Reese’s Book Club

Here is BCR’s review of Reese’s Book Club and the break down of the ratings above.

Selection Details

For most book clubs, especially successful major book clubs, the selection details are among the most known and consistent factors of the books the club reads.

Selector

Actress and producer Reese Witherspoon personally selects the books for her club, a responsibility that might seem obvious given that it bears her name. However, not all book club founders or namesakes take on this role. Reese’s hands-on approach to curating each selection plays a significant role in maintaining the club’s cohesion and longevity.

Theme

Reese’s Book Club has one core requirement for its selections: the story must center around a woman. This consistent theme helps larger reading groups stay focused and gives members—or potential members—a clear idea of what to expect from the club’s picks. By consistently applying this focus, the club has created a cohesive identity while still offering a broad enough theme to encompass a variety of genres (more on Reese’s Book Club genres below). This balance has been key to building and maintaining membership, readership, and engagement.

Notification

On the first Tuesday of each month, Reese’s Book Club announces its latest book selection. While these announcements are generally consistent and reliable, casual followers may find it challenging to track them down. The monthly pick is typically shared on the club’s website and social media platforms, primarily Instagram and Facebook. Additionally, Reese’s Book Club offers an app, which is presumably the most consistent and timely method for staying updated on new selections.

However, not everyone is inclined to join an app or follow on social media, and regularly visiting the website may not be convenient. A newsletter could serve as a more accessible alternative, offering followers an easy way to stay informed. Although BCR attempted to subscribe to the club’s newsletter, after several months, only a welcome email was received, with no updates or book announcement notifications.

Frequency

Reese’s Book Club selects a new book each month, a consistent schedule that helps build and sustain membership, readership, and engagement. The monthly interval provides members with a manageable timeframe to read one book and prepare for the next selection.

Book Details

For most book clubs, the book details of selections are less intentional and less known than the selection details. However, book details can be important underlying elements that influence members, readership and the success of a club overall.

Availability

Due to the popularity of Reese’s Book Club, finding the selected books is generally easy. However, borrowing them from a library can be more challenging, often involving waitlists that range from a few weeks to several months. If you want to dive into the latest pick right after it’s announced, you’ll likely need to buy it.

Format

Another advantage of this book club’s popularity is that its selections are available in a variety of popular formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook. This ensures that readers can choose their preferred format with ease.

Length

Reese’s Book Club selections average around 346 pages, which we find to be an ideal length. It strikes a balance—not too short and not too long—making it manageable for readers to complete within the club’s monthly timeframe. For context, the club’s shortest pick to date was I’m Still Here by Austin Channing Brown at 185 pages, while the longest was The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine at 560 pages.

Rating

BCR considers a rating of 3 or higher to be a good score. On Goodreads, every book selected by Reese’s Book Club has earned a rating above 3, with an average rating of 3.83. The highest-rated pick is The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah at 4.63, while the lowest is 3.10.

Genre

Reese’s Book Club selections cover a wide range of genres, thanks to the club’s specific yet broad theme, as mentioned earlier. The top five genres, or six in this case due to a tie, are Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Mystery, Adult, and Historical Fiction. This diverse mix appeals to a broad audience, helping to sustain member interest and engagement.

Year Published

If you enjoy reading recent releases, Reese’s Book Club is an excellent choice. The majority of the club’s selections come from the past three to six years, and so far, no book picked has been published before 2013.

Authors

For most book clubs, author selections are likely less intentional than the club’s selection details but perhaps given more consideration than book details. Often we find authors to be a subtle but important element that can influence book selections. Author selection can paint a picture of and guide the intentions and direction of a book club. 

Favorites

Whether by design or coincidence, Reese’s Book Club has a few favorite authors who have been selected twice. Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere was the club’s fourth pick in September 2017, and Ng returned to the club’s list in October 2022 with Our Missing Hearts. Ann Patchett, another early favorite, is the second most recurring author across BCR’s best book clubs. For Reese’s Book Club, Patchett was first chosen in November 2017 with her memoir This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage, which became the club’s sixth pick. Then, in August 2023, Patchett’s Tom Lake was selected. Finally, Curtis Sittenfeld’s You Think It, I’ll Say It marked the club’s one-year anniversary and twelfth pick. Sittenfeld made a return to the club in April 2023 with Romantic Comedy.

Diversity

The authors featured in Reese’s Book Club are relatively diverse, though the list currently does not include any male authors. Given the club’s theme, however, it would be unexpected to find a male author among the selections. The club’s focus on women reclaiming their stories and narratives—an underlying theme throughout—aligns with the idea that choosing a story centered around a woman, written from a male perspective, would contradict the club’s intentions.

Club Details

All of the above contribute directly and indirectly to factors that make up the club details.

Book Count

Reese’s Book Club has steadily grown its book count, surpassing 100 selections. Throughout its history, the club has maintained consistent momentum, with only occasional breaks. Since 2022, the club has not skipped a month. As a result, this club holds the highest books-per-year average.

Membership Count

The club’s membership has also seen steady growth. Reese’s Book Club now boasts the largest membership among the Best Book Clubs, with an increase of half a million members since our last count.

Membership Engagement

Reese’s Book Club engages its members and followers through various channels. Both casual followers and dedicated members can stay updated via the website, social media, the club’s newsletter, and a dedicated app. Unfortunately, BCR has found the newsletter to be unreliable. While the app seems like a great option for a more immersive and dedicated club experience, we’re unsure of all its features. For casual readers and those who prefer a more flexible way to keep up, BCR recommends following the club on social media or visiting the club’s website to stay informed about the latest picks at your convenience.

Years Active

For more than seven years, Reese’s Book Club has consistently selected a book each month with a woman at the heart of the story. This impressive longevity reflects the club’s commitment to its theme, its members, and its readership. With no signs of slowing down, the club continues to thrive.

Overall Rating

With an overall BCR rating of 4.25, we highly recommend Reese’s Book Club. It’s a great choice for those seeking a monthly read, especially if you enjoy newer fiction, contemporary, romance, historical fiction, or mystery novels. To stay informed about the club’s latest picks, be sure to check BCR’s Reese’s Book Club list, along with Reese’s Book Club Instagram and website. For a more interactive experience and to engage with other readers, exploring the club’s social media and app could be worthwhile.

Is Reese’s Book Club the book club for you? Get the complete Reese’s Book Club list now.