Simply More: A Book for Anyone Who Has Been Told They're Too Much

by Cynthia Erivo

It is never too late to build the life you’re seeking.

Cynthia Erivo learned the music to Wicked a decade before she needed it, not knowing that those same lyrics would change her life. Ten years later, she has the chance to perform those songs on a world stage, showing us that there is always time to keep discovering ourselves, that the journey of becoming is not a finite one.

In a series of powerful, personal vignettes, Cynthia Erivo reflects on the ways that she has grown as an actor and a person, the lessons she’s learned over years of performing, and how we are capable of so much more than we think.

Just as she had persevered through obstacles on the stage, working step by step, day by day, to align with music, lyrics and dialogue, so too did Cynthia fall in love with running. Through the simplicity of her steps and the beating of her heart, she found a way to fall into deeper sync with herself.

We all have hopes and dreams that we want to bring across the finish line, we all falter and take missteps, yet we keep moving forward towards that end goal. Cynthia is still running marathons, onstage and onscreen, in her work and in the city streets. Each challenge has allowed her to lean into the wisdom of her body, to understand and strive for a physical and mental balance. Because when we chase our deepest desires, each small step leads us closer to where we want to go.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Self Help, Biography Memoir, LGBT

190 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 20, 2025

Reviews

[Bence]

holding all the space for the contents of this book 😌💚

[Erin Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly my most favorite read of 2025.

[CJ Opal · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a part in this book that had me raging. I had to stop listening and really sink into the feeling before I could continue. There are times when we fail ourselves, when we let the world at large, the powers that be, the assholes in charge, tell us who we are and what we're worth. Looking back and reflecting on those moments in her own life, and deciding to never let it happen again, Cynthia gives us the blueprint to overcoming a world that wants to belittle you and find inner peace. It's not a destination, but work we have to do every day to remind ourselves that it's okay to be more than what is expected or desired by others.

[Alexia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ I wish I had liked this more but I’m afraid that was a nothing burger with nothing sauce.

Erivo seems like the kind of memoir author who wants to have something significant to say without actually having anything substantial to pull from. There is little depth to her writing, and her flowery moments rely on this strange self-reflection angle she squeezes in needlessly to the end of most chapters.

Her prose is very casual and conversational, which I’m sure would be nice listening to the audiobook but in print felt like it missed the mark that her flowery “you are not alone” message tried to make.

I admired her touching on her abandonment from her father and the racism she experienced in drama school, but most difficult aspects of her life feel brushed over - necessary to mention but reluctant to actually dig into them. I noticed this most with her talking about her sexuality, and how it was and perhaps still is a point of contention in her family. As someone whose family also didn’t react well to my coming out, I felt for her and admired her growth from that moment. However the moment felt rushed and under discussed, perhaps a page of writing, while she spends pages explaining her character in the Colour Purple and how the applause felt on broadway. To which I think… why did you write a book?

Honestly this read like a woman with incredible talent who felt compelled to market off the Wicked hype and didn’t actually have much to talk about. It feels like she’s trying to be as Humble As Possible and prove that she has struggled to earn her piece of the pie. It’s very possible that she is truly this humble, but humility being the only force behind a memoir left me fairly unimpressed.

[Kendra Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 A good memoir/self-help book about being okay with yourself when other people are trying to push you down.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. This book touched my heart and soul in so many ways. As someone who has heard I’m “too much” more times than I can count in my lifetime, this book hit home. Cynthia’s journey is one we can all learn from. This book is a wonderful reminder than none of us are “too much”, we are all Simply More. May we all be our loud, dramatic, emotional, beautiful selves.

[Hailey Deltano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved listening to this book. Cynthia’s prose is stunning and hearing her own words in her voice is definitely the way to go. it’s a cross between a memoir and self help book. She talks about her life and struggles as a young performer, and at the end of each chapter she asks questions of the reader to help put everything into perspective. there were many times where I fully bawled my eyes out because of how much I related to her. 10/10 absolutely beautiful!!

[Hilary Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️🎧 quick and enjoyable! Cynthia has incredible insight and depth. I only wish there were more of her story! A nice mix of memoir and encouragement.

[Archie Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. Her voice is just so beautiful and poetic it was so relaxing to listen to the audio book

[Manita Taylor Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly admire Cynthia, not just her as a performer, but as a person. She’s authentically herself. And she shares her wisdom and glimpses into her life so generously in her book.

[Lindsey Zolot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be still, my HEART. Perfectly written and read.

[Michelle Park Baamonde · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to Cynthia narrating the audiobook. I wish we got more of her story and less of the self-help advice, but I like how she shared her experiences and outlook on life. I have been a Wicked fan since seeing the show almost 20 years ago and anticipating the release of Wicked: For Good, so her memoir coming out the same week with parts where she reflected on her Wicked experience from drama school to the present day has me even more excited to go see the film.

[bri 🧸 · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh cynthia i love you so very much

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cynthia is one of my favorite people on Earth. Wicked changed my life. She is so magical and wonderful. Hearing her inner thoughts in this book and getting to know her really changed me, for good. 😊 she’s very expressive, talented, and so helpful with her words. This book is a book for all of us. To come home to ourselves.

[Pantelis Andreou · Rating 5 out of 5]

The day she gets that EGOT status, i’m gonna celebrate like crazy. The definition of angel on earth.

Wish this was longer though. I was on the last chapter and i felt sad that it was that short.

4.5/5

[Lindsay (pawsomereads)]

No ratings for memoirs from me but I really enjoyed this! It was a really quick read and I loved listening to the audiobook narrated by Cynthia herself. This book was comprised of short little vignettes or essays explaining little life lessons that Cynthia has learned and felt were important enough to share with us. It gave a little bit of insight into her earlier life and also gave a bit of insight into Wicked. I'm sure everyone reading this would have loved for her to dive a little deeper into this portion because of how beloved the movies are. It gave just enough of a peak behind the curtain to give the audience an understanding of how difficult and special that process was, but I'd definitely take a whole other book just about the filming of Wicked. Definitely recommend for an easy yet introspective and inspiring read.

[Tori Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short and sweet memoir felt like a conversation with a friend. So much of her experience has no crossover with my life yet so much felt validating and relatable. I also loved learning some little fun facts about her

[Jujubereadin · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Audiobook.

Seems funny that I was left wanting more from a memoir titled Simply More. I mean each chapter was between 3-7 mins long and I'm not exaggerating. The whole thing felt like an outline that was never fully fleshed out. Cute for what it is (and what it is is self-help platitudes sprinkled with details of her life), but if you're looking for a fuller picture of Cynthia Erivo's life, I'd recommend waiting for a more expanded version that may come in her older age.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

holding space for the 11 people waiting to borrow this after me on Libby 👉🤏

[(Adri)ana | TenPieceLemonPepper · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was short and sweet but still so beautifully done.

to every creative, artistic, bubbly and probably neurodivergent Black woman who was once an enthusiastic, happy go lucky little Black girl who was constantly told that they were “dramatic” and “talked too much,” read this.

[Victoria White · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars ⭐️
I loved this!!
I loved how different it was and how it wasn’t just a straight forward memoir and chronology of her life.
The core emotion for me when reading this was calm. I felt grounded and comforted when reading.
Some of it reminded me of ‘Reasons to Stay Alive’ by Matt Haig.

She is unashamedly herself and this comes across. Great to read something that has personality. I loved when she was speaking about her sense of dress.

It was quite simply written, though, and some of the rhetorical questions were very cringe. Especially when she asks what dreams I have that I don’t even know yet 🤨 I mean how can anyone answer that? 😂 I also didn’t need her individual acknowledgment of my talents either, thanks 👀.
A friend pointed out before I read it that she repeats the title throughout and SHE DOES which gets a bit annoying.
I enjoyed all the musical and Wicked references and her using some of the lyrics. I didn’t enjoy the American spellings when she’s British?
Content great, but I think an editor could have helped her!
Would recommend to all self-help or musical theatre fans!

[Victoria Tezangi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I thought I couldn't love this woman any more but after reading Simply More, I'm truly obsessed and in awe.

What I loved was the unique focus on running and fitness and how that was at the centre of Cynthia's story here, coming to the end it felt like things came full circle and keeping a theme that felt refreshing, personal and beautiful. I finished this book feeling inspired and full of hope. Throughout, Cynthia was raw and honest and I could feel her calm and passionate energy radiating off the page. I loved learning about her family and education history and it really made us realise the importance of our inner circle and what different people can bring to our lives and the lesson to take whether it be good or bad.

I finished this book in one sitting and gave this an easy five stars. The chapters were short, there was a beautiful theme and flow to the book and my only problem or in this case dislike was how often the title was mentioned but that is me being very picky.

I would highly recommend this to people who are looking to get into non fiction, it was an easy read and the shorter chapters made it easy to get through and feel connected to what was being said.

[Rachel Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

wait cynthia cooked!!!! I loved this so much, it was like having coffee with a new friend who is full of wisdom and stories of a full, complicated, wonderful life :)

[Nessie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

phenomenal narrator! so interesting hearing about Cynthia’s life & inspirations. also loved her questions at the end of chapters. felt like a warm hug❤️‍🩹

[Kaleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one! LOVE CYNTHIA! 😍

[Anna Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend listening to the audio— or do what I did and listen to the audiobook and read along. Cynthia’s voice is so calming and soothing.

It’s literally over three hours of one of the most successful women in the world teaching you how to be yourself, love yourself, and be successful, all while she gives you life advice. And she analyzes her major roles (including Wicked!!) and what life advice you can learn from the characters. I loved it so much

[Jessica Zgoda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mid at best! I’m typically a huge fan of autobiographies but this felt impersonal and cocky. She didn’t dive deep into the items that would make her more relatable and instead just gave blanket mantras to live life by. Felt like a money grab in a post wicked world

[Andre(Read-A-Lot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in the bookstore and saw this book, and sat down in a chair and two or so hours later I closed the book with a big smile on my face. I am now a bigger fan than I already was. Cynthia Erivo is an immensely talented artist. And in this message memoir she expresses that believing you are enough, is half the battle. This is a uniquely crafted book and can best be described as a message memoir.
She gives enough of her life while doling out life lessons and encouragement precepts while peppering the text with questions for the reader in a self-help kind of way. This was a great way to spend a few hours and this book proves in so many ways, that sometimes less is more! In this case less was just enough! Quick and easy to enjoy.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could listen to Cynthia speak for hours because her voice is so soothing but i’m gutted to say, this didn’t hit the mark. It came across quite pretentious and felt un-relatable at times.

[Molade · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m really not a fan of self-help/lesson-filled memoirs and didn’t realize that’s what this was initially. I do love Cynthia and am grateful for the snippets of her journey she chose to share with us.