May 2025 Celebrity Book Club Spoilers
Looking for the May 2025 Celebrity Book Club Spoilers? You’ve come to the right place! For years, I’ve worked with sources in the book industry to bring you these spoilers before they are announced so you can get ahead on library holds and preorders.
Once again, I’ve rounded up the books that will be chosen as May 2025 book club picks by the Reese Witherspoon, Oprah, Read with Jenna, and GMA Book Clubs. These have NOT yet been officially released (as of now, they are all being announced on April 29) but I am fairly confident in our intel.
While you are waiting to read these releases, I suggest using these spoilers to put in your library holds early and get to the front of the list. You can also check out the rest of the May 2025 new book releases.
May 2025 Celebrity Book Club Spoilers
Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry, Stuck Up and Stupid by Angourie and Kate Rice – Jump to read synopsis
Read with Jenna Book Club Pick
The Names by Florence Knapp – Jump to read synopsis
Good Morning America Book Club Pick
The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wai – Jump to section for more info
Oprah Book Club Pick
The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong – Jump to read synopsis
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May 2025 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Spoiler
Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club, Hello Sunshine, was the first of the modern celebrity book clubs to catch on in recent years. Started in 2017, her list features thrillers, romances, historical fiction, YA, non-fiction, and modern fiction.
Great Big Beautiful Life
Author: Emily Henry
Year: 2025
Genre: Romance
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author, May 2025 Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Margaret Ives is an octogenarian who has not been seen in years. She invites two authors to stay with her for a month on a trial basis so she can decide who will write her memoir. Both Alice and Hayden want the job and while Alice is waiting for her big break, Hayden is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and fully expects to be chosen for the job.
Margaret gives Alice and Hayden an NDA so they cannot discuss anything with anybody, including each other. They know that Margaret is lying, but they do not know why. A lot can happen in a month especially when the chemistry between them gets stronger by the day.
Why Jackie likes it
While Emily Henry is known for her beach-read romances, this book is that with a twist. Margaret Ives reminds me of Evelyn Hugo. The reader learns about Margaret’s life in the spotlight and the effects it has on her life and her family. The romance is there, but it is almost secondary to the story Margaret tells. Alice and Hayden are the quintessential grumpy-sunshine pairing, but with a deeper look into both of their stories.
Find this book in: Emily Henry Books Ranked / Books Like Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo / Reese Witherspoon Book Club List 2025
Stuck Up and Stupid
Author: Angourie Rice, Kate Rice
Genre: YA Romance
Release Date: May 06, 2025
More info: Summer 2025 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Plot
Lily is ready for a summer of fun at her favorite beach until mega-star, Dorian Khan, shows up with his entourage and ruins her piece. The whole town is ga-ga for Dorian and his A-list friends, but Lily is not impressed at all… but they keep bumping into one another and she might not have judged him fairly after all.
You can see the whole book list, ranked, here.
May 2025 Read With Jenna Book Club Spoiler
Jenna Bush Hager started her book club on the Today Show back in the spring of 2019. They are often more literary than Reese’s picks and cover various thought-provoking topics.
The Names
Author: Florence Knapp
Year: 2025
Genre: Fiction
More info: May 2025 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
When Cora arrives at the registrar’s office to name her infant son, she is debating between three names: Bear, Julian, and Gordon. Her husband is a well-respected and loved local doctor who is controlling and abusive. He wants his son named after him, Gordon.
When it comes time to choose a name, the story follows three paths that span over 35 years. One path follows the life of Bear, the name Cora’s daughter chooses. The second path follows the life of Julian, the name Cora wants to name her son. The final path follows the life of Gordon.
This book asks if a name can change a life and explores family, abuse, and healing.
Trigger Warnings
Domestic Abuse, murder
Why Jackie loves it
I started this book and could not put it down. The premise is so unique and the book is plotted in such a way that it is very easy to follow each timeline. The way each name changed the outcome of Bear/Julian/Gordon’s life was brilliant. This book is very poignant and powerful. I did mention above but anyone that is triggered by domestic abuse should be aware that it is a prominent aspect of the plot. #Gifted by Penguin Random House
Find this book in: The Best Read with Jenna Books
You can see all of Jenna’s Book Club picks here, where we ranked them.
May 2025 Good Morning America Book Club Spoiler
GMA’s answer to Read with Jenna was to host their own celebrity book club. This one launched in the Fall of 2019 and it’s probably the best one of the bunch. As of October 2024, GMA will also be announcing a YA pick each month.
The Original Daughter
Author: Jemimah Wai
Genre: Fiction
Release Date: May 6, 2025
More info: May 2025 GMA Book Club Pick
Plot
This debut novel is set in Singapore, Genevieve has always been an only child until her unknown sister, Arin, arrives. Their demanding life forges a tight bond between the two at the expense of others until a betrayal severs their connection. Now Genevieve must figure out who she is all over again.
Audre & Bash Are Just Friends
Author: Tia Williams
Genre: YA Romance
Release Date: May 6, 2025
More info: May 2025 YA Good Morning America Book Club Pick
Plot
A YA romance from bestselling author, Tia Williams? Sign me up to read it! At an elite school in Brooklyn, uptight Audre needs to have a good time and new student Bash might be exactly what she’s looking for in the opposites attract romance.
For the whole list of GMA books, ranked, check out this post.
May 2025 Oprah Book Club Spoiler
Oprah doesn’t release her book club picks in the same way as the rest of the celebrity book clubs. She picks them when she likes – on no timetable. Her picks often span multiple months for reading and discussion as well. The May 2025 Oprah Book Club pick is below.
The Emperor of Gladness
Author: Ocean Vuong
Genre: Fiction
Release Date: May 13, 2025
More info: May 2025 Oprah Book Club Pick
Plot
Bestselling author, Ocean Vuong is back with an emotional look at love in dark times. When Hai is about to commit suicide, he’s stopped by elderly, Grazina, a widow suffering from dementia. He becomes her caretaker and they forge a bond unlike any other.
For the whole list of Oprah books, ranked, check out this post.
What to do with the book club spoilers
- Use these spoilers to get on the library hold list before the masses!
- If your library doesn’t have it on a preorder list, ask them to purchase it and your name will be on the top.
- Prefer to buy the book? Place your pre-order now so you can have it on release day!
Related Content
Epilogue
I’m most excited about the Oprah pick this month. I already downloaded it on audio! Which of these books do you plan on reading?
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