Celebrity Book Club Picks For July 2025 To Add To Your Reading List

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Here's to another summer. The season that's perfect for poolside lounging, beach days, and long evenings on the porch. And what would make these backdrops even better is a good book recommended by one of your favorite celebrities. From Jenna Bush Hager's twisty marriage thriller pick to Dua Lipa's contemplative French literature pick, this month's celebrity book club recommendations have something for every kind of reader.

Whether you're reading the newest releases on the beach or sitting at home sipping on your favorite drink while re-reading a classic, there's nothing like immersing yourself in a captivating page-turner. Reading is the ideal summer escape. It is the perfect way to instantly transport yourself to an imaginary world — from glamorous cityscapes to galaxies far, far, away — and get away from the summer heat. 

Now, the only problem is deciding what you'll read for your escape. If you've been on the search for your next book and you're wanting a refreshing take from the usual bestseller lists, then celebrity book club picks are great alternative options to look into. With so many A-list stars like Reese Witherspoon and Natalie Portman operating book clubs, there are so many selections to choose from. And with just a tiny bit of effort and research, you are bound to find the perfect book for July that suits your reading preferences.

Jenna Bush Hager is known to be a mystery enthusiast. She loves to recommend mystery books and always has a list of favorites. So, it's no surprise that for July, Jenna Bush Hager's Read With Jenna book club has opted for an excellent mystery thriller. And the setting of the story makes it the perfect book for summer reading. Released on June 24, 2025, "Happy Wife" by Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores is a mysterious suspense novel set in one of Florida's most affluent cities, Winter Park. A Goodreads reviewer gave the book a 4-star rating and said, "I inhaled this book! It was so fun and twisty and suspenseful and perfect for summer!"

Nora isn't sure of many things, but one thing she does know is that she definitely doesn't belong in Winter Park, where one's net worth means everything. Working at a country club at 28 years old and struggling to get by, Nora feels like she's stuck in life. That changes when she meets a successful lawyer, Will Somerset. Will is a recently divorced man in his 40s who happens to be raising a teenage daughter. The two don't really have much in common, but they fall into a whirlwind romance that has the elite town talking. Everything seems perfect, but Will vanishes one morning and their short-lived love story quickly spirals into a thrilling mystery filled with secrets and the unanswered question, "Where the heck is Will?"

Dua Lipa, the undisputed queen of a leggy look, has opted for a French literature title that was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize of 2025 for her July pick. "Small Boat" is written by writer and philosopher Vincent Delecroix and is based on a true and tragic event that occurred in 2021. One Goodreads reviewer gave the book five stars and shared that they felt the ideas and writing of Delecroix reminded them of "The Stranger" by Albert Camus.

In an interview with the author, Dua Lipa described the book as one that "tackles one of the most divisive issues of the 21st century." A fictional story based on a real-life event, "Small Boat" follows the story of a French woman working for the navy. While on duty, she receives desperate calls for help from migrants attempting to cross the English Channel in an inflatable boat. She listens to their pleas and struggles as she grapples with her own sense of duty and responsibility for her job and country. Amidst it all, she'll question her role in their fate.

Delecroix explores themes of humanity, blame, and the forces unseeable to the naked eye that often push people into danger. Told in a quiet yet reflective prose, this book will have readers confronting and questioning moral complexities and the meaning of shared responsibilities in times of disaster and crisis.

Tea Time Pictures introduced "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams on an Instagram post as their July pick and described it as "one of Dakota's favorites." Adams' book is a beloved classic sci-fi novel that is part of a six part book trilogy. Due to its popularity, it has been adapted into a hit BBC radio series, a TV show, and even a film. And to this day, the book continues to captivate readers from all around the world since it was first released in 1979. After all of these years and ratings, the book continues to maintain more than a 4-star rating with more than 50% of raters giving the book five stars.

Moments before Earth is completely destroyed, Arthur Dent is saved by his friend, Ford Perfect. And it turns out Ford is an alien who acted like he was a struggling actor all this time. The pair hitch a ride on a spaceship and end up on an adventure of a lifetime across the universe. On their journey, they'll meet all kinds of beings and begin to uncover the absurd secret of life, the universe, and everything in between—also known as 42. This book is British to its core, full of dry humor and quirky twists. Oh, and you'll have to prepare yourself as it'll take you on the wildest ride of your life.

Unlike the other fictional titles that made this list, Natalie Portman has chosen a powerful memoir, "A Different Kind of Power" for July. Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, told PBS News Hour that "...by putting out a book that I never really intended to write was to spotlight different types of leadership, because, actually, regardless of whether you start a conversation about politics in the U.S. or in parts of Europe, we are in a moment where a particular style of leadership is being spotlighted."

Portman introduced the book on her book club's Instagram and wrote, "I can't think of a better time to read Jacinda Ardern's memoir...a story of motherhood, vulnerability, how to lead with compassion," as she thanked New Zealand's former Prime Minister for writing the book and inspiring readers.

Small town New Zealander, Jacinda Ardern was only 37 years old when she became the country's youngest Prime Minister. She gained worldwide respect for leading with the utmost kindness and empathy, especially after the horrific Christchurch mosque attacks in 2019. During her time as Prime Minister, she pushed for bold changes on poverty, climate, and international trade, all while she navigated becoming a mother under the public spotlight. In her memoir, Ardern reflects on her time as Prime Minister, her leadership journey, her personal life, and her ultimate decision to resign.

Reese Witherspoon has chosen a newly-released story about sisters for her July pick. "Spectacular Things" by Beck Dorey-Stein is described by Witherspoon as a book about "sisters...soccer...Mia and Cricket...making big sacrifices for your family...a beautiful read."

Readers who got a preview of the novel praised the novel for its strong character development, the accurate portrayal of sisterhood, and well-written prose. One Goodreads reviewer wrote, "This was such an inspiring read I didn't want it to end. And I loved Beck Dorey-Stein's incredible writing style, and in the creative way she brought it all together. So perfect. A top pick of the year for me!"

Mia and Cricket are two sisters being raised by a young single mother. They're growing up in a small town in Maine and the tight-knit community of the town watches over them. Both sisters try their best to play their parts in their complex family dynamics, with Mia being a caretaker and Cricket pouring herself into her dreams of becoming a soccer player. But as they chase their goals, the two sisters must confront buried family secrets from their mother's past while questioning how far they're willing to go and sacrifice for each other and for their own dreams. Dorey-Stein explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the complicated bonds that tie a family together.