The story, without spoilers

Evelyn Hugo, an aging screen star, chooses journalist Monique Grant to tell the story of her life. Her account moves through Hollywood, ambition and her seven marriages, with a relationship between the two women at its center.

Who is it for?

• You enjoy stories about fame, identity and the choices behind a public persona.
• You want relationships and emotional tension to drive the story.
• You like a book that gives a reading group plenty to discuss.

What to expect

Expect historical fiction framed through a life story. The appeal is in discovering what Evelyn chooses to reveal, so going in without a detailed plot summary makes sense.

Before you choose

This is a relationship-driven novel rather than a conventional romantic comfort read. If your priority is a light escape or a fast crime puzzle, choose by mood rather than by the glamorous setting alone.

A reading companion

As you read, notice the gap between the image Evelyn presents and the person she describes. For a book-club conversation, ask: who gets to decide which version of a life becomes the public story?

What to read next

Want a different kind of secret? Return to the shortlist for The Thursday Murder Club. For a break from fiction, explore Atomic Habits.