What Book Clubs Are Reading in February

This month, Emma Roberts and Karah Preiss selected the unlikely but true account of how one man got over a broken heart, regained his faith in literature, participated--by mistake--in a work of performance art, threw away his turtlenecks, spent his rent money on a 1964 Bordeaux that nobody ever drank, and fell in love again. Sign up today at Tertulia.com/Belletrist to have each monthly Belletrist book pick delivered to your mailbox, along with an intimate author conversation at the end of the month.

Kaia Gerber’s February pick is an “immersive, poetic epic” set during a house party in South London, written by a Nigerian-British author and filmmaker. “He moves around the party in a one-take that is so intimate and urgent… you kind of feel drunk just reading it,” noted Library Science.

Reese's pick this month is a tale of impossible love and survival starring a fierce sixteenth-century heroine. “Based on a true story, Isola by @allegragoodmanwriter has it all: love, resilience, defiance... This is easily one of my favorite historical fiction reads yet,” says Reese.

Dakota Johnson’s February book club pick is a gothic coming-of-age debut, steeped in eerie folklore. The story follows a mother and daughter who lure lost travelers into their secluded home—until the arrival of a stranger forces them to confront dark truths.

Natalie Portman was amazed by the way her October pick captures “the tension between the body and mind,” while following a Palestinian schoolteacher as she navigates life in America and unexpectedly falls into a pyramid scheme.

If you haven't read this critically acclaimed 2024 Booker Prize-winning novel yet, now’s the perfect opportunity to read it along with The New York Times' Book Club. This “ravishingly beautiful” tale of six astronauts hurtling through space offers a “refreshing view of Earth” that restores some of life’s original magic, according to the paper.

For February, Jenna Bush Hager selected a heartfelt novel celebrating New York City, art, and enduring love. Spanning five decades, it follows a couple whose relationship has been shaped by the ever-changing backdrop of Central Park—from the exhilaration of young romance to the trials of marriage, parenthood, and creative ambition. “As they reflect on their journey, now in their seventies, secrets are uncovered, and their bond is tested in ways that will leave you both heartbroken and hopeful,” mused the Today host.

Each month, Columbia’s Jeffrey Sachs interviews leading authors on history, justice, and development. This month, historian Eugene Rogan joins the eminent economist and political scholar to discuss the Arab world’s history, from the Ottoman conquest to present-day turmoil, through his acclaimed book.

Dua Lipa's latest book club pick is a Booker Prize-nominated tragicomedy that follows a well-to-do Irish family as their lives crack under mounting pressures. “For a masterclass in building tension, look no further than this book... As the book builds pace, it sucks you into a whirlpool of tension... The result: a grand finale that will leave you sweating. It’s genius,” raved the pop star.

The California Book Club shines a light on a timely short story collection exploring the lives of Mexican and Mexican American farmworkers in California’s Central Valley.“As with Muñoz’s earlier novel and two collections, the craft in The Consequences is exceptional,” raves the club. “Muñoz possesses unusually keen perception—his characters’ longings unfold movingly on these essential pages.”