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When we’re craving a new book to read and have no idea where to look, sometimes the best place to find a quality recommendation is to look to the stars. No, not those ones. We’re talking about celebrity book clubs, specifically Reese Witherspoon’s book club! The Oscar winner and self-professed bookworm has been offering up some great book recs from established and up-and-coming writers, highlighting her new picks on social media the first Tuesday of every month. We’ve been combing through Witherspoon’s past selections, and now we’ve rounded them up for your one-stop shop that’ll fill up your library in no time.
Each of these books is so distinct. Some are perfect for fans of the true crime genre, others are inspiring and uplifting, and still more delve into stories we may have never known about were it not for the authors who wrote them. What’s great about Witherspoon’s book club is that there’s really something for everyone. So, you won’t be disappointed when you scroll through some of her best picks below.
Regardless of what season it is, there’s never a wrong time to pick up a new book and dive into a fresh story. Whether you’re buying for yourself, a friend, or family member, you won’t be disappointed by the diverse selection of novels that have the Witherspoon stamp of approval. Take a look at some of our favorites!
A version of this article was originally published in March 2022.
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‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Image Credit: Random House Publishing Group. Now a hit TV series on Prime Video, Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones & The Six follows two musicians and their dramatic relationship. Daisy Jones’ star is on the rise when she meets Billy Dunne, the troubled leader of a band called The Six. The book chronicles one of the most transformative decades in music, the ’70s, and puts this wild story at its center.
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‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ by Delia Owens
Image Credit: G.P. Putnam's Sons. When a young man named Chase Andrews is found dead in the marshes near Barkley Cove, the first and only suspect is Kya Clark in Delia Owens’ Where the Crawdads Sing. Known as the Marsh Girl, Kya is an outsider who had to raise and fend for herself. Now at the center of a murder trial, Kya’s only chance for freedom lies with the people who’ve hurt and betrayed her.
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‘Honey & Spice’ by Bolu Babalola
Image Credit: William Morrow. Bolu Babalola’s Honey & Spice tells the story of Kiki, a podcast host and romantic at heart. Kiki thinks modern dating is an absolute mess, until she meets and falls for Malakai — a guy she happens to have called out on her podcast. The two enter into a fake relationship, becoming friends, then enemies, then lovers over the course of the novel. Witherspoon called this novel “very sexy” and “very funny.”
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‘The House of Eve’ by Sadeqa Johnson
Image Credit: Simon & Schuster. Sadeqa Johnson’s The House of Eve follows two women in the 1950s set on different paths. Ruby dreams of being the first woman in her family to attend college, while Eleanor marries into polite society and struggles to have a baby. The way their lives intersect is nothing short of incredible. You won’t be able to put this book down!
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‘Wrong Place Wrong Time’ by Gillian McAllister
Image Credit: William Morrow Paperbacks. If you love a thriller with a dash of science fiction, Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister is the ideal book for you. It’s about a mother who worries constantly about her teenage son. One night, she looks out her window and sees him stab a man in their front yard. By the next morning, she’s traveled back in time to the day before the crime, and it’s up to her to piece every part of this mystery together before it’s too late.
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‘The Club’ by Ellery Lloyd
Image Credit: Harper. This novel is a killer murder mystery. The Club by Ellery Lloyd chronicles the strange happenings at an exclusive club for the rich and famous. When everyone begins to lose their nerve — and their lives — it becomes clear that once you’re in this club, getting out is a deadly feat.
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‘The Christie Affair’ by Nina de Gramont
Image Credit: St. Martin's Press. This novel is ideal for any true crime fan. The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont embellishes the true story of Agatha Christie’s disappearance. Told from the perspective of Christie’s husband’s mistress, this book is a total page-turner you won’t be able to put down.
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‘Honor’ by Thrity Umrigar
Image Credit: Algonquin Books. This unfiltered novel is completely eye-opening. Honor by Thrity Umrigar follows Smita, a journalist who returns to India to cover a story. While there, she realizes the story she’s persuing resonates with her, and mimicks her own experience. You won’t be able to put down this thrilling tale of love and hope.
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‘Seven Days In June’ by Tia Williams
Image Credit: Grand Central Publishing. Written by Tia Williams, Seven Days In June follows two writers who reconnect 15 years after their week-long love affair. It’s a sensual exploration of love and desire — one that will have you hooked.
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‘The Island of Missing Trees’ by Elif Shafak
Image Credit: Bloomsbury Publishing. Witherspoon’s November 2021 selection for her book club was The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak. Described by the actress as a book about “world wars, great love” and so much more, this magical story follows a young girl named Ada, her connection to her family, her parents’ love story, and a special tree that recounts those stories.
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‘Sankofa’ by Chibundu Onuzo
Image Credit: Catapult. In October 2021, Witherspoon selected Sankofa by Chibundu Onuzo as her new selection for her book club. Sankofa is a special word, described as a “symbol in Ghana of a bird flying backwards in order to gain knowledge so that they can use that knowledge towards future learning.” This symbol really establishes what the novel is all about, as one young woman unearths the truth about her family after finding out her father is the former president of a West African nation.
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‘We Were Never Here’ by Andrea Bartz
Image Credit: Ballantine Books. Back in August 2021, Witherspoon chose what might be the perfect novel to finish out the summer. We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz is a thrilling story about a backpacking trip gone deadly wrong. Emily and Kristen are two best friends who get together every year for a new adventure. The only thing is, death seems to follow them wherever they go.
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‘L.A. Weather’ by María Amparo Escandón
Image Credit: Flatiron Books. A dry spell in Los Angeles is the backdrop for the Alvarado family drama in L.A. Weather by María Amparo Escandón. Chosen by Witherspoon as her book club’s September 2021 selection, this novel follows three sisters, their parents, and the complicated relationships that bind them together. Using the weather to mimic the bonds between these family members, this novel highlights the endurance of sisterhood.
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‘The Paper Palace’ by Miranda Cowley Heller
Image Credit: Riverhead Books. Dubbed “the perfect beach read” by Witherspoon, The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller is perfect for a relaxing summer vacation. During a family summer getaway, 50-year-old Elle has one night of passion with her old flame Jonas, while her husband and Jonas’ spouse are totally unawares. The novel chronicles the decision Elle has to make between the idyllic life she has, and the one she lost with Jonas.
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‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ by Laura Dave
Image Credit: Simon & Schuster. You won’t be able to put this novel down, trust us. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave follows Hannah, whose husband Owen goes missing. He’s left a note for his wife of one year: “Protect her.” Hannah thinks the note refers to Owen’s 16-year-old daughter, Bailey, whose relationship with Hannah isn’t close by any means. Nevertheless, Hannah and Bailey set out to put the pieces of Owen’s disappearance together, and discover that the man they knew isn’t at all what he seemed.
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