The 22 best books Reese Witherspoon has recommended.

Reese Witherspoon is a woman of many talents.

The Oscar winner was effortlessly accepted into Harvard University despite having all odds stacked against her, only to then solve a murder case off the back of her extensive knowledge of perms.

Alright, so that wasn't actually Witherspoon, it was her character Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, but it takes a highly skilled actress to play such a multi-faceted role.

These days, Witherspoon has left her 'legal life' behind and is instead focused on her production company Hello Sunshine, which is behind hit shows like Daisy Jones & the Six and Surface; and movies such as Where the Crawdad's Sing and Something From Tiffany's.

Each of these projects has one thing in common: They’ve been adapted from her favourite books, which she adds on a monthly basis to a list called Reese's Book Club List.

Watch: 'I read books for a living. Here are the most addictive thrillers I've read so far.' Post continues below.

Witherspoon is an avid reader, and she certainly doesn't discriminate when it comes to her recommendations. True crime, memoirs and even essays are just a few of her suggestions. It really showcases just how diverse her literary diet is.

But there is one very specific rule she follows when picking out her next read — the story needs to centre a woman.

For the past five years, the actress has shared her favourite books via social media on the first Tuesday of every month. And this year has been no different. Below, we have rounded up all of Witherspoon's 2024 book club picks, and share some of our favourites from previous years.

Needless to say, your holiday reading is sorted.

The complete Reese Witherspoon book club list for 2024.

From January to October, here is the Reese book club list for 2024.

January 2024 — First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston.

Image: reesesbookclub.com

Get ready for a twisty mystery where lies aren't just an inconvenience — they're a way of life.

In First Lie Wins, our sharp-tongued heroine knows the power of deception, but when the stakes get dangerously high, she might find out that some lies come with a deadly price.

February 2024 — Redwood Court by DéLana R.A. Dameron.

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Welcome to Redwood Court, a neighbourhood at a crossroads. In this beautifully written story, gentrification isn't just a buzzword — it's an emotional rollercoaster for a tight-knit community fighting to preserve their identity, their history, and their homes.

March 2024 — Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez.

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Ever felt like life's constantly trying to push you down? Anita knows the feeling.

In this empowering novel, she takes on family pressures, societal expectations, and every curve ball life throws her way — with a cheeky smile and a whole lot of sass.

April 2024 — The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo.

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Families. Can't live with them, can't live without them.

In The Most Fun We Ever Had, four sisters try to live up to the golden standard of their parents' seemingly perfect love story, all while dealing with their own messy lives. Prepare for drama, secrets, and so much heart.

May 2024 — How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang.

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Breaking up is hard to do — but it makes for a stunningly relatable novel. How to End a Love Story dives into that painful, raw phase after a breakup, when you're rediscovering who you are.

It's a beautifully honest exploration of love, loss, and what happens next.

June 2024 — The Unwedding by Ally Condie.

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What happens when your dream wedding turns into a non-event? In The Unwedding, after calling off her engagement, one woman embarks on a heartfelt journey of self-discovery, learning that sometimes, life's biggest surprises come when plans fall apart.

July 2024 — The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan.

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Ireland's windswept cliffs set the scene for this moody, evocative novel about love, loss, and the ties that bind us. Several strangers' lives are tangled together by fate, heartbreak, and the wild beauty of the Irish landscape.

Think P.S. I Love You, but more intense.

August 2024 — Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell.

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Two strangers meet at a wedding, and what happens next? Pure magic. Slow Dance is the kind of heartwarming, slow-burn romance that makes you believe in love at first sight.

It's witty, warm, and has that Rainbow Rowell charm we can't get enough of.

September 2024 — The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl.

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Part nature love letter, part memoir, this one's for the soul searchers.

Margaret Renkl's essays in The Comfort of Crows remind us of the beauty in life's small moments — whether it's the changing seasons, a family memory, or simply watching birds outside your window.

October 2024 — Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown.

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Secrets, betrayal and friendships on the edge — Society of Lies is the perfect mix of suspense and drama. A close group of friends share one dangerous secret, but as the truth starts to unravel, so does their loyalty to each other.

Think Big Little Lies, but with even more twists.

November 2024 — We Will Be Jaguars by Nemonte Nenquimo and Mitch Anderson.

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A powerful, poetic journey into the Amazon, We Will Be Jaguars is part memoir, part manifesto.

Indigenous leader Nemonte Nenquimo shares her story of fighting to protect her people, her culture, and the rainforest against relentless exploitation.

Co-authored with Mitch Anderson, this book is a moving call to action, weaving together personal anecdotes, ancestral wisdom, and urgent environmental truths.

December 2024 — City of Night Birds by Juhea Kim.

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In this haunting tale set in the cutthroat world of Russian ballet, fallen star Natalia Leonova returns to St Petersburg to face the ghosts of her past. With a chance to reclaim her place on stage, she must confront love, betrayal, and the sacrifices of her art.

Juhea Kim delivers a stunning story of redemption, passion, and the price of greatness.

Another year of Reese's book club is done and dusted. Image: Facebook/Reese's book club

So, that's the 2024 Reese book club list. But what about our favourites from previous years? 🤝

We've taken the liberty to go through each of Reese's book picks with a fine-tooth comb and pull out the most popular ones.

Without further ado, here are the best Reece Witherspoon book club recommendations, that are beloved around the world.

The most popular Reese Witherspoon book club books.

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

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There's a reason Witherspoon decided to turn Taylor Jenkins Reid's novel into an adaptation for the small screen. Daisy Jones & The Six is a sophisticated and ambitious read, one that will transport you back in time to the '70s.

The story follows the rise and fall of a rock band, and is framed as an oral history. The characters are beautifully layered and complex, and after you finish reading, you will have a newfound appreciation for the era.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Complete Fine by Gail Honeyman.

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Soon to be a major motion picture, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is an exceptional story about loneliness. The book's protagonist, Eleanor, is shown to be a bit odd and someone who lacks social skills. While she's intelligent, she lacks the ability to filter what she says, resulting in some extremely awkward interactions.

The reader is then taken on a journey, one that sees Eleanor overcome her childhood traumas and rediscover herself with the help of a deeply unhygienic IT guy that works in her office.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.

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Delia Owens' best-selling novel, which is now also a movie, centres around Kya Clark, a woman who was abandoned by her family at a young age and left to raise herself.

While she was used to living a quiet, solitary life, Kya found herself as the main suspect in a murder case. Suddenly, her life is thrown into disarray, and once again, she is forced to fend for herself in order to survive. Where the Crawdads Sing is a story about resilience. And it's a story that is thought-provoking and deeply moving.

Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister.

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If you're a fan of thriller with some added science fiction, then Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister should be your next read. The story is about a mother who constantly worries about her teenage son.

One night, she looks out her window and sees him stab a man in their front yard. The next morning, she travels back in time to the day before the crime takes place, and it's up to her to figure out why her son was motivated to stab the man in the first place.

It's a real page-turner that will keep you hooked from beginning to end. Trust us!

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave.

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The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave is a story about Hannah, a woman whose husband Owen goes missing. All she has from him is a note, that says, "Protect her."

Hannah believes the note refers to Owen's 16-year-old daughter, Bailey, who isn't close to Hannah in any way. But regardless, both Hannah and Bailey set out to put the pieces of Owen's disappearance together, only to discover that the man they knew had a lot of secrets. This critically acclaimed novel is gripping and mysterious. Nestled within the suspense is a heart-wrenching love story, one that is guaranteed to leave you in tears once you finish reading.

The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont.

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Nina de Gramont's The Christie Affair is a story about heartbreak, revenge and murder, and is a re-imagination of one of the most talked about unsolved mysteries of the 20th Century.

The novel is a piece of historical fiction and is a crafty story of what might have happened during the 11 days, in 1926, when Agatha Christie vanished. Narrated by Agatha's husband's mistress, Nan, readers will find themselves completely enthralled by this book, and dare we say, sympathetic towards Nan by the end.

From Scratch by Tembi Locke.

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From Scratch by Tembi Locke is not only a Reese Witherspoon book club pick, but it's also a limited Netflix series starring Zoe Saldana. And it was a seriously good TV series.

This poignant memoir is set in the Sicilian countryside, where the main character, Tembi, discovers the healing powers of food and family. It was love at first sight when Tembi met professional chef, Saro, on a street in Florence. However, Saro's traditional Sicilian family did not approve of him marrying a Black American woman. The couple still forge on and build a happy life together in Los Angeles, until one day, Saro is diagnosed with cancer.

This autobiography is about grief, loss and love, and contains emotions that are very real. The author's voice rang strong all throughout the story, thanks to her willingness to be open.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.

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The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of two sisters in France during World War II. The reader is taken on a journey with the two of them as they struggle to survive and resist the German occupation of France.

This is a story about survival, one that is filled with heartbreak, but also the resilience of the human spirit. Definitely give this one a read if you're looking for a premise that is deeply moving.

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell.

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The Marriage Portrait is loosely based on Lucrezia di Cosimo de'Medici, a 15-year-old girl who was forced to marry the older Alfonso II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, to help bring two powerful families together. After the pair wed, Alfonso takes Lucrezia to a remote palace where is she is under constant surveillance and control.

It's a skilfully written story that is sobering, largely due to the fact that it is based on real historical events. Maggie O'Farrell is a brilliant writer, and The Marriage Portrait will leave you spellbound.

On the Rooftop by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton.

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On the Rooftop is a novel about a mother whose dream of musical stardom for her three daughters collides with the daughters' ambitions for their own lives.

Ruth, Esther and Chloe have been singing and dancing since they first started speaking, thanks to their mother Vivian. But when Vivian is offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the girls, she quickly comes to realise that her young girls are now women, with their own sets of dreams.

This historical fiction book set in the 1950s is memorable and charming. The characters are well developed and despite not being an action-based story, it manages to keep the reader's attention all throughout.

Check out Reese Witherspoon's Book Club here.

At Mamamia, we independently curate and write about products we rave about in our group chats and think you should know about too. If you purchase a product we have recommended, we may earn a small commission.

This article was originally published in December 2023 and has since been updated.

Featured Image: Instagram/@reesesbookclub

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