Reese Witherspoon has written her first novel, in collaboration with bestselling author Harlan Coben, publisher Penguin Random House (PRH) has announced.
The Oscar-winning actor and the author of the Myron Bolitar series have joined forces to create a thriller, which is to be published in autumn 2025. The novel, the title of which is still under wraps, is said to be based on an original idea from Witherspoon, and the co-writers “have been developing the concept, creating characters, and writing pages over many months,” according to PRH.
“To say I am a fan of Harlan’s body of work is a massive understatement,” Witherspoon, who founded Reese’s Book Club in 2017, said. “Scheming with Harlan on how to thrill audiences with mysterious characters and complex narrative twists and turns has already been more fun than I can describe.”
Coben said he is a longtime fan of the actor, and that collaborating with her “has been a pure joy”.
Both Witherspoon and Coben have previously been involved in screen adaptations of novels: under her company Hello Sunshine, Witherspoon has produced and starred in the TV versions of Big Little Lies, The Morning Show and Little Fires Everywhere, while 12 of Coben’s novels have been adapted for screen, and he is the creator of the British mystery series The Five and the French-British crime drama television show Safe. A screen adaptation of the pair’s forthcoming novel is already in development.
Selina Walker, publisher at Century, the imprint of PRH that will be publishing the novel in the UK, said: “Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben working together is a powerhouse combination, and for me a dream come true.
“They are both such masters of their arts,” she added. “No one tells a suspenseful story like Harlan, or can get under the skin of her characters like Reese does. I am in awe of them both, and simply cannot wait to read what they produce together.”
The Legally Blonde actor is the author of a lifestyle book, Whiskey in a Teacup, and a series of children’s books, Busy Betty, but this will be her first fwork of fiction for adults. Coben has written more than 30 thriller novels, which have been published in 46 languages and have been number one bestsellers in more than 12 countries.
