17 Reese Witherspoon Best Book Club Picks
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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 a 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 below!
A version of this article was originally published in March 2022.
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‘First Lie Wins’ by Ashley Elston
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston is a novel that will keep viewers hooked from beginning to end. The book tells the story of Evie Porter, a woman who seems to have everything a girl could want in life but nothing is exactly what it seems. In fact, Evie is living a total double life.
“This fast-paced read has everything you could want in a thriller: secret identities, a mysterious boss and a cat & mouse game that kept me guessing the whole way through,” Witherspoon said of her January 2024 selection.
First Lie Wins
‘Redwood Court’ by Délana R.A. Dameron
All told through the eyes of Mika Tabor, the youngest member of her family, Redwood Court by Délana R.A. Dameron explores the lives and experiences of her all-Black working class cul-de-sac. From her grandparents, who were children in the Jim Crow era, to her sister, who would rather listen to Alanis Morissette than Motown, Mika’s stories beautifully convey the importance of joy and being seen.
“This book is filled with a sense of nostalgia as Mika takes us down memory lane, sharing stories of her Southern Black family through a collection of vivid vignettes,” Witherspoon said when announcing the selection.
Redwood Court
‘Tiny Beautiful Things’ by Cheryl Strayed
Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed collects a number of personal, insightful and often heartbreaking answers Strayed sent as part of her online column called Dear Sugar. This book will have you sobbing, as well as binge-reading from the beginning.
Read 'Tiny Beautiful Things'
‘The House in the Pines’ by Ana Reyes
Witherspoon called The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes “an absolute, can’t-put-it-down thriller” and we couldn’t agree more. The novel follows Maya, a young woman who’s still recovering after her best friend dropped dead suddenly in front of a man they had been spending their summer with.
Then one day, she comes across a YouTube video of a woman kneeling over and dying in a diner while sitting opposite that same man, Frank, Maya is compelled to return to her Berkshires home and attempt to make sense of the mystery that has shaped her life.
“It’s truly a wild ride that had me flying through chapter after chapter,” Witherspoon said.
The House in the Pines
‘Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine’ by Gail Honeymoon
Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine by Gail Honeymoon is the book that started it all! Back in 2017, Witherspoon first announced her book club with this “beautifully written and incredibly funny” novel.
The book follows the titular character, a quirky, timid woman who lacks social skills, avoids human interaction and spends her weekends drinking vodka, eating pizza and calling her mom. Her life changes when she meets Raymond, an awkward guy with poor hygiene who works in the IT department in her office, and an elderly man who they save after a fall, Sammy. Together they become an unlikely trio and Raymond’s big heart becomes the key to healing Eleanor’s damaged one.
Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine
‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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.
Daisy Jones & The Six: A Novel
Price: $17.00 $9.99, originally $17.00
‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ by Delia Owens
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.
'Where the Crawdads Sing' by Delia Owens
‘The House of Eve’ by Sadeqa Johnson
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!
'The House of Eve' by Sadeqa Johnson
‘Wrong Place Wrong Time’ by Gillian McAllister
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.
'Wrong Place Wrong Time' by Gillian McAllister
‘The Club’ by Ellery Lloyd
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.
'The Club' by Ellery Lloyd
‘Honor’ by Thrity Umrigar
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.
'Honor' by Thrity Umrigar
‘Seven Days In June’ by Tia Williams
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.
'Seven Days In June' by Tia Williams
‘The Island of Missing Trees’ by Elif Shafak
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.
'The Island of Missing Trees' by Elif Shafak
‘We Were Never Here’ by Andrea Bartz
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.
'We Were Never Here' by Andrea Bartz
‘L.A. Weather’ by María Amparo Escandón
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.
'L.A. Weather' by María Amparo Escandón
‘The Paper Palace’ by Miranda Cowley Heller
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.
'The Paper Palace' by Miranda Cowley Heller
‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ by Laura Dave
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.
