Many fans believe that Mike White, the mastermind behind the dark comedy-drama The White Lotus, is a genius. He created the gripping TV series, which follows privileged guests as they visit a new luxurious resort location each season and wind up caught in shocking (or even deadly) antics as their picture-perfect lives begin to unravel.
Season 3 is currently underway, but while seven episodes have been released thus far, it remains to be seen what characters will perish by the finale. Plenty of viewers have taken to social media to share their own theories, but some fans are calling attention to possible "Easter eggs," or hidden secret references, that have been right under our noses the whole time.
We're talking about the different books that numerous characters, from Victoria Ratliff to Chelsea and even Laurie, have been reading in the show. Perhaps the plots of each title are telling clues about their fates.
Scroll to see which books The White Lotusseason 3 characters are reading — and what that could mean!
HBO & Amazon
Victoria Ratliff
We simply must begin with Victoria, played by Parker Posey, who couldn't have picked a more fitting book to read: The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
The 1922 novel tells the story of a privileged couple named Patch and Gloria who revel in their extravagant 1920s New York lifestyle. However, as their fortune begins to fade, they struggle to adapt, and Patch is led down a path of depression and alcoholism.
In Season 3 of The White Lotus, the Ratliffs start as a wealthy Durham, North Carolina, family, but then Timothy finds out that he's facing financial ruin and possible jail time, which begins to undo his character. The parallels are uncanny.
Amazon & HBO
Belinda
As one of the only two returning characters from Season 2, viewers have been on the edge of their seats watching Belinda grapple with the whole Greg/Gary situation. Still, you might not have noticed that her character was reading the self-help book Surrounded by Narcissists: Or, How to Stop Other People's Egos Ruining Your Life by Thomas Erikson.
You can probably gather from the title that it delves into what drives narcissists and how to deal with them. Given Season 3's themes of spirituality, as well as Belinda's moral struggle over what to do about Greg/Gary, some speculate that perhaps her reading choice is foreshadowing a final showdown where she takes control.
HBO & Amazon
Lochlan Ratliff
Compared to his arguably obnoxious brother, Saxon Ratliff, Lochlan Ratliff, played by Sam Nivola, is a more subdued character. Even so, he was actually seen reading Hunger by Knut Hamsun, which has been called one of the most unsettling novels ever written.
This book follows a young man who wanders the world and is subjected to the silent judgment of others. Still, he continues exposing himself to the outside world, and his own thoughts become a form of self-inflicted torment.
The link between Lochlan and Hunger seems pretty straightforward. He and the protagonist are both searching for their identity, and since Lochlan is part of such a chaotic and critical family, it's understandable why he's struggling.
Amazon & HBO
Laurie
Laurie, played by Carrie Coon, also picked up an extremely appropriate title: Modern Lovers by Emma Straub. It mirrors Laurie's getaway with Jaclyn and Kate, following three lifelong friends as they navigate a summer of change.
In the book, the children of friends Elizabeth, Andrew, and Zoe come of age and entangle themselves in new relationships, which causes long-buried secrets and unresolved tensions to surface.
If Modern Lovers is any indication of what's to come in The White Lotus, it's safe to say that Laurie, Jaclyn, and Kate's bond won't be repaired by the season's end.
HBO & Amazon
Chelsea
Chelsea, played by Aimee Lou Wood, has actually been caught reading two different books this season, including Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living by Pema Chodron and The Essential Rumi by Jalal Al-Din Rumi.
Both books revolve around themes of spirituality, self-reflection, and inner peace. The former offers self-help advice based on traditional Tibetan Buddhist teachings, while the latter is a collection of spiritual short stories.
The real question is, who is Chelsea seeking wisdom for? Is she on her own self-discovery journey, or is she trying to help her boyfriend, Rick? Only time will tell.
Amazon & HBO
Jaclyn Lemon
Last but not least, Jaclyn, portrayed by Michelle Monaghan, was spotted reading My Name Is Barbra by Barbra Streisand. In her memoir, Barbra reflects on the defining moments of her career and personal life.
This makes sense because Jaclyn is also an actress who's balancing a high-profile marriage to a fellow actor and confronting the realities of aging in the public eye. Still, it's unclear what My Name Is Barbra is hinting about Jaclyn's fate on The White Lotus, if anything.
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