“What, like it’s hard?”
Coined in “Legally Blonde,” the popular phrase isn’t limited to Elle Woods embarking on her law school journey. Now, it’s not hard to find new book recommendations through Reese’s Book Club.
Whether you follow the book club’s Instagram account to always stay in the loop or have the club’s app downloaded on your phone, finding that hot paperback of the month couldn’t get any easier.
About Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club
Each month, Witherspoon selects a female-protagonist-centered read for her audience on the first Tuesday of the month. Pretty much, it feels 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 found some 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 are available on Audible and Kindle platforms and in paperback and hardcover form.
We’ll continue to update this guide monthly, keeping the most recent recommendation up top. So, be sure to bookmark this page (and grab a bookmark to hold your place while reading one of Reese’s book club picks.
Click to jump to a year:
Reese’s Book Club 2022 Picks
October ’22: “Our Missing Hearts” by Celese 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,” Witherspoon writes in her Instagram post. “It follows the story of a young boy named Bird on the search for his mother Margaret, a poet whose work was deemed unpatriotic.”
September ’22: “On the Rooftop” by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton
“Set in the 1950s 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 brilliant story about learning how to mother children who have very different dreams and how to encourage them to reach for the stars,” she adds, it’s worth picking up ASAP.
August ’22: “Wrong Place Wrong Time” by Gillian McAllister
“It’s about a mother who is worried about her teenage son, because he’s out late one night,” Witherspoon says. “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.”
July ’22: “Honey and Spice” by Bolu Babalola
“It’s about a young Black British woman named Kiki with a ton of ambition, who has to work with her colleague Malakai to get ahead in her NYC internship,” Witherspoon says. “I got so caught up in this romance, as Kiki and Malakai go from enemies to friends to lovers.”
June ’22: “Counterfeit” by Kirsten Chen
“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 of her best friends,” Witherspoon writes. “It’s full of compelling twists, riveting adventures and of course, luxury handbags.”
May ’22: “The Dictionary of Lost Words” by Pip Williams
“‘The Dictionary of Lost Words’ explores how women’s experiences are often lost because history is recorded by men,” Witherspoon says. “Set during the height of women’s suffrage, this thought-provoking book explores history and the power of language while weaving together love, loss and literature.”
April ’22: “True Biz” by Sara Novic
“April’s book pick is an eye-opening and heartfelt story about human connection and the beauty and adversity woven into the deaf community and culture,” Witherspoon said. “It not only pulled at my heartstrings but is both an educational and electrifying peek into a family that fights for connections even as the outside world threatens to close the door on them.”
March ’22: “The Club” by Ellery Lloyd
“It’s a beautifully written, densely plotted thriller that takes place at a private club off the coast of England,” Witherspoon said. “Read about a luxurious, celeb-only island during a weekend of partying and mystery.”
February ’22: “The Christie Affair” by Nina de Gramont
“This novel covers the eleven days in 1926 when famed novelist Agatha Christie went missing,” Witherspoon said. “I found myself binging this book in one sitting.” Plus, it’s a mix of historical fiction and romance.
January ’22: “Honor” by Thrity Umrigar
“‘Honor’ by Thrity Umrigar is about an Indian-American journalist named Smita who returns to India on an assignment,” Witherspoon said. “The story she’s covering is an emotionally riddled one that utilizes the lives of characters to portray the cultural realities of India, both new and old.”
Reese’s Book Club 2021 Picks
December ’21: “Lucky” by Marissa Stapley
This is a story about a girl named Lucky…*but actually*.
“This is 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,” Witherspoon said. “But here’s the catch…she can’t cash it in! I loved all the twists and turns of this adventure.”
November ’21: “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,” 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
“Our October pick follows one woman’s quest to unpack her identity after finding out the father she’s never met is the former president of a West African nation,” Witherspoon said. “In this stirring narrative, Anna sets out to meet her father and a fascinating voyage unravels layered with humor, emotions and questions of belonging.”
September ’21: “L.A. Weather” by María Amparo Escandón
“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% chance you’ll be paging through this book to uncover the secrets and deception that could potentially burn everything down.”
August ’21: “We Were Never Here” by Andrea Bartz
“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 will have you ditching your Friday night plans for more chapters.”
July ’21: “The Paper Palace” by Miranda Cowley Heller
“This novel is an unbelievably absorbing read that’s raw, emotional and worth 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
“Two writers, plus seven days, equals one racy read that’s as hilarious and heart-warming as it is sexy-as-hell,” Witherspoon said. “Turns out, second chance romance has us seeing book-love at first sight.”
Summer YA ’21: “Tokyo Ever After” by Emiko Jean
“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 in the Japanese press, her conniving twin cousins, and a not-so-secret crush on her new security detail.”
May ’21: “The Last Thing He Told Me” by Laura Dave
“If the thrilling start doesn’t hook you — a missing husband, a duffel bag of cash, a cryptic note and teenage stepdaughter drama — wait till you find out how it ends,” Witherspoon said. “Warning: there are so many secrets that you may start to question if you can even trust yourself.”
April ’21: “Northern Spy” by Flynn Berry
“Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to hold 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
“This heart-pounding thriller follows a young woman who goes undercover to investigate what’s leading to mysterious deaths and corruption in her Native American community,” Witherspoon said. “Among all the twists, turns and a secret romance, she’ll discover the true power of her own identity.”
March ’21: “Infinite Country” by Patricia Engel
“This story paints a picture of love 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
“A 5-star resort in the Swiss Alps to celebrate a sibling’s engagement [is what this book is about],” Witherspoon said. “When a blistering snowstorm cuts off access to the hotel and a person turns up missing, you’ll follow a police detective as she uncovers the hotel’s eerie past to find out ‘whodunit.'”
Winter YA ’21: “You Have a Match” by Emma Lord
“The novel kicks off with some surprising DNA results, then lands us in summer camp to enjoy the hilarious tales of sisterhood, friendship and young love,” Witherspoon said.
January ’21: “Outlawed” by Anna North
“Adventure back in time to the old West in this imaginative, fictional retelling of Butch Cassidy, The Sundance Kid, and the Hole in the Wall Gang,” Witherspoon said. “You’ll meet Ada, a midwife, who joins a band of outlaws devising a treacherous plan to create a safe haven for outcast women.”
Reese’s Book Club 2020 Picks
December YA ’20: ‘The Light In Hidden Places‘ by Sharon Cameron
“This breathtaking novel is based 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 during the Holocaust exemplify what it means to stand up to hate in 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
“KJ sets the table for this heartwarming, hunger-inducing debut novel about a rivalry between two sisters and two chicken shacks that plays out on reality TV,” Witherspoon said. “As 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 success?”
November YA ’20: ‘A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow‘ by Laura Taylor Namey
“This novel whisks us away on a summer holiday to England with Lila, a young woman who is in need of a life reset,” Witherspoon said. “While Winchester may not have the Miami vibes she’s familiar with, Lila opens herself up to learn more about her new surroundings and a charming teashop clerk named Orion.”
November ’20: ‘Group‘ by Christie Tate
“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 understand what it means to truly connect with others.”
October YA ’20: ‘Fable‘ by Adrienne Young
“Set sail on this captivating fantasy with Fable, a courageous girl determined to find the father who abandoned her on a deserted island after her mom drowns at sea,” Witherspoon said. “Along the way, she navigates mother nature’s treacherous ways and uncovers the secrets to survival.”
October ’20: ‘His Only Wife‘ by Peace Medie Adzo
“Let’s travel to Ghana to meet Afi, a woman who wants a better 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
“Follow the pages to Argentina where you’ll read about Camila, a young woman whose goal is to play soccer professionally,” Witherspoon said. “However, getting in the way of her dream are her parents who think soccer is a boy’s sport, a society in the midst of fighting for gender equality and the ultimate obstacle of the heart — Diego, the love of her life.”
September ’20: ‘The Last Story of Mina Lee‘ by Nancy Jooyoun Kim
“Journey through the past and present of a mother-daughter relationship, an immigrant experience and the mysteries and resilience of love and loss in ‘The Last Story of Mina Lee,'” Witherspoon said. “On the 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
“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 way, she navigates typical teenage friend drama and falls for the new girl, who happens to be her competition.”
August ’20: ‘Everything Inside‘ by Edwidge Danticat
“‘Everything Inside‘ is a collection of short stories anchored in Haitian culture about love, love loss and love of country,” Witherspoon said. “Danticat encourages you to find 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
This book explores accounts of Black, Christian and female that “exposes how White America’s affair with ‘diversity’ so often falls short of its ideas,” Amazon writes.
June/July ’20: ‘The Guest List‘ by Lucy Foley
This book takes place off the coast of Ireland, where guests gather to celebrate a wedding. But, just as the champagne is popped and festivities begin, “resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes,” Amazon writes. And, someone ends up dead.
May ’20: ‘The Henna Artist‘ by Alka Joshi
“‘The Henna Artist‘ is the story of a woman living in India in the 1950s who finds herself raising a sister she never knew she had while balancing a secret side hustle, fighting her inner desires and struggling to maintain her identity as a self-made woman.”
April ’20: ‘Untamed‘ by Glennon Doyle
“‘Untamed‘ is a powerful memoir that explores everything that makes up a woman’s life including motherhood, relationships and the brave self-discovery that leads to uncovering one’s truest, most beautiful self.”
March ’20: ‘The Jetsetters‘ by Amanda Eyre Ward
“This literary adventure centers around an elderly mother who attempts to reconnect with her three adult children while on a European cruise,” Witherspoon said. “Along the way, secrets are revealed, baggage is unpacked and sibling dynamics prove that the Perkins family is far from perfect.”
February ’20: ‘The Scent Keeper‘ by Erica Bauermeister
“The story centers around Emmeline, a young girl who lives on a remote island with her father and uncovers secrets of the natural world through her senses,” Witherspoon said. “As she gets older, she becomes even more curious about the scents in the drawers of her cabin.”
January ’20: ‘Such a Fun Age‘ by Kiley Reid
“Set in Philadelphia, the story centers around Emira Tucker, a black babysitter, and Alix Chamberlain, a white woman who employs Emira to watch her children,” Witherspoon said. “The story takes a turn when an incident at a local grocery store completely changes the course of both of their lives.”
Reese’s Book Club 2019 Picks
December ’19: ‘Conviction‘ by Denise Mina
“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 close to home,” Witherspoon said.
November ’19: ‘The Giver of Stars‘ by Jojo Moyes
“Set in Depression-era America, this book tells the story of a group of librarians who travel across rural Kentucky to deliver books to all parts of the state,” Witherspoon said. “At the center of this story are five amazing women who will have you hooked from the first paragraph.”
October ’19: ‘Fair Play‘ by Eve Rodsky
“This book is all about real-world solutions to divvying up the domestic workload fairly in your home and to help you find your ‘unicorn space’ so you have time to do the things that you love, like finally reading all of the books in your TBR pile,” Witherspoon said.
To pair with the book, there’s a Fair Play Couple’s Conversation Deck available to shop for “prioritizing what’s important.”
September ’19: ‘The Secrets We Kept‘ by Lara Prescott
“Set during the Cold War, ‘The Secrets We Kept‘ tells the story of the secretaries-turned-spies who are tasked with smuggling ‘Doctor Zhivago’ out of the USSR and into the hands of Russian citizens,” Witherspoon said. “You’ll get to know Sally Forrester, a veteran spy, and Irina, a total newbie.”
August ’19: ‘The Last House Guest‘ by Megan Miranda
“Set in the small vacation town of Littleport, Maine, you’ll meet visitor Sadie Loman and resident Avery Greer,” Witherspoon said. “These two are inseparable for almost a decade — until Loman is found dead, and secrets that have been hidden for years will be uncovered.”
July ’19: ‘Whisper Network‘ by Chandler Baker
“Set in the #MeToo era, the story follows four women whose lives dramatically change after the sudden death of their company’s CEO,” Witherspoon said. “Whispers spread around the office, secrets are revealed and so much more.”
June ’19: ‘The Cactus‘ by Sarah Haywood
“After her mother passes away, Susan Green finds herself pregnant at 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 same time.”
May ’19: ‘From Scratch‘ by Tembi Locke
“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 biggest loss of her life,” Witherspoon said. “You’ll follow Tembi as she finds solace in Sicily and redefines home through new traditions and the connectivity of cooking.”
April ’19: ‘The Night Tiger‘ by Yangsze Choo
“Set in 1930s Malaysia, ‘The Night Tiger‘ centers around the ambitious Ji Lin, and young orphan Ren, whose paths cross in 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 much more.”
March ’19: ‘Daisy Jones & The Six‘ by Taylor Jenkins Reid
“The book tells the story of the whirlwind rise of a world-famous rock band in the 1970s — and the secrets that led to the band’s dramatic break-up,” Witherspoon said. “This story is sure to be a hit.”
February ’19: ‘The Proposal‘ by Jasmine Guillory
“The plot centers around Nikole Paterson, a freelance writer who turns down a very 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 a whole lot of cupcakes.”
January ’19: ‘The Library Book‘ by Susan Orlean
“It’s a nonfiction story about 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 cast of characters: a feminist librarian who refused to surrender her position to a man, a ‘Human Encyclopedia’ and of course, the arsonist…or is he?”
Reese’s Book Club 2018 Picks
December ’18: ‘One Day in December‘ by Josie Silver
“When Laurie locks eyes with a stranger one day in December, she feels an instant connection — and spends the next year looking for him,” Witherspoon said. “As fate would have it, she finds him, but it doesn’t turn out exactly as she’s dreamed.”
November ’18: ‘The Other Woman‘ by Sandie Jones
“It’s a mess-with-your-mind thriller that will leave your head spinning,” Witherspoon said. “Just when you think Emily has found her perfect relationship, the dark twists begin, and another woman comes into the picture to ruin everything. That woman? It’s the mother.”
October ’18: ‘This Is How It Always Is‘ by Laurie Frankel
“The book is a family love story and explores childhood, parenthood and all the complicated, brave and heart-wrenching experiences that come with it,” Witherspoon said.
September ’18: ‘Where The Crawdads Sing‘ by Delia Owens
“‘Where The Crawdads Sing‘ follows Kya, who learns to raise herself in the wild marshes of North Carolina when she’s abandoned as a little 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
“The story follows a controversial female artist in LA who suddenly goes missing, and everybody around her looks guilty,” Witherspoon said. “It’s a thrilling mystery that will leave you wondering which characters you can and can’t trust.”
July ’18: ‘Next Year in Havana‘ by Chanel Cleeton
“When Marisol, a Cuban-American woman, returns to Havana to scatter her grandmother’s ashes, she starts to discover a side of her history that’s as complicated as it is beautiful,” Witherspoon said. “And in the process, she finds love where she shouldn’t.”
June ’18: ‘Something in the Water‘ by Catherine Steadman
“It starts with a beautiful honeymoon that turns into a web of intrigue,” Witherspoon said. “When Erin and Mark find something in the water in Bora Bora and try to pull off what they think is the perfect crime, each choice they make has unforeseen consequences.”
May ’18: ‘You Think It, I’ll Say It‘ by Curtis Sittenfeld
“This collection of short stories is the inspiration behind a TV series developing at Hello Sunshine,” Witherspoon said. “Every single character in this book is complex, beautifully flawed and so multifaceted — and all so interesting to unpack.”
April ’18: ‘Happiness‘ by Heather Harpham
“The memoir follows Heather’s journey as she gives birth to her daughter, Gracie, who is born with rare complications that leave her fighting for her life,” Witherspoon said. “In this battle alone, Heather relies on the kindness of people around her: friends, family and even strangers. She ends up reconnecting with Gracie’s father, and the way he comes back into their lives will leave you so emotional.”
March ’18: ‘Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows‘ by Balli Kaur Jaswal
“This is a story about liberating women at every age and empowering them to express 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 change their community.”
February ’18: ‘The Light We Lost‘ by Jill Santopolo
“This love story between Lucy and Gabe spans decades and continents as two star-crossed lovers try to return to each other,” Witherspoon said. “Life, motherhood and distance get in the way, and this book kept me up at night turning the pages to find out [if they will ever meet again.”
January ’18: ‘Braving the Wilderness‘ by Brené Brown
“Brown speaks of how divided our world is politically, socially, racially and how we can bridge that divide with more civility and consciousness,” Witherspoon said. “Listening is key and compassion is key.”
Reese’s Book Club 2017 Picks
December ’17: ‘The Last Mrs. Parrish‘ by Liv Constantine
“It’s a fun and fast-paced psychological thriller about two determined women who play a high stakes game of deception that only one can win,” Witherspoon said.
November ’17: ‘This Is The Story of a Happy Marriage‘ by Ann Patchett
“This collection of essays explores what it means to have friends, fall in love, struggle, succeed and most importantly, meet the right dog,” Witherspoon said.
October ’17: ‘The Rules of Magic‘ by Alice Hoffman
“This story is full of magic, love, family, heartbreak and redemption, Witherspoon said. “It’s about two sisters and a brother who discover they come 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 Everywhere‘ by Celeste Ng
“To say I love this book is an understatement,” Witherspoon said. Which, makes sense, since she starred as the main character in 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 about the power of motherhood, the intensity of teenage love and the danger of perfection — and a fire that destroys it all.”
August ’17: ‘The Lying Game‘ by Ruth Ware
“Ware created a thrilling page-turner about a group of women who were childhood friends bound by a dark secret,” Witherspoon said. “Seventeen years later, they are forced to deal with the secret they have kept for so long.”
July ’17: ‘The Alice Network‘ by Kate Quinn
“You’ll really enjoy this exciting and fast-paced story about a pregnant American socialite who teams up with a female ex-spy and a hot-tempered young soldier in the aftermath of World War II — a story of courage and redemption,” Witherspoon said.
June ’17: ‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine‘ by Gail Honeyman
“Beautifully written and incredibly funny, ‘Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine‘ is about 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 chance encounter with a stranger; I think you will fall in love, too!”
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