Reese’s June Book Club Pick Just Dropped—and It Comes with a Big First

Another month, another Reese’s Book Club pick—and June’s selection is a special one. Not only does it sound like the perfect blend of heart, history and a touch of magic, but it also just hit shelves, meaning hopefully no spoilers for at least a few weeks (thank you, Reese!).

So what’s the pick? It’s The Phoenix Pencil Company by debut author Allison King—and trust me, the story sounds like a total page-turner. Reese announced the pick in her usual fashion, via Instagram, posing with the book and sharing a quick blurb about the novel.

“Our June @reesesbookclub pick is here!” she wrote. “In The Phoenix Pencil Company by debut author and LitUp fellow @allisonkingwrites, a reclusive coder uncovers a legacy of magic, espionage, and family secrets. You won’t want to miss this one!”

The story centers on Monica Tsai, a quiet college freshman who spends her days coding and journaling while worrying about her fading connection with her aging grandmother, Yun. But when Monica’s tech project randomly connects her with a stranger—and a mysterious pencil—she starts unraveling a long-buried family secret tied to Yun’s past in WWII-era Shanghai. There’s magic, mystery and multigenerational storytelling woven throughout and, honestly, I’m already sold.

What makes this pick even cooler is that it marks a first for Reese’s Book Club: Allison King is the first author to go from LitUp fellow to official pick.