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 consistently selects the books for this club. This may seem obvious given that it is her club. However not all book club founders and namesakes pick the books for their club. Reese’s commitment to each book selection for her club contributes to the club’s cohesion and longevity. 

Theme

Reese’s Book Club has one book selection requirement. There must be a woman at the center of the story. Consistent themes help larger reading groups stay focused. Themes also give members or potential members a better idea of what they can expect to be reading. Reese’s Book Club has been consistent in applying this theme to every pick. And this theme is also broad enough to provide members with a variety of genres (more on Reese’s Book Club genres below) which builds & maintains membership, readership and engagement.

Frequency

Book selections for Reese’s Book Club are made on a monthly basis. Consistent monthly selections are a good interval to build and maintain membership, readership and engagement. Monthly selections allow a reasonable time for members to read one book and be ready for the next pick.

Notification

On the first Tuesday of each month, members can expect the announcement of Reese’s Book Club’s next pick. While these announcements are mostly consistent and reliable, finding the announcement is a bit of a hunt especially for casual followers. The monthly pick can reliably be found on the website and social media, primarily Instagram and Facebook. Reese’s Book Club also has an app which presumably is the most consistent, reliable and timely for communicating monthly book selections. Joining an app or following on social media is not necessarily open to everyone. And visiting the website each month isn’t ideal. A newsletter is a great option and is an accessible alternative to social media and dedicated apps for notifying followers of the next book pick. BCR tried signing up for the club’s newsletter. However, after several months we have only ever received a welcome email and no notifications of book announcements.

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 for purchase is not an issue. However, finding the books at a library to borrow can be harder and often results in a waitlist that’s anywhere from a few weeks to a few months long. If you want to read the newest pick as soon as it’s announced, expect to buy it.

Format

A benefit of the popularity of this book club is that these books can be found in all of the most popular formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook and audiobook. This is a plus for readers that prefer one format over another.

Length

Reese’s Book Club selections average a length of 342 pages. Overall, this is a good average page count in our opinion. It’s not too short and not too long especially considering the monthly frequency of selections. Books around this length can reasonably be read in this amount of time.

For reference, this club’s shortest pick to date was 197 pages (Brene Brown’s Braving the Wild). And the longest read was 560 pages (The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine).

Rating

BCR considers a rating of 3 or higher as a good rating. On Goodreads, all of Reese’s Book Club picks have a rating over 3. These club picks have an average rating of 3.85. The highest rating is 4.61 and the lowest rating is 3.09.

Genre

Reese’s Book Club picks span a number of genres. As mentioned above, the specific yet broad theme of the club selections allows for this. The top five genres are Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Historical Fiction, Mystery. This is a good mix that can appeal to a large number of readers and retain member interest and engagement.

Year Published

If you enjoy reading newer books, Reese’s Book Club is a good fit. Most of the club’s picks are from the last three to six years. So far, the club has not read anything with a publish date older than 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 intentional or not, Reese’s Book Club seems to have a few favorite authors. Each of these authors have been selected twice by the club. Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere was the club’s fourth pick in September 2017. Then Ng appeared on the club’s book list again in October 2022 with her book, Our Missing Hearts. Ann Patchett was an early favorite too. And Patchett is the second most recurring author across the major book clubs. For Reese’s Book Club, Patchett was first chosen in November 2017. Her memoir, This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, was 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 was selected again in April 2023 with Romantic Comedy.

Diversity

The authors that make up the Reese’s Book Club list are relatively diverse. However the list does not currently include any male authors. On the other hand, given the theme of this book club it would be surprising to find a male author on this list. Given how far women have come in taking back their stories and narratives, which seems to be an underlying theme of this club, selecting a story with a woman at the center written by a male voice or perspective would be in direct contradiction with this 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 a steady and growing book count that is quickly approaching 100 books. There have been no breaks or changes in the consistency in the club’s history.

Membership Count

The club’s membership count has been steady and growing as well. Reese’s Book Club currently has the largest membership of the Top 5 Book Clubs.

Membership Engagement

Reese’s Book Club engages members and followers in multiple ways. Casual followers and dedicated members can keep up with the club on their website, social media, the club newsletter and via a dedicated app. Unfortunately BCR has recently found the newsletter to be unreliable. And while we’re unsure of what all is included on the app, it appears to be a great option for a more dedicated and immersive club experience. For the average follower and casual reader, BCR recommends simply following the club on social media or visiting the club’s website to stay up to date on the latest picks at your leisure.

Years Active

For over six years, Reese’s Book Club has consistently shared a book selection featuring a woman at the center of the story each month. This club’s longevity demonstrates a dedication to the club’s theme, intention, members and readership. And the club shows no signs of slowing down.

Overall Rating

With an overall BCR rating of 4.29, we recommend Reese’s Book Club. Definitely check out this book club if you are looking for a monthly read and enjoy reading newer fiction, contemporary, romance, historical fiction or mystery novels. The best ways to stay up to date on Reese’s Book Club’s next reads are right here on BCR as well as Reese’s Book Club Instagram and club website. To stay up to date and engage with other club readers, all Reese’s Book Club social media and the club’s app could be worth a try.