Reese Witherspoon Has A Brand New Book Club Aimed A Whole Different Type Of Reader

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Reese Witherspoon's name has practically become synonymous with great reads. That's owed to the overwhelming success of her book club, which highlights diverse, hard-to-put-down novels by a range of authors. As a reader and a tastemaker, Witherspoon has had a tremendous influence on literary culture. Getting picked for Witherspoon's book club changes everything for an author and their work, and the actor has helped push plenty of emerging writers onto the bestseller list. She has even producing critically acclaimed screen adaptations of novels she loves, including "Big Little Lies" and "Gone Girl." And the club's impact is only growing. Last year, Witherspoon book club launched a new podcast with plenty of reading recommendations. Now, as of 2026, her production company Hello Sunshine is about to get even bigger with the launch of Sunnie Reads, a book club targeted specifically at Gen Z readers.

"It is a club for the next generation of readers, where reading is about community," explained Witherspoon in a January 2026 Instagram video announcing the book club's launch, which will partner with popular Gen Z book influencers, including Demi Singleton and Raegan Revord. The book club is part of a larger lifestyle brand launch from Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine company; in addition to a book club, Sunnie aims to speak directly to a younger direction of women. Sunnie Reads will announce a new selection every other month, and announce the debut pick in January 2026: the cozy YA mystery, "Beth Is Dead."

The inaugural Sunnie Reads selection is "Beth Is Dead" by Katie Bernet, a YA novel that remixes the 1868 novel "Little Women" as a modern murder mystery. Gentle, innocent Beth is discovered dead, and Meg, Jo, and Amy are all among the plausible suspects. Fans of Louisa May Alcott's classic story will relish the familiar characters and the page-turning plot. It's the kind of YA mystery book that even adults can adults can enjoy.

Readers praised Bernet's skill at bringing old, familiar characters to life. "What was the best part of this book? That had to be how it brought the March sisters to life in modern times," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "Maintaining the feel that they had in the classic but giving them themes to contend with from our current world." The four sisters who once lived through the Civil War must now navigate modern challenges like social media, and the coming-of-age and feminist themes are reworked for a contemporary audience.