In need of some new book recommendations? Wonderwall.com is rounding up the reads that celebs have been touting on social media — starting with Emma Roberts' pick! The actress, who in 2017 started her own book club called Belletrist, has been keeping up with her suggestions during quarantine. In May, she suggested "The Book of V." by Anna Solomon. Keep reading for more book selections from your favorite stars…
RELATED: The best celebrity memoirs to read while stuck at home
Reese Witherspoon can always be counted on to serve up a good book recommendation! The star, who runs a book club, offered up her latest pick, "The Henna Artist" by Alka Joshi, in May. "This vivid story is so rich and complex… reading about Lakshmi's journey from escaping an abusive marriage to becoming one of the most sought-after henna artists in Jaipur captivated me from the first chapter to the final page," Reese gushed of the novel.
Our next avid celebrity reader shared a book suggestion alongside a cute pic of her pup on Instagram in March. Sarah Jessica Parker suggested Emily St. John Mandel's "The Glass Hotel," explaining, "I'm so excited to read this that I can barely take the steps to begin for the anticipated gloom when @emilystjohnmandel 's much lauded new book will inevitably end." She also suggested fellow book lovers support their local libraries and independent book stores during coronavirus lockdown.
"Broad City" star Ilana Glazer took to Instagram in May, in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of white police officers, to urge her followers to read "White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism" by Robin DiAngelo. "CALLIN ALL WHITE GEN Z & MILLENIAL BROAD CITY FANS 🚨 if you are inspired by the spirit behind @broadcity, the love of life and freedom and celebration of diversity in NYC, i invite you to read, do the work, and learn how you can show up. this book is a good place to start – it helps white people build stamina for talking about race," she explained. "It's like we got no muscle tone around the conversation about racism, totally atrophied, weak — reading books like this can build that muscle. we are on the safe side of a violent, murderous system. changing that system starts with claiming space in the Anti-Racism movement. find tools and resources that work for you. it's our job to figure out how we can help and disseminate that info. @privtoprog @sarahsophief & @mattmcgorry instas consistently have tools for white people who wanna make positive change 💜 DONATE TO @mnfreedomfund – even just $20 will make a difference. #BlackLivesMatter #BlackTransLivesMatter."
It's not just the ladies who are sharing good reads. Chris Hemsworth took to Instagram in March to post about his personal pick. "Amazing read, one of my favourites. It's for everyone whether your[e] eight or eighty give it a read. 'The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse' @charliemackesy," the actor wrote alongside this selfie.
Natalie Portman got real about life in quarantine in April, starting her Instagram caption with some honesty: "It's been hard for me to read and focus on anything right now." Despite that very relatable feeling, she offered up a solution in the form of a book that helped take her mind off things, explaining, "But when I picked up M.F.K. Fisher's The Gastronomical Me, I was drawn in by the warmth of her writing about food and love and life. It's been a comforting and delicious read so far. Join me and let me know what you think? #WhatNatsReads #AprilBookPick."
The queen of all book club founders, Oprah Winfrey, hasn't been slacking in the suggestion department in 2020. The mogul took to Instagram to share what she was reading in April — "More Myself: A Journey" by Alicia Keys. Of the memoir, Oprah explained, "I remember the first time @aliciakeys was on The Oprah Show and she hit that note in 'Fallin' and I knew right then and there she was special. She just carries the Light with her and I have deep admiration and love for her. In her new book #MoreMyself, she reveals the struggles, the insecurities, and the joys to becoming more herself." Oprah added she had a personal tie to the book, explaining, "It's the first book I'm releasing from my book imprint and all of my proceeds are going to the Boys and Girls Club of Kosciusko, Mississippi."
Another star who couldn't wait to devour Alicia Keys' memoir, "More Myself: A Journey"? Serena Williams! The tennis superstar took to Instagram to share her excitement about reading the new autobiography, writing: "I can't wait to read my copy of #MoreMyself! So proud of my friend and sister @AliciaKeys always. #socialdistancereading."
"What are you reading?" Jessica Chastain captioned a video on Instagram in April showing her holding up "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez to clue fans in on her personal lockdown novel choice.
Kaia Gerber decided to start a book club in March for a sweet reason. "I know we are all feeling isolated right now, so I was trying to think of easy ways we can stay connected (beyond just scrolling) and decided i'm gonna start a book club," the model explained on Instagram. "I read a lot on my own, but would love to be able to talk to you guys about it… so every week i'm gonna post a book to my stories and the following week i'll jump on live (sometimes with a friend, writer, guest etc.) so we can all talk about the book that week! ♥️ i want to start with a new favorite I'm actually rereading right now: Normal People by Sally Rooney. download it, borrow it, order it if you can! let's all meet here and talk next week…"
Kaia Gerber invited mom Cindy Crawford to take part in her book club in May! Cindy shared the news on Instagram, writing, "Like mother like daughter! @kaiagerber and I share a love for reading — so I was excited for her when she started a book club… and even more excited when she asked me be a guest! We're going live to talk about Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens tomorrow…"
"Family book club… How to Rule the World from Your Couch — quarantine edition." That's how Demi Moore captioned this fun snapshot of her whole family diving into Laura Day's book "How to Rule the World from Your Couch" in April.
On June 6, Reese Witherspoon took to Instagram to announced that her book club was doing something it hadn't tried before. "For the first time, I've selected two books for us to read this month: Austin Channing Brown's 'I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness' and Lucy Foley's 'The Guest List.' We will read these two books simultaneously over the course of June and July. I look forward to reading, listening and learning with you all," she captioned her post. Reese further explained, "Elevating women's stories is at the core of @ReesesBookClub. I love how this community champions the narrative for women and we are just getting started. Unity and understanding through the lens of storytelling is how we will continue these meaningful conversations." Reese added more about why she chose both books. "The memoir #ImStillHere by @austinchanning is a personal narrative from a Black, Christian woman who takes us through what she experiences every day as a Black person in America. This June pick is teaching me so much about how we perpetuate racism in our society. I still have so much to learn and I want you to join me in having meaningful conversations, no matter how uncomfortable they may feel — it's part of it," Reese explained. As for the second? "A very stormy seaside destination wedding is the back drop for this thrilling June book pick: #TheGuestList by @lucyfoleyauthor," Reese wrote. "Get ready for so many twists and turns as you try to figure out the who, what and when of this mystery. It reminds me of some of my favorite mysteries from Agatha Christie. You'll be guessing all the way 'til the end…and you're in for a shocker!"
Music star Florence Welch has always used her platform to share good books. In March, she suggested followers check out Emma Glass's "Rest and Be Thankful," writing on Instagram, "'Rest and be thankful' is the tenderest ghost story about a nurse on the brink of collapse. As creepy as it is compassionate, it is a tale of selflessness and the spectre of sleep deprivation that haunts overworked healthcare workers (with some of the most visceral descriptions of hand-washing that I could not fully understand until now)." She also gave followers some info about the author, sharing, "Emma Glass @emmas_window is an NHS nurse as well as an extraordinary writer. The live events for her book launch were obviously cancelled, but you can head over to @betweentwobooks to find out how to support her and take part in a Q and A about the book. X x X 🍃💙🍃."
Jenna Bush Hager is known for her #readwithjenna book club, and she's continuing to share recommendations when we need them most! The "Today" co-host incorporated one of her cute kids to show off her latest pick in May — "All Adults Here" by Emma Straub. Of the selection, Jenna wrote: "Escape into lives (filled with both juicy drama and hilarious insights!) of the Strick family. Busting with witty and poignant observations about the messiness of family, the book is best read by the pool. Or in my case on my couch, with a child on top of me — pretending I was by a pool!)."
The lovely Jenna Fischer celebrated her latest read on Instagram in May while simultaneously getting real about quarantine. "Saturday. I'm reading a book!! #kidshaveipads #cheers #croppedoutmyroots," the former "The Office" star wrote while posing with "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng.
Daisy Edgar-Jones stars in a hit show based on a novel — Hulu's "Normal People." On June 3, she recommended her Instagram followers check out a different book. "Having watched the video by the wonderful @missdumezweni I wanted to share this book with you. Girl, Women, Other by Bernadine Evaristo is one of the most powerful, honest, funny and moving pieces of writing I've ever read," Daisy wrote alongside a photo of the book's cover. "The story takes us into multiple different perspectives of black women in Britain, it explores race, sexuality, modern femaleness, Britishness and so much more. I can't wait to read the rest of her work and to continue deepening my understanding. We must continue to educate ourselves and do all we can to support, 'in a racist society it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist' Angela Yvonne Davis #blacklivesmatter ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿."
Reese Witherspoon wasn't the only star singing the praises of Glennon Doyle's "Untamed." Kristen Bell also applauded the book, writing on Instagram in May, "My favorite person has written my favorite book!! Glennon Doyle's UNTAMED is an anthem for women today."
Quarantine with kids is a very different experience — as shown by Hilary Duff on Instagram in April. She titled this stack of books "Banksy book club" and explained that she'd been reading a mix of them to her youngest child, daughter Banks Bair, writing, "Some are new and some are favorites from when [my older child] Luca was little."
"The quarantine has afforded me more free time than I usually have. Stephen Chbosky sent me his new book a while back, and I was finally able to read it. I'm floored. Keeping my mind distracted has been a saving grace in this difficult time. If you're looking for something to keep your brain occupied, that will keep you at the edge of your seat… this is your book." Nina Dobrev gave her fans that tip on Instagram in April, singing the praises of "Imaginary Friend." She added in the caption: "Stephen does it again, complexly drawn characters, friendship and family bonds… it has it all. I had the immense pleasure of working with Stephen on a movie that he adapted from another book he wrote, called The Perks of Being a Wallflower. [Also a great read if you're looking for more recommendations]. And if you like it check out the film we made, but read the book first [that's always what I do!] @stephenchbosky ♥️."
If you love Reese Witherspoon's taste in books, check out her April book pick, "Untamed" by Glennon Doyle. She took to Instagram to encourage fans to pick it up, announcing, "Earlier this morning, I got to share some news for @reesesbookclub on Instagram Live!!!! It's an absolute joy to announce @GlennonDoyle's #Untamed as my April book pick. This memoir is so packed with incredible insight about what it means to be a woman today, what did we learn as young girls about how to behave or believe, and why we need to free ourselves from a lot of these ideas that don't work anymore. (Hot tip: Being 'selfless' is not the highest goal a woman can achieve!!) This book spoke to me so loudly and clearly… I swear I highlighted something in EVERY chapter. Thank you @glennondoyle for sharing your heart and soul with us! I can't wait to hear all of YOUR thoughts about this book pick over on @ReesesBookClub. Happy reading, everybody! 📚."
Judd Apatow gave fans a glimpse into his quarantine life in April, sharing a selfie with Billy Mernit's "Writing the Romantic Comedy."
Avid bookworm Sarah Jessica Parker gave followers another quarantine read suggestion in April — "Deacon King Kong" by James McBride. "An all consuming read. Oh golly is it good. All the attention and showered praise and short list inclusion are deserved and spot on. Don't ask me what it's about. I have too much respect for James McBrides writing to attempt a brief summary. I will say only that I will never forget Sportcoat or Sister Gee. I hope you have a chance to see for yourselves my fellow readers," SJP wrote on Instagram. She also added, "Libraries I know are doing their best to continue to get books to their readers. So check your local library's website. I bought my copy through @bookshop_org which is working hard to support all our temporarily shuttered independent booksellers. X,SJ."
Natalie Portman suggested a very unique topic for her May book pick — moss! The star shared a selfie with "Gathering Moss" by Robin Wall Kimmerer at the beginning of the month, writing, "I listened to Robin Wall Kimmerer on Krista Tippett's podcast @onbeing and she spoke so poetically about how moss have survived so long by living humbly, using only what they need, and working together to survive. Seemed like the perfect book for the times we're in — and always in awe of nature. #maybookpick #whatnatreads Also don't forget to order from your local indie bookstores if you can! Indiebound.org."
A few weeks before the world shut down amid the coronavirus pandemic, Demi Moore took to Instagram to share a book she was gearing up to read. "So excited to dive in to this gorgeous soul's book – the introduction already has me hooked ❤️ Congratulations @mayemusk!" she actress wrote in late February of "A Woman Makes a Plan: Advice for a Lifetime of Adventure, Beauty, and Success."
Emma Roberts' bookclub Belletrist suggested Lily King's "Writers and Lovers" for its April pick. Emma posed with the book that same month on Instagram.
"Parks and Recreation" alum Adam Scott recommended his followers explore "White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism" by Robin DiAngelo. "Passing along a book you find useful and/or eye-opening is one way to try and combat the deep systemic racism in our country. Knowledge first. I feel this is an important book and would encourage everyone to take a look…" he captioned a photo of the book on Instagram in May following the death of George Floyd, who's black, at the hands of white police officers.
Danielle Fishel took to Instagram to share some of her quarantine thoughts and to offer up a book recommendation to followers in April. "I've learned a lot about myself during this forced stay-at-home time but one of the most important has been finding out what rejuvenates me and makes me feel better in times of trial. I've always loved reading but I've reconnected with it in a way I was worried I wouldn't be able to again now that I have a baby and jobs that I enjoy so much," she began her caption. "[My baby boy] Adler just went down for his first nap and I'm so excited to begin this book by @ruthielindsey. She is an extremely bright light I've followed on IG for a very long time and I can't wait to learn more about her story through chronic pain and into beautiful healing. She's funny, inspiring, adorable, motivational and following her feels like a hug. 10/10 recommend. ❤️💜," Danielle wrote, encouraging fans to pick up "There I Am" by Ruthie Lindsey.
"I have a thing for birds. #stayhome #staysafe #staychirpy," Michelle Monaghan wrote in April while posing with her interesting quarantine read selection — "Book of North American Birds."
Friends supporting friends! Sophia Bush's April book rec was personal — she told fans to read her "sisterwife" Hilarie Burton's book "The Rural Diaries." She wrote a lengthy, sweet caption with her selfie, noting: "This book is a labor of love, written by a woman so full of love & gumption & mischief, that when I first met her I couldn't believe she wanted to talk to me, let alone invite me out to bars. Hil was always ahead of her time." Sofia, who co-starred with Hilarie on "One Tree Hill" for years, also explained the good Hilarie was doing with her book, adding, "And because she's a gem of a human, between breaks from tirelessly making masks for healthcare workers on her favorite sewing machine, Hil is helping to keep her local bookseller @oblongbooks open. How? Well, initially she'd committed to giving them all of the autographed copies of her book. She was going to spend a day in there signing books and gabbing with the staff. And then, lockdown. So all of the crates of books go to @themischieffarm instead. There was a limit set on signed copies, but thanks to so many people pre-ordering the book through @oblongbooks, they've surpassed that number. And since raised it. Twice. Your purchases are keeping her hometown shop afloat in this uncertain time. Makes me cry."
Oprah Winfrey took to Instagram to share her April book club pick — "Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family" by Robert Kolker — and gave followers a brief synopsis of her choice. "It's a riveting true story of an American family that reads like a medical detective journey. It reveals the shame, denial, shock, confusion, and misunderstanding of mental illness at a time when no one was really sure what schizophrenia was or how to treat it…" the star wrote.
There was a sweet story behind Jenna Bush Hager's April #ReadWithJenna book selection. She explained on Instagram, "Thrilled to announce that April's #ReadWithJenna pick is "Valentine" by Elizabeth Wetmore. I discovered "Valentine" when the owners of @bluewillowbooks in Houston, Texas recommended it to me. The owner, Valerie Koeher knows my taste in books and my heritage growing up in West Texas — this fierce debut novel combines both perfectly. In a time when we all need an escape, fall into the lives of Corrnine [sic] and Debra Ann and Mary Rose and Glory. Valentine is a beautiful story of justice and redemption, grace and strength. Go to today.com/readwithjenna to get the book and for some ways you can help indie book stores. ❤️."
"No content, not doing anything, just reading in bed, then scrolling for a bit, repeat." That's how Lily Allen captioned this book selfie, which showed off the music star's latest pick, "Ma'am Darling" by Craig Brown.
Leave it to Chelsea Handler to incorporate humor into her book selfies. The comedian shared this pic on Instagram in April, captioning it, "Do you like to read while you garden? I do. Combine your favorite indoor and outdoor activities, and explore your inner green thumb. Swipe for actual book review video. Books: Hidden Valley Road by #RobertKolker, Tiny Gentle Asians @tinygentleasians by #MelissaKenny, and yes, I am still reading Diplomacy by #HenryKissinger because it's long as duck. #GetLitWithChelsea #NakedLit."
Kaia Gerber continued with her book club in May, adding the play "Spring Awakening" by Frank Wedekind. She wrote in the accompanying caption, "i thought it would be a great way to raise awareness for the performing arts industry in nyc. theaters are closed for the time being, putting so many actors, writers, and crew members out of work. it's really important that we keep supporting the community that plays such a large & important role to the city. link in my bio to learn more about how you can support and donate to @bcefa ❤️ we'll talk more about this and spring awakening on friday 5pm pst / 8pm est with theater legend and friend @tommy.dorfman — read it, or listen to it… so excited to hear what you guys think."