Kaia Gerber's Book Club: Why Is Everyone Talking About It?

So, picture this: It’s a rainy Tuesday, I’m halfway through a third cup of coffee, and I see my feed explode. Not with a celebrity breakup or a political scandal, but with a book. Specifically, a novel called All Fours by Miranda July. And who is holding it up like a holy relic? Kaia Gerber.

Now, I love a good model-turned-culture-curator story. But I have to admit, I rolled my eyes at first. A supermodel—daughter of Cindy Crawford, no less—running a book club? I thought, “Great, another brand deal in disguise.” But then I started actually paying attention.

Here’s the thing everyone is suddenly whispering about: Kaia’s Book Club isn’t just a list of pretty covers. It’s become a cultural signal. When you see her pick, you know Gen Z is paying attention, and they’re choosing books that are weird, uncomfortable, and deeply human. (And, honestly, a little horny, but we’ll get to that.)

The “Cool Girl” Who Actually Reads

Kaia doesn’t just post a photo of a book on a marble counter. She’s been spotted reading on set, in between runway fittings. She has a proper Instagram story highlight called “Book Club” where she gives actual, thoughtful mini-reviews.

And she’s not coasting on safe, boring classics. She’s picking Ottessa Moshfegh, Rachel Cusk, and Ocean Vuong. Writers who make you feel smart when you finish them, but also make you question your entire life choices. (That’s the sweet spot, right?)

But the real kicker? She’s doing it without being pretentious. She’ll post a recommendation with a caption like, “This book made me feel crazy, 10/10.” That’s the energy. That’s how you sell literature to a generation raised on TikTok.

Kaia Gerber - Live | Book Club: "Luster" by Raven Leilani | October 2

The “It” Factor: Unhinged Literary Girl Summer

Why is everyone from The New York Times style section to your artsy friend in Brooklyn talking about her picks? Because she tapped into a micro-trend: unhinged female protagonists. Books like My Year of Rest and Relaxation and All Fours are messy, honest, and not always likable.

And honestly, isn’t that more interesting than pretending we all want to be perfect? She’s basically saying, “Yes, I am a supermodel. But I also want to read about a woman who quits her job and sleeps for a year.” (Same, girl. Same.)

It’s like she’s creating a secret handshake for readers. If you’ve read Luster by Raven Leilani, you understand the vibe. It’s for people who want their fiction to bite back a little.

Kaia Gerber's book club talking about "Martyr" with Kaveh Akbar - YouTube

No Gatekeeping Here

One thing I love? She’s accessible. She started with a simple newsletter, and now it’s a phenomenon. She’s not charging for exclusive content or hiding picks behind a paywall. She literally just… recommends books.

She even called out a specific Indie bookstore—Book Soup in West Hollywood—and suddenly that shop’s stock went flying off the shelves. That’s real power. (Can you imagine the business owner’s face when they saw the spike? Probably the same face I make when I find a $5 latte. Bliss.)

It’s a reminder that book clubs don’t have to be stuffy. Remember when everyone claimed to be in a book club but never actually read the book? Kaia’s club makes it cool to actually finish the chapter.

Kaia Gerber talks her book club 'Library Science' while premiering

The Secret Sauce: Visuals + Vibes

Let’s be real for a second—a big part of this is aesthetic. When Kaia posts a book, she’s often holding it in golden hour light, wearing a cozy sweater, looking like a dream. It’s impossible not to want that life, that vibe, that experience.

But here’s the ironic twist: the books themselves aren’t glossy or glamorous. They’re often about loneliness, failure, and awkward sex. It’s this beautiful tension between the perfect image and the messy content.

And that tension is why everyone is talking. She’s bridging the gap between “influencer” and “intellectual.” And she’s doing it with a quiet confidence that says, “I don’t need to prove I’m smart. I just love stories.”

All the excellent books from model Kaia Gerber's book club | London

So, Should You Join the Club?

If you’re tired of reading the same old bestsellers? Yes. If you want to feel like you’re in on a secret that’s still cool? Absolutely. But if you’re looking for cozy, feel-good rom-coms? Maybe skip. This isn’t the club for that.

Kaia’s Book Club is for the reader who wants to be a little unsettled. Who wants to underline sentences and then text them to a friend at midnight. It’s for the person who saw Saltburn and thought, “Okay, but what if it was a book?”

At the end of the day, it’s a happy accident. A model accidentally started the most interesting book club for weird girls (and boys, and non-binary pals). And instead of being jealous, I’m just grateful. Because finally, someone is making literature feel like a club worth attending.

So grab a copy of Milk Fed by Melissa Broder, pour some tea, and join the conversation. Just be warned: you might end up questioning your life. But hey, that’s the point, right? Happy reading.