Reese Witherspoon’s November Book Club Pick Is Here—and Readers Have Mixed Feelings
Some love it, and some hate it, but that didn’t stop Reese from calling it ‘the perfect read’
Key Takeaways
- Reese Witherspoon selected Shannon Sanders’ debut novel for her November book club.
- ‘The Great Wherever 'follows a woman who inherits a haunted Tennessee family farm.
- The book has more than 7,000 ratings and an average rating of 3.74 on Goodreads.
Reese Witherspoon just revealed her November 2026 Reese’s Book Club pick, and it’s a ghost story! The Great Wherever by Shannon Sanders was published in July, so readers have had months to weigh in, and their opinions are anything but quiet. Here’s what to know about the pick and how readers are reacting.
What to know about Reese Witherspoon’s November book club pick
Just a few days ago, Witherspoon, 50, announced that Shannon Sanders’ debut novel, The Great Wherever was her November 2026 book club pick. The book, which was published in July, follows Aubrey Lamb, who inherits her late father’s stake in a sprawling Tennessee farm. Desperate to escape her impending debt, she relocates from D.C. to the land, only to discover that it’s haunted by four ancestral ghosts demanding she uncover the truth about her great-grandfather Thomas. As old family secrets resurface, Aubrey must decide whether to sell the farm or preserve its haunted legacy forever.
“This novel about family and tradition is the perfect read to bring home for the holidays,” raves Witherspoon, who took to Instagram to share that the book made her recall “this one time I was talking to a medium and she was talking to my grandmother. All these other people were trying to talk to me and my grandmother actually pushed them away. She [the medium] said ‘your grandmother is pushing everybody else away because she wants to tell you something.’ And the thing that she wanted to tell me was that she looked very pretty in her outfit in the afterlife. She said ‘in the afterlife you get to be whatever age you wanna be.’”
After the announcement Sanders shared her excitement and appreciation for Witherspoon on her own social media accounts.
“Still spinning from yesterday’s announcement that The Great Wherever is the November 2026 Reese’s Book Club pick,” Sanders wrote on Instagram. “I’m thrilled to join a lineup of so many unforgettable and varied books that center women and connect so many readers.”
In true Witherspoon fashion, she commented on the post, writing, “Your book is FANTASTIC!!!,” proving just how much Sanders’ debut means to her.
Readers react to Reese Witherspoon’s November book club pick
Since The Great Wherever came out in July, readers have had plenty of time to read it and share their thoughts. As with many books, some readers loved it; others felt differently. In total the book has more than 7,000 ratings and an average rating of 3.74 on Goodreads.
“The Great Wherever by Shannon Sanders is a terrific novel,” one reader wrote in their review on Goodreads. “I heartily recommend this book to those that love excellent historical fiction; African-American stories; or expertly crafted fiction that goes deep into character.”
Another Goodreads user said the book was “the kind of story you think about while you’re doing other things and can’t wait to get back to.”
“The book was full of family drama in the way that all families are, there are a few surprises among the branches of the family, but at the root of it there is love and connection, something we seldom appreciate when we have it but long for when it’s gone,” they added.
On the other side of the spectrum, one reader called The Great Wherever “a slow-paced, low energy, zero climax family saga.”
Other readers think there are too many plotlines and characters, which made it hard to follow.
“This is a very confusing book. You really have to focus on who is narrating the story. I couldn’t figure that out until practically the last chapter. It was a good thing there was a family tree in the beginning of the book. I needed to refer to it on multiple occasions.” one reader wrote. “I don’t think I would recommend this book.”
You can pick up your copy of The Great Wherever by Shannon Sanders now wherever books are sold.
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