Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club’s August Pick Is ‘A Read-Anywhere Kind of Book’
‘The Wild Beneath’ is a haunting summer love story that will sweep readers off their feet
Key Takeaways
- Reese Witherspoon picked ‘The Wild Beneath’ by Kelly Anderson for August 2026.
- The novel follows Annie, who rescues a mysterious man after a tsunami hits.
- ‘The Wild Beneath’ is Kelly Anderson's debut novel, written over five years.
Readers, we have some exciting news! Reese Witherspoon’s August book club selection is here and it’s just as dramatic, fun and juicy as we hoped. The actress, author and producer has chosen a page-turner perfect for late summer reading. Whether you’re lounging by the pool, at the beach or curled up on the couch, this pick promises entertainment from start to finish. Keep scrolling for all the details!
Reese Witherspoon’s August selection
Reese’s Book Club August selection is The Wild Beneath by Kelly Anderson, which was just published yesterday. It’s the story of Annie MacLeod, who grew up on a sailboat in the Pacific Northwest with her parents and best friend, Evan. When a tsunami hits, Annie’s stranded on land and rescues a wordless man named Walker. Their bond is instant and when they touch Annie gets visions of the ocean’s hidden world. But soon after they meet Walker disappears. Six years later, Annie has left the sea life behind, but when Walker shows back up she is forced to decide if that was the right decision. According to the publisher HarperCollins, it’s perfect for fans of The Time Traveler’s Wife and Wild Dark Shore, a Reese’s Book Club pick back in November 2025.
“Prepare to get lost in a haunting love story about one woman caught between the man she thought was her future and a mysterious stranger who upends everything,” reads a Reese’s Book Club post about Anderson’s book on Instagram.
Witherspoon herself commented on the selection, calling The Wild Beneath “a read-anywhere kind of book!”
Readers react to the book club selection
After Reese’s Book Club announced their August pick, readers wasted no time flooding the comments section to share their thoughts.
“The most incredible of stories with exquisite writing,” one reader wrote. “I couldn’t put it down and I equally never wanted it to end.”
Another reader even said “This book changed my life—nothing else like it.”
Kelly Anderson opens up about her novel
Prior to the Reese’s Book Club announcement, Anderson sat down with Writer’s Digest to share a little bit about her novel and her life.
“When I started writing The Wild Beneath in 2019, I was quietly drowning inside my own life as a doctor. I looked ‘fine’ and ‘normal’ from the outside,” she said. “Inside, I felt robotic and flat and like I’d somehow abandoned myself. I was pushing through shifts, working three jobs at once, booking clinic after clinic, slogging through emails and inboxes of lab results.”
“My first draft was very basic. I subsequently inhaled several books about craft and was incredibly lucky to work with teachers who were willing to bear with me through revisions,” she continued. “After the third draft, I could tell something was still missing in the relationships between Annie, Walker and Evan. I had to put the whole book aside until I knew how to fix the love triangle. It took eight months to figure out that one element. Once I rewrote the story the fourth time with the new ending, I knew it was ready.”
The Wild Beneath is available for purchase now wherever books are sold. It’s Anderson’s first novel.
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