Dakota Johnson's Book Club Isn't Your Average Celebrity Reading List
I didn't know keeping up with celebrity book club picks would become my Roman Empire, but the anticipation for discovering new titles is real. From Reese Witherspoon's healthy reading habit to everything ShondaRhimes thinks deserves a spot on your nightstand, I'm a huge advocate for staying up late with these books...even if it means getting a little groggy the next day. It's okay — I know you've sacrificed a few hours of sleep to read that last chapter, too.
Fortunately for us, Dakota Johnsonlaunched a new book club that's going to be a little more immersive than what we're used to. Here's everything you need to know about this book-lovers experience!
What's the name of Dakota Johnson's book club?
Named after the entertainment company she shares with Ro Donnelly, Dakota Johnson's book club is named TeaTime Book Club. Ironically, she was recently a part of an SNL skit that featured her proposing a quirky idea at a book club meeting...almost as if it was a little golden nugget for us to get ready for her official announcement.
When did Dakota Johnson make her book club announcement?
TeaTime Pictures shared this intriguing visual on Instagram February 17, describing what readers can expect from the club each month. Aside from sharing a monthly book pick, the TeaTime Book Club will focus on helping readers feel a deeper connection to what they're reading with clips from authors and playlists that'll complement the book's tone. This sounds like my kind of party...filled with books.
Other fans of Dakota Johnson are just as thrilled as I am. On Instagram, @theveganactress said, "This is so on brand ❤️ yayyy 📚🍵," while @spookydarling_ commented, "I’M IN, SAY NO MORE."
When did Dakota Johnson's book club launch?
Image via Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Sony Pictures
Dakota Johnson shared that TeaTime Book Club launched a couple of months agoand she's since shared her monthly picks with readers.
How can readers keep up with Dakota Johnson's monthly book club picks?
You can join TeaTime Book Club's broadcast channel on Instagram. You'll only be able to access the link via the Instagram app on your phone, but it's free to join! Here you'll be able to join all the fun and interact with the videos, links, and playlists that they'll share.
So, see you in the special groupchat — er, broadcast channel!
Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino
What has Dakota Johnson said about launching her book club and it's first pick?
Dakota Johnson didn't think twice about starting a book club because she immerses herself in whatever she's reading. She recently told Bustle, "TeaTime and I have an Instagram channel...and every few days we’ll be releasing a deep dive as we read along together." she said." She also talked about reading books in a way that goes beyond the surface of what's written. "I want to fall down the rabbit hole every time I read… to invest in the book, invest in the language, invest in the references. Like, Oh, what is that piece of art she’s talking about? Who’s that musician," she said.
Although book club picks are usually personal, we love the way she connects with Beautyland. She continued telling Bustle, "...this is a book that I will recommend to people for the rest of my life. It feels like we’re setting the bar so high, which I am proud of." Speaking of setting the bar high, readers can expect to find titles that challenge their minds. "Our book club is literary fiction. It’s not beach reads. It’s not silly. It’s not all female authors, but it is female-forward, and it’s a lot of first-time novelists," she said.
Judging from her approach to reading and choosing titles to share with other readers, something tells us she's the type of reader who loves to annotate a book.
Has Dakota Johnson's Book Club Shared New Updates?
Image via @teatime.pictures/Instagram
Yes! Keeping true to her word, Dakota Johnson's book club has been sharing gems with readers in its broadcast channel and people are interacting with them. From exploring standout moments in the book to a recent curation by Marie-Helene Bertino, author of Beautyland, it feels like we're getting a true sense of community.
What stands out about Bertino's curated picks is that she's chosen things that feel closely related to the themes found in Beautyland. Aside from titles found on her reading and watch lists, Bertino has shared a small selection of songs that readers can listen to while discovering the world through Adina Giorno's eyes.
April 2024 Book Club Pick
The Hearing Test by Eliza Barry Callahan
When an artist develops Sudden Deafness without any known cause, she finds a way to adapt to the shocking realization that she can no longer hear the world around her. What helps her is a decision to start accounting for her life after learning about a confusing diagnosis. She writes down what happens when she interacts with those around her — from people in her neighborhood to other artists — and shows readers that choosing to live in spite of our circumstances can be the best healing salve.
May 2024
Cinema Loveby Jiaming Tang
Old Second and Bao Mei have lived together in Chinatown for over three decades. Although they're figuring out how to exist together now, the beginning of their story had a rocky start.
When they met at Workers' Cinema, Bao Mei was someone who didn't judge the gay men who sought out lovers in secret. She knew what it was like to love in secret so it didn't seem fair to her that others couldn't be free from outside perceptions and harmful ideology. Sadly, Old Second's relationship with his male lover is outed and this sets off a terrible chain of events that lead them to the United States.
June 2024
We Were the Universeby Kimberly King Parsons
Are you excited to read the first pick from Dakota Johnson's book club?
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Header image via Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Sony Pictures
This post has been updated.
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