Reese's Book Club 2025 Picks Ranked By Reviews

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

2025 was a huge year for Reese's Book Club. In the same year the "Walk The Line" actor announced the Reese's Book Club podcast, she recommended 13 reads, including seasonal young adult picks. For fans perusing the Instagram, they'll find this year promoted many gritty, romantic, and even royal-inspired novels to get lost in — and plenty of other genres between.

If you're anywhere near as busy as Witherspoon though, chances are you'll need to be more selective about the stories you dedicate your precious time to. That's where the reviews and ratings come in. Every 2025 pick from Reese's Book Club has been given a reader-determined star rating out of five on both Goodreads and Amazon, which can help you decide if it's one for your shelf or e-reader or better left for another day. We've opted to rank all of them in order based on reviews, though, bear in mind, the club skipped an October recommendation.

"Stuck Up And Stupid" by Angourie Rice and Kate Rice proved that two authors aren't always be better than one. The book was officially the lowest rated Reese's Book Club pick of 2025 halfway through the year and hasn't racked up many further points since then. Reese Witherspoon's summer young adult pick has an average rating of just 2.8 on Goodreads at the time of writing (with 41% of all ratings being thee-star). Reviews were more complimentary on Amazon, where the book has a score of 3.5, bringing its overall rating of 6.3. The romance novel delves into the love story between Lily (who isn't dazzled by fame and glamour) and Dorian Khan (a major Hollywood star). After the two meet by chance, Lily brands Dorian vapid and shallow. As she gets to know him though, an epic love story unfolds which taps into the classic opposites attract trope.

Not everyone was sold on the down to earth civilian falls in love with a celebrity concept, with multiple reviews finding fault with the characters' chemistry while accusing the book of falling victim to poor pacing. "From the incredibly basic and underdeveloped writing style ... to the millions of characters, none of whom had any personality (barely even surface level), there's just nothing to find in the book," one two-star Goodreads review read.

Reese's Book Club's young adult recommendations didn't fare well amongst Reese Witherspoon's other 2025 recs. "Heiress Takes All" by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, spring's Young Adult pick, scored only slightly higher than "Stuck Up and Stupid," landing a total of 6.93 from a 3.33 average rating on Goodreads and 3.6 on Amazon, at the time of writing. The mystery romance begins with teenager and former heiress Olivia Owens preparing for her dad's wedding. Tensions are high between the two after he cheated on her mom and cut Olivia off from the family fortune though, so Olivia has a devious plan to get revenge that will cost her dad millions.

Multiple reviewers shared how difficult they found it to root for the protagonist. An Amazon reviewer stated, "The main character just rubbed me the wrong way from the start and it never changed through the book, I think it just got worse as the book went on and I had to abandon it half way through." Others also called out the plot for being predictable, though more positive reviews praised its shorter chapters and easy readability.

Reese's Book Club's September choice, "To the Moon and Back" by Eliana Ramage, has a 3.43 rating on Goodreads at the time of writing, plus a further 3.8 on Amazon. That puts it at 11th place out of Reese Witherspoon's 13 recs of 2025, with a 7.23 rating. The inspiring novel details Steph Harper's struggles to become an astronaut as a Cherokee woman and explores her connections with the women around her, including her own mother, who had to leave an abusive relationship when Steph was young.

On Goodreads, 36% of reviews are three-star, though multiple commenters shared their struggles with the main characters' likability and the book's narrative structure. "A good story, pretty good writing, but frustrating characters. And so many characters introduced all in a jumble, two of them first-person, made it difficult to tell who was who, even with different narrators," one GoodReads reviewer stated. Others also claimed the novel's sub-plots lacked cohesion and development.

The first book inside the top 10 is Allison King's debut novel "The Phoenix Pencil." Reese's Book Club's special June selection is about the reclusive college student Monica Tsai, a tech whizz who want to build an online platform to connect people across the globe. Desperate to track down her cousin who she lost touch with years earlier, Monica stumbles across an online stranger who gives her a pencil. Little does the main character know the magical pencil holds a major clue about her long-lost family and her own surprising powers. At the time of writing, the book holds a 3.49 Goodreads rating and 3.9 on Amazon, for a score of 7.39.

On Goodreads, 37% of ratings are four-star and 38% are three-star. "The prose was beautiful in this book and I loved the way the story wove together the concepts of storytelling, memory, family history, spying and immigrant stories with social media data, technology and broader privacy and ethical issues," one reviewer wrote, "But it's only not getting 4 stars because I struggled with the love story," they added. Others praised the way it transcends genres though, and appreciated the story being told from more than one point of view.

April's pick, "All That Life Can Afford" by Emily Everett, has a 3.66 Goodreads rating and a slightly higher 4.1 on Amazon for an overall average, at the time of writing, of 7.76. The protagonist, Anna, finds her dream of living in London is soured when she arrives in the British capital but all she can afford is a grotty apartment and barely any food. However, she meets a wealthy family who turns her life around when they offer her a job in France, where she meets two handsome strangers with very different personalities.

Witherspoon was such a fan of Everett's debut novel (which is the ideal Reese's Book Club pick for those who fall under the Gemini zodiac) she shared a clip from the audiobook on Instagram and told the book club's followers in the caption, "I cannot stop thinking about it." With a 41% share of four-star reviews on Goodreads, other readers seemingly felt the same way. "The book highlights some important themes — grief, class, and privilege, but still the book has a lightness to it — just touching on these themes in a realistic but not overly heavy way," one reviewer wrote of the under the radar choice from Witherspoon. Others claimed the storyline was too predictable, but praised its feel-good vibe.

Ashley Jordan's "Once Upon a Time in Dollywood" brings readers into playwright Eve Ambroise's life after she undergoes a dramatical life overhaul, including moving to Tennessee, splitting up with her boyfriend, and cutting off her parents. Amid her transition, she meets her new neighbor Jamie Gallagher, who's also figuring out his life. Sparks fly between the two, but falling in love is far from an easy task for either. The novel has a 7.91 cumulative rating at the time of writing, made up of 3.71 on Goodreads and 4.2 on Amazon.

Reese Witherspoon couldn't get enough of the book when she recommended it in August, so much so Jordan appeared at Reese's Book Club Experience at Shine Away 2025. "Fellow turned debut author, Ashley's voice is vibrant, funny, and full of heart. I read this in one sitting, it's that good!" Witherspoon wrote on Instagram. And she wasn't the only one that felt that way. A four-star Goodreads review (where 41% of ratings are four-star), stated, "Overall and simply put, a really great, emotional, and unforgettable read." However, some commented that there were a few too many emotions to process and the book was no light, breezy read.

"The Three Lives of Cate Kay" by Kate Fagan was Reese's Book Club's January recommendation. It has a 3.74 Goodreads rating and a 4.2 Amazon rating, which put it just ahead of "Once Upon a Time in Dollywood." The titular character Cate Kay is an author of a book series that became a hugely successful movie franchise. Cate is seriously mysterious and doesn't share much of her personal life. It turns out Cate Kay is actually a pseudonym, and it's one of many she's used after running away from a tragedy and changing her identity.

Writing on Instagram, Reese Witherspoon told fans, "This story swept me away with its big dreams, love, and unexpected twists." Many reviewers praised how it touched on multiple genres, with one Goodreads reviewer stating, "There's a lot in this book — romance, grief, finding yourself and your path, friendship, family drama, second chances, self doubt. It's a literary fiction but bends with a lot of romance and suspense." Reviews also praised the book's flow and the unique way the novel made use of multiple points of view.

Narrowly missing the top five is Reese Witherspoon's recommendation for May, Emily Henry's "Great Big Beautiful Life." Protagonist Alice Scott is an up-and-coming writer looking to get her foot in the door, while Hayden Anderson is a writing big shot with years of work under his belt. Their paths cross when they both decide to write a biography about mysterious heiress Margaret Ives. She invites them to stay with her so she can choose who she wants to put pen to paper and tell her story. Not only is there clear chemistry between Alice and Hayden, they must grapple with Margaret only telling them tidbits about her life — which they aren't allowed to share with each other. The book has a 8.27 rating overall, with 3.97 on Goodreads and 4.3 on Amazon.

"This was a really easy read. Heartfelt. Had a little bit of hopefulness, a little mystery. A good love story," one Amazon reviewer wrote. Another also shared acclaim for the romance aspect, writing, "Emily Henry crafted a story that pulled me in so deeply, it felt like I was unraveling a mystery." Reese Witherspoon was equally enthralled. "I won't give away any spoilers, but trust me, it's so good!" she wrote on Instagram.

Kicking off the top five most positively reviewed Reese's Book Club picks of 2025 is "Isola" by Allegra Goodman. The February recommendation's protagonist is heiress Marguerite, who is taken care of by a less than kind man after her parents pass away. Marguerite strikes up a relationship with her guardian's servant, but the two are savagely punished for falling in love by being abandoned together on an island. The book is the first to have a four-star rating or higher on both Goodreads and Amazon, with 4.01 on the former and 4.3 on the latter, for an 8.31 total.

On Goodreads, 44% of reviews are four-star with a further 30% giving the book five stars. "'Isola' by Allegra Goodman is a lovely written and thoughtful story. I really enjoyed the setting and the quiet depth of the characters. It took a little time to get into, but once I did, I was pulled in," a review read. Though others claimed the storytelling was a little too slow, Reese Witherspoon couldn't hide her love for the novel on Instagram. "This is easily one of my favorite historical fiction reads yet," she wrote.

December's Reese's Book Club pick has an impressive 8.37 rating from a 4.07 Goodreads score and 4.3 Amazon score. "The Heir Apparent" by Rebecca Armitage tells the story of Lexi Villiers (aka Princess Alexandrina, granddaughter of the queen of England) after she learns the sad news that her brother and father have died. That means she's next in the line of succession to become Queen of England, and her life goes from lowkey as a studying for a medical degree in Tasmania to returning home to the grandeur of jewels and castles. Seeing Lexi is torn between her new life as a normal girl and her old life as a famous princess, the sitting queen gives her granddaughter a year to decide how she wants to live the rest of her life.

In an Instagram video, Reese Witherspoon complimented the novel's unexpected twist and noted, "This book is so engaging." Multiple reviewers appeared to agree with the "Legally Blonde" star's take. One reader wrote, "I truly didn't know which choice Princess Alexandrina was going to make and, equally, I didn't even know which choice I wanted her to make, which made it all the more compelling! Loved it." Another shared praise for the novel's flashbacks and numerous timelines for keeping things interesting.

Reese Witherspoon introduced her book club's followers to Beck Dorey-Stein's "Spectacular" as her celebrity book club recommendation for July. The novel landed in the top three highest rated picks for 2025 with an 8.38 total score, including a 4.08 rating on Goodreads and a further 4.3 on Amazon. It's about sisters Mia and Cricket, who are very close but very different. As the two get older, they learn about their mom's tragic backstory, which includes giving up a promising soccer career to raise them. The book details their relationship not only with their mom but with each other as they grow into young women and chase their own dreams.

"Don't let this beautiful and carefree cover fool you! This book is heart-rending. I was engrossed from start to finish," one reader, who gave the novel four stars on Goodreads (just like 47% of reviewers), wrote. "This was all about the storytelling and Emily Rankin delivered a great performance. Her pacing felt perfect and I enjoyed her character distinctions," another reviewer stated. Witherspoon was just as taken with the story. "It's a beautiful read, it really is," she said in an Instagram video.

Charlotte McConaghy's "Wild Dark Shore" just pipped "Spectacular Things" to the second spot. The November rec has an impressive 8.53 overall rating, with an average of 4.13 on Goodreads and 4.4 on Amazon. This twisty thriller is about a family who are the only inhabitants of an island near Antarctica — that is until Rowan unexpectedly washes up there. Though Rowan starts to bond with the family, her guard goes up when she notices some oddities and realises they may have a few skeletons in their closet. Equally, the family have their suspicions about Rowan and how she got there, but they have to decide if they're willing to trust one another to survive.

On Goodreads, "Wild Dark Shore" has an even split of 39% four- and five-star reviews. One five-star review gushed, "While it's extremely character driven, it's also so plot heavy — I'm not kidding you when I say that 100 things happened in this book and every chapter had some action. It will be so hard for you to put it down!!" Other readers were enthralled by McConaghy's intense and descriptive writing style, including Reese Witherspoon herself. In an Instagram comment, the actor revealed it was a rec by a friend and wrote, "It is so deep and beautiful and propulsive. A true Ecological thriller and a dark romance as well."

Taking the top spot thanks to a slew of positive reviews is "Broken Country" by Clare Leslie Hall. The March pick has a very impressive total average score of 8.81 out of 10 on our ranking, consisting of an average 4.31 score on Goodreads and an 4.5 score overall on Amazon at the time of writing. In this historical mystery novel, we meet married couple Beth and Frank, whose lives are changed when Beth's former boyfriend comes back to town with his son. The arrival of Beth's ex brings previously buried secrets back to life and forces her to make unexpected, big decisions about her past and her future.

Based on reviews, readers couldn't get enough of the book's blend of different genres."'Broken Country by [Clare Leslie Hall]' is a gripping mix of thrilling murder mystery, and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to relive your truest love story all over again... plus, that ending?! I did NOT see it coming!" Reese Witherspoon wrote on Instagram. She's not the only one left shocked by this gripping tale. On Goodreads, a remarkable 47% of reviews are five-star, with many praising the novel's plot and the tone. "I was completely captivated with this emotional, heartbreaking story, and finished it in less than 24 hours. I closed the last page with tears in my eyes and a sigh of satisfaction," one reader wrote.

To ensure our list accurately represented the range of reader opinion, we soured reviews and ratings from the popular sites like Goodreads and Amazon. We then took the average star rating of each book from both platforms and added them together to determine a total score out of 10. From there, we arranged our list in ascending order and created an overview of what readers thought by analyzing reviews posted on both outlets.