“What, prefer it’s hard?”
Coined in “Legally Blonde,” the favored phrase isn’t limited to Elle Woods embarking on her law school journey. Now, it’s not hard to seek out recent book recommendations through Reese’s Book Club.
Whether you follow the book club’s Instagram account to at all times stay within the loop or have the club’s app downloaded in your phone, finding that hot paperback of the month couldn’t get any easier.
What’s more, we’ve been fans of Reese’s Book Club because it launched in 2017, reading together with her (almost) on a monthly basis and tuning in to her Instagram livestreams and talks about each book together with her 2.4M followers — and counting.
In case your goal is to read more, then *read on*.
About Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club
Every month, Witherspoon selects a female-protagonist-centered read for her audience on the primary Tuesday of the month. Just about, it looks like we’re all BFFs with Witherspoon with a shared interest in beautiful scenery, dynamic plots (and plot twists!), and heartstring-pulling characters.
As an avid reader, I’ve perused her picks and located a few of my favorites through the much-loved club, including “The Jetsetters,” “Such A Fun Age” and “Where The Crawdads Sing.”
What’s more, most of Witherspoon’s picks can be found on Audible and Kindle platforms and in paperback and hardcover form.
Ahead, find all of Reese Witherspoon’s book club picks — together with rankings, book descriptions from Amazon and Witherspoon herself, and reviews — for the reason that first-ever featured book in June 2017.
We’ll proceed to update this guide monthly, keeping probably the most recent suggestion up top. So, make sure you bookmark this page (and grab a bookmark to carry your home while reading one in every of Reese’s book club picks.
Click to leap to a 12 months:
Reese’s Book Club 2023 Picks
June ’23: “Cassandra in Reverse” by Holly Smale
“This super charming and witty novel is about essential character Cassie who’s stuck in a time loop and attempting to fix the third worst day of her life,” Witherspoon writes on her Instagram post. “You might think you understand what’s happening…but keep reading!”
May ’23: “Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?” by Crystal Smith Paul
“Our May Reese’s Book Club pick is ‘Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?’ by Crystal Smith Paul,” Witherspoon says. “It’s about what happens when a lady inherits the estate of a Hollywood icon and discovers secrets hiding in her family.”
April ’23: “Romantic Comedy” by Curtis Sittenfeld
“‘Romantic Comedy’ by Curtis Sittenfeld is such a hilarious, sweet, smart read that I feel you’re going to like!” Witherspoon says. Not to say, the duvet is stunning and it’s one in every of Goodreads’ most acclaimed books of 2023.
March ’23: “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah
“‘The Nightingale’ by Kristin Hannah is arguably one of the vital powerful, most fascinating novels about WWII lately,” Witherspoon says. “This necessary story illuminates an element of history that’s often neglected: the ladies’s war. It’s a harrowing tale of two sisters, survival, love and feminine resilience throughout Nazi-occupied France.”
February ’23: “The House of Eve” by Sadeqa Johnson
Goodreads rating: 4.58/5 stars
“Set within the Nineteen Fifties, this unforgettable story follows Ruby who dreams of being the primary in her family to attend college, but her past love may derail her plans,” Witherspoon says. “And Eleanor who marries into one in every of DC’s elite wealthy Black families but struggles to have a baby — the thing she wants most. Their lives collide in probably the most unexpected way.”
January ’23: “The House within the Pines” by Ana Reyes
Goodreads rating: 3.44/5 stars
“That is an absolute, can’t-put-it-down thriller that follows Maya who’s attempting to prove once and for all that her best friend was murdered years ago by her then boyfriend, Frank,” Witherspoon says. “As Maya digs further into Frank’s past and present she finds a string of comparable mysterious deaths; it’s truly a wild ride that had me flying through chapter after chapter.”
Reese’s Book Club 2022 Picks
December ’22: “The Marriage Portrait” by Maggie O’Farrell
Goodreads rating: 4.21/5 stars
“I couldn’t stop Googling all the main points of this true story!” Witherspoon says. “It’s an enchanting, historical thriller about an Italian Duchess, who we learn on the very starting of the book will die either by sickness…or by her husband’s hand.”
November ’22: “Tiny Beautiful Things” by Cheryl Strayed
Goodreads rating: 4.29/5 stars
“At first of her profession, Cheryl took on the persona of Sugar and wrote an advice column, Dear Sugar, that became a sensation,” Witherspoon says. “Sugar’s advice is no-nonsense, poignant, soul-searching, grounded and fierce in so many loving ways.”
October ’22: “Our Missing Hearts” by Celese Ng
Goodreads rating: 4.27/5 stars
“It’s set in a not-too-distant future where entire sections of the population are deemed un-American and compelled away from their families,” Witherspoon says. “It follows the story of a young boy named Bird on the seek for his mother Margaret, a poet whose work was deemed unpatriotic.”
September ’22: “On the Rooftop” by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton
Goodreads rating: 3.87/5 stars
“Set within the Nineteen Fifties in San Francisco, this book centers around an incredibly talented group of singing sisters and their fierce mom, Vivian, who has big dreams of becoming famous, Witherspoon says. “An utterly original and sensible story about learning how one can mother children who’ve very different dreams and how one can encourage them to succeed in for the celebs,” she adds, it’s value picking up ASAP.
August ’22: “Incorrect Place Incorrect Time” by Gillian McAllister
Goodreads rating: 4.36/5 stars
“It’s a few mother who’s anxious about her teenage son, because he’s out late one night,” Witherspoon says. “She looks out the window right at his curfew and he or she sees him stab a person in her front yard (!!), but she wakes up the following day and it’s the day before her son committed the crime.”
July ’22: “Honey and Spice” by Bolu Babalola
Goodreads rating: 3.94/5 stars
“It’s a few young Black British woman named Kiki with a ton of ambition, who has to work together with her colleague Malakai to get ahead in her NYC internship,” Witherspoon says. “I got so caught up on this romance, as Kiki and Malakai go from enemies to friends to lovers.”
June ’22: “Counterfeit” by Kirsten Chen
Goodreads rating: 3.45/5 stars
“This page-turner follows Ava, a rule-abiding lawyer who has ticked all of life’s boxes until she gets wrapped up in a counterfeit handbag scheme with one in every of her best friends,” Witherspoon writes. “It’s filled with compelling twists, riveting adventures and after all, luxury handbags.”
May ’22: “The Dictionary of Lost Words” by Pip Williams
Goodreads rating: 4.15/5 stars
“‘The Dictionary of Lost Words’ explores how women’s experiences are sometimes lost because history is recorded by men,” Witherspoon says. “Set through the height of girls’s suffrage, this thought-provoking book explores history and the ability of language while weaving together love, loss and literature.”
April ’22: “True Biz” by Sara Novic
Goodreads rating: 4.30/5 stars
“April’s book pick is an eye-opening and heartfelt story about human connection and the sweetness and adversity woven into the deaf community and culture,” Witherspoon said. “It not only pulled at my heartstrings but is each an academic and electrifying peek right into a family that fights for connections whilst the surface world threatens to shut the door on them.”
March ’22: “The Club” by Ellery Lloyd
Goodreads rating: 3.56/5 stars
“It’s a beautifully written, densely plotted thriller that takes place at a personal club off the coast of England,” Witherspoon said. “Examine an opulent, celeb-only island during a weekend of partying and mystery.”
February ’22: “The Christie Affair” by Nina de Gramont
Goodreads rating: 3.82/5 stars
“This novel covers the eleven days in 1926 when famed novelist Agatha Christie went missing,” Witherspoon said. “I discovered myself binging this book in a single sitting.” Plus, it’s a mixture of historical fiction and romance.
January ’22: “Honor” by Thrity Umrigar
Goodreads rating: 4.51/5 stars
“‘Honor’ by Thrity Umrigar is about an Indian-American journalist named Smita who returns to India on an project,” Witherspoon said. “The story she’s covering is an emotionally riddled one which utilizes the lives of characters to portray the cultural realities of India, each recent and old.”
Reese’s Book Club 2021 Picks
December ’21: “Lucky” by Marissa Stapley
Goodreads rating: 3.79/5 stars
It is a story a few girl named Lucky…*but actually*.
“That is an electrical story about an unconventional heroine who’s on the run from her past with a winning lottery ticket that might change her future endlessly,” Witherspoon said. “But here’s the catch…she will’t money it in! I loved all of the twists and turns of this adventure.”
November ’21: “The Island of Missing Trees” by Elif Shafak
Goodreads rating: 4.26/5 stars
“Set in numerous time periods, the story revolves around a pair who met in Cyprus shortly before the 1974 conflict,” Witherspoon said. “There’s magic, mystery and a tree that plays a pivotal role watching over two star-crossed lovers who endure a world war that tears them and their countries apart.”
October ’21: “Sankofa” by Chibundu Onuzo
Goodreads rating: 3.91/5 stars
“Our October pick follows one woman’s quest to unpack her identity after checking out the daddy she’s never met is the previous president of a West African nation,” Witherspoon said. “In this stirring narrative, Anna sets out to satisfy her father and an enchanting voyage unravels layered with humor, emotions and questions of belonging.”
September ’21: “L.A. Weather” by María Amparo Escandón
Goodreads rating: 3.45/5 stars
“This story beautifully weaves together the theme of family and uses [the] weather as a metaphor to peel back the curtain on the layered lives of three sisters and their parents,” Witherspoon said. “There’s a 100% probability you’ll be paging through this book to uncover the secrets and deception that might potentially burn every part down.”
August ’21: “We Were Never Here” by Andrea Bartz
Goodreads rating: 3.75/5 stars
“This book is every suspense lover’s dream and it kept me up way too late turning pages,” Witherspoon said. “[It’s] a novel with crazy twists and turns that could have you ditching your Friday night plans for more chapters.”
July ’21: “The Paper Palace” by Miranda Cowley Heller
Goodreads rating: 4.02/5 stars
“This novel is an unbelievably absorbing read that’s raw, emotional and value spending some quality time with,” Witherspoon said. “Come for the beachy Cape Cod setting, stay for the love triangle and gripping story of a family surrounded by secrets.”
June ’21: “Seven Days in June” by Tia Williams
Goodreads rating: 4.12/5 stars
“Two writers, plus seven days, equals one racy read that’s as hilarious and heart-warming because it is sexy-as-hell,” Witherspoon said. “Seems, second probability romance has us seeing book-love at first sight.”
Summer YA ’21: “Tokyo Ever After” by Emiko Jean
Goodreads rating: 4.02/5 stars
“This whirlwind story starts when outspoken, irreverent teenager Izumi Tanaka discovers that her out-of-the-picture father is the Crown Prince of Japan — meaning she is literally a princess,” Witherspoon said. “Izumi quickly finds herself in Tokyo caught between two worlds as she searches for true belonging and identity, all while navigating judgmental headlines within the Japanese press, her conniving twin cousins, and a not-so-secret crush on her recent security detail.”
May ’21: “The Last Thing He Told Me” by Laura Dave
Goodreads rating: 4/5 stars
“If the thrilling start doesn’t hook you — a missing husband, a duffel bag of money, a cryptic note and teenage stepdaughter drama — wait till you learn how it ends,” Witherspoon said. “Warning: there are such a lot of secrets that it’s possible you’ll begin to query in the event you may even trust yourself.”
April ’21: “Northern Spy” by Flynn Berry
Goodreads rating: 3.72/5 stars
“Your mission, in the event you select to simply accept, is to carry on while diving into Flynn Berry’s fast-paced, Northern Ireland-set thriller where two sister spies get caught up in secrets that threaten to tear them and their homeland apart,” Witherspoon said.
Spring YA ’21: “Fire Keeper’s Daughter” by Angeline Boulley
Goodreads rating: 4.42/5 stars
“This heart-pounding thriller follows a young woman who goes undercover to analyze what’s resulting in mysterious deaths and corruption in her Native American community,” Witherspoon said. “Amongst all of the twists, turns and a secret romance, she’ll discover the true power of her own identity.”
March ’21: “Infinite Country” by Patricia Engel
Goodreads rating: 4.01/5 stars
“This story paints an image of affection through the lens of two generations of a Colombian family, whose journeys to America illuminate the realities of immigration, deportation, mixed-status and the definition of home,” Witherspoon said.
February ’21: “The Sanatorium” by Sarah Pearse
Goodreads rating: 3.43/5 stars
“A 5-star resort within the Swiss Alps to rejoice a sibling’s engagement [is what this book is about],” Witherspoon said. “When a blistering snowstorm cuts off access to the hotel and an individual turns up missing, you’ll follow a police detective as she uncovers the hotel’s eerie past to seek out out ‘whodunit.’”
Winter YA ’21: “You Have a Match” by Emma Lord
Goodreads rating: 3.67/5 stars
“The novel kicks off with some surprising DNA results, then lands us in summer camp to benefit from the hilarious tales of sisterhood, friendship and young love,” Witherspoon said.
January ’21: “Outlawed” by Anna North
Goodreads rating: 3.57/5 stars
“Adventure back in time to the old West in this imaginative, fictional retelling of Butch Cassidy, The Sundance Kid, and the Hole within the Wall Gang,” Witherspoon said. “You’ll meet Ada, a midwife, who joins a band of outlaws devising a treacherous plan to create a shelter for outcast women.”
Reese’s Book Club 2020 Picks
December YA ’20: ‘The Light In Hidden Places‘ by Sharon Cameron
Goodreads rating: 4.54/5 stars
“This breathtaking novel is predicated on the true story of Stefania Podgorska, a 17-year-old Polish girl who hid thirteen Jewish people in her attic during World War II,” Witherspoon said. “Her heroic actions through the Holocaust exemplify what it means to rise up to hate within the face of danger, and illustrate how one person’s compassion can affect so many lives.”
December ’20: ‘The Chicken Sisters‘ by KJ Dell’Antonia
Goodreads rating: 3.43/5 stars
“KJ sets the table for this heartwarming, hunger-inducing debut novel a few rivalry between two sisters and two chicken shacks that plays out on reality TV,” Witherspoon said. “Because the Food Wars heat up, family secrets spill out and feathers begin to fly in a tiny Kansas town — which sister, or restaurant, has the recipe for fulfillment?”
November YA ’20: ‘A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow‘ by Laura Taylor Namey
Goodreads rating: 3.84/5 stars
“This novel whisks us away on a summer holiday to England with Lila, a young woman who’s in need of a life reset,” Witherspoon said. “While Winchester may not have the Miami vibes she’s conversant in, Lila opens herself as much as learn more about her recent surroundings and an enthralling teashop clerk named Orion.”
November ’20: ‘Group‘ by Christie Tate
Goodreads rating: 3.79/5 stars
“Group is a memoir that’s honest, raw and real,” Witherspoon said. “Christie gives us a front-row seat at her group therapy sessions taking us on her daring, painful and unexpectedly hilarious journey to know what it means to actually connect with others.”
October YA ’20: ‘Fable‘ by Adrienne Young
Goodreads rating: 4.12/5 stars
“Set sail on this fascinating fantasy with Fable, a courageous girl determined to seek out the daddy who abandoned her on a deserted island after her mom drowns at sea,” Witherspoon said. “Along the best way, she navigates mother nature’s treacherous ways and uncovers the secrets to survival.”
October ’20: ‘His Only Wife‘ by Peace Medie Adzo
Goodreads rating: 3.79/5 stars
“Let’s travel to Ghana to satisfy Afi, a lady who wants a greater life for her and her mother,” Witherspoon said. “She enters a peculiar marriage arrangement that leads her to not only discover love, but her true self, her creative passions and her voice and independence.
September YA ’20: ‘Furia‘ by Yamile Saied Mendez
Goodreads rating: 4.26/5 stars
“Follow the pages to Argentina where you’ll examine Camila, a young woman whose goal is to play soccer professionally,” Witherspoon said. “Nevertheless, getting in the best way of her dream are her parents who think soccer is a boy’s sport, a society within the midst of fighting for gender equality and the final word obstacle of the center — Diego, the love of her life.”
September ’20: ‘The Last Story of Mina Lee‘ by Nancy Jooyoun Kim
Goodreads rating: 3.55/5 stars
“Journey through the past and present of a mother-daughter relationship, an immigrant experience and the mysteries and resilience of affection and loss in ‘The Last Story of Mina Lee,’” Witherspoon said. “On the best way, you’ll get a glimpse of Los Angeles, develop a craving for Korean food and discover what it means to belong.”
August YA ’20: ‘You Should See Me in a Crown‘ by Leah Johnson
Goodreads rating: 4.18/5 stars
“This funny, joyful story follows mighty Liz Lighty as she runs for senior prom to win scholarship money to her dream college,” Witherspoon said. “Along the best way, she navigates typical teenage friend drama and falls for the brand new girl, who happens to be her competition.”
August ’20: ‘Every thing Inside‘ by Edwidge Danticat
Goodreads rating: 3.75/5 stars
“‘Every thing Inside‘ is a group of short stories anchored in Haitian culture about love, love loss and love of country,” Witherspoon said. “Danticat encourages you to seek out rays of hope in each story and to take moments in between to let the narratives sink in.”
June/July ’20: ‘I’m Still Here‘ by Austin Channing Brown
Goodreads rating: 4.38/5 stars
This book explores accounts of Black, Christian and feminine that “exposes how White America’s affair with ‘diversity’ so often falls wanting its ideas,” Amazon writes.
June/July ’20: ‘The Guest List‘ by Lucy Foley
Goodreads rating: 3.86/5 stars
This book takes place off the coast of Ireland, where guests gather to rejoice a marriage. But, just because the champagne is popped and festivities begin, “resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes,” Amazon writes. And, someone finally ends up dead.
May ’20: ‘The Henna Artist‘ by Alka Joshi
Goodreads rating: 4.22/5 stars
“‘The Henna Artist‘ is the story of a lady living in India within the Nineteen Fifties who finds herself raising a sister she never knew she had while balancing a secret side hustle, fighting her inner desires and struggling to keep up her identity as a self-made woman.”
April ’20: ‘Untamed‘ by Glennon Doyle
Goodreads rating: 4.04/5 stars
“‘Untamed‘ is a robust memoir that explores every part that makes up a lady’s life including motherhood, relationships and the brave self-discovery that results in uncovering one’s truest, most beautiful self.”
March ’20: ‘The Jetsetters‘ by Amanda Eyre Ward
Goodreads rating: 3.13/5 stars
“This literary adventure centers around an elderly mother who attempts to reconnect together with her three adult children while on a European cruise,” Witherspoon said. “Along the best way, secrets are revealed, baggage is unpacked and sibling dynamics prove that the Perkins family is removed from perfect.”
February ’20: ‘The Scent Keeper‘ by Erica Bauermeister
Goodreads rating: 3.94/5 stars
“The story centers around Emmeline, a young girl who lives on a distant island together with her father and uncovers secrets of the natural world through her senses,” Witherspoon said. “As she gets older, she becomes much more interested by the scents within the drawers of her cabin.”
January ’20: ‘Such a Fun Age‘ by Kiley Reid
Goodreads rating: 3.85/5 stars
“Set in Philadelphia, the story centers around Emira Tucker, a black babysitter, and Alix Chamberlain, a white woman who employs Emira to look at her children,” Witherspoon said. “The story takes a turn when an incident at an area food market completely changes the course of each of their lives.”
Reese’s Book Club 2019 Picks
December ’19: ‘Conviction‘ by Denise Mina
Goodreads rating: 3.56/5 stars
“In this thrilling story, you’ll meet Anna McDonald, whose life takes a dramatic turn after she starts listening to a true-crime podcast that hits too near home,” Witherspoon said.
November ’19: ‘The Giver of Stars‘ by Jojo Moyes
Goodreads rating: 4.27/5 stars
“Set in Depression-era America, this book tells the story of a bunch of librarians who travel across rural Kentucky to deliver books to all parts of the state,” Witherspoon said. “At the middle of this story are five amazing women who could have you hooked from the primary paragraph.”
October ’19: ‘Fair Play‘ by Eve Rodsky
Goodreads rating: 3.36/5 stars
“This book is all about real-world solutions to divvying up the domestic workload fairly in your own home and to show you how to find your ‘unicorn space’ so you’ve gotten time to do the things that you simply love, like finally reading all the books in your TBR pile,” Witherspoon said.
To pair with the book, there’s a Fair Play Couple’s Conversation Deck available to buy “prioritizing what’s necessary.”
September ’19: ‘The Secrets We Kept‘ by Lara Prescott
Goodreads rating: 3.68/5 stars
“Set through the Cold War, ‘The Secrets We Kept‘ tells the story of the secretaries-turned-spies who’re tasked with smuggling ‘Doctor Zhivago’ out of the USSR and into the hands of Russian residents,” Witherspoon said. “You’ll get to know Sally Forrester, a veteran spy, and Irina, a complete newbie.”
August ’19: ‘The Last House Guest‘ by Megan Miranda
Goodreads rating: 3.61/5 stars
“Set within the small vacation town of Littleport, Maine, you’ll meet visitor Sadie Loman and resident Avery Greer,” Witherspoon said. “These two are inseparable for nearly a decade — until Loman is found dead, and secrets which have been hidden for years can be uncovered.”
July ’19: ‘Whisper Network‘ by Chandler Baker
Goodreads rating: 3.62/5 stars
“Set within the #MeToo era, the story follows 4 women whose lives dramatically change after the sudden death of their company’s CEO,” Witherspoon said. “Whispers spread across the office, secrets are revealed and so rather more.”
June ’19: ‘The Cactus‘ by Sarah Haywood
Goodreads rating: 3.61/5 stars
“After her mother passes away, Susan Green finds herself pregnant on the age of 45 and involved in some seriously complicated family matters,” Witherspoon said. “Not only that, but she must navigate her unconventional romance with a businessman named Richard at the identical time.”
May ’19: ‘From Scratch‘ by Tembi Locke
Goodreads rating: 3.88/5 stars
“In this intimate cross-cultural memoir, Tembi takes you on her journey of falling in love with an Italian chef named Saro, becoming a mother and facing the largest lack of her life,” Witherspoon said. “You’ll follow Tembi as she finds solace in Sicily and redefines home through recent traditions and the connectivity of cooking.”
April ’19: ‘The Night Tiger‘ by Yangsze Choo
Goodreads rating: 3.86/5 stars
“Set in Nineteen Thirties Malaysia, ‘The Night Tiger‘ centers across the ambitious Ji Lin, and young orphan Ren, whose paths cross in probably the most mysterious ways as they’re haunted by a series of unexplained deaths,” Witherspoon said. “There’s a mystical tiger, a severed finger, a train that goes…where? — and so rather more.”
March ’19: ‘Daisy Jones & The Six‘ by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Goodreads rating: 4.21/5 stars
“The book tells the story of the whirlwind rise of a world-famous rock band within the Nineteen Seventies — and the secrets that led to the band’s dramatic break-up,” Witherspoon said. “This story is certain to be a success.”
February ’19: ‘The Proposal‘ by Jasmine Guillory
Goodreads rating: 3.48/5 stars
“The plot centers around Nikole Paterson, a contract author who turns down a really public proposal in front of 45,000 people and the drama — and romance — that ensues,” Witherspoon said. “It’s a story of break-ups, make-outs and an entire lot of cupcakes.”
January ’19: ‘The Library Book‘ by Susan Orlean
Goodreads rating: 3.88/5 stars
“It’s a nonfiction story in regards to the fire that destroyed the Los Angeles Public Library in 1986, and the mystery that surrounds the crime,” Witherspoon said. “You’ll meet an eclectic solid of characters: a feminist librarian who refused to give up her position to a person, a ‘Human Encyclopedia’ and after all, the arsonist…or is he?”
Reese’s Book Club 2018 Picks
December ’18: ‘One Day in December‘ by Josie Silver
Goodreads rating: 3.92/5 stars
“When Laurie locks eyes with a stranger at some point in December, she feels an easy connection — and spends the following 12 months searching for him,” Witherspoon said. “As fate would have it, she finds him, however it doesn’t prove exactly as she’s dreamed.”
November ’18: ‘The Other Woman‘ by Sandie Jones
Goodreads rating: 3.76/5 stars
“It’s a mess-with-your-mind thriller that can leave your head spinning,” Witherspoon said. “Just once you think Emily has found her perfect relationship, the dark twists begin, and one other woman comes into the image to spoil every part. That woman? It’s the mother.”
October ’18: ‘This Is How It All the time Is‘ by Laurie Frankel
Goodreads rating: 4.25/5 stars
“The book is a family love story and explores childhood, parenthood and all of the complicated, brave and heart-wrenching experiences that include it,” Witherspoon said.
September ’18: ‘Where The Crawdads Sing‘ by Delia Owens
Goodreads rating: 4.46/5 stars
“‘Where The Crawdads Sing‘ follows Kya, who learns to lift herself within the wild marshes of North Carolina when she’s abandoned as a little bit girl,” Witherspoon said. “She gets wrapped up in heart-wrenching loneliness, painfully beautiful romance and even a murder mystery that shocks the community.”
August ’18: ‘Still Lives‘ by Maria Hummel
Goodreads rating: 3.29/5 stars
“The story follows a controversial female artist in LA who suddenly goes missing, and everybody round her looks guilty,” Witherspoon said. “It’s an exciting mystery that can leave you wondering which characters you possibly can and may’t trust.”
July ’18: ‘Next Yr in Havana‘ by Chanel Cleeton
Goodreads rating: 3.93/5 stars
“When Marisol, a Cuban-American woman, returns to Havana to scatter her grandmother’s ashes, she starts to find a side of her history that’s as complicated because it is gorgeous,” Witherspoon said. “And in the method, she finds love where she shouldn’t.”
June ’18: ‘Something within the Water‘ by Catherine Steadman
Goodreads rating: 3.59/5 stars
“It starts with a stupendous honeymoon that turns into an online of intrigue,” Witherspoon said. “When Erin and Mark find something within the water in Bora Bora and take a look at to tug off what they think is the proper crime, each alternative they make has unexpected consequences.”
May ’18: ‘You Think It, I’ll Say It‘ by Curtis Sittenfeld
Goodreads rating: 3.68/5 stars
“This collection of short stories is the inspiration behind a TV series developing at Hello Sunshine,” Witherspoon said. “Each character on this book is complex, beautifully flawed and so multifaceted — and all so interesting to unpack.”
April ’18: ‘Happiness‘ by Heather Harpham
Goodreads rating: 4.14/5 stars
“The memoir follows Heather’s journey as she gives birth to her daughter, Gracie, who’s born with rare complications that leave her fighting for her life,” Witherspoon said. “On this battle alone, Heather relies on the kindness of individuals round her: friends, family and even strangers. She finally ends up reconnecting with Gracie’s father, and the best way he comes back into their lives will leave you so emotional.”
March ’18: ‘Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows‘ by Balli Kaur Jaswal
Goodreads rating: 3.91/5 stars
“That is a story about liberating women at all ages and empowering them to specific their hopes, dreams and what makes them feel good,” Witherspoon said. “Most of all, it’s about how women across all generations can come together to alter their community.”
February ’18: ‘The Light We Lost‘ by Jill Santopolo
Goodreads rating: 3.87/5 stars
“This love story between Lucy and Gabe spans many years and continents as two star-crossed lovers attempt to return to one another,” Witherspoon said. “Life, motherhood and distance get in the best way, and this book kept me up at night turning the pages to seek out out [if they are going to ever meet again.”
January ’18: ‘Braving the Wilderness‘ by Brené Brown
Goodreads rating: 4.12/5 stars
“Brown speaks of how divided our world is politically, socially, racially and how we will bridge that divide with more civility and consciousness,” Witherspoon said. “Listening is essential and compassion is essential.”
Reese’s Book Club 2017 Picks
December ’17: ‘The Last Mrs. Parrish‘ by Liv Constantine
Goodreads rating: 3.92/5 stars
“It’s a fun and fast-paced psychological thriller about two determined women who play a high stakes game of deception that just one can win,” Witherspoon said.
November ’17: ‘This Is The Story of a Pleased Marriage‘ by Ann Patchett
Goodreads rating: 4/5 stars
“This collection of essays explores what it means to have friends, fall in love, struggle, succeed and most significantly, meet the correct dog,” Witherspoon said.
October ’17: ‘The Rules of Magic‘ by Alice Hoffman
Goodreads rating: 3.98/5 stars
“This story is stuffed with magic, love, family, heartbreak and redemption, Witherspoon said. “It’s about two sisters and a brother who discover they arrive from a magical family that’s been cursed — whoever they fall in love with will die. I got so swept up in this enchanting story.”
September ’17: ‘Little Fires In every single place‘ by Celeste Ng
Goodreads rating: 4.09/5 stars
“To say I really like this book is an understatement,” Witherspoon said. Which, is smart, since she starred because the essential character within the hit show on Hulu.
“This deep psychological mystery about two families in Ohio moved me to tears,” she adds. “Ng writes with stunning accuracy in regards to the power of motherhood, the intensity of teenage love and the danger of perfection — and a hearth that destroys all of it.”
August ’17: ‘The Lying Game‘ by Ruth Ware
Goodreads rating: 3.54/5 stars
“Ware created an exciting page-turner a few group of girls who were childhood friends certain by a dark secret,” Witherspoon said. “Seventeen years later, they’re forced to take care of the key they’ve kept for therefore long.”
July ’17: ‘The Alice Network‘ by Kate Quinn
Goodreads rating: 4.27/5 stars
“You’ll really enjoy this exciting and fast-paced story a few pregnant American socialite who teams up with a female ex-spy and a hot-tempered young soldier within the aftermath of World War II — a story of courage and redemption,” Witherspoon said.
June ’17: ‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Positive‘ by Gail Honeyman
Goodreads rating: 4.27/5 stars
“Beautifully written and incredibly funny, ‘Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Positive‘ is in regards to the importance of friendship and human connection,” Witherspoon said. “I fell in love with Eleanor, an eccentric and regimented loner whose life beautifully unfolds after a probability encounter with a stranger; I feel you’ll fall in love, too!”
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