Gabrielle Union Shares 3 Page-Turners She Simply Can’t Put Down—Plus Her Quirky Trick for Finding Time To Read (Exclusive)
The actress is savoring one novel so slowly she refuses to let it end—plus two more titles she swears belong on every reader's nightstand
Key Takeaways
- Gabrielle Union's top book pick is Robinne Lee's novel 'Crash Into Me.'
- Union recommends 'If I Ruled the World' and Mara Brock Akil's new book.
- Union shares a relatable hack for moms to sneak in 15 minutes of reading.
For avid readers always on the hunt for the next great title, Gabrielle Union just offered a stack worth bringing to your book club—or stashing on your nightstand.
The actress recently shared the books shaping her seasonal reading list, and the one at the very top is a novel she’s trying desperately to savor.
The book she doesn’t want to end
Union is currently halfway through Crash Into Me by Robinne Lee—and she’s slowing down on purpose. “I had to slow down because I don’t want it to end,” she said.
If Lee’s name sounds familiar, there’s a reason. She also wrote The Idea of You, the novel-turned-film that Union produced. “My girlfriend Lee wrote this,” Union said of her current read. “I am obsessed. I am obsessed. It’s so good.”
That emotional pull—wanting to stretch out the final chapters of a book you love—is a feeling readers know well. “So I don’t want it to end,” she said.
Rounding out her TBR stack
Beyond Crash Into Me, Union named two more titles on her recent TBR (to-be-read) list:
- Mara Brock Akil’s new book The Revelation of Dionne Daphne
- and If I Ruled the World by Amy Barnett.
When does Gabrielle Union actually find time to read?
Reading, Union said, is non-negotiable—even when life is full.
“It’s very much like what they say on the plane: Put your mask on first before you help anyone else,” she said. “If I can’t read for entertainment—not for, like, something we’re trying to option or scripts or whatever, just for my own pure entertainment—I’m not as good of a mom.”
She credits reading with making her more present in every role she plays. “Being a reader helps me be a more patient, educated, culturally aware mom, wife, friend and coworker.”
Her reading routine is also totally doable—and relatable. “I might do 10 15 minutes or like one chapter before bed,” she said.
Her trick for stealing reading time
For moms and caregivers who feel guilty carving out quiet time, Union offered a tip that will make any reader smile.
“I am also one to fake gastrointestinal issues, which no one will ever question you about,” she said. “If you just need 15 minutes, just say you have a gastrointestinal issue and everyone’s gonna say, Oh yeah, yeah, take all the time you need. And I go in the bath and I read.”
Her broader message to readers who feel they must apologize for a chapter of their own: “People demand moms to be superhuman, like we don’t have needs of our own that we have to attend to. So, child, if you have to fake a gastrointestinal issue to get some me time, go ahead and do it. Don’t feel any kind of shame, or just say, ‘I need a minute.’”
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