These Reese's Book Club Literary Fiction Picks Deserve A Spot On Your Shelf

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There's nothing quite like the satisfying feeling of making it through a new book that's so enticing that you can't put it down. So many celebrities have created their own book clubs to foster literary conversations that evoke this feeling, from Jenna Bush Hager to Jennette McCurdy, and, of course, Oprah Winfrey. "The Morning Show" actor Reese Witherspoon has also spearheaded her own book club with monthly choices that stimulate readers while also highlighting talented female authors. Starting all the way back in May 2017, Reese's Book Club's first-ever pick became an instant favorite. The captivating reads that followed have varied in location and time period to put a spotlight on myriad topics and voices, and the conversations that these stories inspire are deep, vast, and multifaceted.

Reese's Book Club has recommended more than 100 books since 2017, and many of her choices have been adapted into popular movies and television series. When it comes to literary fiction, Witherspoon has chosen stories that feel personal yet universal in their themes. The diversity in subject matter ensures that every bibliophile can find a literary fiction title they can happily embark on reading. After all, new and seasoned authors alike have created compelling worlds and original yet relatable characters that can make us feel deeply. So, if you're a fan of literary fiction, the following five novels are great selections from Reese's Book Club that are worth picking up if their reviews are anything to go by.

Who among us hasn't dreamed of an international adventure? Reese Witherspoon's April 2025 pick by Emily Everett, "All That Life Can Afford," gives off serious "Gossip Girl" vibes because our protagonist can barely keep up with the high-society life she's been thrown into. In a world where fortune means everything, not everyone is able to keep up. 

In this book, Anna grows up barely getting by but is determined to live a fabulous future. After a failed attempt to embark on her own "Emily in Paris" moment in London, she gets a second chance when a rich family hires her. Anna is thrust into a flashy new lifestyle that gives her the opulence she always knew she was destined for — that is, until it lands her in the middle of a juicy love triangle. One man represents that high life she craves, while the other sees her for who she used to be. How long can she ignore her past before it catches up with her? Is her transformation meant to come crashing down, and is the Anna she once was completely gone forever? 

On Amazon, the book has a 4.1-star rating, and one reader gave the book a perfect 5-star review, calling it "uncomfortably real." They sang the book's praises, insisting that "this is part of the strength of the writing, which absolutely transported me."

To us, parents are simply "mom" or "dad," but do we really know them or who they were way back when? "Tom Lake" comes from acclaimed author Ann Patchett, who penned hits like "Commonwealth" and "The Magician's Assistant," and examines just that. The book has more than 48,000 reviews on Amazon, culminating in a 4.2-star rating thanks to more than half of reviewers rating it 5 out of 5 stars. This novel is the perfect example of romance book trends that BookTok is loving: forbidden workplace romance, a celebrity love interest, and looking back at the one that got away.

This August 2023 pick from Reese's Book Club looks at the complexity of mother-daughter dynamics. When her daughters return home, Lara tells them about a man from her past. What starts out as a walk down memory lane forces the girls to reexamine their mother and their relationship with her. It's a moment where three daughters see their mother as someone with a history and ambition they knew nothing about. It takes place at a cherry orchard, but don't let the picturesque setting make you think this read lacks dimension and emotion. "Tom Lake" balances a soft setting with harsh realities, like the disappointments that shape us as people — and the lives we live. 

Take a step back in time to the music scene of San Francisco in the 1950s. "On the Roof Top" by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton was the Reese's Book Club pick of September 2022, and this novel has so many complex story points, including gentrification, unhealthy family dynamics, and self-image, all with the exciting backdrop of smooth jazz. If you're a fan of the musical "Gypsy," you'll love this one because it has a matriarch mom-ager with big expectations for her children to become superstars. 

Don't be surprised if this tale gets turned into a movie, as it combines the ritz and real emotion that make a perfect blockbuster. There's so much focus on identity and what that means in one's family, career, home, and self — the confusion and sorrow that come with change and time passing by. The idea of leaving home is scary enough, but what happens when the home you know and love changes before your very eyes? Do you follow the plans you've made, or do you break free to embark on your own future? 

On Goodreads, one reader who gave the book a 5-star rating called it "so real and relatable." The user asserted, "What I loved about this book is the amount of growth each character goes through from beginning of the book until the end."

The best type of art stimulates all of your senses, and "The Scent Keeper" by Erica Bauermeister will do just that. This book is a perfect beach read, as you can be taken to a dream world of new possibilities while watching the waves lap in and out. Aromatherapy enthusiasts will love the way this book shows the power of nature and the elements. It looks at how smell can resurface memories and how the world we've been surrounded by can inspire where we go. Many reviewers on Amazon, where the book has a 4.4-star rating, said they couldn't put this title down and continue to reflect on the story after finishing it. One user emphasized, "This is one of the few books I've encountered in my life that I could truly read forever." 

Protagonist Emmeline is a modern-day Rapunzel who was raised alone with her dad in a secluded cabin. He taught her to appreciate the natural world around her, but kept his share of secrets from his young daughter — that is, until Emmeline is pushed into a new journey in the outside world that feels overwhelming and cruel in comparison to the life she's known. She relies on her scents to tell her the truth of her past and catapult her into the future. Ironically, this book was the Reese's Book Club pick of February 2020, celebrating the beauty of the outdoors just a month before COVID-19 forced everyone into the confines of their homes. 

"The Night Tiger" by Yangsze Choo is an exciting and heart-wrenching story with unexpected twists and turns. The April 2019 Reese's Book Club pick revolves around two strangers, Ji Lin and Ren, in 1930s Malaysia. They're both used to playing small and providing for others, but each of them gets a calling that sends them out on a daring and potentially dangerous adventure. The two keep finding themselves intertwined in the other's journey while they try to avoid death and life-altering transformations. Will they find themselves in the process of this wondrous tale? 

"The Night Tiger" was nominated for a 2019 Goodreads Choice Award in the readers' favorite historical fiction category. One Goodreads reviewer sang the praises of this novel, calling it a "jaw-dropping, unforgettable tango of lyrical mysticism and coming of age!" They simply added, "This book is magic!" 

The books included on this list are all literary fiction, and they cover a variety of universal human truths and experiences. The books chosen span a variety of topics, including growth, love, social class, and self-discovery, and the titles were selected based on how well they connect with topics that are frequently discussed by Glam, including wellness and relationships. Location, time period, and author background were also taken into consideration, as we wanted to represent a variety of cultures and voices in this list. Finally, each book has received positive reviews from readers on Amazon and Goodreads.