Reading list: what Dakota Johnson, Dua Lipa, Natalie Portman and more celebrities are reading this month
Dakota Johnson's TeaTime Book Club revisits this beloved science fiction classic, proving that great books deserve rediscovery. Douglas Adams's absurdist masterpiece follows Arthur Dent's intergalactic adventures after Earth's destruction, blending philosophical wit with cosmic humour. This genre-defining novel offers escapist entertainment with depth, exploring life's meaning through delightfully ridiculous scenarios. Johnson's choice reflects her appreciation for storytelling that balances intellectual curiosity with pure joy, ideal for readers looking for both laughs and contemplation. Natalie Portman's pick: 'A Different Kind of Power' by Jacinda Ardern
Natalie Portman's book club selection champions this memoir from New Zealand's former Prime Minister. In A Different Kind of Power , Jacinda Ardern reflects on her extraordinary political journey, from becoming the world's youngest female head of government to navigating global crises with empathy and authenticity. This intimate account explores leadership through a feminine lens, offering powerful lessons on staying true to one's values while wielding political influence. The memoir is perfect for readers seeking inspiration from leaders who redefined what political power can look like.
Don't miss: 8 celebrity book clubs for readers of various tastes Emma Roberts's pick 'Notes on Infinity' by Austin Taylor
Emma Roberts's Belletrist champions this extraordinary debut novel about Harvard students Zoe and Jack, who believe they've discovered the cure for ageing. When their promising antiageing research leads them to drop out and form a biotech startup, they're thrust into a world of investors, magazine covers and national attention. But success brings devastating accusations that threaten everything they've built. The novel explores young love, scientific ambition and the recklessness of early success, asking how far one would go to achieve immortality and dreams. Reese Witherspoon's pick: 'Spectacular Things' by Beck Dorey-Stein
If you're craving a sweeping family saga that will break your heart, Reese Witherspoon's pick delivers with a poignant tale of sisterhood set against the backdrop of women's football. Spectacular Things follows sisters Mia and Cricket Lowe in small-town Maine, where responsible Mia becomes a caregiver while talented Cricket pursues football stardom. The emotionally charged story dives into the impossible choices we make for family and ambition.
Now read: From screen to your stove: 6 star-studded celebrity cookbooks worth trying Jenna Bush Hager's pick: 'Happy Wife' by Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores
Jenna Bush Hager recommends this thriller, which she describes as 'the perfect combination of drama, romance and mystery'. When 28-year-old Nora Davies marries prominent lawyer Will Somerset after a whirlwind romance in wealthy Winter Park, their fairy tale shatters when Will mysteriously disappears following a lavish party. With Nora as the prime suspect, this twisty whodunnit alternates between their romance and a present-day investigation filled with secrets, wealth and rich people behaving badly.
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Tatler Asia
03-07-2025
- Tatler Asia
Reading list: what Dakota Johnson, Dua Lipa, Natalie Portman and more celebrities are reading this month
Dakota Johnson's pick: 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams Dakota Johnson's TeaTime Book Club revisits this beloved science fiction classic, proving that great books deserve rediscovery. Douglas Adams's absurdist masterpiece follows Arthur Dent's intergalactic adventures after Earth's destruction, blending philosophical wit with cosmic humour. This genre-defining novel offers escapist entertainment with depth, exploring life's meaning through delightfully ridiculous scenarios. Johnson's choice reflects her appreciation for storytelling that balances intellectual curiosity with pure joy, ideal for readers looking for both laughs and contemplation. Natalie Portman's pick: 'A Different Kind of Power' by Jacinda Ardern Natalie Portman's book club selection champions this memoir from New Zealand's former Prime Minister. In A Different Kind of Power , Jacinda Ardern reflects on her extraordinary political journey, from becoming the world's youngest female head of government to navigating global crises with empathy and authenticity. This intimate account explores leadership through a feminine lens, offering powerful lessons on staying true to one's values while wielding political influence. The memoir is perfect for readers seeking inspiration from leaders who redefined what political power can look like. Don't miss: 8 celebrity book clubs for readers of various tastes Emma Roberts's pick 'Notes on Infinity' by Austin Taylor Emma Roberts's Belletrist champions this extraordinary debut novel about Harvard students Zoe and Jack, who believe they've discovered the cure for ageing. When their promising antiageing research leads them to drop out and form a biotech startup, they're thrust into a world of investors, magazine covers and national attention. But success brings devastating accusations that threaten everything they've built. The novel explores young love, scientific ambition and the recklessness of early success, asking how far one would go to achieve immortality and dreams. Reese Witherspoon's pick: 'Spectacular Things' by Beck Dorey-Stein If you're craving a sweeping family saga that will break your heart, Reese Witherspoon's pick delivers with a poignant tale of sisterhood set against the backdrop of women's football. Spectacular Things follows sisters Mia and Cricket Lowe in small-town Maine, where responsible Mia becomes a caregiver while talented Cricket pursues football stardom. The emotionally charged story dives into the impossible choices we make for family and ambition. Now read: From screen to your stove: 6 star-studded celebrity cookbooks worth trying Jenna Bush Hager's pick: 'Happy Wife' by Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores Jenna Bush Hager recommends this thriller, which she describes as 'the perfect combination of drama, romance and mystery'. When 28-year-old Nora Davies marries prominent lawyer Will Somerset after a whirlwind romance in wealthy Winter Park, their fairy tale shatters when Will mysteriously disappears following a lavish party. With Nora as the prime suspect, this twisty whodunnit alternates between their romance and a present-day investigation filled with secrets, wealth and rich people behaving badly. Credits This article was created with the assistance of AI tools
Tatler Asia
23-06-2025
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Red carpet royalty: the Dakota Johnson style evolution
We revisit some of the best red carpet looks of Dakota Johnson, who proves that she's always had that celebrity style in her DNA Dakota Johnson is having her moment. With Celine Song's Materialists hitting Asian cinemas this August, all eyes are on the actress once again. But red carpets have long been her natural habitat. As a third-generation Hollywood royalty (her grandmother, Tippi Hedren, was an Alfred Hitchcock muse while her mother, Melanie Griffith, was a staple of romantic comedies in the Eighties), Johnson was born for glamour. We can describe her signature aesthetic—achieved with the help of seasoned stylist Kate Young—as streamlined and refined with a touch of bohemian ease. She tends to lean towards brands such as Gucci, Marc Jacobs and Yves Saint Laurent, owning her looks with a kind of elegance that is a hundred per cent her's. Here, we take a quick look at some of Dakota Johnson's memorable red carpet moments. More from Tatler: 8 celebrity book clubs for readers of various tastes
Tatler Asia
26-05-2025
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Make learning Chinese fun: Cheryl Mainland's Dragon Academy uses storytelling and technology to revolutionise Mandarin education
Language as a superpower Above Cheryl Lee Mainland used to be the translator between her two grandmothers (Photo: courtesy of Cheryl Lee Mainland) Above On her first day at school in Taiwan, Cheryl Lee Mainland introduced herself in Chinese and felt that she belonged (Photo: courtesy of Cheryl Lee Mainland) Indeed, it's no coincidence that Mainland decided to dedicate her life to making Chinese more accessible. From a very young age, she understood that language wasn't just a tool for communication—it was her ultimate connector. Born in Taiwan to a Chinese mother and an American father, she vividly recalls realising early on that Mandarin would be her secret superpower—something she discovered on her very first day at school. 'Even at that age, I was aware I looked different from everyone else—all other kids were 100 per cent Chinese,' she says. 'But I remember introducing myself in Chinese, and immediately felt that I belonged. All my insecurities disappeared. It didn't matter what I looked like because language was my way in.' That sense of belonging stayed with her through some of her most important and emotional moments. Whether acting as a translator between her two grandmothers—one in Mandarin, the other in English—or sitting across from her father at business meetings, Mainland saw firsthand how language could bridge worlds. The most defining moment came when she was able to conduct her Harvard interview in Chinese—a clear reminder of the tremendous power of language to unlock opportunities and connect different facets of identity. 'I owe so much to my parents,' Mainland says. 'At home, multiculturalism was celebrated—there was an understanding that language is more than words. It's a bridge. I carried that belief with me everywhere.' Personal challenges to a new mission of purpose Above Cheryl Lee Mainland and her children on the Pearls shoot in Bali (Photo: courtesy of Archie Geotina) Above Cheryl Lee Mainland and her children in Bali (Photo: courtesy of Cheryl Lee Mainland) Throughout her life, Mainland has leveraged her ability to act as a translator—not just between languages and generations, but also between 'consumers and businesses'. 'I am good at identifying a market that is huge, but underserved,' she says. Over two decades, Mainland has launched multiple successful online brands—including women's workwear, prom dresses and swimwear—while travelling the world with her family. Their moves took them to London, New York, Chicago and beyond, until they finally settled in Melbourne, where life's unexpected challenges took centre stage. During the Covid-19 lockdown, Mainland experienced a period most families hope to never face: her young daughter was diagnosed with kidney cancer and an extremely rare congenital heart defect. Fortunately, her daughter survived (and is 'Aurora', one of the Dragon Academy story characters), but her marriage of 17 years did not. 'It was a really challenging time,' she recalls. 'I was at my lowest.' But rather than let these hardships define her, Mainland saw an opportunity for reflection. As her daughter began to recover, she took a step back to reevaluate what truly mattered. The answer, she says, emerged through her children. Above The nine characters of the Dragon Academy (Photo: courtesy of Dragon Academy) 'During the lockdown, my daughters were learning Korean on Duolingo because it was 'cool' despite the thousands of dollars I spent on Chinese tutoring,' she says, laughing. 'That's when I knew I had to make learning Chinese as cool as Korean or Japanese.' Even without the influence of K-pop or manga, the world's hunger for Chinese speakers is growing rapidly. Experts predict the global Chinese language learning market will hit $13.1 billion by 2027, with an annual growth rate of nearly 12 per cent. As Dragon Academy gets ready to kick off its first round of outside funding, Mainland hopes the platform will play a major role in shaping this exciting and fast-changing industry.
