We’ve already determined that 2023 is the year of the book. Yet the question of what to actually read continues to haunt us.
But, we have an easy fail-proof way to guarantee good book picks for the whole year! How? Reese Witherspoon of course.
Watch Below: Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick January 2023
It’s no secret Reese Witherspoon is the queen of reading, selecting an impeccable list of books for her book club year in, and year out, and then, turning a number of them into very successful screen adaptions.
Big Litlle Lies? That was a Reese pick. Where the Crawdads Sing? Reese again. Daisy Jones and the Six? Yep, Reese…and we could go on and on.
RELATED: The best books from Reese Witherspoon’s 2021 reading list
Reese’s book club is nothing new. Boasting over 2.4 million followers on Instagram alone, the account sees Reese pick one book a month that she loves that has a woman at the centre of the story – and then the fun begins!
And if the January pick is anything to go by, the actress’s 2023 picks will be her best yet!
January
THE HOUSE IN THE PINES BY ANA REYE
This brand new book by Ana Reye was described by Reese as an “absolute can’t put it down thriller,” which honestly is enough for us to add it to our reading list!
Our unreliable narrator Maya must solve the mystery of her best friend’s murder and readers are truly in for a wild ride with this one when more women begin to turn up dead.
If you love mysteries, thrillers and crazy twists this one’s for you!
February
THE HOUSE OF EVE BY SADEQA JOHNSON
Set in the 1950s, this unforgettable story follows Ruby and Eleanor. Ruby dreams of being the first in her family to attend college, but her first love may derail her plans. Eleanor marries into one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families but struggles to have a baby—the thing she wants most. Their lives collide in the most unexpected way in this novel that explores what it means to be a woman and a mother.
March
THE NIGHTINGALE BY KRISTIN HANNA
If you haven’t already read this 2015 novel by Kristin Hanna, then what are you waiting for?! The book tells the story of two sisters in France during WWII and their struggle to survive and resist the German occupation of France. Set to become a major motion picture later this year, The Nightingale is beautifully written and very emotional.
April
ROMANTIC COMEDY BY CURTIS SITTENFELD
A comedy writer thinks she’s sworn off love, until a dreamily handsome pop star flips the script on all her assumptions….
Do we even need to say more? This new hilarious novel from bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld hits all of our criteria. It’s funny, observant, romantic…we could go on forever!
May
DID YOU HEAR ABOUT KITTY KARR? BY CRYSTAL SMITH PAUL
When the legendary White movie star, Kitty Karr Tate, passes away, leaving her vast multimillion-dollar estate to the St. John sisters, three young and affluent Black women, it sparks an avalanche of questions.
Elise St. John, a renowned celebrity in her own right, would rather concentrate on handling Kitty’s affairs than deal with the media frenzy. However, the shocking revelations uncovered in one of Kitty’s personal journals shatter Elise’s world more profoundly than any brewing scandal ever could.
The truth surrounding Kitty’s remarkable rise to stardom, stemming from her humble beginnings in the racially segregated South, carries the potential to expose a tangled web of unexpected family connections, unsettled debts, and questionable transgressions. A single tug at this intricate thread could unravel the entire tapestry of the St. John sisters and those closest to them, threatening the quintessential American fabric that binds them together.
As Elise delves deeper into Kitty’s past, she is forced to turn the spotlight on herself, confronting the consequences of her own choices and realizing the power that the deceased hold over the living through their long-held secrets. Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? is an expansive and captivating tale set against the backdrop of the Hollywood machine. It offers profound insights and nuanced perspectives on the legacies of family, race, and gender, exploring the courageous choices some women make to liberate themselves from these inherited burdens.
June
CASSANDRA IN REVERSE BY HOLLY SMALE
Cassandra Penelope Dankworth is a creature of unwavering routines. She wholeheartedly embraces her preferences for museums, jumpsuits, her beloved boyfriend, Will, while harbouring a strong aversion towards disorder, alterations, and her boss audaciously sipping from her cherished mug. Her existence thrives on a delightful sense of order, its predictability bringing her solace… until now.
In an unforeseen twist, her world takes an astonishing turn when Cassie stumbles upon an extraordinary ability to manipulate the past. Armed with this newfound power, she embarks on a quest to rectify the unintentional havoc she has wreaked upon her own life. Step by step, she carefully rewinds time, hoping to mend the fragments she has inadvertently shattered. However, she soon discovers that her efforts are misdirected, as she finds herself trying to rectify all the wrong aspects of her existence.
Note: The title is different in Australia and the UK – It’s actually called The Cassandra Complex!
July
YELLOWFACE BY R.F KUANG
Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were once seen as twin rising stars. They attended Yale together, and both embarked on their publishing journeys at the same time. However, their paths diverged drastically. While Athena became a celebrated figure in the literary world, June’s work went unnoticed, relegated to obscurity without even a paperback release. June couldn’t help but attribute this to the lack of interest in stories centred around “basic white girls.”
Tragedy strikes when June witnesses Athena’s untimely death in a freak accident. Seizing the moment, June succumbs to impulse and steals Athena’s recently completed masterpiece—a groundbreaking novel delving into the forgotten contributions of Chinese labourers during World War I to the British and French war efforts.
In a bold move, June decides to edit Athena’s novel and submit it to her own agent as her original creation. To add to the deception, she allows her new publisher to rebrand her as Juniper Song, complete with an author photo that leaves her ethnicity ambiguous. After all, June believes that this crucial piece of history deserves to be told, regardless of the storyteller. The literary world seems to agree, as Juniper Song’s work climbs the ranks of the prestigious New York Times bestseller list.
Yet, June finds it impossible to escape Athena’s shadow. As damning evidence emerges, threatening to expose the truth behind June’s stolen success, she is forced into a race against time to protect her secret. Along the way, she confronts the extent to which she is willing to go to maintain what she believes she deserves.
Through its engrossing first-person narrative, Yellowface tackles pressing issues of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation within the publishing industry. R. F. Kuang’s timely and incisive novel not only exposes the erasure of Asian-American voices and history perpetuated by Western white society but also challenges readers to reconsider their perceptions of these complex issues. Yellowface is an eminently readable work that will leave a lasting impact.
August
TOM LAKE BY ANN PATCHETT
In the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters visit the family’s orchard in Northern Michigan. While cherries are being picked, the girls urge their mother to share the tale of Peter Duke, a renowned actor with whom she once had both a stage partnership and a romantic connection during their time at a theater company called Tom Lake. As Lara reminisces about her past, her daughters find themselves reflecting on their own lives and their relationship with their mother. This leads them to reevaluate their perspectives on the world and challenge everything they believed to be true.
Tom Lake delves into the themes of young love, married love, and the lives their parents led before they were born. With a blend of hopefulness and elegy, the story explores the concept of finding happiness even amidst a crumbling world. Ann Patchett, in her signature style, weaves together a compelling narrative that intricately dissects family dynamics, offering profound insights. The novel shines with its luminous storytelling, exhibiting a profound intelligence and emotional subtlety that cements Ann Patchett’s position as one of the most revered and acclaimed literary talents of our time.
September
MOTHER-DAUGHTER MURDER NIGHT BY NINA SIMON
In the captivating novel Rubicon Shores, readers are introduced to Lana Rubicon, a formidable businesswoman accustomed to the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles and her thriving real estate empire. However, life takes an unexpected turn when Lana’s health forces her to recuperate in a tranquil coastal town alongside her daughter Beth and spirited granddaughter Jack. As Lana grapples with boredom and a life-threatening illness, Jack stumbles upon a shocking discovery: a dead body during a kayaking adventure.
The Rubicon women are hurled into a whirlwind of suspicion, prompting Lana to put on a brave face and embark on a mission to unmask the real murderer, all while protecting her family. With the support of her daughter and granddaughter, Lana delves into a labyrinth of secrets, family rivalries, and land disputes lurking beneath the veneer of a seemingly idyllic community. Rubicon Shores is a thrilling tale of resilience and the unbreakable bonds of family, as the tenacious Rubicon women navigate treacherous terrain, ultimately learning to depend on one another in their pursuit of justice.
October
STARLING HOUSE BY ALIX E. HARROW
Step into the timeless mystery of Starling House, a mansion shrouded in darkness, and meet Opal, a young woman determined to escape the cursed town of Eden. Legend has it that the house and its brooding heir, Arthur, are best left undisturbed. But when an opportunity to work within its haunted walls arises, Opal can’t resist the chance to secure her brother’s future. Starling House, with its secrets and eerie allure, feels like the home she’s never had. Yet, Opal soon discovers she’s not the only one drawn to the mysteries hidden within. Sinister forces descend upon Eden, and Opal must confront her past to shape a brighter future. In this sweeping gothic fairytale by acclaimed author Alix E. Harrow, follow Opal deep beneath Starling House as she fights for a place to call her own.”
November
MAYBE NEXT TIME BY CESCA MAJOR
In this captivating novel that blends the charm of One Day with the intriguing time loop concept of Groundhog Day, readers are immersed in the turbulent life of Emma, a bustling London literary agent. Juggling the demands of her family and a hectic career, Emma unwittingly overlooks the subtle signals of her loved ones’ distress. As she races through a typical Monday, consumed by the chaos of social media and work emergencies, a tragic event unfolds, leaving her husband, Dan, dead. However, Emma wakes up the next day to the shock of reliving the same Monday—over and over again. Fueled by a desperate determination to alter the course of fate, Emma embarks on a poignant journey, experimenting with each repetition to salvage her family and rediscover herself.
December
BEFORE WE WERE INNOCENT BY ELLA BERMAN
In the gripping novel by the author of “The Comeback,” a summer in Greece turns tragic for three best friends, leaving only two to return home. Bess and Joni faced intense media scrutiny and accusations surrounding their friend Evangeline’s death a decade ago, despite being cleared of involvement. Their lives have taken divergent paths since then, with Joni leveraging infamy for success while Bess sought a controlled life.
When Joni seeks Bess’s help with an alibi, their uneasy reunion forces them to confront their shared past. As they grapple with the weight of public perception and the question of innocence, the novel probes the challenging reality of navigating a world where the truth isn’t always what people believe. The story intricately explores themes of friendship, guilt, and the enduring impact of a haunting summer that changed their lives forever.
