Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine Book Club Picks

Actress and entrepreneur Reese Witherspoon created her Hello Sunshine Book Club to celebrate women's stories, promote diversity, support independent bookstores, and encourage literacy for everyone. This Collection of Study Guides includes an assortment of picks from Reese’s Book Club, all featuring women as main characters. Read on to learn more about Kya’s coming-of-age in Where the Crawdads Sing, multiple generations of Cuban women in Next Year in Havana, and rock ’n’ roll in 1970s America in Daisy Jones & The Six.

Publication year 2022Genre Novel, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Science & TechnologyTags Historical Fiction, Romance, Gothic Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy

Publication year 2024Genre Novel, FictionThemes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Publication year 2017Genre Book, NonfictionTags Self Help

Published in 2017, Brené Brown’s Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone presents insights and strategies for finding what Brown refers to as true belonging in a time of increasing cultural polarization in America. Based on Brown’s grounded theory research, true belonging is a practice that involves believing in and belonging to oneself so fully that one can share one’s innermost, authentic self with the rest of the... Read Braving the Wilderness Summary


Publication year 2023Genre Novel, FictionThemes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / PerseveranceTags Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Magical Realism

Publication year 2022Genre Novel, FictionThemes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Natural World: Appearance & RealityTags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Survival Fiction

Publication year 2019Genre Novel, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Music, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: FameTags Historical Fiction, Music

Taylor Jenkins Reid’s historical fiction novel Daisy Jones & The Six, published in 2019, is a contemporary work of fiction that explores the rich music culture of the 1970s in the United States. This time was known for rock ’n’ roll, partly as a cultural response to the strict rules of the 1960s and the disaster of the Vietnam War. The California dream world of hard partying, no rules, and freedom persists as a major... Read Daisy Jones & The Six Summary


Publication year 2023Genre Novel, FictionThemes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Fame, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Equality, Identity: GenderTags Historical Fiction, Race / Racism

Publication year 2017Genre Novel, Fiction

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is a 2017 comic novel about human connection. The title character, Eleanor Oliphant, narrates the story, introducing herself as an office worker with a solitary life in present-day Glasgow, Scotland. Eleanor spends her free time doing crosswords, listening to the radio, drinking vodka, and reading classic literature. She does not socialize with anyone, and her only family is a spiteful mother who calls from prison once a week. One night... Read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine Summary


Publication year 2017Genre Novel, FictionThemes Society: Immigration, Society: Community, Relationships: FriendshipTags Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Asian Literature

Publication year 2021Genre Short Story Collection, FictionThemes Society: Immigration, Identity: Language, Society: CommunityTags Immigration / Refugee, Relationships

Everything Inside (2019) is a short story collection by Haitian American author Edwidge Danticat. The eight stories in this collection, which focus primarily on the lives of Haitian people living across the Caribbean, are connected by their interest in loss and the search for identity. Like many of her characters, Danticat immigrated to the United States from Haiti at a young age; her love for Haiti and its history is evident throughout the collection, despite... Read Everything Inside Summary


Publication year 2019Genre Autobiography / Memoir, NonfictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Society: Community, Natural World: FoodTags Travel Literature, Romance, Food

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Yamile Saied Méndez
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Publication year 2020Genre Novel, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Equality, Relationships: Family, Identity: FemininityTags Romance, Sports, Race / Racism, Gender / Feminism, Class, Latin American Literature

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Christie Tate
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Publication year 2020Genre Autobiography / Memoir, NonfictionThemes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: FriendshipTags Psychology, Self Help

Publication year 2020Genre Novel, FictionThemes Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family, Self DiscoveryTags Romance, Gender / Feminism, African Literature

Publication year 2022Genre Novel, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of AgeTags Romance, New Adult

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Thrity Umrigar
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Publication year 2022Genre Novel, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & DangerTags Historical Fiction

Publication year 2021Genre Novel, FictionThemes Relationships: Family, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Religion & SpiritualityTags Realistic Fiction, Mythology, Immigration / Refugee, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Relationships, American Literature, Latin American Literature

Publication year 2017Genre Novel, FictionThemes Relationships: MothersTags Chinese Literature, Asian Literature

Little Fires Everywhere is a New York Times bestselling novel by Celeste Ng published in 2017. In the town of Shaker Heights, Ohio, Elena Richardson rents her family’s property on Winslow Road to Mia and Pearl Warren, a mother and daughter duo who inspire her sense of charity. Mia is an artist, and her lack of rootedness and intense focus on her art unnerve Mrs. Richardson, who lives an orderly life. Their lives become further... Read Little Fires Everywhere Summary


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Marissa Stapley
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Publication year 2021Genre Novel, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Relationships: FamilyTags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction

Publication year 2023Genre Novel, FictionThemes Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Midlife, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Publication year 2022Genre Novel, FictionThemes Identity: Gender, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Justice & InjusticeTags Mystery / Crime Fiction

Publication year 2018Genre Novel, Fiction

Next Year in Havana is a novel by Chanel Cleeton, a Cuban-American writer of contemporary romance and historical fiction. The book was the July 2018 selection for Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club and a New York Times bestseller. The novel alternates between 2017, when Cuban-American writer Marisol Ferrera goes to Cuba to scatter the ashes of her grandmother Elisa (Perez) Ferrera, and 1958-1959, when Elisa falls in love with a revolutionary. This guide is based on... Read Next Year In Havana Summary


Publication year 2021Genre Novel, FictionThemes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Society: Politics & GovernmentTags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction

Publication year 2018Genre Novel, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

One Day in December is a romance novel by Josie Silver, told through the first-person point of view of two characters: Jack O’Mara and Laurie James. The story focuses on specific months in the characters’ lives, providing a circular narrative that encourages the reader to notice how people develop but do not necessarily change over time. A #1 New York Times bestseller, the novel was published in 2018 by Broadway Books of Crown Publishing Group... Read One Day in December Summary


Publication year 2022Genre Novel, FictionThemes Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: LiteratureTags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Race / Racism

Publication year 2021Genre Novel, FictionThemes Society: Community, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Justice & InjusticeTags Western, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, American Literature

Publication year 2023Genre Novel, FictionTags Romance, Humor, Gender / Feminism

Publication year 2021Genre Novel, FictionThemes Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Self DiscoveryTags African Literature

Publication year 2021Genre Novel, FictionThemes Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: LoveTags Romance, Relationships

Publication year 2018Genre Novel, FictionTags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman is an adult psychological thriller published by Ballantine Books in 2018. When Mark and Erin Roberts decide to keep a mysterious duffle bag full of dirty money and gems, they start down a rode of criminal behavior, secrets, and greed. Something in the Water examines the lies we tell and how far we’ll go to protect those lies. The book was a #1 New York Times bestseller and... Read Something in the Water Summary


Publication year 2023Genre Novel, FictionThemes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Society: ClassTags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Gothic Literature

Publication year 2019Genre Novel, FictionThemes Relationships: Mothers

Such a Fun Age (2019) is a debut novel from Kiley Reid, published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons (an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC). The novel quickly garnered critical acclaim, including a NY Times Bestseller spot, and was a finalist for an NAACP Image Award in 2020.  Plot Summary Though it starts with Emira’s perspective, Such a Fun Age alternates almost evenly between Emira Tucker and Alix Chamberlain as it moves in a primarily chronological order... Read Such a Fun Age Summary


Publication year 2017Genre Novel, FictionTags Historical Fiction

The Alice Network is the seventh novel by author Kate Quinn. First published in 2017, the book is classified as historical fiction. It became a New York Times and USA Today bestseller and was also listed as a Summer Pick by Good Housekeeping, Parade, Library Journal, and Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club. Quinn has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga and two books set during the Italian Renaissance. The Alice Network and her... Read The Alice Network Summary


Publication year 2020Genre Novel, FictionThemes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Natural World: Appearance & RealityTags Food

Publication year 2022Genre Novel, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & LiesTags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

Publication year 2022Genre Novel, FictionThemes Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: CommunityTags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence

Publication year 2019Genre Novel, FictionThemes Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self DiscoveryTags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Race / Racism

Publication year 2019Genre Novel, FictionThemes Relationships: FamilyTags Historical Fiction

The Giver of Stars (2019) by JoJo Moyes is a work of women’s fiction that can also be categorized as historical fiction. Not long after its publication, The Giver of Stars became embroiled in controversy when another author, Kim Michele Richardson, noted similarities between her book about the WPA Pack Horse Librarians, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, and Moyes’s novel. Moyes is the bestselling author of Me Before You, and The Giver of Stars... Read The Giver of Stars Summary


Publication year 2020Genre Novel, FictionThemes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Siblings, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Life/Time: The PastTags Mystery / Crime Fiction

The Guest List by Lucy Foley is a contemporary murder mystery novel published in 2020. Foley, an English author, weaves a tale of intrigue, secrets, and betrayal upon the backdrop of an isolated island in West Ireland. Often likened to Agatha Christie, Lucy Foley’s novel is a slow-burn, whodunit.Plot SummaryMany perspectives compose The Guest List; each chapter jumps from character to character and through time from past to future. The novel is set on a... Read The Guest List Summary


Publication year 2020Genre Novel, FictionThemes Society: Colonialism, Identity: Gender, Identity: FemininityTags Historical Fiction

The Henna Artist (2020) is a novel by Indian American author Alka Joshi and the first book in The Jaipur Trilogy. The story takes place in 1950s India and follows 17-year-old Lakshmi as she escapes an abusive marriage and moves to Jaipur to become a henna artist. The protagonist is based on the author’s mother, who was not able to choose her own path in life but was determined that her children would have that... Read The Henna Artist Summary


Publication year 2023Genre Novel, FictionThemes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Education, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Race, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: LoveTags Historical Fiction, Romance, Race / Racism

Publication year 2021Genre Novel, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Race, Society: Nation, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Family, Natural World: Flora/plants, Values/Ideas: Safety & DangerTags Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Fantasy, Romance, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Food, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, History: European, History: World, Immigration / Refugee, LGBTQ, Love / Sexuality, Military / War, Politics / Government, Science / Nature, Race / Racism, Relationships, Religion / Spirituality, Grief / Death

Publication year 2019Genre Novel, FictionThemes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & LiesTags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

Publication year 2017Genre Novel, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Justice & InjusticeTags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence

Publication year 2020Genre Novel, FictionThemes Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: ImmigrationTags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Immigration / Refugee

Publication year 2021Genre Novel, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: MemoryTags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Relationships, Grief / Death, Love / Sexuality, Modernism, American Literature

Publication year 2018Genre Book, NonfictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: LiteratureTags History: U.S., Crime / Legal

Susan Orlean, longtime staff writer at The New Yorker and best-selling author of The Orchid Thief, returned to narrative nonfiction with The Library Book (2018). Through the story of the Los Angeles Central Library, Orlean provides a history of libraries, examining what we stand to lose as the world’s base of knowledge transitions into the digital realm. Orlean received a Goodreads Choice Awards nomination for Best Nonfiction and a place on Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine... Read The Library Book Summary


Publication year 2020Genre Novel, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Good & EvilTags Historical Fiction, Military / War, WWII / World War II, Holocaust

Publication year 2017Genre Novel, FictionThemes Society: War, Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Trust & DoubtTags Romance, History: U.S.

Publication year 2017Genre Novel, FictionThemes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Truth & LiesTags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

Four women become trapped in their own web of deceit in Ruth Ware’s psychological thriller, The Lying Game (2017). A text from their old school friend, Kate, sends Thea, Fatima, and Isa to the coastal village of Salten where the body of Kate’s father, Ambrose, surfaces on the beach. The problem: The four girls hid the body 17 years ago and told no one. Now, their lies are catching up to them. Ware deftly moves... Read The Lying Game Summary