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When it comes to The White Lotus, fans will pick apart every moment and every scene to get more hints. Anything to find the killer, right? Well, in season 3, fans are more eagle-eyed than ever, trying to figure out who gets killed by the finale. One of the possible hints? Fans have been spotting what the characters are reading.
From Michelle Monaghan’s character Jaclyn reading Barbra Streisand’s memoir to many more on-the-nose reads, check out what all the White Lotus characters have been reading below. And yes, most of these give major hints to what the characters are/will be going through!
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Victoria Ratliff
Starting with perhaps the most on-the-nose reading choice, Parker Posey’s character Victoria Ratliff was seen reading The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
‘The Beautiful and Damned’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The book follows a couple, Patch and his wife Gloria, as they enjoy the wonders of their wealthy life in 1920s New York. But as their money starts to dwindle, the couple fails to adjust to a new normal, which leads to “Patch’s gradual descent into alcoholism, depression and alienation from his marriage ultimately lead to his ruin.” Sound familiar?
Knowing how wealthy the Ratliffs start this season, and that Timothy (Jason Isaacs) might lose it all by the time they get back, reading about a rich family losing it all is too coincidental not to be noticed.
Lochlan Ratliff
Also in the Ratliff family, Lochlan (Sam Nivola) was spotted reading Hunger by Knut Hansun.
‘Hunger’ by Knut Hamsun
In a novel that’s been described as “one of the most disturbing novels in existence,” Hunger by Knut Hamsun follows a young man as he ventures into the world with daily walks only to be judged and hurt by the looks from strangers. As he continues to put himself out there, he tortures himself in the process.
As for a connection from the book to Lochlan, it’s safe to say both are about young men trying to find themselves in the world. And, with a family as judgemental and wild as the Ratliffs, Lochlan can’t help but let their opinions sway him too.
Chelsea
Aimee Lou Wood’s character Chelsea has been spotted reading twice, the first being Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living by Pema Chodron and then The Essential Rumi by Jalal Al-Din Rumi.
‘Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living’ by Pema Chodron & ‘The Essential Rumi’ by Jalal Al-Din Rumi
Both of these book choices have a similar takeaway for Chelsea. While The Essential Rumi is a collection of spiritual short stories, Start Where You Are is a self-help book based on the fifty-nine traditional Tibetan Buddhist maxims. Whether the help is for Chelsea or her boyfriend, Rick (Walton Goggins), however, is up to you.
Belinda
Our next bookworm is Natasha Rothwell’s character Belinda. In between getting freaked out by the lizard in her room and investigating Greg/Gary‘s past, she was spotted reading Surrounded by Narcissists: Or, How to Stop Other People’s Egos Ruining Your Life by Thomas Erikson.
‘Surrounded by Narcissists: Or, How to Stop Other People’s Egos Ruining Your Life’ by Thomas Erikson
Much like the title suggests, this self-help book helps readers “understand what makes narcissists tick and, crucially, how to handle them without wearing yourself out in the process.”
Creator Mike White has said Could reading this help Belinda understand how to go after Greg? We certainly think so! This season has also touched a lot on the theme of spirituality and abandoning ego to get in touch with a higher power. If Belinda symbolizes spirituality and Greg symbolizes ego, this book could be a clue that Belinda is going to stop Greg once and for all.
Laurie
Another telling choice this season was Carrie Coon’s character Laurie reading Modern Lovers by Emma Straub.
‘Modern Lovers’ by Emma Straub
Much like Laurie’s vacation with Jaclyn (Monaghan) and Kate (Leslie Bibb), Modern Lovers also follows three longtime friends: Elizabeth, Andrew and Zoe. The novel follows these childhood friends in the summer where “their children reach maturity (and start sleeping together).” As a result, “the fabric of the adult lives suddenly begins to unravel, and the secrets and revelations that are finally let loose—about themselves, and about the famous fourth band member who soared and fell without them—can never be reclaimed.”
If we’re reading into this book, it’s safe to say Laurie, Jaclyn and Kate’s friendship will continue to unravel the rest of the season.
Jaclyn Lemon
As for Monaghan’s character Jaclyn, she was spotted reading Barbra Streisand’s best-selling memoir, My Name Is Barbra.
My Name Is Barbra
In the memoir, Streisand recounts all the major milestones in her decades-long career, from her breakout performance in Funny Girl on stage to her first Oscar win. It also follows her marriages, unknown affairs, and her changing relationships with fame and aging.
In many ways, Jaclyn’s story can absolutely mimic Barbra’s. She’s also an actress making her way through a tough industry, she’s figuring out how to age in the spotlight, and she’s navigating a relationship with a fellow actor with her husband, Harrison. Could this mean Jaclyn will continue to live a headline-making life after her White Lotus stay? Potentially!
Before you go, click here to see all the cameos you might have missed in ‘The White Lotus’ season 3.
