Actress Lauren Lapkus Gives Book Recs in 'Shelf Portrait'

published 14 July 2020

In our new video series Shelf Portrait, celebs, influencers, and famous bookworms invite us inside their homes to show off their personal libraries. For the latest episode, actress Lauren Lapkus, whom you probably recognize from her roles on Orange Is the New Black, Crashing, Good Girls, and this spring's Netflix drop The Wrong Missy, takes us on a tour of her book nook.

When it comes to her favorite genre, Lapkus points to (or, you know, holds up) one of my personal faves: Michelle Obama's Becoming. "I love a memoir, I read a lot of memoirs, non-fiction books that kind of break down something I'd like to understand, and I also like things that are just fun to read and put you in a good mood," she explains. Another book that fits that description: Oprah Winfrey's What I Know for Sure. "Every time I open it, I feel like I can connect to what I'm reading and it speaks to something I'm going through," Lapkus says, before reading out a passage about Oprah appearing on the cover of O Magazine twice in one month. Almost same!

Check Out Lauren Lapkus' Book Recs

Becoming

I Remember Nothing: and Other Reflections

PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives

#VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE

Some other great recs: Nora Ephron's I Remember Nothing ("She is hilarious and this is small pieces, short essays that she's written, all very funny. This is the kind of thing you throw in your bag [for] an airplane and you have a nice little read on a flight and you land and you're like haaaaa, things aren't so bad. ") and Laura Willcox's I Am Bride, a parody book about wedding planning, which, she says, is the perfect book for any brides who've had their weddings canceled this year and want to read it to "take out some of your anger."

Watch the full video for more recommendations, her favorite childhood books, and to find out which celeb Lapkus wants a tell-all from (again, same!).

Sally is the Editor in Chief of Marie Claire where she oversees coverage of all the things the Marie Claire reader wants to know about, including politics, beauty, fashion, and celebs. Holmes has been with Marie Claire for five years, overseeing all content for the brand’s website and social platforms. She joined Marie Claire from ELLE.com, where she worked for four years, first as Senior Editor running all news content and finally as Executive Editor. Before that, Sally was at NYMag.com's the Cut and graduated with an English major from Boston College.