I can’t believe I’m saying this, but growing up, I wasn’t that into Barbie. I didn’t have very many and TBH, I never really played with them. The only notable interactions I had with the Barbie world were at my best friend’s house. She had every type of Barbie there was at the time—flight attendant Barbie, mermaid Barbie, veterinarian Barbie, hula Barbie—and to top it off, she had the Barbie Dreamhouse too. After we got too old to play with them, I truly never thought about Barbie again—until I got word of the movie.
Even as a not-so-Barbie girl, the hype of this movie has had a chokehold on me from the casting to the storyline to the set design to the costumes and more. It has even made me want to buy bright pink, and as a neutral girlie, that’s saying something. Barbie is in theatres everywhere now and you better believe I’m going to see it, but I can’t help but wonder what I am going to do with myself once the movie ends.
As an avid reader, I have been on the hunt to find books that can scratch my Barbie itch, and you’ll be glad to know that I found quite a few that I think many of the Barbies would even like to read themselves. So whether you were one of the first in line to see Barbie on the big screen and miss her already or you are waiting until the movie comes out on streaming and need some Barbie vibes in the meantime, here are 10 books to read.
Kareena Mann needs to be engaged in four months. But there's a few problems getting in the way of that: she's a homebody, hates dating apps, and just went viral for arguing with a TV star, Dr. Prem Verma. SInce the viral fight, he's been hard pressed to find donors for his local community health center. Next thing he knows, Kareena’s meddling aunties present him with a solution: convince Kareena he’s her soulmate and they’ll fund his clinic.
If this isn't a book club pick for Doctor Barbie, I don't know what else is.
Third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive, doesn't believe in lasting romances, but in an attempt to convince a friend that she is in a head-over-heels relationship, she panics and kisses the first man she sees—her hotshot professor, Adam Carlsen. When Adam agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend, Olive quickly realizes that their relationship can't be predicted by a hypothesis. Physicist Barbie, this one is for you.
Seeking a fresh start, Megan Chernoff moves to New York City, where she meets Daphne Cole. Daphne is a gorgeous, stylish, well-known momfluencer, and Megan quickly becomes immersed in a world that is filled with fancy wellness retreats and supper clubs. It seems perfect (sounds like Barbie Land to me!) , but Megan begins to wonder if it's just for show. When she realizes it is a facade, she has to figure out how she will start a new, happy, and real life.
Beach Read follows Augustus Everett, an acclaimed author of literary fiction, and January Andrews, an author of bestselling romances. They have absolutely nothing in common except for one thing: a case of writer's block. Over the course of three months, they live in neighboring beach houses and strike a deal with one another to get out of their creative ruts.
Since this book follows two writers on a beach, I'm willing to bet that Author Barbie and Ken have this on their TBR list if they haven't already read it.
Katrina Freeling and Nathan Van Huysen used to write best-selling books together. They were literary stars (looking at you, Author Barbie!) until they ended their partnership on bad terms and never spoke again—until now. With one last book due on contract, they're forced to reunite and write a romance novel.
When her partner of over a decade suddenly ends things, Laurie is left horrified that she has to see him at their law firm (where they both work) every single day. And when news breaks that his new girlfriend is pregnant, she has to figure out a way to not be humiliated on a daily basis. Enter: the office playboy. He needs a steady girlfriend to impress his boss and she needs someone new on her arm. A fake relationship turned love story? Lawyer Barbie, this one is for you.
Alexis Stone is ready to kick-start a more adventurous life with, get this, a one-night stand. Just as she’s about to fulfill her hookup wish with Logan, a man she meets at a hotel bar, a fire breaks out and they flee the hotel. When pictures of them end up all over the internet, she realizes that Logan is a hotshot politician, and in order to not sink his career, they have to pretend to be together until after election day.
I have a feeling that President and Diplomat Barbie might have a thing or two to say about this sexy scheme.
Lee has learned one big lesson in her life: never trust love. She's had major heartbreaks throughout her life and the last one, Ben Laderman, was the worst. When Ben shows up five years later, working as a policy expert for the most liberal governor in Texas history (another book pick for you Diplomat Barbie!), they are forced to work together and work things out. Things get complicated and competitive, but their spark is still the size of Texas.
Sally Milz is a writer, kind of like Author Barbie, except Sally writes for a late-night live comedy show. She's the kind of girl who has given up on love due to too many heartbreaks and the trend that average-looking men always end up with stunning women, which frustrates her beyond belief. Then enters Noah Brewster, a famous pop star known for dating models, who appears as a host and musical guest on the show, and to Sally's complete disbelief, shows interest in her.
Piper Evans is an avid romance reader and anonymous podcaster by night. She has a quiet, reclusive life and she likes it that way until British royals rent the property next to hers and their bodyguard decides she's a security threat. When Piper finds herself smack in the middle of a royal scandal and media frenzy, she becomes more friendly with the bodyguard than she ever could have imagined. We have a feeling Journalist Barbie would be all over covering this royal story.
