Reese Witherspoon is a self-described bookworm, and even has her own book club on Instagram. From celebrity memoirs to thrillers, the 42-year-old likes to share photos of the novels she’s reading with her fans — and we’re keeping track of what she recommends in the Reese Witherspoon Book Club! The actress recently announced a new audiobook project with Audible, which means every book from her Hello Sunshine book club will be available as an audiobook. (You can get June’s book, Something in the Water, for free with an Audible trial.)

Scroll down to see all the books the Reese Witherspoon Book Club has recommended over the years!

1. The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan

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I love this book! Has anyone else read? #RWBookClub

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Are diamonds really forever? In J. Courtney Sullivan’s The Engagements, she tackles this exact question as she tells the captivating story of four couples and one ring spanning more than a century. As the ring moves throughout history, it not only remains a symbol of love (whether it be good or bad), it becomes a symbol of the shifts in society and culture over the course of the 20th century. As the stories progress and intertwine with one another, we get a fascinating look at the history of the institution of marriage and all that it stands for.

Where to buy: from $13.68, Amazon

2. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

the ocean at the end of the lane reece witherspoon book club

In The Ocean at the End of the Lane, our narrator is a middle-aged man who finds himself in his hometown after attending a funeral. Following the funeral, he finds himself driving around his hometown, drawn to one spot in particular: the farm at the end of the road where Lettie Hempstock once lived. He soon finds himself sitting beside the pond on the property recounting a strange story to the older woman who now lives there. As he tells his story, he soon comes to realize that this is not just a forgotten tale but instead, unremembered events that came rushing back, leading him to question everything he knows about his strange little town, Lettie Hempstock, and himself.

Where to buy: from $6.48, Amazon

3. Me Before You by JoJo Moyes

After losing her job, Louisa “Lou” Clark leaves everything she knows behind to take a job caretaking for former businessman and extreme-sports enthusiast Will Traynor following an accident that left him partially paralyzed. Bitter and a bit cold at first, it takes Will time to warm up to the bright and effervescent Lou. But as a romance begins to blossom, it all but falls apart when Lou learns of Will’s dark secret. Tender and heartbreaking at moments, Me Before You is a story of love and the hard sacrifices we’re sometimes forced to make for the ones we love.

Where to buy: from $8.09, Amazon

4. The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro

Centered around the true story of the infamous art heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum — still the largest unsolved art theft in history — painter Claire Roth receives a delivery on her doorstep that will soon send her on the journey of a lifetime. Upon closer inspection, she recognizes the painting mysteriously left at her door as one of the stolen Degas paintings from the heist. After agreeing to forge a copy for a powerful gallery owner in exchange for an exhibit of her own work, Claire begins to suspect this missing masterpiece may not be an original after all. A winding, whirlwind of a mystery, follow Claire as she attempts to uncover the truth behind an age old adage: Everything is not what it seems.

Where to buy: from $10.95, Amazon

5. Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls by David Sedaris

In Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls by one of America’s most popular humorists, David Sedaris simply does what he does best: delights. A collection filled with the ostensibly autobiographical, self-deprecating humor we’ve come to expect from Sedaris, Owls leads us through each essay, peppered with hilarious anecdotes from his life that, as funny as they are, always end with an emotional gut punch of raw love and emotion. Great for those who enjoy expertly written prose with a penetrating current of humor, it’s merely another example of why David Sedaris is one of the best of the best.

Where to buy: from $9.33, Amazon

6. Look at Me by Jennifer Egan

look at me jennifer egen reece witherspoon book club

What would you do if the thing that made you you was taken away from you? In Look At Me, Jennifer Egan attempts to answer this question with Charlotte Swenson, a fashion model who, following a horrific car crash that leaves her face so badly shattered it required eighty titanium screws to reassemble, attempts to return to the glory of her life as a model with one thing missing — her famous face. A dissection of our cultural obsession with image, beauty, and identity, this book follows Swenson and other casualties of societal chastisement whose lives inexplicably converge in one thrilling and mesmerizing tale.

Where to buy: $13.56, Amazon

7. Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan

If there’s one thing stand-up comedian Jim Gaffigan is known for, it’s his dad jokes (and we’re not talking about puns here, people). Gaffigan is famous for his specials where he goes into hour-long spiels about being a father to five children and all that encompasses, so it only makes sense that a book on the funny side of parenting would follow. Documenting his wins and losses in fatherhood, this book is as hilarious as it is relatable to those who come home to a rambunctious pack of children every night. Dad is Fat may be, at its most surface level, about a dad who is fat, but damn if he isn’t doing his best.

Where to buy: $13.65, Amazon

8. The Glitter Plan: How We Started Juicy Couture for $200 and Turned It into a Global Brand by Pamela Skaist-Levy, Gela Nash-Taylo, and Booth Moore

What happens when you take two friends who bond over their shared inability to find the “perfect” t-shirt and add $200 and a whole bunch of tenacity and creativity? You get the story behind global fashion brand Juicy Couture. The Glitter Plan follows Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor on their journey to worldwide success that would lead them to define an era with everything from must-have bags to their iconic velour tracksuits. A great read for any fashion lover, this book shows readers not only that it’s possible to turn your dreams into reality but provides ways to do so. All it takes it a little sparkle.

Where to buy: $12.23, Amazon

9. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

It’s the star-studded show that became a runaway hit in 2017, winning every major accolade and acclaim across the board. But before Big Little Lies made it to HBO, it was a gripping, bestselling book by Liane Moriarty. The book follows three mothers — Madeline, Celeste, and Jane — and their not-so-simple lives in the fictional beachside town of Pirriwee, Australia. A complicated yet brilliant look at motherhood, female friendship, and schoolyard scandal, you won’t be able to put down this book as all the big little lies begin to unravel before you.

Where to buy: from $14.40, Amazon

10. One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by BJ Novak

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For fans of NBC’s The Office, many will recognize actor, director, producer, and writer B.J. Novak as multi-season fixture Ryan Howard, but with his debut book, One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories, Novak seamlessly adds author to his collection of many hats. Continuing his work as an expert observer of human behavior, the stories in this book manages to take the ordinary, everyday parts of life we often take for granted and chops and screws them into laugh-out-loud funny situations, all the while making keen observations about the people we surround ourselves with, and ultimately, the people we are.

Where to buy: from $11.83, Amazon

11. Not That Kind Of Girl by Lena Dunham

In Not That Kind of Girl, actress, director, and now author Lena Dunham shares her tales of lessons learned in love, life, and growing up as a woman in today’s world. A collection of personal essays riddled with humorous anecdotes, Dunham takes you on a journey through her life, missteps, successes, and all, in an effort to help readers not only relate but feel empowered to chase after the life they want without compromising who they truly are.

Where to buy: from $10.87, Amazon

12. Pennyroyal Academy by M.A. Larson

For readers young and old, Pennyroyal Academy is a pure delight. “Evie” comes from the forest and arrives in a kingdom in the middle of a war — with no idea how she got there. She enrolls in Pennyroyal Academy, where she’s trained to fight witches and dragons alongside princesses and knights. As the witch forces come closer, more secrets are uncovered.

Where to buy: from $8.34, Amazon

13. The Everyday Supermodel by Molly Sims

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What’s the secret to supermodel good looks and a killer confidence to match? According to actress, model, and author Molly Sims, it’s a lot of work. In this fun memoir/guide to a better you, Sims shares stories from her life (including tales from her modeling days) expertly interwoven with advice on everything from health and beauty to fashion and loving yourself. An enjoyable, easy read thanks to Sims’ down-to-earth persona exuded throughout every page, this book is less of a self-help book and more of a best friend you can take anywhere with you.

Where to buy: $12.76, Amazon

14. It’s What I Do by Lynsey Addario

In war photographer Lynsey Addario’s memoir, It’s What I Do: A Photographer’s Life of Love and War, the photojournalist chronicles her life, traveling to some of the most dangerous parts of the world in an effort to document the true and oftentimes brutal reality that is war. Touching on everything from stories of those caught in the middle of these conflicts to her own personal fight to be accepted amongst her male peers suffering from a “boys-club” mentality, Addario’s tale is as inspiring as it is heartbreaking.

Where to buy: from $15.07, Amazon

15. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

For a psychological thriller that will keep you turning pages into the night, look no further. The Girl on the Train takes a woman’s mundane daily commute and twists it into an unforgettable scenario that changes her life. Rachel begins noticing a happy couple that share breakfast together every morning at one of the stops. She makes up a story about their life in her mind and obsesses over their seemingly perfect relationship. It’s not until one day she witnesses something that doesn’t seem plausible. After filing a police report, her life is flipped upside down and she’s stuck between what she knows she saw and the investigator’s questioning her honesty. Grab a train ticket and weave through the messy details caused by an everyday routine gone wrong.

Where to buy: from $7.73, Amazon

16. Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

When the lives of a young blind girl fleeing the Nazi’s occupation of Paris and a brilliant young man who’s a member of the Nazi youth converge, the worlds they used to know begin to crumble and reshape. Marie-Laure’s father was the lock master at the Museum of Natural History before the two fled their dangerous home to her great uncle’s house in Saint-Malo. Werner, an orphan, is given a spot in a brutal Nazi training academy because of his intelligence. Slowly he begins to realize that the skills and assignments he’s being given are only threatening the lives of others. This World War II historical fiction novel is both heart-wrenching and dripping with the beauty that can come from unfortunate situations. Author Anthony Doerr spins these characters out of golden metaphorical threads that reflect the complexity of what’s humanely right and wrong. You won’t be able to set this story down.

Where to buy: from $10.70, Amazon

17. Ashley’s War by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

War rarely leads to beautiful outcomes, but rather pain, destruction, and anger. Yet, in 2010 the United States Army created Cultural Support Teams (CST), with an all-women roster that cultivated personal connections amidst a terrifying war zone. These teams had a special purpose of interrogating the women found during the raids of enemies’ compounds and frisking them for dangerous weapons. Rather than the horror of American soldiers barking orders and doing patdowns, the women created a calmer environment in what typically is nothing short of chaos, panic, and trauma for both sides. Relationships were formed between women from vastly different countries and the women within the group. Gayle Tzemach Lemmon follows the journey of a CST-2 team led by Ashley White, a strong, admirable soldier, on what is a groundbreaking innovation in a male-dominated organization that used to only fuel feelings of hatred.

Where to buy: $8.98, Amazon

18. Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

Keeping secrets never ends well and unfortunately Ani FaNelli has a few. During her years at her prestigious academy, she was publicly humiliated and after graduation worked hard to piece her life back together. She now has a picture perfect life, at least from the outside. A thriller that’s as addictive as Gillian Flynn’s The Girl on the Train, you’ll find yourself following Ani deep into her murky past that’s threatening to ruin her life all over again.

Where to buy: $10.40, Amazon

19. Second Life by S.J. Watson

second life book

The brutal murder of her sister sends Julia into a relentless search for clues as to the truth behind what happened and who’s to blame. Along the way, she gets caught in the dangerous web of a stranger who she begins getting a little too close to. As she gets closer to answers, she also gets closer to losing her husband, family, and her own life. The book takes you on an emotional roller coaster and allows you to witness how a family bond can push you to the brink of losing yourself. This story will even leave you questioning who you know and who you think you know.

Where to buy: $8.79, Amazon

20. #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso

The incredibly witty and smart female entrepreneur behind the $100 million-dollar fashion retailer Nasty Gal, Sophia Amoruso, didn’t have an easy start to where she is now. As a CEO and now founder and host of the #GIRLBOSS podcast, Amoruso looks a lot different from her teenage years of stealing, dumpster diving, and hitchhiking. Despite dropping out of school, she came to a realization while working at in the lobby of an art school that something had to change. She began selling vintage clothes on eBay and the rest is history. For the women in search of success who don’t fit the cookie cutter, C-suite-bound mold, this book is for you. You’ll learn how to break the right rules, admonish those who doubt you, and make a name for yourself doing a job you love.

Where to buy: from $14.40, Amazon

21. Becoming By Cindy Crawford by Cindy Crawford

Iconic supermodel Cindy Crawford shares the story on her successful career and the things she learned along the way. While we were exposed to the glitz and glamour side of the modeling world, Crawford gives a thoughtful, inside peek at both the ups and downs. She touches on self-consciousness, motherhood, marriage, and aging all in a way that any woman can relate to. You’ll take a walk down memory lane through her photo shoots throughout the years, starting in the mid-1980s, and annotated by no one other than Cindy herself. The book also includes never-before-seen, unpublished photos that give a more intimate look at the life of one of the most famous fashion queens.

Where to buy: $27.99, Amazon

22. In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

The title itself is enough to give you chills. Ruth Ware’s character Leonora is a crime writer with a painful past. She’s invited to spend the weekend with a long lost friend in the English countryside. Hesitantly accepting, she goes only to wake up in a hospital bed unsure of what happened that during her trip. Someone was killed, and the only thing on Leonora’s mind is what she did wrong. As she anxiously searches to find answers, she’s forced to face dark and twisted memories from her past that she can’t repress any longer. Your fingers will be glued to the pages from the second you open the book to the very last words.

Where to buy: from $9.60, Amazon

23. The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

Strong friendships seem to always withstand the test of time, but when Suzy and her best friend Franny’s relationship falls apart, Suzy can’t help but feel guilty after Franny dies in a drowning accident. Trying to make sense of her tragic loss, Suzy convinces herself that a jellyfish sting is what caused her friend’s death. In order to prove it, she takes off to travel the world solo, trying to cope, grieve, and pick up the pieces. While her world is painted in death and sorrow, she begins to learn that love isn’t permanently removed from her life, but simply buried in rubble and in need of a good dusting off.

Where to buy: from $7.40, Amazon

24. Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

Actor and producer Mindy Kaling takes serious topics and everyday struggles and breaks them down into digestible bites that are humorous rather than painful. Why Not Me? explores her quest for finding love, excitement, weight loss techniques that actually work, and a place in an industry where women like her are severely underrepresented. Kaling will make you laugh, cry, and feel comforted by her personal stories that are pertinent to so many women. No matter who you are, you’ll find a relatable friend in Mindy’s words.

Where to buy: from $12.80, Amazon

25. Brave Enough by Cheryl Strayed

Despite trying to hold together a life that was crumbling to pieces, Cheryl Strayed conquered the Pacific Crest Trail and wrote a book about it. It exploded in popularity and was transformed into an Oscar-nominated film, an outcome she never saw coming. Now Strayed is looked to for inspiration when the going gets tough and for the powerful, gritty quotes that have bloomed from her experiences. Brave Enough is a compilation of her words of wisdom and encourages all readers who turn its pages to take life by the reins, hold your head high, and carry on.

Where to buy: $14.07, Amazon

26. Wildflower by Drew Barrymore

wildflower drew barrymore

Drew Barrymore’s life has been a series of crazy adventures, immense hardships, and exciting successes. Her book Wildflower is broken up into 28 beautifully written personal essays that allow readers into the mind of one of the world’s most renowned actors. Heartfelt letters to her darling daughters Olive and Frankie are sandwiched between tales of dusty road trips and misunderstood fathers. You’ll love diving in and getting lost in Barrymore’s world for a little bit, and coming back out inspired to tell your own story.

Where to buy: from $10.87, Amazon

27. Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

What would you do if you had to say yes to everything that terrified you? Would you run and hide or take the challenge head on? The brilliant mind behind cult favorite, unflinching shows, Shonda Rhimes, decided to do the latter. No one would’ve guessed that the woman who has inspired so many others to be fearless in their lives and careers is introverted, has suffered with mental health issues, and feared saying yes to opportunities that seemed to pose too great a risk. One year that changed, and now she’s telling her story in hopes that you too will take a chance for yourself to see the potential that can come from simply saying “yes.”

Where to buy: from $11.87, Amazon

28. Opening Belle by Maureen Sherry

The intelligent and witty Isabelle decides to take on the ruthless, male-dominated world that is Wall Street. While she seems to have it all, it’s beginning to feel like too much and her marriage, job, and sense of self begin to crack under pressure. When an old college flame reappears in her life she’s whisked into a world that’s less stable than the stock market she follows each day. The historic economic crash of 2008 is looming over Belle and her colleague’s heads, but it might be the break she needs in order to find the off switch and reconfigure her messy life. This fast-moving novel will give you whiplash as you follow a strong woman who’s taking the Old Boy’s Club mindset of the industry and tossing it in the trash.

Where to buy: from $8.80, Amazon

29. Pretty Happy by Kate Hudson

You know Kate Hudson from her movies (and as the daughter of Goldie Hawn!), but she’s also a New York Times bestselling author. Her book, Pretty Habits, shows readers how to cultivate healthy habits throughout the busyness of everyday life. Amazon reviewer Megan Fanelli writes, “It has really helped me take control of the emotional side of my life. While I have a grip on diet and exercise this book has revealed to me that there were areas of happiness I would not achieve if I didn’t deal with my other stuff. This book is the beginning of a journey for me and really gets you thinking about your life without being pushy.”

Where to buy: from $16.29, Amazon

30. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Set in World War II, The Nightingale follows two sisters — Vianne and Isabelle — during the German occupation of France. It’s a historical fiction that specifically shows what it’s like to be a woman in a time of war. “The story focuses on alternating between two French sisters, who have a tense relationship which stems from childhood issues,” Amazon reviewer LindsayE says. “Vianne and Isabelle are quite different from one another, and this offers readers the chance to follow both women on very different courses through the war…The ending was amazing, and I shed several tears.”

Where to buy: from $11.54, Amazon

31. The Outliers by Kimberly McCreight

A thriller for a new generation, The Outliers starts on a dramatic note — a friend’s plea, “Please, Wylie, I need our help.” Wylie embarks on a journey to find her friend Cassie, but the mysteries keep unraveling and complicating.

Where to buy: from $8.99, Amazon

32. Where the Light Gets In by Kimberly Williams-Paisley

Kimberly Williams-Paisley may be a famous actress, but she kept her struggle with her mother’s illness private. In Where the Light Gets In, Kimberly opens up about her mom’s diagnosis with primary progressive aphasia, a rare form of dementia, and how her family grappled with it. In an Amazon review, Mary R Wilke wrote, “I am not a person that rates books but after reading this book, felt I should let others know how excellent this book is. Kimberly Williams-Paisley wrote a touching and informative book on her family’s journey with her mother’s dementia. There were so many moments in the book that I could relate to as I experience my own journey with my mom. I especially appreciated the reminder to love and experience my mom where she is now, not what she used to be. If you have a family member with dementia, I encourage you to read this book.”

Where to buy: from $11.42, Amazon

33. The Clasp by Sloane Crosley

You might remember Sloane Crosley’s striking debut Prep, and she brings her signature wit to The Clasp, which focuses on the complicated friendships between college friends Kezia, Nathaniel, and Victor, who are all reunited at a wedding. They grapple with their friendships in the midst of an adventure that sets them traveling around the country before ending up in France at the estate of famous French writer Guy de Maupassant.

Where to buy: from $8.80, Amazon

34. All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker

When 15-year-old Jenny Kramer is assaulted at a party, she’s given a drug that allows her to erase her memories of the incident. In the aftermath, Jenny and her entire family is struggling — but there’s more to the story in this psychological thriller. Amazon reviewer Jennifer Sandell writes, “Give this book your time. It is dark, gritty, well thought out, and obviously well researched. It is a welcome departure from all the other beachy summer reads. It has the perfect levels of suspense and family drama. I’m very impressed that this is the author’s first book….One of the best books I’ve read this summer.”

Where to buy: from $10.00, Amazon

35. Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

Liane Moriarty is known for her gripping novels, and Truly Madly Guilty is no different. Three couples attend a summer barbecue, and a traumatic event occurs that changes their lives forever. A good portion of the book keeps you wondering about the mystery, but Amazon reviewer Annie Anderson writes, “It is so worth the wait. It seems to be her style to reveal the outcomes and consequences in her books prior to the big reveal. And in this book I was as enthralled with the how’s and why’s as I have been in all of Moriarty’s other books.”

Where to buy: from $12.53, Amazon

36. The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer

Comedian Amy Schumer’s The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo is a personal collection of essays in her trademark hilarious and confessional style. If you’re a fan of Trainwreck or her Comedy Central show Inside Amy Schumer, this is one to put on your list.

Where to buy: from $12.00, Amazon

37. Before the Fall by Noah Hawley and The Girls by Emma Cline

This is a double whammy of two mesmerizing books: Before the Fall and The Girls. The former is set in the aftermath of a plane crash that kills 11 people, while the later is set on the fringes of a cult in 1960s Northern California. The first starts with a tragedy, and weaves its way into the backstories of the people on the flight; the second descends further into chaos as teenager Evie gets progressively in over her head.

Where to buy Before the Fall: $12.79, Amazon

Where to buy The Girls: from $13.46, Amazon

38. You’ll Grow Out of It by Jessi Klein and First Comes Love by Emily Giffin

Comedian Jessi Klein’s essay collection, You’ll Grow Out of It, is a hilarious ode to what girlhood looks like when you’re a tomboy. First Comes Love is a novel by the inimitable Emily Giffin, a story of friendship between Josie and Meredith, sisters who grow apart after a tragedy in their youth. Fifteen years later, they’re forced to grapple with what’s transpired and how their lives have turned out — in two very different ways.

Where to buy You’ll Grow Out of It: from $10.87, Amazon

Where to buy First Comes Love: from $11.78, Amazon

39. Adulting by Kelly Williams Brown

You’ve almost certainly heard of “adulting,” acting like an adult even if you don’t feel like one. Based on Kelly Williams Brown’s blog if the same name, this is the advice book for a new generation, featuring some practical advice in a fun, engaging clip.

Where to buy: $11.00, Amazon

40. The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

Eleven-year-old Anna O’Donnell lives in a small Irish village, and has said to have survived for months without food. An English nurse name Lib is hired to watch over Anna in the midst of it all. A reviewer on Amazon wrote, “Words can’t to do this story justice.”

Where to buy: from $9.70, Amazon

41. The Dry by Jane Harper

The Dry is a page-turning thriller. The novel begins when Federal Agent Aaron Falk comes back to his hometown for the first time in years for his old friend Luke’s funeral. And in such a small town, there are plenty of secrets. Amazon reviewer David said, “Overnight I finished Jane Harper’s novel — a story I found difficult to put down until I reached the last page. For a first novel it is outstanding. The author writes in beautiful, descriptive language and, at the same time, keeps socking the reader between the eyes with the revelations that unfold in this terrible story of a brutal family murder in an outback country town — a town that seeps with anger, bitterness, violence, oppressive heat and blow-flies.”

Where to buy: from $10.99, Amazon

42. The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

reese witherspoon book
(Photo Credit: Instagram)

The Alice Network is a story of two amazing women, across two different timelines. Post-World War II, Charlie St. Clair is struggling. She’s pregnant, unmarried, and praying that her cousin Rose, who was last spotted in France, is still alive. Her parents send her to Europe in the hope to end her pregnancy, but Charlie instead attempts to discover what happened to Rose. In the middle of World War I, Eve Gardiner is recruited to work as a spy against the Germans in the Alice Network. Years later, she’s haunted by her past until Charlie shows up.

Where to buy: from $10.70, Amazon

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