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The countdown to summer is here with Memorial Day weekend — but this weekend, we were all about celebrating the countdown to Reese’s Book Club’s 100th pick, along with the rollout of Taco Bell’s new Cantina Chicken menu, at the Casita Hollywood.
Hello Sunshine, Reese Witherspoon’s media company that is behind mega-hits like Big Little Lies, The Morning Show, Daisy Jones & The Six, Where the Crawdads Sing, and the upcoming prequel to Legally Blonde, Elle to name just a few, was toasting to the upcoming 100th pick of Reese’s Book Club by bringing together top BookTokers, FoodTokers, and tastemakers together to talk about their favorite Reese books over bites from Taco Bell, as well as drinks from perennial LA fave, Joan’s on Third.
After an introduction from the CEO of Hello Sunshine Sarah Harden, Lauren Levy Neustadter, Hello Sunshine’s President of Film and Television, came on stage. Lauren then chatted with Oscar-winning actress (and birthday girl) Octavia Spencer — after all the guests joined in singing “Happy Birthday” to the actor.
Octavia Spencer celebrates the countdown to Reese’s Book Club 100th pick at Casita Hollywood
Octavia was dressed for the event with her yellow sunshine-y top. She’s worked with Hello Sunshine to Apple TV+ series Truth Be Told and chatted about her projects with Hello Sunshine, as well as her love of books, saying “I am so glad to be here today celebrating 100 book picks.” She added, “I like to buy books and I love when I get a great referral and I trust Reese so… I’m reading all of you, and I thank you.”
When asked what her fave Taco Bell menu items are, she said, “When they have Mexican pizza on the menu, that’s my go-to. But can never go wrong with a quesadilla.”
Then, a few of Reese’s Book Club’s top-selling authors (the company has 63 picks on the NY Times Best Seller List) came on stage. Authors Tia Williams (Seven Days in June), Ashley Elston (First Lie Wins), Yulin Kuang (How to End a Love Story), and Tembi Locke (From Scratch) were joined by Danielle Robay (host of Hello Sunshine’s The Bright Side podcast) and spoke about writing their novels, along with the excitement about working with Hello Sunshine — as well as seeing their work come to live on the big and small screens.
Guests lined up at the Taco Bell food truck at the event.
Taco Bell-loving guests enjoyed bites from their new menu, including the Cantina Chicken Soft Taco, the Cantina Chicken burrito, and the Cantina Chicken Quesadilla — as they snapped pics with interactive activations and a DJ blasting tunes.
Guests were able to make their own succulents at the event.
