5 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Recs For A Romantic Read This Valentine's Day
If you're a book fan (or even if you aren't) you may be aware that Reese Witherspoon has been running her own book club for a while now. The "Legally Blonde" star founded Reese's Book Club back in 2017 after realizing her life-long passion of wanting to be a writer was maybe not going to happen. Witherspoon told Vanity Fair in 2020 she'd wanted to be a writer ever since she was seven years old. However, she discovered it just wasn't in her wheelhouse when she realized she had the stories in her head, but could never come up with good endings. But not becoming a writer made plenty of time for Witherspoon to become an incredible actor and reader — which certainly worked in our favor.
The superstar has recommended many books over the years, with a wide array of big names and unknown writers benefiting from her literary platform; and she really chooses them all herself! "We have a full-time bookworm, someone who's reading all the time for film and TV and book club," CEO of Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine company, Sarah Harden, told Vox. "Reese really picks the books." That's why she's the perfect person to advise on a romance novel or two. Witherspoon told BlackFilm.com in 2005 that she considers herself a romantic (and she's starred in countless romantic comedies over the years) which is why we're taking a look at some of her top romantic book club picks for Valentine's Day.
The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
We're kicking things off by looking back to 2019 when Reese's Book Club recommended one of its first no apologies loved-up romance novels. That book was Jasmine Guillory's "The Proposal." The novel tells the story of a writer named Nikole Paterson who attends a baseball game with her boyfriend, who just so happens to be a famous actor. Despite the two only dating for five months, he proposes on the big screen and Paterson isn't exactly swept away in the romance of it all. Luckily, her sister is on hand to pull her away from the drama — but not before the whole thing goes viral. Paterson then moves on and begins a no-strings-attached romance with a doctor, but quickly realizes that maybe this hookup could be something more.
Writing on Reese's Book Club, the "Legally Blonde" star shared of the book, "Our February book club pick is delightfully entertaining — there's a failed public proposal, plenty of witty romantic banter, and a lot of cupcakes." But Guillory's second novel caught the attention of more than just Witherspoon, as it landed a spot on The New York Times Best Seller list.
Guillory was understandably thrilled to be highlighted by Witherspoon's club. "It makes me so happy. I love romance so much, and I'm so glad that people are paying attention to all of the great things that romance can do," she told Entertainment Weekly.
The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
Of course, Valentine's Day reads don't have to be all about the traditional happy-ever-after kind of love stories (or even the super hot and heavy kind). And, if that's not your thing, then Jill Santopolo's "The Light We Lost" may be the romance book for you. Reese's Book Club chose this book in 2018, and it certainly got a glowing review from the lady herself. Speaking in a video posted to Reese's Book Club's Facebook, Witherspoon told her fellow book lovers, "I love this book. It's all about different kinds of love ... I just thought it was incredible."
So what's the novel all about? It details what happened with a woman named Lucy meets a man named Gabe. The two fall deeply in love and embark on a whirlwind romance. But their love struggles when Gabe has to leave the country for work. Lucy ends up finding someone new but struggles to replicate the love she once had with Gabe. The two seem destined to meet again, which results in plenty of jealousy, betrayals, and a decision about whether they're meant to be together... or not.
"I feel honored that Reese chose my book for her book club," Santopolo told Entertainment Weekly of what it meant to her to get the star's attention. "It was such a trip to see someone whose talent and beliefs I admire so much talking about 'The Light We Lost.'"
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
In 2023, Reese's Book Club brought "Tom Lake" by Ann Patchett to members' attention. The romance novel is based around young love, and sees the main character Lara Nelson telling her three daughters about her journey in love before they were born. It turns out Lara, who's now married to another man, had a passionate romance with a movie star, named Peter Duke, years ago, and she agrees to share all the ins and outs with her children of what her young love was really like. Or, at least they think they're getting all the juicy details.
"'Tom Lake' is largely about happiness, and about how, despite all the suffering and fear in the world, there is still plenty to love on any given day," Patchett explained on Reese's Book Club. "This is a novel that acknowledges what's going wrong in the world, while also acknowledging that there is enormous beauty in life."
Writing about her love for the book in a post on Reese's Book Club's Instagram, Witherspoon shared, "This comforting summer read has it all — summer theater, a gorgeous Michigan cherry farm, young love, sibling rivalry, and deep mother-daughter relationships." She also described Patchett as being one of her favorite authors of all time. High praise, indeed!
One Day in December by Josie Silver
"One Day in December" tells the story of what happened, you guessed it, one day in December when Laurie met eyes with a mysterious handsome stranger on a bus in London. The book, by Josie Silver, shares what happens when Laurie, who doesn't believe in love at first sight, starts to question if it's real after she resigns to never seeing the mystery man again despite the butterflies she gets when she looks at him. However, she's suddenly greeted by the very same mysterious stranger later that year and has to decide if maybe fate has brought her the love of her life. But, as the course of true love never did run smooth, she comes to realize it's maybe not quite that easy.
Speaking about the book to Reese's Book Club, Silver shared, "I've always believed love triangles are at their most interesting when there are no obvious villains or heroes. I wanted to acknowledge that real life IS often messy and complicated, and that sometimes people do the wrong thing with the best of intentions."
In a post shared to her Facebook, Reese Witherspoon made it clear this one was a great pick for romance fans. Announcing the book as her December 2018 Reese's Book Club pick, she wrote, "Calling all Rom-com lovers..."
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
Another novel featured on The New York Times Best Seller list and chosen by Reese's Book Club, "Seven Days in June" by Tia Williams had Reese Witherspoon gushing on Instagram in 2021. "How about a sexy modern love story to start the summer off right?" she wrote of the modern twist on a romance novel. "[Tia Williams] writes with great humor and complexity about a myriad of topics, including the trappings of success, single parenting a teenage daughter, living with chronic indescribable pain, how to deal with a history of mental illness and addiction," Witherspoon added.
The book is about a famous erotica author named Eva Mercy who meets a fellow writer, Shane Hall, at a book event. The two share something between them — but what the world doesn't know is that their love story began 15 years prior when they had a whirlwind brief romance. The two end up reconnecting, though Eva isn't convinced getting back with Shane is the best idea after being hurt before. Convinced moving on is what's best for her, she's ready for Shane to leave her life for good, but she has a few things to ask him first.
Sharing her reaction to being chosen by Witherspoon on Instagram, Williams wrote, "I cannot tell you what an honor and a delight it is, to get to share Eva and Shane's story with Reese's readers from all over the world."