Memuat
Reese Witherspoon’s book club picks
The ultimate list of Reese’s favorite book club books through the years.
Diterbitkan pada Selasa, 12 Maret 2024
Anita de Monte Laughs Last: Reese's Book Club Pick (A Novel)
Xochitl GonzalezMarch 2024. Gonzalez follows up her lauded “Olga Dies Dreaming” with this novel inspired by the true story of late artist Ana Mendieta. In 1985, up-and-coming artist Anita de Monte dies after falling 33 stories from the apartment she shares with her husband, an established white artist. Over a decade later, an art history student stumbles upon Anita’s story and is determined to find out more, especially as her own life starts to mirror Anita’s. Commentary on classism, racism, and sexism in the art world makes this whip-smart tale even more cutting.
Maybe Next Time: A Novel
Cesca MajorNovember 2023. Emma’s hectic life comes crashing down when, after a fight over a forgotten anniversary, her husband is killed in an accident. When Emma wakes the next morning, she realizes she has a chance to repeat that fateful Monday — and possibly save Dan’s life. Major’s novel puts a modern marriage spin on “Groundhog Day” as Emma reckons with her priorities, mistakes, and family relationships.
Starling House: A Reese's Book Club Pick
Alix E. HarrowOctober 2023. Once home to a prominent author who disappeared long ago, Starling House is now abandoned — and supposedly haunted. Opal’s main priority is escaping her poverty-stricken Kentucky town, but a job at Starling House entangles her in a web of old secrets that infect her dreams and may alter her future. Hugo Award-winning Harrow pulls readers into a dark, gripping exploration of trauma and suppressed societal evils.
Mother-Daughter Murder Night: A Novel
Nina SimonSeptember 2023. After a cancer diagnosis, real estate mogul Lana Rubicon moves in with her estranged adult daughter, Beth, and teen granddaughter, Jack. When Jack discovers a dead body and is falsely connected to the crime, Lana is determined to solve the mystery, reclaim her independence, and reconnect with her family. Simon’s debut is a relationship-driven crime caper with women’s empowerment at its core.
Tom Lake: A Novel
Ann PatchettAugust 2023. Lara’s three adult daughters return to the family cherry farm to quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lara fills the long hours by sharing stories of her early adulthood, when she had a brief acting career and a whirlwind romance with a rising film star. Patchett (“The Dutch House”) laces beauty and meaning into every strand of a dual-timeline story narrated by the iconic Meryl Streep.
Yellowface: A Novel
R. F. KuangJuly 2023. Kuang, author of bestselling BookTok sensations “Babel” and “The Poppy War,” delivers a sharp satire that skewers white entitlement and cultural appropriation in the publishing industry and beyond. June, a white writer, steals a manuscript from her recently deceased Chinese American rival, then publishes it under a racially ambiguous persona.
Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?: A Novel
Crystal Smith PaulMay 2023. A sweeping debut on how racism and misogyny alter our stories and shape future generations, “Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?” begins with the death of an elderly Hollywood starlet. When a shocking secret is found in her old journals, it shakes her wealthy Black neighbors, the St. John sisters, to the core. Paul revisits the Golden Age of Cinema through Kitty’s reflections, revealing the many ways women and people of color had to sacrifice their identities and dignities to be seen.
The House of Eve
Sadeqa JohnsonFebruary 2023. Two young Black women in 1950s America fight to keep their dreams afloat in the face of unexpected circumstances. In Philadelphia, Ruby Pearsall longs to attend college, while Eleanor Quarles, a Howard University student, is set to be the first graduate in her family. Both of their lives are upended after finding love. Johnson’s (“Yellow Wife”) powerful historical fiction revisits a time when women, particularly those of color, grappled with limited choices and seemingly predetermined futures.
On the Rooftop: A Novel
Margaret Wilkerson SextonSeptember 2022. Sisters Esther, Ruth, and Chloe comprise The Salvations, an up-and-coming R&B group closely overseen by their mother, Vivian, who must reckon with her loosening grasp on her daughters’ lives and careers as they enter adulthood and develop their own dreams for the future. Sexton’s (“The Revisioners”) family drama highlights the tumultuous nature of mother-daughter bonds and sisterhood, backdropped by impending gentrification in 1950s San Francisco.
Wrong Place Wrong Time: A Novel
Gillian McAllisterAugust 2022. After witnessing her teenage son commit a brutal murder, Jen awakens the next morning with another shock: It’s the day before the crime. Each morning thereafter, Jen travels further back in time, giving her a chance to get to the root of her son’s actions (and stop the attack before it happens). McAllister’s time-hopping mystery explores the repercussions of our choices.
Honey and Spice: A Novel
Bolu BabalolaJuly 2022. Babalola’s debut novel is a contemporary rom-com, but it also delves seriously into the topics of identity, belonging, and, ultimately, Black joy. The protagonists — Kiki Banjo, a British Nigerian student at Whitewell College, and Malakai Korede, a smug recent transfer — are distinctly written, and the fake relationship trope plays out beautifully here.
Counterfeit: A Novel
Kirstin ChenJune 2022. Ava Wong reconnects with her college roommate, Winnie Fang, who’s now gorgeous and rich — all because of a counterfeit bag scheme. Ava soon teams up with Winnie, though the operation is risky. Chen’s (“Soy Sauce for Beginners”) cunning con artist story was a celebrity book club favorite in 2022. At well under 300 pages, “Counterfeit” is so good you’ll wish it was longer.
The Club: A Novel
Ellery LloydMarch 2022. A thrilling mystery set amongst the rich, famous, and elite. Something has gone awry at a private member’s club on an exclusive English island, and no amount of money can protect the guests. “The Club” begs not only “whodunit” but also “who died” until the tantalizing end. A perfect read for lovers of “Big Little Lies” (of which Witherspoon starred in the HBO adaptation).
The Christie Affair: A Novel
Nina de GramontFebruary 2022. “I read the article once, twice, then a third time. Finally, I put it aside but the story followed me. I couldn’t get it out of my mind,” says author Nina de Gramont about Agatha Christie’s 11-day disappearance in 1926. In this devilishly clever novel, de Gramont weaves intricate storylines between Christie, her husband, and his mistress to reimagine the scandal that still remains shrouded in mystery.
Anatomy: A Love Story
Dana SchwartzWinter YA 2022. Schwartz — who ran the satirical Twitter accounts @GuyInYourMFA and @DystopianYA and hosts the podcast “Noble Blood” — effortlessly blends her varying interests in this gothic, feminist love story full of cadavers. Hazel is determined to become a surgeon, and enlists the help of resurrection man Jack, as they both try to survive and stop the Roman Plague. Perfect for fans of the macabre and My Chemical Romance.
Lucky
Marissa StapleyDecember 2021. Lucky has lived a nice life through successfully scamming people, but her luck is starting to turn. Her equally scheming boyfriend has made off with all their money and she’s wanted by the police. Glimpses of her past are revealed as the plot is propelled by her increasingly desperate attempts to dodge the cops to cash in on her $390 million lottery ticket. “This is such an electric story about an unconventional heroine,” Reese Witherspoon said of her first book club pick by a Canadian novelist.
The Island of Missing Trees: A Novel
Elif ShafakNovember 2021. Popular Turkish author Shakaf masterfully delivers a lyrical tale of forbidden love, environmental consciousness, and the cost of war. As war rages in Cyprus, a fig tree at the heart of a local tavern bears witness over the course of a lifetime of star-crossed love between Kostas and Defne.
Sankofa: A Novel
Chibundu OnuzoOctober 2021. “Sankofa” is “a beautiful exploration of the often complex parameters of freedom, prejudice and individual sense of self,” according to Witherspoon. Mixed-race Anna travels from London to West Africa and transforms from timid housewife to independent world explorer in this endearing novel.
Within These Wicked Walls: A Novel
Lauren BlackwoodFall YA 2021. An Ethiopian-inspired YA fantasy retelling of “Jane Eyre.” A terrifying haunted castle, dark gothic vibes, and a fiery exorcist make for an excellent creep factor. Irresistible banter between the main characters and dangerously high stakes pull readers in from the first page.
L.A. Weather: A Novel
Maria Amparo EscandonSeptember 2021. Southern Cali equals sunny beach weather all the time, right? Wrong. Howling Santa Ana winds, drought-parched hills, and raging wildfires also abound in Los Angeles, and the well-to-do Mexican American family at the heart of “L.A. Weather” is forced to deal with the fallout from climate change. Publishers Weekly raves about Escandón’s “rollicking and hilarious family drama of telenovela-esque proportions that doubles as a fiery love letter to Los Angeles.”
The Downstairs Girl
Stacey LeeSummer YA 2021. A unique and diverse story about a popular secret advice columnist in the 1890s whose identity becomes its own source of gossip. Turns out, it’s a young Chinese American woman who’s fine flying under the radar so she can make it in a country that excludes her. “Such a charming, yet timely & important story,” Witherspoon wrote in her book club pick’s announcement post on Instagram.
Tokyo Ever After: A Novel
Emiko JeanSummer YA 2021. Billed as “The Princess Diaries” meets “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Tokyo Ever After” follows plain old Japanese American teen Izumi Tanaka as she deals with the discovery that her father is the Crown Prince of Japan. Caught between so many identities proves difficult to navigate, even with the help of a hot bodyguard. A royally fun cross-cultural adventure.
The Last Thing He Told Me: A Novel
Laura DaveMay 2021. Dave wastes no time eliciting intrigue, beginning this thriller with a mysterious note, a missing person, and half a million dollars of questionable origin. As newlywed Hannah searches for her husband Owen amidst growing police suspicion, her one goal is clear: Protect Owen’s daughter at all costs. The growing bond between stepmother and stepdaughter keeps you just as engaged as the twist-and-turn plot in this refreshingly original must-read.
Firekeeper's Daughter
Angeline BoulleySpring YA 2021. Boulley spent 10 years crafting this exquisite YA thriller, and all that writing and rewriting more than paid off. Daunis Fontaine is a biracial, unenrolled member of the Ojibwe tribe who’s determined to put an end to a new drug trafficking ring that’s devastating her community. There’s equal parts brutality and beauty to be found in this twisty, unique novel.
Infinite Country: A Novel
Patricia EngelMarch 2021. “Infinite Country” reflects our current global moment: tense, cut off from each other, but with a glimmer of hope. This powerful story moves readers back and forth in time, across borders, and among anguished family members separated by the sacrifices they’ve made at the altar of the American Dream. The propulsive plot hooks you right from the first chapter when teenage daughter Talia escapes from a juvenile detention center in the mountains of Colombia, racing to make a flight to the U.S. before she loses her chance to reunite with her family.
You Have a Match: A Novel
Emma LordWinter YA 2021. Going to summer camp with the sister you never knew you had until a recent DNA test and the best friend you have a crush on is bound to lead to many hijinks. That’s the premise of Emma Lord’s sophomore novel, where she delivers yet another touching contemporary YA story following her breakout hit, “Tweet Cute.”
Outlawed
Anna NorthJanuary 2021. In the Old West of 1894, women have only one real option in life: get married young and procreate. Those who fail to become pregnant are hung as witches. After a year of marriage and no baby, Ada goes on the run and joins up with the Hole in the Wall Gang. North’s alt history feminist Western adventure is a unique take on dystopian fiction.
The Light in Hidden Places
Sharon CameronDecember 2020. You’ll be inspired by the true story of Stefania Podgorska, a teenager living in Poland during World War II. Podgorska manages to conceal 13 of her Jewish neighbors during the war, saving their lives. Witherspoon called the novel “a great historical book for any age reader!”
A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow
Laura Taylor NameyNovember 2020. “Set in Winchester, England, this charming story about a Cuban American girl who goes to visit family far from her Miami home will warm your heart and leave you hungry for authentic Cuban cuisine and an adventure!” Witherspoon wrote in her announcement post.
Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life
Christie TateNovember 2020. Glennon Doyle meets “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone” in this fearlessly raw memoir. Tate shares her experiences stripping down emotionally and psychologically in front of a bunch of strangers in group therapy in this hilarious, heartbreaking, and transformative story of healing. “Group” proves a book can be both therapeutic and a gripping page-turner.
Fable: A Novel
Adrienne YoungOctober 2020. Young (“Sky in the Deep”) is back with a new duology about a young teen abandoned on an island full of thieves by her seafaring father. The titular Fable learns how to survive in a man’s world and starts seeking out her father to exact revenge. A touch of magic and romance make this an intriguing YA fantasy.
The Last Story of Mina Lee
Nancy Jooyoun KimSeptember 2020. A complex mother-daughter relationship lies at the heart of this murder mystery. Margot, the child of a Korean immigrant, discovers her mother’s body and sets off on an investigation to discover the truth of her mother’s death. Reflections on past misunderstandings and revelations about her mother’s life make for an emotional journey.
You Should See Me in a Crown
Leah JohnsonAugust 2020. Lose yourself in the sweet loveliness that is “You Should See Me In a Crown.” This novel is a perfectly executed rom-com starring a queer, Black teen running for prom queen. Wallflower Liz Lighty is determined to be crowned prom queen and win the $10,000 scholarship prize associated with the honor so she can afford to go to an elite college. The biggest problem? Liz is in love with one of her competitors.
Everything Inside: Stories
Edwidge DanticatAugust 2020. “It’s a collection of eight beautiful stories shaped by different Haitian women’s experience with love and loss. … It’s such an empowering read that taught me a lot about the intricacies of Haitian culture,” Witherspoon wrote on the club’s website.
The Guest List: A Novel
Lucy FoleyJune/July 2020. They planned a picture-perfect destination wedding, but stormy weather isn’t the only thing ruining a celebrity couple’s big day in this summer thriller. Witherspoon raved, “Get ready for so many twists and turns as you try to figure out the who, what and when of this mystery. It reminds me of some of my favorite mysteries from Agatha Christie.”
The Jetsetters
Amanda Eyre WardMarch 2020. “The Jetsetters” is the ultimate 2020 escapist read (as the cover would suggest). Eyre Ward’s novel follows a widowed mother trying to reconnect with the three adult children she fell out of touch with on a family vacation, which happens to be a cruise through Europe. Secrets are revealed and fun follows on the high seas.
The Scent Keeper: A Novel
Erica BauermeisterFebruary 2020. Witherspoon writes, “This magical story is about a young woman, Emmaline, confronting the modern world for the very first time. As she embarks on a journey of digging up her past, she is confronted with the truth about love, family, and who she really is.” A beguiling story highlights the powerful link between scents and memories.
The Last House Guest
Megan MirandaAugust 2019. “Picture this: It’s the last night of summer in Littleport, Maine and Avery Greer discovers her best friend is missing. Was she murdered? Was it a suicide? This story will have you guessing until the very end,” Witherspoon wrote.
Whisper Network: A Novel
Chandler BakerJuly 2019. One part thriller, one part ripped-from-the-headlines, Baker’s timely and relevant whodunnit is set in the middle of the #MeToo movement. The story focuses on four women in a fictitious Dallas-based sports brand corporation who are each affected, to varying degrees, by the sudden and mysterious death of their CEO. When an ambitious upstart with a lecherous reputation is nominated to fill the role, the women wonder if it’s time to step up and out the lout, even if it’s to their own detriment.
The Cactus
Sarah HaywoodJune 2019. Susan is stern, sharp tongued, and content with leading a solitary life. An unexpected pregnancy at the age of 45 shakes up her life in ways she could never have imagined. Despite touching on themes of grief, lost love, and marital disputes, Haywood keeps the tone light and humorous.
From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home
Tembi LockeMay 2019. This moving (and mouthwatering) memoir is a powerful portrayal of love worth fighting for and a testament to the healing power of food and art. Now a limited Netflix series starring Zoe Saldaña (“Guardians of the Galaxy”).
The Night Tiger: A Novel
Yangsze ChooApril 2019. Choo’s sophomore novel is a bold story full of adventure, mystery, and a touch of magic as the destinies of two characters collide. A dreamy page turner set in 1930s Malaysia, it follows houseboy Ren, dance hall girl Ji Lin, and a tiger wreaking havoc on the village.
The Library Book
Susan OrleanJanuary 2019. Part true-crime detective story, part history book filled with fascinating anecdotes, “The Library Book” begins with a disastrous fire that consumed the Los Angeles Central Library in 1986 and the subsequent search for the suspected arsonist. Delight in discovery powers this story, and it’s sure to reignite your inner voracious bookworm.
The Other Woman: A Novel
Sandie JonesNovember 2018. Jones’ novel is a psychological thriller pitting a would-be wife against a disapproving and conniving mother-in-law. Your inner detective will be hard at work navigating the shocking twists-and-turns that will keep you guessing until the end.
This Is How It Always Is: A Novel
Laurie FrankelOctober 2018. “It is not surprising that the life I concocted at 23 for a not yet extant human did not turn out to apply. But the plot twists that came later were the ones I never saw coming. One surprising thing that happened, slowly … was that my son switched from shorts to skirts,” Frankel wrote in a Literary Hub essay about her son’s transition. Frankel draws from her personal family experience to write this big-hearted novel about a transgender child.
Still Lives: A Novel
Maria HummelAugust 2018. Feminist icon and controversial artist Kim Lord is at the height of her career when she vanishes without a trace on the night of her big gala. Is it a PR stunt… or is there something more malicious in the works? A thrilling whodunnit set in the glittering (and at times seedy) art scene of LA.
Happiness: A Memoir: The Crooked Little Road to Semi-Ever After
Heather HarphamApril 2018. After Harpham’s first child, Gracie, was born with a life-threatening blood disease, she and Gracie’s father set off on a journey of physical and emotional healing, determined to save Gracie’s life. Harpham’s memoir is a raw, tender, and unflinchingly honest portrayal of life with a terminally ill child.
Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows: A Reese's Book Club Pick
Balli Kaur JaswalMarch 2018. Nikki, a first generation Punjabi, signs up to teach a creative writing course at the local Sikh temple. Her class full of elderly Punjabi widows takes a wild turn when her students engage in oral storytelling to share racy and erotic stories. A bold and unforgettable novel with rich themes of female empowerment, solidarity, and unlearning internalized sexism.
The Last Mrs. Parrish: A Novel
Liv ConstantineDecember 2017. Amber, a calculating and devious con artist, hates the wealthy and privileged women around her. And yet, she would do anything to be one of them. She befriends Daphne Parrish, a local woman who runs a charitable foundation, and slowly infiltrates her life as she sets out to seduce Daphne’s husband to become the new Mrs. Parrish. The Constantine sisters’ debut psychological thriller had the right number of twists, turns, and skeletons in the closet to keep you engrossed right up until the deeply satisfying end.
This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage: A Reese's Book Club Pick
Ann PatchettNovember 2017. Patchett (“Commonwealth,” “The Dutch House”) has long been beloved for her novels, but this collection of essays confirms she’s just as brilliant in nonfiction. From musings on the art of writing to a second chance of love after a disastrous first marriage, her essays are at once deeply intimate and universally relatable.
The Rules of Magic: A Novel
Alice HoffmanOctober 2017. “The Rules of Magic” serves as a prequel to the fantastic “Practical Magic” and provides a rich backstory for the magical and eccentric Owens family. Franny, Jet, and Vincent come from a long line of Massachusetts wizards and witches dating back to the 17th century. Due to an ancient curse, their mother attempts to deny their family heritage to little avail. A dark family saga filled with triumph and tragedy that lead up to the story of Gillian and Sally.
Lying Game: A Novel
Ruth WareAugust 2017. Ware’s atmospheric thriller is a brooding story of female friendship and deceit (think “Mean Girls” but darker). Four boarding school friends tell fellow students and faculty outlandish lies until a horrifying scandal takes place and gets them expelled. Years later, the women reunite when it’s clear a long-buried secret is rising to the surface.
The Alice Network: A Novel
Kate QuinnJuly 2017. Set in post-World War II Europe, “The Alice Network” brings together a pregnant American socialite and a former French spy. The story has an extraordinarily high bingeability score thanks to plot elements of espionage, scandal, and redemption.