The View’s Summer Reading List: Picks from Whoopi Goldberg, Sunny Hostin, and Co‑Hosts

When the heat turns up, the best way to stay cool is with a good book in hand. This week, ABC’s daytime staple The View decided to make that a little easier. During a brand‑new segment called “Ladies Get Lit,” each co‑host handed the studio audience (and us at home) a mini‑library of their top summer reads.

It felt almost like a book‑club meets talk‑show—four or five minutes of enthusiastic chatter, a few personal anecdotes, and then the glorious moment when audience members walked out clutching the freshly‑signed copies. Below is a handy roundup of every title mentioned, plus a quick note on why each co‑host thinks you should give it a try.

Whoopi Goldberg’s Picks

Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn‑Williams (Flatiron, 2025) – Whoopi called this memoir “explosive” and admitted it “blew me away.” Wynn‑Williams, a former Facebook public‑policy director, pulls back the curtain on the tech giant’s rise, its shady dance with authoritarian regimes, and the moments Mark Zuckerberg realized the platform’s role in the 2020 election. Expect a gritty, unflinching look at how power can corrupt even the most idealistic of tech pioneers.

Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible From Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock‑Fleecing Frauds by John Fugelsang (2025) – The comedian‑turned‑author grew up with a nun for a mother and a priest for a father. In his book, he argues that far‑right forces have hijacked Christianity to justify bigotry. Whoopi says it’s a must‑read for anyone fed up with religion being used as a hammer for hate.

The Descendant by Linda Stasi (2026) – A novel based on true events, Stasi explores the origins of the Italian mountain mafia and the family that may have inspired “The Godfather.” Whoopi loves how the story “keeps you going,” weaving together immigrants from all walks of life into a riveting saga.

Sara Haines’ Picks

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi (Atria/Simon & Schuster, 2025) – Levi’s debut started as a self‑published gem before becoming a New York Times bestseller. The tale follows a mysterious stranger who arrives in the small town of Golden, buys portrait sketches of its residents, and trades them for the subjects’ stories. Sara calls it “one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read.”

The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen‑Filled World by Jonathan Haidt & Catherine Price (2025) – Co‑authors of the bestselling “The Anxious Generation” turn their attention to kids, warning about the perils of excessive screen time. Haines describes the book as “life‑changing” and says every parent should have a copy on the nightstand.

Sunny Hostin’s Picks

Rewilding: Freedom, Friendship, and Finding Our Way Home by Jane Green (2024) – Sunny says Green is a dear friend who, despite a seemingly perfect exterior, wrestled with deep unhappiness before reclaiming her joy. The memoir is a love letter to women who ever felt invisible, urging them to carve out space for adventure, authenticity, and a little wilderness in their lives.

These titles span memoir, fiction, and self‑help, but they all share a common thread: they’re conversation‑starter books that make you think, feel, and maybe even act a little differently. So, whether you’re lounging by the pool or stealing a few minutes between Zoom meetings, consider adding one (or all) of these to your summer reading stack.

Happy reading, and don’t forget to share which one resonated most with you—just like the co‑hosts did on The View!