Book Recommendations for The Bachelorette Gentlemen

[TV still from The Ellen DeGeneres Show, A Very Good Production Inc. and Telepictures Production]

This season of The Bachelorette started with eleven million suitors (okay, it was 31) vying for Rachel Lindsay’s attention.  Since that fateful first cocktail party, most of those men have said their goodbyes. But now that they aren’t flying off to Norway and Switzerland and Hilton Head Island every other week, they’re certain to have a lot of time on their hands. We’ve picked our favorite Bachelorette goodbyes, pairing them with some reading material to keep them company.

Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones for Jonathan

Jonathan earned himself the unfortunate nickname “Tickle Monster” and honestly we’re still not over the fact that he tickled Rachel moments after meeting her. But Jonathan clearly has a childlike sense of joy and wonder – something that likely comes in handy in his job as a pediatrician. Kids love a playful adult. We’re recommending the biography Jim Henson by Brian Jay Jones, an intimate portrait of the man who gave us Sesame Street and The Muppets. We like to think Jonathan and Jim Henson share a certain spark – the joy that comes from making children happy. And while we’re really glad he’s not going around tickling our Bachelorette, we really hope Jonathan enjoys diving into Jim Henson’s world through this book.

Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant for Diggy

We all know Diggy has impeccable fashion sense – his nickname is entirely based on the digs he was wearing when a stranger complimented. And while he claims to own 575 pairs of sneakers, the camera rarely gave us a glimpse at Diggy’s footwear. What we did see a lot of was his Warby Parker collection – including his go to tortoiseshell Durand pair and a special edition pair of the Burke style. It’s clear he’s a fan and we’d love to recommend Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World, which details the company’s origin story as one of the book’s many case studies. Adam Grant was a professor at The Wharton School, the University of Pennsylvania’s MBA program where the Warby Parker founders were students at the time. Diggy’s sure to love this inside look at a company he loves so fervently.

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown for Jack Stone

It’s clear that Jack Stone will find love – Rachel Lindsay just really really wasn’t the one for him. He’s such a sweet guy, but he relied way too heavily on the fact that he and Rachel make a lot of sense on paper. We’re going to challenge him to let go of the logical for a little while and give into doing the scary thing. Which is why we’re recommending Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. It’s asking Jack to be a little more open to the unknown and to fail a lot in the process. But in the end, he’ll walk away with tools he can take into every aspect of his life. And when the right woman does come into his life? Well, he’ll have his good friend Brené there to cheer him on.

Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World edited by Kelly Jensen for Kenny

We love how strong Kenny’s relationship is with his daughter and how supportive they are of each other. Every time their FaceTime calls showed up on screen, we were wiping away tears and fighting over tissues. They’re just so incredibly sweet together. Which is why we’re recommending a book the two of them can read together. Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World is a collection of essays and illustrations written especially for teenagers about what it means to be a feminist in 2017. McKenzie is only 10 years old, but you’re never too young to learn from strong women about the value of equality. We think it sounds like the perfect book for this inseparable pair.

Landline by Rainbow Rowell for Fred

We can’t help but feel sorry for Fred, who wasn’t given much of a chance simply because Rachel went to elementary school with him. He was such a gentleman and clearly believes in soulmates and life changing romantic moments. We’re recommending Landline by Rainbow Rowell because her writing makes it seem like she believes in those things as well. We’re also recommending it because it’s about a married couple who went to school together – college, but still. And there’s some fun time traveling tossed in. Fred seems like he spends a lot of time thinking about the past. We’re rooting for you to find love, Fred! Maybe even a fellow Rainbow Rowell fan.