Reese's Book Club

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Reese's Book Club is a celebrity book sales club run by Reese Witherspoon under her media company Hello Sunshine. Since its founding in 2017, the club has gained a reputation for boosting the careers of female authors such as Delia Owens, Celeste Ng, and Megan Miranda. [1]

Contents

Hello Sunshine has been involved in the adaptation of several Reese's Book Club Picks into films and television series, including Little Fires Everywhere, Where the Crawdads Sing , and Daisy Jones & the Six . [2] [3] [4]

History

Reese's Book Club was founded in 2017 and operates under Witherspoon's media company Hello Sunshine, led by Chief Executive Officer Sarah Harden. [5] [6] Harden was appointed to the position in 2018, after serving as interim CEO beginning in June 2017. [7]

Also in June 2017, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman became the first book selected as a Reese's Book Club Pick. [2] Since then, the club has highlighted a Book Club Pick every month, reportedly chosen by Witherspoon. [1] [8]

Reese's Book Club has gained a reputation for boosting the sales of its Book Club Picks. [2] [1] [8] [9] As of 2019, no Book Club Picks had sold fewer than 10,000 copies [8] and novels selected as Book Club Picks reportedly outsell other fiction books by 700%. [2]

In August 2020, Reese's Book Club announced that it would being selecting a monthly young adult Book Club Pick, with the first YA selection being You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson. [10]

Hello Sunshine Adaptations

Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine has optioned the film rights to several Book Club Picks, including Where the Crawdads Sing , [11] [3] Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine , Little Fires Everywhere , Daisy Jones & the Six, Tiny Beautiful Things , and The Last Thing He Told Me. [8] [4]

Brand Partnerships

In April 2022, Reese's Book Club partnered with furniture company Havenly to create a line of home decor called "Reading Room." [12] [13] [14]

Controversy

Where the Crawdads Sing

Reese's Book Club faced criticism in July 2019 after it was reported that Mark Owens, the ex-husband of Delia Owens, author of Reese's Book Club Pick Where the Crawdads Sing , was possibly connected to a murder that took place in Zambia in 1995. [15] [16] [17] [18]

The Nightingale

Reese's Book Club was the subject of controversy following the announcement of its March 2023 Book Club Pick The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. In a video posted to the Reese's Book Club Instagram page, Witherspoon explained that the novel, which tells the story of two women in German-occupied France during World War II, was chosen in response to rising antisemitism. Some criticized this choice, noting that the novel does not prominently feature any Jewish characters and was not written by a Jewish author. [19] [20]

Book Club Picks

Reese's Book Club Picks
Year and Month "Picked"TitleAuthorGenreNotes
February 2025Isola Allegra Goodman historical fiction
January 2025The Three Lives of Cate Kay Kate Fagan contemporary fiction, mystery
December 2024City of Night BirdsJuhea Kimliterary fiction
November 2024We Will Be Jaguars Nemonte Nenquimo memoir
October 2024Society of LiesLauren Ling Brownmystery, thriller
September 2024The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year Margaret Renkl essays, nature writing 100th Reese's Book Club pick [21] [22]
August 2024Slow Dance Rainbow Rowell romance, contemporary
July 2024The Cliffs J. Courtney Sullivan historical fiction, domestic fiction, mystery
June 2024The Unwedding Ally Condie mystery
May 2024How to End a Love StoryYulin Kuangromance, contemporary fiction
April 2024The Most Fun We Ever Had Claire Lombardo contemporary fiction, literary fiction
March 2024Anita de Monte Laughs Last Xochitl Gonzalez historical fiction, magical realism
February 2024Redwood CourtDeLana R. A. Dameroncoming of age fiction, historical fiction
January 2024First Lie WinsAshley Elstonthriller
December 2023Before We Were InnocentElla Bermancoming of age fiction, thriller
November 2023Maybe Next TimeCesca Majorfiction, romance, magical realism
October 2023Starling House Alix E. Harrow fantasy
September 2023Mother-Daughter Murder Night Nina Simon mystery, thriller
August 2023 Tom Lake Ann Patchett fiction
July 2023 Yellowface R. F. Kuang fiction, thriller, satire
June 2023Cassandra in Reverse Holly Smale science fiction
May 2023Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?Crystal Smith Paulhistorical fiction
April 2023Romantic Comedy Curtis Sittenfeld romance
March 2023 The Nightingale Kristin Hannah historical fiction
February 2023The House of Eve Sadeqa Johnson historical fiction
January 2023The House in the Pines Ana Reyes thriller
December 2022The Marriage Portrait Maggie O'Farrell historical fiction, thriller
November 2022 Tiny Beautiful Things Cheryl Strayed essays adapted into a television series by Hello Sunshine [23]
October 2022Our Missing Hearts Celeste Ng dystopian fiction
September 2022On the Rooftop Margaret Wilkerson Sexton historical fiction
August 2022Wrong Place, Wrong Time Gillian McAllister mystery, science fiction
July 2022Honey & Spice Bolu Babalola romance
June 2022Counterfeit Kirstin Chen thriller
May 2022 The Dictionary of Lost Words Pip Williams historical fiction
April 2022True Biz Sara Nović coming-of-age fiction
March 2022The Club Ellery Lloyd mystery
February 2022The Christie Affair Nina de Gramont historical fiction, romance
January 2022Honor Thrity Umrigar
December 2021Lucky Marissa Stapley thriller
November 2021 The Island of Missing Trees Elif Shafak historical fiction, romance
October 2021 Sankofa Chibundu Onuzu
September 2021L.A. Weather María Amparo Escandón
August 2021 We Were Never Here Andrea Bartz thriller
July 2021ThePaper Palace Miranda Cowley Heller romance
June 2021Seven Days in June Tia Williams romance
May 2021 The Last Thing He Told Me Laura Dave thrilleradapted into a television series by Hello Sunshine [24]
April 2021Northern Spy Flynn Berry thriller, historical fiction, spy fiction
March 2021Infinite Country Patricia Engel domestic fiction
February 2021The Sanatorium Sarah Pearse thriller
January 2021 Outlawed Anna North western, historical fiction, alternate history fiction
December 2020The Chicken Sisters KJ Dell'Antonia domestic fiction, humor
November 2020Group Christie Tate memoir
October 2020His Only Wife Peace Adzo Medie domestic fiction, humor
September 2020The Last Story of Mina Lee Nancy Jooyoun Kim thriller, mystery, historical fiction
August 2020Everything Inside Edwidge Danticat short stories
June/July 2020 I'm Still Here Austin Channing Brown memoir
June/July 2020 The Guest List Lucy Foley thriller, mystery
May 2020The Henna Artist Alka Joshi historical fiction
April 2020 Untamed Glennon Doyle memoir
March 2020The Jetsetters Amanda Eyre Ward
February 2020The Scent Keeper Erica Bauermeister magical realism, coming of age fiction
January 2020 Such a Fun Age Kiley Reid coming of age fiction, domestic fiction
December 2019Conviction Denise Mina mystery
November 2019 The Giver of Stars Jojo Moyes historical fiction
October 2019Fair Play Eve Rodsky self-help
September 2019The Secrets We Kept Lara Prescott historical fiction, spy fiction, thriller, romance
August 2019The Last House Guest Megan Miranda mystery, thriller
July 2019Whisper Network Chandler Baker mystery
June 2019The Cactus Sarah Haywood romance, humor
May 2019From Scratch Tembi Locke memoir adapted into a television series by Hello Sunshine [4]
April 2019 The Night Tiger Yangsze Choo historical fiction, magical realism
March 2019 Daisy Jones & The Six Taylor Jenkins Reid historical fictionadapted into a television series by Hello Sunshine [25]
February 2019The Proposal Jasmine Guillory romance
January 2019 The Library Book Susan Orlean true crime, memoir
December 2018One Day in December Josie Silver romance
November 2018The Other Woman Sandie Jones thriller
October 2018This Is How It Always Is Laurie Frankel domestic fiction
September 2018 Where the Crawdads Sing Delia Owens historical fiction, mysteryadapted into a 2022 film by Hello Sunshine [26]
August 2018Still Lives Maria Hummel mystery, thriller
July 2018Next Year in Havana Chanel Cleeton historical fiction, romance
June 2018Something in the Water Catherine Steadman thriller
May 2018You Think It, I'll Say It Curtis Sittenfeld short stories
April 2018Happiness Heather Harpham memoir
March 2018 Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows Balli Kaur Jaswal
February 2018The Light We Lost Jill Santopolo romance
January 2018Braving the Wilderness Brené Brown self-help
December 2017The Last Mrs. Parrish Liv Constantine thriller
November 2017This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage Ann Patchett essays
October 2017The Rules of Magic Alice Hoffman historical fiction, magical realism, fantasy prequel to Practical Magic
September 2017 Little Fires Everywhere Celeste Ng domestic fictionadapted into a television series by Hello Sunshine [27]
August 2017The Lying Game Ruth Ware thriller
July 2017 The Alice Network Kate Quinn historical fiction, spy fiction
June 2017 Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine Gail Honeyman humor, romance
Reese's Book Club YA Picks
Date "Picked"TitleAuthor
Winter 2024Throwback Maurene Goo
Fall 2024Looking For Smoke K.A. Cobell
Summer 2024Twelfth Knight Alexene Farol Follmuth
Winter 2022Anatomy Dana Schwartz
Fall 2021Within These Wicked Walls Lauren Blackwood
Late Summer 2021The Downstairs Girl Stacey Lee
Summer 2021Tokyo Ever After Emiko Jean
Spring 2021 Firekeeper's Daughter Angeline Boulley
Winter 2021You Have a Match Emma Lord
December 2020The Light in Hidden Places Sharon Cameron
November 2020A Cuban Girls Guide to Tea & Tomorrow Laura Taylor Namey
October 2020Fable Adrienne Young
September 2020 Furia Yamile Saied Méndez
August 2020 You Should See Me in a Crown Leah Johnson

References

  1. 1 2 3 Grady, Constance (2019-09-13). "How Reese Witherspoon became the new high priestess of book clubs". Vox. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Donnelly, Elisabeth (23 September 2019). "Celebrity Book Clubs Are Actually Selling Books". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  3. 1 2 "Reese Witherspoon to Adapt Bestseller Where the Crawdads Sing Into a Movie". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  4. 1 2 3 O'Connell, Mikey (2022-09-30). "Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter Are Doing Just Fine Without the Boys Club". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  5. ↑ "The CEO of Reese Witherspoon's production company says 'empowerment feminism' is gaslighting women". Fortune. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  6. ↑ Diane, Kaci (2021-10-14). "Sarah Harden On How Hello Sunshine Is Building A Media Company With A Difference". The WIE Suite. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  7. ↑ Otterson, Joe (2018-01-26). "Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine Names Sarah Harden CEO". Variety. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "How Reese Witherspoon Made These Books into Bestsellers". finance.yahoo.com. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  9. ↑ Hunt, Elle (2022-12-12). "Legally bookish: Reese Witherspoon and the boom in celebrity book clubs". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  10. ↑ "Reese Witherspoon's popular book club will now cover Young Adult books too". Good Housekeeping. 2020-08-19. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  11. ↑ "Reese Witherspoon Reflects On Taking 'Where The Crawdads Sing' From Book Club To The Big Screen (Exclusive) | Entertainment Tonight". www.etonline.com. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  12. ↑ Tingley, Anna (2022-04-27). "Reese Witherspoon's Book Club and Havenly Team Up for Dreamy Home Decor Collection". Variety. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  13. ↑ Arneson, Krystin (2022-04-27). "Havenly and Reese's Book Club just launched a cozy collection of furniture for book lovers". CNN Underscored. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  14. ↑ "Reese's Book Club Wants You To Embrace "Shelf-Care" With Its New Havenly Collection". The Zoe Report. 27 April 2022. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  15. ↑ Miller, Laura (2019-07-30). "The Dark History Behind the Year's Bestselling Debut Novel". Slate. ISSN   1091-2339 . Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  16. ↑ "Why 'Where the Crawdads Sing' Is So Controversial". Time. 2022-07-13. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  17. ↑ Goldberg, Jeffrey (2022-07-11). "'Where the Crawdads Sing' Author Wanted for Questioning in Murder". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  18. ↑ Terasaki, Kimberly (2022-07-11). "'Where the Crawdads Sing' Controversy Explained". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  19. ↑ Nava, A. Mana (2023-03-16). "A Reese's Book Club Pick Is Under Fire (Again)". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  20. ↑ Herndon, Jaime (2023-03-08). "Hey, Reese: About that Book Club Selection..." BOOK RIOT. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  21. ↑ "'Comfort Of Crows' Is 100th Reese's Book Club Pick". Kirkus Reviews. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  22. ↑ Werner, Kaleigh (September 4, 2024). "Reese Witherspoon honors her former teacher with 100th Reese's Book Club pick". The Independent. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  23. ↑ "'Tiny Beautiful Things' Nails Those Awkward Conversations About Aging". Glamour. 2023-01-15. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  24. ↑ Richard, Nate (2023-04-12). "'The Last Thing He Told Me' Review: Jennifer Garner Stars in Apple TV+'s Forgettable Mystery Series". Collider. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  25. ↑ Riley Utley (2023-02-18). "That Time Reese Witherspoon's Vacation Was Interrupted Because Daisy Jones And The Six's Producer Really Wanted Rights To The Book". CINEMABLEND. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  26. ↑ Lang, Brent (2018-12-07). "Reese Witherspoon to Produce 'Where the Crawdads Sing' Adaptation for Fox 2000 (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  27. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (2018-03-12). "Hulu Nabs 'Little Fires Everywhere' Limited Series Starring Reese Witherspoon & Kerry Washington". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
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