnecting with an old flame, Lily must make difficult choices to decide her future, just like Evelyn in Evelyn Hugo.
If you are looking for classic literature similar to Evelyn Hugo, The Great Gatsby should be your next read.
The story takes place in the 1920s and is narrated by Nick, who tells the reader about the star-crossed and ultimately tragic romance between his cousin, Daisy, and his neighbor, the mysterious Jay Gatsby.
Like Evelyn Hugo, this book explores the complex dynamics between ambition, love, and morality.
Pros
Short and easy to read
Interesting commentary on the concept of the American Dream
Moving and emotional
Cons
Lack of likable characters
Themes: The American Dream, love, loss, identity, greed, appearances, power, betrayal, loyalty
Love and Other Words follows Macy Sorensen as she reconnects with her first love, forcing both Macy and Elliot to confront painful aspects of their pasts and divulges secrets held for decades for a chance at love.
The novel moves between past and present, gradually piecing together the bigger picture of Macy and Elliot’s relationship, similar to the narration of Evelyn Hugo.
Pros
Handles time period switches well
The writing style is easy to digest
Early chapters create a suspenseful build-up
Cons
The pacing slows down a lot in some places
Themes: Love and loss, grief, past and future, second chances, heartbreak, choices
If you enjoyed the way that Evelyn Hugo employed mystery, thriller, and romance tropes to deal with questions of power and morality, you’ll love The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives.
In this thriller, Kristin Miller explores the lives of three wives living in the same exclusive neighborhood: Georgia St. Claire, suspected of having a hand in both of her previous husbands’ deaths; Erin King, who quits her job to keep her husband’s interest; and Brooke Davies, an author whose husband strives to keep her under his control.
As these women’s lives intertwine, twists and turns unfold with shocking consequences.
City of Girls is a novel set in the 1940s, centering, like Evelyn Hugo, around the concepts of female autonomy and success in an oppressive and hostile world.
Eighty-nine-year-old Vivian Morris tells the story of her time in a Manhattan theater, and how one lapse in judgment altered the course of her career and life forever, ultimately leading her to pursue her own personal power and freedom.
The Paris Apartment is a thriller and a mystery novel that centers around the character of Jess as she starts her life anew in Paris after leaving her job in England.
Due to her financial situation, she moves into her brother’s apartment, only to discover that he is missing.
This leads her to investigate and question Ben’s neighbors in an effort to uncover the secrets behind her brother’s disappearance.
Pros
Early chapters set up mystery and intrigue quickly
Suspenseful page-turner
Many surprises toward the end
Cons
Graphic descriptions that may disturb some readers
Following up a book as good as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo with an equally- enthralling next read can feel like a challenge, but any of the 10 books recommended here will keep Evelyn Hugo fans entertained for hours.
There is a recommendation on our list for everyone, regardless of which aspect of Evelyn Hugo you enjoyed.
For example, if you enjoyed the shifts between past and present and the historical fiction aspects, City of Girls, Meet Me In Monaco, The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, The Great Gatsby, and The Confession should be on your list of books to read.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for similar themes such as romance, friendship, power, autonomy, morality, and survival in a contemporary context, consider reading The Paris Apartment, The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives, They Both Die at the End, Love and Other Words, and It Ends With Us.
Although some of these books seem quite different from Evelyn Hugo on the surface, they all ultimately center around the tension between internal identity, autonomy, and external perception – something that will always be relevant, regardless of the time period.
Pinpointing the genre of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo can be confusing because it actually falls into multiple genre categories. It’s a thriller, mystery, romance, and historical fiction novel all at once.
Hi, my name is Anna Davis and I have been working with books for five years now. I got a job at my local library, so I could be closer to all of the books! I created this website in the hopes of inspiring others to start reading again. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your new favorite book from my site!
