It has been 27 years since Oprah Winfrey initiated her book club. During the years since the influential American talk show host started discussing her favorite novels every month, numerous celebrities have followed suit. One of the earliest prominent book clubs in the UK was led by Richard & Judy, who introduced their book club in 2004. Their faces quickly appeared on stickers across UK shops. Nowadays, many celebrities establish their own book clubs and share their monthly recommendations. These often involve author interviews posted online and sometimes even the potential to adapt the chosen books into films.
FEMAIL examines the celebrities who have ventured into creating their own book clubs, some of which have brought them substantial success.
Reese Witherspoon holds perhaps the world’s most renowned book club, nearing billionaire status with over 2.5 million subscribers. The 47-year-old actress exclusively features books authored by women with strong female protagonists. Many of the books she selects are then optioned for TV rights through her production company, Hello Sunshine, which is valued at $900 million. This company has been behind several successful TV shows and movies, including adaptations of books like Gone Girl, Wild, Where the Crawdads Sing, Daisy Jones & The Six, Big Little Lies, and Little Fires Everywhere. Each month, Reese’s Book Club highlights a book, resulting in significant sales boosts. She acquires film rights for the chosen book, produces adaptations, and auctions them to streaming services. Her picks have become so influential that they often come with a bright yellow sticker reading ‘Reese’s Book Club,’ and many major bookstores have sections dedicated to her recommendations.
Holly Willoughby, renowned for her fashion influence, also runs a book club under her lifestyle brand Wylde Moon. The Wylde Library, accessible via Holly’s website and Instagram, shares her and her team’s favorite books. While many celebrity book clubs focus on new releases, Holly’s is more relaxed. The Wylde Library compiles books highly recommended by the WYLDE MOON community and team, encompassing various emotions and themes.
Emma Watson, known for her role as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter, initiated her own book club named ‘Our Shared Shelf.’ This bi-monthly book club is centered around intersectional feminism. Emma focuses on reading essays and books related to equality. Her recommendations include titles like Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race, Selling Olga: Stories of Human Trafficking, Girl, Woman, Other, and How Women Can Save The Planet.
Dua Lipa, a recent entrant in the book club scene, introduced the Service 95 book club. The popstar personally selects a book to recommend each month. She also conducts interviews with authors and shares their playlists and reading lists.
Gwyneth Paltrow, an Oscar-winning actress, manages a book club through her brand Goop. The club aims to read stories that provoke thought, spark discussions, and raise complex questions. Gwyneth’s book club suggestions cover a wide range of themes and topics.
Of course, the founder of celebrity book clubs, Oprah Winfrey, established the trend decades ago. She launched her book club in 1996, which transformed the fortunes of numerous authors. Over 25 years later, the club continues online, allowing Oprah to share her favorite reads with a global audience.
Florence Welch, the Brit Award-winning artist, started her book club, Between Two Books, in 2012. The club conducts book discussions online and hosts Q&A sessions with authors.
Emma Roberts operates her book club primarily on Instagram, alongside her close friend Karah Preiss. Since its inception in 2017, Emma has recommended over 75 books, occasionally branching into TV production under Belletrist Productions.
These celebrities, by venturing into book clubs, have ignited a literary trend that continues to captivate readers and influence the publishing world.
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