“I’ve never read a book. Like, maybe Dr. Seuss.” These were the immortal words of influencer and entrepreneur Alix Earle, spoken without a hint of unease in an Instagram video for Interview Magazine. The internet was aghast. In the days that followed the upload, articles in every major outlet chastised the TikToker. But her admission was one that actually most can relate to: more than 40% of Americans reportedly didn’t read a single book in 2025.
Time, money, access and a dopamine-machine waiting in your pocket, available to payout at the flick of a thumb, make it increasingly hard to pick up a book. But we also know that reading is good for you – it reduces stress, supports cognitive health and just generally improves well-being. It’s just about finding the right one that piques your interest enough for you to choose it instead of your phone.
To help you get inspired, here are five books recommended by celebrity book clubs this fall, whose founders can proudly claim to have read a few more authors than Dr. Seuss.
Service95, Dua Lipa – Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
Dua Lipa, aside from being an international pop star and the paragon of high-fashion, globe-trotting glamour, is also a literary icon. Her Service95 Book Club’s October pick, Klara and the Sun, comes from Japanese-British author Kazuo Ishiguro. Klara is an Artificial Friend, an android companion for teenage children, purchased by the mother of 14-year-old Josie, who we soon learn is ill. The book combines a traditional coming-of-age story with a non-traditional world, guiding readers through questions of humanity, technology, love and innocence.
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The Laufey Book Club, Laufey – May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry
Laufey’s book club is a relative newcomer to the celebrity book club scene, started three years ago by the Icelandic-Chinese artist as a medium to connect with fans. This month’s recommendation comes from poet Rebecca Perry. The story alternates between the perspectives of an unnamed medieval king who reluctantly takes on the throne and a modern-day curator who becomes increasingly transfixed by his story. It’s a playful and thought-provoking book that asks readers to consider what makes a life meaningful.
Reese’s Book Club, Reese Witherspoon – Sophie, Standing There by Meg Mason
One of the most popular celebrity book clubs, Reese’s Book Club tends to highlight female authors and stories that center on women. Sophie, Standing There by Meg Mason is just that. A witty, raw story about tenderness and loneliness, the novel follows a heartbroken woman who develops a parasocial obsession with a famous writer.
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Oprah’s Book Club, Oprah Winfrey – Hungered by Amanda Rizkalla
The celebrity book club OG, Winfrey’s choices usually favor novels or memoirs – typically character-driven stories that explore history, culture and social issues. Hungered is an evocative and tender debut novel by Amanda Rizkalla, told from the perspective of 12-year-old Sofia, who lives with her mother and younger brother in their car. As Sofia dreams of a room of her own to call home, the novel explores economic insecurity, survival and memory.
Between Two Books, Florence Welch – The Steps by Juliano Zaffino
Between Two Books, by Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine fame, started in 2012, after a young fan tweeted the idea. She features an esoteric collection of fiction, classics, poetry and memoirs. On the reading list right now is The Steps by British-Canadian writer Juliano Zaffino. It follows Sophie and her five children as they move from Canada to her partner’s childhood home in England in an attempt to build a life together. Unsettling and emotionally intense, it explores trauma, family dynamics and loyalty.
