Award-winning actress and singer Cynthia Erivo on Tuesday published her debut book, Simply More: A Book for Anyone Who Has Been Told They’re Too Much, a deeply personal collection of reflections on identity, affirmation and resilience.
Erivo, known for her powerful roles on Broadway and in film, said she hoped her new book would encourage others to embrace their full selves. “So with this book, I was hoping to provide a little encouragement to anyone who is asking themselves and challenging themselves to be simply more,” she told PEOPLE.
Published by Flatiron Books, Simply More hits shelves November 18, 2025, and spans about 208 pages. In a series of candid vignettes, Erivo shares life lessons she’s learned through her journey as a performer, a queer woman, and a person striving for balance.
Reflecting on Identity and Family
Throughout the book, Erivo explores the theme of being “too much,” a concept she says she has often been told about. She writes about running real and metaphorical “marathons” — onstage and in life — to lean into her truth. She urges readers “to lean into the wisdom of their bodies” and to seek a physical and emotional balance.
Erivo also delves into her complicated relationship with her family. She recounts the trauma of being abandoned by her father at age 16, and reflects on healing even without reconciliation. She writes, “I have come to understand he was never meant to be a dad,” according to accounts of her memoir. Meanwhile, she describes her bond with her mother and sister as evolving, especially around her bisexual identity.
Erivo draws heavily from her performance career in Simply More. She recounts learning the music for Wicked long before she needed it, only to perform it later on some of the world’s biggest stages. She also offers wisdom she has gathered over years of acting, singing and navigating the spotlight. Her goal, she says, is to show readers that “we are capable of so much more than we think.”
In interviews, Erivo has discussed how her queerness — publicly acknowledged in 2022 — has shaped her understanding of self-worth. She hopes her story will resonate with people who have felt marginalized or invisible, giving them a roadmap to self-acceptance.