Reese Witherspoon is a beloved actress, best known for her roles in Walk The Line, The Morning Show and Legally Blonde. But the Oscar winner is also an avid reader!
So much so that in 2017, she founded Reese’s Book Club: a book club that anyone can join and where the monthly books are selected by Reese herself.
And be it a romance or a thriller, all of Reese’s picks have a woman at the centre of the story.
Reese has actually turned quite a few of her book club recommendations into hit television shows and movies – Big Little Lies, The Last Thing He Told Me and Where the Crawdads Sing, for instance – so you know she’s choosing stellar novels.
Read on to see the complete list of the Reese Witherspoon book club picks…
01
October 2024: Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown
“This gripping thriller follows Maya as she returns to Princeton for her sister’s graduation, only to be thrust into a chilling mystery surrounding her sister’s death and a secret society she knows all too well. If you’re looking for a page-turner that keeps you on the edge of your seat this spooky season, this one is a must-read,” the actress said of the Reese Witherspoon book club October 2024 pick.
Buy Society of Lies from Amazon
02
September 2024: The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl
The September 2024 book marks the 100th book ever chosen for Reese Witherpsoon’s book club. To mark the special milestone, Reese chose a book penned by her high school English teacher Margaret Renkl.
The Comfort of Crows is made up of a series of essays and illustrations that follow the creatures and plants in Margaret’s backyard over the course of a year; it’s a delightful read.
“As my high school English teacher (!!), Margaret had a profound impact on my life, making it incredibly special to have her as our 100th author,” Reese said when annoucing this month’s pick.
Buy The Comfort of Crows from Amazon or Dymocks
03
August 2024: Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
Reese described Slow Dance as a book that “invites you into the bittersweet world of Shiloh and Cary, where childhood promises are tested by time, and love finds its way back through unexpected twists.”
Buy Slow Dance from Amazon or QBD Books
04
July 2024: The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan
The Cliffs follows Jane Flanagan, who as a teen found an abandoned Victorian house overlooking the seaside cliffs of Maine. Twenty years later, the house has been completely gutted and transformed into a modern monstrosity by the new owner – who hires Jane to research the history of the house as well as the women who previously lived there. “This book is really good. There’s so many mysteries inside that house,” Reese said when announcing this pick.
Buy The Cliffs from Amazon
05
June 2024: The Unwedding by Ally Condie
We have to say the June 2024 pick for the Reese Witherspoon book club sounds incredibly thrilling… “The Unwedding by Ally Condie opens with a wedding at a gorgeous resort in Big Sur… but everything begins to fall apart when the main character Ellery discovers a dead body the morning of the ceremony,” Reese said when unveiling the book.
Buy The Unwedding from Amazon or Big W
06
May 2024: How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang
Reese shared a short synopsis for the May pick: “How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang is about what happens when two writers with a complicated history end up working on the same TV show… but can they re-write their story?”
Buy How to End a Love Story from Amazon or Big W
07
April 2024: The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo
Reese used only a few words to describe The Most Fun We Ever Had: “Sisters, Emotional, Messy (in the best way), Complicated Relationships, [and] Character-driven.” The book follows four adult daughters who recklessly ignite an old rivalry… We can’t wait to read this one!
Buy The Most Fun We Ever Had from Amazon
08
March 2024: Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez
When annoucing this year’s March pick, Reese was extremely excited because she’s always loved art history and this is what Anita de Monte Laughs Last is about. “This book, it just dives right in about the mysterious world of art… I think you guys are gonna love it,” the actress gushed.
Buy Anita de Monte Laughs Last from Amazon
09
February 2024: Redwood Court by Délana R. A. Dameron
Reese described the February novel Redwood Court as, “It’s set in the 1990s and it’s a collection of vignettes all centered around this Southern Black family, told from the youngest daughter’s point of view… It’s all about home and a sense of belonging.”
Buy Redwood Court from Booktopia or QBD Books
10
January 2024: First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
The first Reese Witherspoon book club novel of 2024! Reese describes First Lie Wins as a “fast-paced” thriller that has “everything” you could want from that genre. The book follows Evie Porter, who has a perfect life; a loving boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence, great friends… The only problem? Evie Porter doesn’t exist.
Buy First Lie Wins from Booktopia or QBD Books
11
December 2023: Before We Were Innocent by Ella Berman
Reese said that Before We Were Innocent “reads like true crime and had me guessing until the very end.” The book follows three teens who travel to Greece after graduating high school, but only two of them return home…
Buy Before We Were Innocent from Amazon or QBD Books
12
November 2023: Maybe Next Time by Cesca Major
When she revealed Maybe Next Time as the November 2023 pick, Reese said, “This fascinating story follows overworked & overwhelmed London literary agent, Emma, who finds herself trapped in a time loop… This book kept me on the edge of my seat.”
Buy Maybe Next Time from Amazon or QBD Books
13
October 2023: Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
“This book has everything you could possibly want this fall… a cursed town, a haunted house, a vivid and eerie setting; plus, characters willing to risk everything. I can’t wait to hear what you think about this gripping tale,” Reese said when she announced Starling House was the October 2023 pick.
Buy Starling House from Amazon or QBD Books
14
September 2023: Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon
When she revealed that Mother-Daughter Murder Night was the September 2023 pick for her book club, Reese said, “This fun and gripping whodunit follows a grandmother-mother-daughter trio as they try to solve a murder in their coastal town. I can’t wait to hear what you think about this cozy mystery.”
Buy Mother-Daughter Murder Night from Amazon
15
August 2023: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett F. Kuang
“This comforting summer read has it all – summer theatre, a gorgeous Michigan cherry farm, young love, sibling rivalry, and deep mother-daughter relationships,” the actress said when revealing this Reese Witherspoon book club pick.
16
July 2023: Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang
When annoucing the July 2023 book, Reese said: “This contemporary psychological thriller follows Juniper Song, a bestselling author who is not who she’s pretending to be. She didn’t write the book she claims she penned, and she is not Asian American. Clear your schedule because the moment you start reading you won’t be able to put it down.”
17
June 2023: Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale
“This super charming and witty novel is about main character Cassie who is stuck in a time loop while trying to fix the third worst day of her life. You may THINK you know what’s going on… but keep reading!!”
Australian readers should note that this book was published under a different name here:The Cassandra Complex.
Buy Cassandra in Reverse AKA The Cassandra Complex from Booktopia or Dymocks
18
May 2023: 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! It’s about what happens when a woman inherits the estate of a Hollywood icon and discovers secrets hiding in her family…” Reese revealed.
19
April 2023: Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
“It is such a hilarious, sweet, smart read that I think you’re going to love,” Reese said about this book.
20
March 2023: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
“This important story illuminates a part of history that’s often overlooked: the women’s war. It’s a harrowing tale of two sisters, survival, love, and female resilience throughout Nazi-occupied France.”
21
February 2023: The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
“Set in the 1950s, this unforgettable story follows Ruby who dreams of being the first in her family to attend college, but her first love may derail her plans. And Eleanor who marries into one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families but struggles to have a baby—the thing she wants most,” Reese said when announcing the book of the month.
22
January 2023: The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes
“This is an absolute, can’t-put-it-down thriller…It’s truly a wild ride that had me flying through chapter after chapter—which I think is the perfect way to kick off your year of reading,” Reese explained.
23
December 2022: The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
“I could not stop Googling all the details of this true story. It’s a fascinating, historical thriller about an Italian Duchess, who we learn at the very beginning of the book will die either by sickness…or by her husband’s hand. I can’t wait to hear what you think,” Reese said about the final Reese Witherspoon book club novel for 2022.
24
November 2022: Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
“At the beginning of her career, Cheryl took on the persona of Sugar and wrote an advice column, Dear Sugar, that became a sensation. Sugar’s advice is no-nonsense, poignant, soul-searching, grounded, and fierce in so many loving ways.”
25
October 2022: Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
“It’s set in a not-too-distant future where entire sections of the population are deemed un-American and forced away from their families. It follows the story of a young boy named Bird on the search for his mother Margaret, a poet whose work was deemed unpatriotic. I was so invested in the future of this mother and son,” Reese said.
26
September 2022: On The Rooftop by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton
“Set in the 1950’s in San Francisco, this book centres around an incredibly talented group of singing sisters and their fierce mom, Vivian, who has big dreams of them becoming famous. An utterly original and brilliant story about learning how to mother children who have very different dreams and how to encourage them to reach for the stars,” Reese said when revealing this pick.
27
August 2022: Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
“This book is SO good. It’s about a mother who is worried about her son, because he’s out late one night. She looks out the window right at his curfew and she sees him stab a man in her front yard (!!), but she wakes up the next day and it’s the day before her son committed the crime. She keeps going back in time, piecing together why this happened to her son.”
28
July 2022: Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola
“It’s all about a young British black woman named Kiki with a ton of ambition. She wants to land an internship in NYC, but she needs to grow the audience for her radio show and work with another student on a film. This other student is Malakai…and we all know where this is going,” Reese said.
29
June 2022: Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen
“This month’s book pick, Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen, is like having a friend tell you the juiciest story. It follows Ava, a lawyer on maternity leave, who gets pulled into a fake handbag scheme by one of her best friends. It’s non-stop, and every minute I was like ‘Oh my gosh, are they going to get caught?!'”
30
May 2022: Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
“The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams, is a beautiful exploration of history and the power of language. For anybody who loves words and celebrates them, this subversive story weaves together love, loss and literature in a perfectly lyrical way.”
31
April 2022: True Biz by Sara Nović
“True Biz by Sara Nović, is an eye-opening and heartfelt story about human connection and the beauty and adversity woven into the deaf community and culture. It is both an educational and electrifying peek into a family’s life as they fight to forge connections even as the outside world threatens to close the door on them,” Reese explained.
32
March 2022: The Club by Ellery Lloyd
“Our March @ReesesBookClub by Ellery Lloyd is a beautifully written, densely plotted murder mystery that takes place at a private club off the coast of England. Read about a luxurious, celeb-only island during a weekend of partying and ultimately murder,” Reese wrote on Instagram.
33
February 2022: The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont
“This novel covers the 11 days in 1926 when famed novelist Agatha Christie went missing. That’s right, an unexpected mix of historical fiction and romance, heartbreak and revenge based on true happenings… but here’s the twist, it’s told through the perspective of her husband’s mistress!”
34
January 2022: Honor by Thrity Umrigar
“Honor by Thrity Umrigar is about an Indian-American journalist named Smita who returns to India on assignment. Her experiences lift the veil on the complexities of journalism and leave Smita questioning her boundaries as a reporter. Complex and unfiltered, these are the type of characters that stick with you long after you turn the pages,” the actress said when revealing this Reese Witherspoon book club pick.
35
December 2021: Lucky by Marissa Stapley
“This is such an electric story about an unconventional heroine who is on the run from her past with a winning lottery ticket that could change her future forever. But here’s the catch… she can’t cash it in!”
36
November 2021: The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
“Set in different time periods, the story revolves around a couple who met in Cyprus shortly before the 1974 conflict. There’s magic, mystery and a tree that plays a pivotal role which transcends world wars, cultures and great love,” Reese said.
37
October 2021: Sankofa by Chibundu Onuzo
“Sankofa, is a beautiful exploration of the often complex parameters of freedom, prejudice and individual sense of self. Chibundu Onuzo has written a captivating story about a mixed-race British woman who goes in search of the West African father she never knew.”
38
September 2021: L.A. Weather by María Amparo Escandón
“L.A. Weather by Maria Amparo Escandón is a unique story that beautifully weaves together the themes of family and weather as we peel back the curtain on the Alvarados and their hidden lives. It’s unconventional and so real, I felt deeply connected to these characters and clung to their beautiful moments of hope and togetherness,” Reese said.
39
August 2021: We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz
“The story centres around two friends, Emily and Kristin, who love to go on adventures around the world. This year they are in Chile and through a series of circumstances, end up in a room with a dead body. But here’s the twist, it’s not the first time it has happened to them! Coincidence?”
40
July 2021: Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
“The Paper Palace is a deeply emotional love story that follows one day in the life of Elle Bishop as she navigates the unravelling of secrets, lies and a very complex love triangle between her childhood best friend and her husband,” Reese explained.
41
June 2021: Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
“Seven Days in June follows famous author, Eva Mercy, as she reconnects with her long-lost love, Shane (who is also a bestselling writer), at a book conference. Eva and Shane discover hidden truths about their tumultuous romantic past and have to decide whether they want to find their way back together after a lot of confusion and pain.”
42
May 2021: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
“This story centres around Hannah, who is settling into her new role as a wife and stepmother when her husband suddenly disappears leaving her with an ominous note and a request to protect his daughter. There’s so much to love about this thrilling, roller coaster of a novel.”
Reese executively produced the television adaptation of this Reese Witherspoon book club pick, which stars Jennifer Garner and is available to stream on Apple+.
Buy The Last Thing He Told Me from Booktopia or Dymocks
Stream The Last Thing He Told Me now on Apple TV+ with a 7 day FREE trial. Subscribe here.
43
April 2021: Northern Spy by Flynn Berry
“Set in Ireland, this story explores a world of secrets and lies that tear two sisters apart. Following a pitfall with the IRA, one sister is framed for espionage while the other is forced to choose between protecting her loved ones or facing unimaginable consequences,” Reese said.
44
March 2021: Infinite Country by Patricia Engel
“Infinite Country is an exceptionally powerful and illuminating story about a Colombian family torn apart by war and migration. I was so drawn to these characters and their unique journeys as they navigate their dreams.”
45
February 2021: The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
“The Sanatorium is an eerie, atmospheric novel that had me completely on the edge of my seat. Let’s set the mood…. You’re in a remote location—at a hotel—and there’s a snowstorm. The winds are howling, the snow is pelting in every direction, there’s a missing person, and a dead body shows up….!”
46
January 2021: Outlawed by Anna North
“Centred around a fugitive on the run, Outlawed is a riveting story unlike anything I’ve read before! This feminist Western will keep you on the edge of your seat on a high stakes ride through the old West. The search for identity and the desperation to survive drive the intensity of this women-on-the-run adventure,” Reese Witherspoon said when revealing this book club pick.
