Jimmy Fallon is keeping summer reading alive with a brand-new selection for his revived Fallon Book Club and it comes from one of the most beloved contemporary novelists in the world.
On Tuesday, August 13, during a live broadcast of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the 50-year-old host unveiled his latest book club pick: My Friends by Fredrik Backman, the Swedish author behind international bestsellers A Man Called Ove and Beartown.
Backman’s newest novel centers on an unlikely bond between a teenage runaway and a former teacher, whose lives intersect through a mysterious painting that holds profound meaning for them both. Fallon revealed the pick in dramatic fashion opening a special Tonight Show briefcase before announcing that every audience member would be heading home with their own copy.
“Summer’s not over,” Fallon told viewers. “We’ve got time to read. We want everyone to read!”
Audience & Social Media Driven Choice
Earlier this month, Fallon announced the return of the Fallon Book Club and asked viewers to help decide what to read next. Fans submitted suggestions through the club’s Instagram account (@fallonbookclub), and the final choice emerged from a strong shortlist that included The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett, What Will People Think? by Sara Hamdan, Maggie; Or, A Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar by Katie Yee, and What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown. Fallon explained the selection process with characteristic humor: “We’re going to look at everything, and then we’re just going to go, ‘This one seems, like, on brand for us.’ And then we’re all going to read it together.”
A Book Club with History
The Fallon Book Club first launched in 2018 and has since become a quirky, interactive reading community for Tonight Show fans. In spring 2024, Fallon reintroduced the club with a March Madness–style bracket to coincide with the NCAA basketball tournament. That summer’s selection, The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, offered a suspenseful, literary twist on a missing-person mystery set in upstate New York.
Fallon’s Literary Side
Beyond championing other authors, Fallon is also a bestselling author himself, particularly known for his popular children’s books such as 5 More Sleeps ’til Christmas and 5 More Sleeps ’til Halloween. His titles frequently make seasonal returns to bestseller lists, further cementing his place in the literary and entertainment worlds alike.
Fallon is encouraging viewers to follow along with his reading progress on Instagram. The book club will share updates, discussion prompts, and interactive polls, turning the novel into a shared experience for fans across the country.
Fallon continues a tradition of uniting audiences around a single story. This year’s pick blends Backman’s signature warmth and emotional depth with a narrative of connection, redemption, and art’s ability to bridge divides a fitting theme for a host who’s built his career on bringing people together through laughter.
Whether fans are reading poolside, on the beach, or curled up indoors, Fallon’s latest book club choice ensures that summer 2025 will end on a thoughtful and heartfelt note.