Are you wondering what your favourite Celebrity Book Club is reading this month? Do you enjoy book communities as a way to read along with others? If so, each of these celebrity book clubs is internet-based and open to all who follow. So if you’re like me and always on the lookout for the next great read, you will now find these picks all in one spot – That Happy Reader’s blog! Without further adieu, let me introduce you to Celebrity Book Club Picks for October 2024.
Click on the book’s cover to add it to your Goodreads shelf!
Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club (Hello Sunshine)’s pick for October 2024:
Founded in 2017, Hello Sunshine always chooses books with women at the centre of the story. Their website notes “We make our choices thoughtfully and look for ways to deepen our connection to books, authors and ourselves”. This book club chose “Society of Lies” by Lauren Ling Brown as their October 2024 pick.
Length: 384 pages.
Genre: Thrillers & Suspense
Summary:
Maya returns to Princeton for her college reunion and to attend her younger sister Naomi’s graduation, but her weekend turns tragic when Naomi is found dead. While the police call it an accident, Maya suspects foul play and begins investigating Naomi’s life, discovering that her sister had joined the exclusive Sterling Club, just as Maya had years before. As she unravels Naomi’s hidden connections to a secret society, Maya fears that her sister’s decision to follow in her footsteps led to her death. Haunted by her own past at Princeton, Maya realizes Naomi’s fate may be linked to a deadly secret she’s been hiding for years.
Good Morning America’s Book Club’s pick:
The GMA Book Club is officially called “Cover to Cover” and was started in the Fall of 2019. Their selections highlight diversity and books are chosen from both fiction and non-fiction genres. The book club chose “A Song to Drown Rivers” by Ann Liang as their October 2024 pick.
Length: 336 pages.
Genre: Fairy Tales, Fantasy
Summary:
A Song to Drown Rivers is an epic historical fantasy inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the Four Beauties of Ancient China. Xishi, whose beauty is seen as a blessing by her village, is recruited by Fanli, a military advisor, to use her allure as a weapon to infiltrate the rival kingdom of Wu and avenge her sister’s murder. Trained in seduction and strategy, Xishi enters the enemy palace to weaken it from within, seducing the king while navigating the dangerous attentions of his advisors. As she ascends in the Wu court, the attraction between her and Fanli complicates her mission, and Xishi faces the risk of being unmasked, which could destroy both kingdoms.
Read With Jenna (Jenna Bush Hager)’s pick:
In March 2019, the former First Daughter announced her book club on the Today show. Each month she chooses a book that is sure to generate discussion. Jenna chose “The Mighty Red” by Louise Endrich as her October 2024 pick.
Length: 384 pages.
Genre: Literary Fiction
Summary:
The Mighty Red is a novel set in Argus, North Dakota, where a group of characters navigate love, loss, and the changing world around them. Gary Geist, set to inherit two farms, is desperate to marry Kismet Poe, a former Goth who offers him a sense of resolution, while Hugo, a gentle giant, is determined to steal her away. Kismet’s mother, Crystal, tunes into late-night radio on her trucking routes, worrying about the future. The novel explores themes of time—both human and deep—juxtaposed with climate change, economic collapse, and the struggles of ordinary people. Through humor, sorrow, and the harsh beauty of the prairie, The Mighty Red reflects on love, the earth, and human resilience.
Oprah’s Book Club:
Oprah Winfrey started this book club in 1996 as a segment on her TV show. Many obscure titles have risen to bestseller status as a result of her picks. Oprah’s latest pick is “Tell Me Everything” by Elizabeth Strout.
Length: 352 pages.
Genre: General Fiction, Literary Fiction
Summary:
In Tell Me Everything, Elizabeth Strout returns to Crosby, Maine, with her signature empathy and deep understanding of the human condition. The story follows familiar characters like Lucy Barton, Olive Kitteridge, and Bob Burgess as they confront a shocking crime, navigate complex relationships, and grapple with the meaning of life. Bob becomes involved in a murder investigation, defending a man accused of killing his mother, while forming a close friendship with Lucy Barton. Together, they reflect on their pasts and shared regrets. Lucy also connects with Olive Kitteridge, and through their storytelling, they explore the unrecorded lives around them, imbuing them with meaning. Strout’s narrative poignantly highlights how love, in its many forms, sustains us.
Other Recent Celebrity Book Club Selections:
Do any of these books appeal to you? Come back next month as I let you know what the November picks are!
Jonetta | Blue Mood Café
I normally add any book selection by Read With Jenna but am taking a pass this time. Maybe later. Added Reese’s selection.
thathappyreader
I hope that you enjoy it Jonetta!
Jody
Society of Lies sounds very intriguing. Happy reading, Jodie
thathappyreader
Thanks Jody!
Olivia
Fun post! It’s interesting to see what is chosen and by whom. I already have the Elizabeth Strout book on my TBR pile.
thathappyreader
I hope that you enjoy it Olivia!