Searching for your next literary obsession? Take the 21st century approach with ’s shortlist of the best Instagram celebrity book clubs. Curated by actors, musicians and activists, they spotlight a new title each month and ask their followers to read and discuss them together. Whether you’re after novels, poetry or a lyrical memoir, here are the five best accounts to inspire your reading list.
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Emma Watson (@oursharedshelf)
In 2016, Emma Watson made headlines for hiding novels on the London Underground and New York City subway. The goal? To give strangers the gift of a great book. The titles included Maya Angelou’s and Gloria Steinem’s , both recent picks from her intersectional feminist book club Our Shared Shelf, which had launched on Goodreads earlier that year. Since then, it has morphed into a movement of 225,629 members and 418,000 Instagram followers who debate issues of equality, activism and social responsibility. From a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, who made her name playing Hermione Granger, we’d expect nothing less.
Florence Welch (@betweentwobooks)
A social media encounter with a fan was the genesis of Florence Welch’s literary community. In 2012, Irish teenager Leah Moloney tweeted the Florence + the Machine frontwoman suggesting they create a book club together, and she agreed. They founded Between Two Books, an eclectic Instagram account where recommendations range from the poems of Mira Gonzalez to Leslie Jamison’s essays and Yrsa Daley-Ward’s memoir Although Moloney runs the feed, Welch is its figurehead, spreading the word at gigs and hosting talks with authors. Last year, the singer also published her first book, , an illustrated collection of lyrics and poetry.
Reese Witherspoon (@reesesbookclub)
Want a head start on the bestsellers that will soon be adapted into Hollywood blockbusters? Join the 1.1 million followers who are hooked on Reese Witherspoon’s eponymous book club, which focuses on contemporary women-centric fiction. Witherspoon has a talent for discovering titles before they skyrocket (she famously secured the rights to before anyone else), and her production company Hello Sunshine has optioned many of her monthly selections since 2015. Upcoming releases include a TV series based on Celeste Ng’s and a big-screen version of Gail Honeyman’s .
Emma Roberts (@belletrist)
Interviews with writers, in-depth discussions and curated reading lists are on the agenda at Emma Roberts’ online book club, Belletrist. The star created it in 2017 with friend Karah Preiss, in the hope of building a community around their shared love of authors like Joan Didion and Ariel Levy. Her picks encompass new titles (Oyinkan Braithwaite’s ) and old favourites (Eve Babitz’s ), plus recommendations from Roberts’ friends Nicole Richie and Busy Philipps. Better yet, each book is matched with an indie bookstore of the month, spotlighting the best places across the US to buy a copy, complete with a Belletrist discount.
Oprah Winfrey (@oprah)
Still the most prominent celebrity bibliophile, Oprah Winfrey began her book club in 1996 as a segment on . Over the next 15 years the producer and philanthropist chose 70 titles for her avid fanbase, from Toni Morrison’s to Carson McCullers’ and James Frey’s , with many soaring to the top of international bestseller lists In 2012, the club was relaunched with an emphasis on social media and has continued to champion women writers of colour including Imbolo Mbue and Tayari Jones. Updates are posted on Winfrey’s Instagram page and a video version of the club is expected to land soon on Apple TV+.