9 books recommended by birthday girl Reese Witherspoon
«Yellowface», «The Sanatorium», and more
Today, American actress Reese Witherspoon turns 49. She has built a successful film career and produces her own projects, but besides work, she has another passion — books. Reese does not hide her love for reading and even founded her own book club, Reese’s Book Club, a long time ago.
To celebrate the star’s birthday, we have compiled a selection of books recommended by club members and Reese herself. Add these to your bookshelf and read with excitement, just like today’s birthday star!
«The First Lie Wins» by Ashley Elston
Evie Porter is an ordinary girl who was lucky enough to meet a wonderful guy, Ryan, move into his house, and get a job at a gallery. But there’s a catch: this guy didn’t meet her by chance, and she’s not really Miss Porter.
It turns out Ryan is part of a mission she must carry out under orders from the mysterious Mr. Smith. He creates new identities for the young girl and assigns her difficult tasks. However, the enigmatic boss wants to land her in prison. Now Evie must not only deceive her lover but also outwit her boss.
«Yellowface» by Rebecca F. Kuang
Athena Liu and Juniper Hayward are friends who studied together at Yale and took a writing course. However, Athena became a true sensation in the literary world, while hardly anyone knew about Juniper.
Everything changes when Jun witnesses Athena’s sudden death and steals her freshly finished novel about the role of Chinese workers in World War I. The writer edits the manuscript and sends it to an agent as her own work. No one was supposed to know who the real author was, but things don’t go as planned.
«Where the Crawdads Sing» by Delia Owens
Kya has been alone all her life, relying solely on herself. Her only remaining family member is her father, but he couldn’t care less about her. Afraid of being abandoned again, the main character avoids letting anyone get close and hides from her problems, much like the crawdads she loves to watch. One day, however, she realizes she is ready to open up and show her true self.
«The Last Thing He Told Me» by Laura Dave
Before disappearing, Owen Michaels leaves his wife Hannah a note saying, «Protect her,» referring to his sixteen-year-old daughter Bailey. The girl, who tragically lost her mother at an early age, wants nothing to do with her stepmother. Hannah’s attempts to reach Owen fail, his boss gets arrested for fraud, and federal agents start investigating.
Hannah quickly realizes her husband was not who he claimed to be, and Bailey might hold the key to the truth. Together, they set out to uncover the real story behind Owen’s disappearance.
«Daisy Jones & The Six» by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Daisy is a young girl living in Los Angeles in the late sixties. She loves rock and roll more than bars and men, and when she turns twenty, her voice gets noticed, as does a band called The Six. Later, their paths cross, and they decide to create a joint musical project, which could very well become legendary.
«Our Missing Hearts» by Celeste Ng
After an economic crisis, an authoritarian government comes to power in the United States, introducing a pact aimed at «preserving American culture.» In reality, this law allows the state to take children away from dissident parents and raise them in a «proper» environment.
A boy named Bird finds himself at risk due to his appearance. Raised under his father’s strict care, he longs to find out what happened to his mother. When he receives a mysterious letter with a drawing, he sets out to find her.
«Anatomy: A Love Story» by Dana Schwartz
The story centers around Hazel, a future viscountess who dreams of becoming a surgeon rather than getting married. Jack, a body snatcher trying to survive in a harsh city, accidentally meets Hazel, giving her the opportunity to study anatomy hands-on instead of just from books.
However, an epidemic suddenly breaks out, and the authorities ignore the threat.
Hazel and Jack must uncover the secrets that the city’s residents and the government are hiding.
«The Sanatorium» by Sarah Pearse
As soon as Elin arrives at a luxury hotel in the Alps at the request of her brother and his fiancée, she senses something is off. The hotel, recently converted from an abandoned sanatorium, makes her uneasy.
The next morning, her brother’s fiancée mysteriously disappears. But it will take a long time for the police to arrive — a snow avalanche has blocked the road. Guests begin to panic, unaware that this is not the first time a woman has gone missing in this place.
«The Giver of Stars» by Jojo Moyes
Alice thought marriage would give her everything she ever wanted. Instead, she finds herself with a husband who follows his father’s every word and a suffocating feeling of being trapped.
Soon, she meets Margery, who refuses to conform to rigid traditions and knows how to be truly happy and free. Alice’s life takes a dramatic turn, and the husband she once adored becomes a stranger as she realizes she loves someone else.
Reese Witherspoon has often expressed her admiration for Jojo Moyes’ work, so it’s no surprise that this book made it to her top list.
Photo: Instagram @reesewitherspoon
What's Your Reaction?
