Celebrities seem so different, and yet they’re just like us! Which means they fancy a good read from time to time just as much as we do. If you’re in a bit of a book rut, maybe we can help you out by taking a look at some books celebrities have loved reading so far this year. We’re here with the A-listers recommendations, because why not take their word for it? So grab a big mug of your favorite hot beverage and get to your comfy spot, here are a few books celebrities have absolutely eaten up this year. Enjoy!
On Earth, We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong | Recommended by: Ali Wong
The concept of this book is simple: it’s a coming of age story in the form of a letter from a son to his mother. While this book is recommended by comedian Ali Wong, this read is anything but light. Within the pages of the book, you learn the narrator was raised by his single mother in America, where neither knows the language. (pacifictiregroup.com) After surviving a childhood of abuse from his mother, Little Dog eventually comes out as gay; while working on a tobacco farm he meets a man with whom he starts a relationship. This book is many things, and from the mouth of Ali Wong herself, “one of the more compelling things I’ve prioritized over washing my hair and wiping the rice/glitter/goldfish off the bottom of my feet.” (Source)
We Were Never Here by Andrea Barts | Recommended by: Reese Witherspoon
If you’re ever in a reading rut, just know that you can always turn to Reese Witherspoon and her book club to pull you out of it. We Were Never Here was Reese’s pick of September 2021, and this is certainly a read for the thriller lovers out there. The book follows two best friends who meet up year after year for an epic road trip. However, the last two trips they’ve been on together have ended in death – or perhaps murder? You’ll have to snag a copy to find out, but we promise this is a great book to curl up with on a crisp fall evening. This is what the actress had to say: “This book is every suspense lover’s dream and it kept me up way too late turning pages […] A novel with crazy twists and turns that will have you ditching your Friday night plans for more chapters.” (Source)
Stray: A Memoir by Stephanie Danler | Recommended by: Troian Bellisario
Pretty Little Liars star Troian Bellisario hit us with another heavy hitter. Stray: A Memoir is a memoir about growing up in a family essentially torn apart by addiction and lies, and the story of one person working to break this cycle. In Troian Bellisario’s own words: “The vulnerability and heart that it took to write this book is off the charts. @smdanler (Stephanie Danler) is a master.” (Source)
Hunger by Roxane Gay | Recommended by: Jameela Jamil
Another memoir, though this one is more heavy-hitting than the first, and at this time we must tell you, this comes with a trigger warning for both rape and eating disorders. In this book, Roxane Gay discusses sizes, relationships with food, wanting more, wanting less; and while Gay describes her memoir as a “triumph” it’s not the weight-loss triumph you may be expecting. Jameela Jamil said of her favorite book: “reading it hurt, but it also helped heal me because it was the first time I ever felt less alone in my experience.” (Source)
