Aubrey Plaza's Favorite Books Are The Weird-Girl Reading List Of Our Dreams
Hey there, fellow bookworm slash celebrity book club fanatic. If you're looking for book recommendations to kick-start a reading goal or simply discover something new to you — and to have those recs come straight from the library of a beloved, book-reading celeb — you've come to the right place.
These days, Aubrey Plaza is known for much more than the lovably quirky April Ludgate on "Parks and Rec." She's equally respected for her portrayal of the strange, stalkerish Ingrid on "Ingrid Goes West" and the awkward yet seductive Harper in Season 2 of "The White Lotus." In other words, stellar personality aside, Plaza's garnered some well-earned respect throughout her acting career — so much so that we'd like to pick her brain about her most iconic characters. The next best thing? Raiding her bookshelves, of course. Such a good actor must have some good book recs from which she pulls inspiration for her memorable characters, after all.
Below, we've gathered six of Plaza's top book recommendations, including three modern classics, a contemporary "blazing" debut novel, and two starkly different yet equally impactful works of non-fiction.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Aubrey Plaza hits the nail on the head with this recommendation: "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath. Since its publication in 1963, this modern classic and bildungsroman has touched the lives of many, including Plaza, who told Elle that the novel "makes [her] feel seen."
Decades after its publication, "The Bell Jar" has earned its undisputable classic status with its coming-of-age story that follows Esther Greenwood in her time interning at a women's magazine in New York City. Beloved by quote-unquote weird, melancholy, and misunderstood women of all ages, Plath's only novel was published shortly before her untimely passing that same year. Having experienced mental health struggles her entire life — many of which served as inspiration for the novel's main character and her unshakeable sense of discomfort in her own life — Plath's story resonates with countless girls and women everywhere. No matter your stage of life, Esther's story is one to pick up and devour.
The White Album by Joan Didion
Next on Aubrey Plaza's list of must-read books is Joan Didion's "The White Album," a collection of essays considered by many to be some of the author's most poignant. If you've read anything else by the beloved journalist, essayist, and fiction writer, you know this is saying something. Plaza is such a fan that she wishes she could get her hands on a copy signed by Didion herself. Didion, if nothing else, had the power to make words seem like much more than ink on paper, including her signature.
While this essay collection shares the same name as a certain Beatles album, the two are not to be conflated. In "The White Album," Didion speaks on the culture and politics of California in the '60s and '70s in a way only she could, causing the reader to be swept away by her story-telling manner of getting her points and criticism across. If you're looking to get into Didion, this is the place to start. And if you value our weird-girl actress' opinion, you'll want to start it now.
Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann
One book you're likely to find on Plaza's shelves — if we ever get lucky enough to get a bookshelf tour from her — is Jacqueline Susann's debut novel, "Valley of the Dolls." The copy, we imagine, will look a bit tattered and well-loved since it turns out that Plaza loved this tale of brief success and quick descent so much that she forgot to return her copy to her local library (which could happen to any of us, really).
"Valley of the Dolls" is one of those books you often glimpse out of the side of your eye at the bookstore while looking for something fresh and new, only to dismiss it for its vague label of "modern classic." What does that even mean? A classic is a classic, so how can it be modern? Well, while the book was published less than a century ago, it rose to classic status early, and this is nothing to take lightly — nor is it reason to brush it off in favor of picking up other, more contemporary options. The novel is Susann's vivid portrayal of women's harsh awakening to the entertainment industry's fast-paced nature and tendency to use and discard women, and it's quite impactful.
Hello, Molly!: A Memoir by Molly Shannon
Molly Shannon's memoir is one to devour — all in one sitting, if Aubrey Plaza's to be believed. "Hello, Molly!" is one of those equally hilarious and devastating books that are simply unputdownable. Compiling a series of moments balanced between being at times funny and at others heartbreaking, Shannon — a comedian, which becomes clear early on — shares bits of her life with her audience in new and vulnerable (but still characteristically comic) ways.
If you're already familiar with Shannon's work, from "SNL" to the countless comedies she's starred in, this memoir is easy to slip right into. Same but different, Shannon's take on a comedic memoir results in an extension of her life work (and her fun, weird-girl demeanor) that will be any funny girl's cup of tea. This is certainly a celebrity memoir worth picking up on your next visit to the bookstore.
Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl Gonzáles
If what you're looking for is more of a contemporary work of fiction, a recent stellar debut, or even a novel with a healthy dose of romance within its pages, then Aubrey Plaza's next favorite book — one she'd "like turned into a Netflix show," as she told Elle — is perfect for you. Xóchitl Gonzáles' 2022 novel "Olga Dies Dreaming" hits all of these boxes. While this novel is a recent publication, it has already garnered the praise worthy of any modern classic — but only time will tell.
Gonzáles' debut follows Olga, a wedding planner in Manhattan, New York, and her tumultuous family and romantic lives. Between her mother unexpectedly coming back into her life, Olga meeting a new love interest, and her congressman brother's internal struggles that require intervention, there is simply too much on Olga's plate. With a story like that, it's no wonder someone like Plaza would like a TV adaptation. It plays out in your head like a movie, the way all good books should.
Women by Charles Bukowski
Lastly, Aubrey Plaza is nothing if not a funny gal. If you ask her, as Elle did, this novel is awarded "best title" above all of the others. Not "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott, "Women in Love" by D.H. Lawrence, or even "The Female Persuasion" by Meg Wolitzer. Just "Women" will do. And she's right. As for its contents? Well, if you've read any Bukowski, we expect that you have a good idea of what's in store for you.
Charles Bukowski is known for his simple and hard-hitting prose, his outrageous stories and poetry that used to turn into instant classics, and (sadly) for his less-than-respectful depictions of women. And while this might turn certain people off his writing, we wholeheartedly recommend dipping your toes into his work, if only for a taste. Starting with "Women," which follows writer Henry Chinaski as he finds praise and success after years of failure and falls into a life of alcoholism and sexual indulgence. While the book is little about the women he ravishes and more about his own self-destructive behavior, the novel is still a great introduction to Bukowski's work.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).