10 Shocking Secrets Behind Jenna Bush Hager's "Read With Jenna" Book Club (Plus The Latest 2025 Pick!)

Jenna Bush Hager’s “Read With Jenna” book club has become one of the most powerful forces in modern publishing, consistently propelling selected titles onto bestseller lists and launching the careers of numerous debut authors. As of December 2025, the club continues its mission to spotlight thought-provoking, character-driven literary fiction, making it a must-follow for any avid reader looking for the next great read.

This deep dive reveals the secrets behind the club’s massive success, the specific criteria Jenna uses to choose her monthly picks, and a complete look at the most recent selections that are dominating the literary conversation right now.

Jenna Bush Hager: Journalist, Author, and Literary Tastemaker Biography Profile

Jenna Bush Hager’s path to becoming one of the most influential literary curators in media is rooted in her diverse background in education, journalism, and authorship. Her public profile and credibility lend immense weight to her book selections, making the “Read With Jenna” endorsement a publishing goldmine.

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• Full Name: Jenna Welch Bush Hager (née Bush)
• Born: November 25, 1981 (Age 44 as of late 2025)
• Place of Birth: Dallas, Texas, U.S.
• Parents: George W. Bush (43rd U.S. President) and Laura Bush (Former First Lady)
• Twin Sister: Barbara Pierce Bush
• Spouse: Henry Chase Hager
• Primary Roles: News Personality, Author, Journalist, Former Teacher
• Current Position: Co-host of Today with Hoda & Jenna on NBC News.
• Book Club Launch: Founded "Read With Jenna" in March 2019.
• Notable Works: Co-author of Sisters First: Stories from Our Wild and Wonderful Life (with Barbara Bush), and several children's books.

The Secret Formula: 5 Key Criteria for a "Read With Jenna" Pick

The "Read With Jenna" book club, launched in 2019, operates with a clear mission: to connect readers with stories that are deeply human, emotionally resonant, and often written by underrepresented voices. The club is not just about choosing a book; it’s about starting a conversation. Jenna and her team read hundreds of titles annually, but a few core principles define the final selection.

1. Highlighting Debut and Diverse Authors

One of the most defining characteristics of the club is its commitment to promoting new talent. Many of Jenna’s picks are debut novels, giving first-time authors an unprecedented platform. This focus on diverse authors and perspectives ensures the selections are fresh and reflective of a wider range of experiences, a key element of the club’s topical authority.

2. The Power of Literary Fiction

While the club occasionally features nonfiction, poetry (such as the selection of *Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver*), or a classic, the dominant genre is literary fiction. These are often character-driven novels that explore complex emotional landscapes and human relationships. The selections are meant to be thought-provoking reads that linger with the reader long after the final page.

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3. A Focus on Emotional Resonance

Jenna has often stated that a book must make her *feel* something. The selections are frequently described as powerful, emotional, and compelling. Themes often revolve around family dynamics, personal struggle, resilience, and finding connection. This emotional core is what drives the massive engagement from her audience, the "Read With Jenna" community.

4. The "Unputdownable" Quality

Despite being literary, the books are chosen for their readability. They must have a narrative drive that makes them "unputdownable." Jenna aims for books that are both intellectually stimulating and genuinely enjoyable, bridging the gap between high-brow literature and mass-market appeal.

5. The Bestseller Effect and "The Jenna Bump"

The impact of a "Read With Jenna" selection is immediate and profound, often referred to as "The Jenna Bump" in the publishing industry. A pick almost guarantees a spot on the New York Times Bestseller list. This commercial success has made the club a crucial marketing tool for publishers and a dream for any emerging author.

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The Latest "Read With Jenna" Picks: December 2025 and The Full Year List

The book club continues to surprise and delight its readers by mixing contemporary voices with timeless classics, proving its commitment to a broad literary scope. The most recent selections for late 2025 showcase this perfectly.

December 2025: A Timeless Classic Gets a Modern Twist

For December 2025, Jenna made a surprising and delightful choice by selecting a literary cornerstone: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

This selection, which is a classic novel published in 1813, is being highlighted for the holiday season as the perfect gift. The specific edition chosen features a brand-new introduction written by contemporary Young Adult author Nicola Yoon, adding a fresh perspective for a modern readership. This move—selecting a classic—is a rare but powerful one, reminding readers of the enduring quality of great literature.

Notable Read With Jenna Selections from 2025

The 2025 list demonstrates a strong commitment to diverse genres and compelling storytelling, featuring a mix of established and emerging literary entities.

• November 2025: Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite. This pick highlights the club's interest in international voices and darker, more suspenseful themes.
• October 2025: The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O’Neill.
• Other 2025 Picks: The list also included titles like *The Names* by Florence Knapp, *The Dream Hotel* by Laila Lalami, and *This Is a Love Story* by Jessica Soffer, showcasing a breadth of genres from powerful fiction to science fiction elements.
• Recurring Themes: The selections often tackle complex issues, from the life cycle of the common octopus (in one 2025 selection) to deep family secrets and social commentary, ensuring the club maintains its reputation for thought-provoking content.

The Expanding Literary Empire: Read With Jenna Jr. and Beyond

The influence of Jenna Bush Hager’s book club extends beyond adult literary fiction. In a move to foster reading habits in younger generations, the Read With Jenna Jr. program was launched in 2023. This extension focuses exclusively on children’s literature, further establishing Jenna as a comprehensive literary tastemaker across all age groups.

The club's success is a testament to the enduring power of a personal recommendation combined with a massive media platform. By consistently choosing books that are not only well-written but also emotionally resonant and socially relevant, Jenna Bush Hager has created a publishing phenomenon that continues to shape the reading habits of millions of people across the United States and beyond. Her picks, from Toni Morrison to Taylor Jenkins-Reid, and now to Jane Austen, confirm the club's wide-ranging and significant literary impact.