Don’t Know What to Read Next? See Every 2019 Selection From the Reese Witherspoon Book Club!

December

Conviction by Denise Mina

Plot (via Little, Brown and Company): The day Anna McDonald’s quiet, respectable life exploded started off like all the days before: Packing up the kids for school, making breakfast, listening to yet another true crime podcast. Then her husband comes downstairs with an announcement, and Anna is suddenly, shockingly alone.

Reeling, desperate for distraction, Anna returns to the podcast. Other people’s problems are much better than one’s own — a sunken yacht, a murdered family, a hint of international conspiracy. But this case actually is Anna’s problem. She knows one of the victims from an earlier life, a life she’s taken great pains to leave behind. And she is convinced that she knows what really happened.

Then an unexpected visitor arrives on her front stoop, a meddling neighbor intervenes, and life as Anna knows it is well and truly over. The devils of her past are awakened — and in hot pursuit. Convinced she has no other options, she goes on the run, and in pursuit of the truth, with a washed-up musician at her side and the podcast as her guide.

Reese’s Book Club x HelloSunshine’s take: “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.”

You can buy the book here!

November

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

Plot (via Penguin Random House): Set in Depression-era America, a breathtaking story of five extraordinary women and their remarkable journey through the mountains of Kentucky and beyond, from the author of Me Before You.

Alice Wright marries handsome American Bennett Van Cleve hoping to escape her stifling life in England.  But small-town Kentucky quickly proves equally claustrophobic, especially living alongside her overbearing father-in-law. So when a call goes out for a team of women to deliver books as part of Eleanor Roosevelt’s new traveling library, Alice signs on enthusiastically.

The leader, and soon Alice’s greatest ally, is Margery, a smart-talking, self-sufficient woman who’s never asked a man’s permission for anything. They will be joined by three other singular women who become known as the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky.

What happens to them — and to the men they love — becomes an unforgettable drama of loyalty, justice, humanity and passion. These heroic women refuse to be cowed by men or by convention. And though they face all kinds of dangers in a landscape that is at times breathtakingly beautiful, at others brutal, they’re committed to their job: bringing books to people who have never had any, arming them with facts that will change their lives.

Based on a true story rooted in America’s past, The Giver of Stars is unparalleled in its scope and epic in its storytelling. Funny, heartbreaking, enthralling, it is destined to become a modern classic — a richly rewarding novel of women’s friendship, of true love, and of what happens when we reach beyond our grasp for the great beyond. 

Reese’s Book Club x HelloSunshine’s take: “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. At the center of this story are five amazing women who will have you hooked from the first paragraph.”

You can buy the book here!

October

Fair Play by Eve Rodsky

Plot (via Penguin Random House): A revolutionary, real-world solution to the problem of unpaid, invisible work that women have shouldered for too long.

It started with the Sh*t I Do List. Tired of being the “shefault” parent responsible for all aspects of her busy household, Eve Rodsky counted up all the unpaid, invisible work she was doing for her family — and then sent that list to her husband, asking for things to change. His response was… underwhelming. Rodsky realized that simply identifying the issue of unequal labor on the home front wasn’t enough: She needed a solution to this universal problem. Her sanity, identity, career, and marriage depended on it.

The result is Fair Play: a time- and anxiety-saving system that offers couples a completely new way to divvy up domestic responsibilities. Rodsky interviewed more than five hundred men and women from all walks of life to figure out what the invisible work in a family actually entails and how to get it all done efficiently. With four easy-to-follow rules, 100 household tasks, and a figurative card game you play with your partner, Fair Play helps you prioritize what’s important to your family and who should take the lead on every chore from laundry to homework to dinner.

“Winning” this game means rebalancing your home life, reigniting your relationship with your significant other, and reclaiming your Unicorn Space — as in, the time to develop the skills and passions that keep you interested and interesting. Are you ready to try Fair Play? Let’s deal you in.

Reese’s Book Club x HelloSunshine’s take: “This book is all about real-world solutions to divvying up the domestic workload fairly in your home and to help you find your #UnicornSpace so you have time to do the things that you love (like finally reading all of the books in your TBR pile).📚”

You can buy the book here!

September

The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott

Plot (via Penguin Random House): A thrilling tale of secretaries turned spies, of love and duty, and of sacrifice – inspired by the true story of the CIA plot to infiltrate the hearts and minds of Soviet Russia, not with propaganda, but with the greatest love story of the twentieth century: Doctor Zhivago.

At the height of the Cold War, two secretaries are pulled out of the typing pool at the CIA and given the assignment of a lifetime. Their mission: to smuggle Doctor Zhivago out of the USSR, where no one dare publish it, and help Pasternak’s magnum opus make its way into print around the world. Glamorous and sophisticated Sally Forrester is a seasoned spy who has honed her gift for deceit all over the world – using her magnetism and charm to pry secrets out of powerful men. Irina is a complete novice, and under Sally’s tutelage quickly learns how to blend in, make drops, and invisibly ferry classified documents.

The Secrets We Kept combines a legendary literary love story – the decades-long affair between Pasternak and his mistress and muse, Olga Ivinskaya, who was sent to the Gulag and inspired Zhivago’s heroine, Lara – with a narrative about two women empowered to lead lives of extraordinary intrigue and risk. From Pasternak’s country estate outside Moscow to the brutalities of the Gulag, from Washington, D.C. to Paris and Milan, The Secrets We Kept captures a watershed moment in the history of literature – told with soaring emotional intensity and captivating historical detail. And at the center of this unforgettable debut is the powerful belief that a piece of art can change the world.

Reese’s Book Club x HelloSunshine’s take: “Set during the Cold War, #TheSecretsWeKept 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. You’ll get to know Sally Forrester, a veteran spy, and Irina, a total newbie. Fans of historical fiction, thrillers, romance, and the power of books to spark change will devour our September pick!”

You can buy the book here!

August

The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda

Plot (via Simon & Schuster): Littleport, Maine, has always felt like two separate towns: an ideal vacation enclave for the wealthy, whose summer homes line the coastline; and a simple harbor community for the year-round residents whose livelihoods rely on service to the visitors.

Typically, fierce friendships never develop between a local and a summer girl—but that’s just what happens with visitor Sadie Loman and Littleport resident Avery Greer. Each summer for almost a decade, the girls are inseparable — until Sadie is found dead. While the police rule the death a suicide, Avery can’t help but feel there are those in the community, including a local detective and Sadie’s brother, Parker, who blame her. Someone knows more than they’re saying, and Avery is intent on clearing her name, before the facts get twisted against her.

Reese’s Book Club x HelloSunshine’s take: “Set in the small vacation town of Littleport, Maine, you’ll meet visitor Sadie Loman and resident Avery Greer. These two are inseparable for almost a decade — until Sadie Loman is found dead. 😱Secrets that have been hidden for years will be uncovered in this thrilling story.”

You can buy the book here!

July

Whisper Network by Chandler Baker

Plot (via Macmillan): Sloane, Ardie, Grace, and Rosalita have worked at Truviv, Inc. for years. The sudden death of Truviv’s CEO means their boss, Ames, will likely take over the entire company. Each of the women has a different relationship with Ames, who has always been surrounded by whispers about how he treats women. Those whispers have been ignored, swept under the rug, hidden away by those in charge.

But the world has changed, and the women are watching this promotion differently. This time, when they find out Ames is making an inappropriate move on a colleague, they aren’t willing to let it go. This time, they’ve decided enough is enough.

Sloane and her colleagues’ decision to take a stand sets in motion a catastrophic shift in the office. Lies will be uncovered. Secrets will be exposed. And not everyone will survive. All of their lives — as women, colleagues, mothers, wives, friends, even adversaries — will change dramatically as a result.

Reese’s Book Club x HelloSunshine’s take: “Set in the #MeToo era, the story follows four women whose lives dramatically change after the sudden death of their company’s CEO. Whispers spread around the office, secrets are revealed, and so much more.”

You can buy the book here!

June

The Cactus by Sarah Haywood
Plot (via Harlequin): For Susan Green, messy emotions don’t fit into the equation of her perfectly ordered life. She has a flat that is ideal for one, a job that suits her passion for logic, and an “interpersonal arrangement” that provides cultural and other, more intimate, benefits. But suddenly confronted with the loss of her mother and the news that she is about to become a mother herself, Susan’s greatest fear is realized. She is losing control.

Enter Rob, the dubious but well-meaning friend of her indolent brother. As Susan’s due date draws near and her dismantled world falls further into a tailspin, Susan finds an unlikely ally in Rob. She might have a chance at finding real love and learning to love herself, if only she can figure out how to let go.

Reese’s Book Club x HelloSunshine’s take: “After her mother passes away, Susan Green finds herself pregnant at the age of 45 and involved in some seriously complicated family matters. Not only that, but she must navigate her unconventional romance with a businessman named Richard at the same time.”

You can buy the book here!

May

From Scratch by Tembi Locke
Plot (via Simon & Schuster): It was love at first sight when Tembi met professional chef, Saro, on a street in Florence. There was just one problem: Saro’s traditional Sicilian family did not approve of him marrying a black American woman, an actress no less. However, the couple, heartbroken but undeterred, forges on. They build a happy life in Los Angeles, with fulfilling careers, deep friendships and the love of their lives: a baby girl they adopt at birth. Eventually, they reconcile with Saro’s family just as he faces a formidable cancer that will consume all their dreams.

Reese’s Book Club x HelloSunshine’s take: “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. You’ll follow Tembi as she finds solace in Sicily and redefines home through new traditions and the connectivity of cooking.”

You can buy the book here!

April

The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

Plot (via Macmillan): Quick-witted, ambitious Ji Lin is stuck as an apprentice dressmaker, moonlighting as a dancehall girl to help pay off her mother’s Mahjong debts. But when one of her dance partners accidentally leaves behind a gruesome souvenir, Ji Lin may finally get the adventure she has been longing for.

Eleven-year-old houseboy Ren is also on a mission, racing to fulfill his former master’s dying wish: that Ren find the man’s finger, lost years ago in an accident, and bury it with his body. Ren has 49 days to do so, or his master’s soul will wander the earth forever.

As the days tick relentlessly by, a series of unexplained deaths racks the district, along with whispers of men who turn into tigers. Ji Lin and Ren’s increasingly dangerous paths crisscross through lush plantations, hospital storage rooms, and ghostly dreamscapes.

Reese’s Book Club x HelloSunshine’s take: “Set in 1930s Malaysia, #TheNightTiger 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. There’s a mystical tiger, a severed finger, a train that goes… where? And so much more.”

You can buy the book here!

March

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Plot (via Penguin Random House): Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go Go. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it’s the rock ‘n’ roll she loves most. By the time she’s twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things.

Also getting noticed is The Six, a band led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she’s pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road.

Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes that the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend.

Reese’s Book Club x HelloSunshine’s take: “Written by @tjenkinsreid, 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. This story is sure to be a hit… and guess what?? @hellosunshine is turning it into a TV show with @amazonstudios 🎶.”

You can buy the book here!

February

The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
Plot (via Penguin Random House): When freelance writer Nikole Paterson goes to a Dodgers game with her actor boyfriend, his man bun, and his bros, the last thing she expects is a scoreboard proposal. Saying no isn’t the hard part—they’ve only been dating for five months, and he can’t even spell her name correctly. The hard part is having to face a stadium full of disappointed fans…

At the game with his sister, Carlos Ibarra comes to Nik’s rescue and rushes her away from a camera crew. He’s even there for her when the video goes viral and Nik’s social media blows up—in a bad way. Nik knows that in the wilds of LA, a handsome doctor like Carlos can’t be looking for anything serious, so she embarks on an epic rebound with him, filled with food, fun, and fantastic sex. But when their glorified hookups start breaking the rules, one of them has to be smart enough to put on the brakes…

Reese’s Book Club x HelloSunshine’s take: “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. It’s a story of break-ups, make outs, and a whole lot of cupcakes.”

You can buy the book here!

January

The Library Book by Susan Orlean
Plot (via Simon & Schuster): On the morning of April 29, 1986, a fire alarm sounded in the Los Angeles Public Library. As the moments passed, the patrons and staff who had been cleared out of the building realized this was not the usual fire alarm. As one fireman recounted, “Once that first stack got going, it was ‘Goodbye, Charlie.’” The fire was disastrous: it reached 2000 degrees and burned for more than seven hours. By the time it was extinguished, it had consumed four hundred thousand books and damaged seven hundred thousand more. Investigators descended on the scene, but more than thirty years later, the mystery remains: Did someone purposefully set fire to the library — and if so, who?

Reese’s Book Club x HelloSunshine’s take: “It’s a nonfiction story about the fire that destroyed the Los Angeles Public Library in 1986, and the mystery that surrounds the crime. 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? Woven through these tales is a long love letter to libraries, which will make you remember why you love reading in the first place.”

You can buy the book here!

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