Hilarie Burton Shares Her Favorite Books in 'Shelf Portrait'

Actress and author Hilarie Burton gave Marie Claire a tour of her bewitching bookshelf in the latest episode of Shelf Portrait, our video series in which celebrities, influencers, and famous bookworms show off their personal libraries.

During the tour, Burton was quick to point out that while book snobs may look down on color-coordinated shelves, she doesn't subscribe to that sentiment. "I'm here to tell you as your friendly local witch, that color is one of the most important things in your life, and honoring color in your life is something that you should be doing," she explains.

Grimoire Girl: A Memoir of Magic and Mischief'

Of the many haunting reads on her shelf, Burton singled out a few titles that hold a particularly special meaning for her. For starters, there's the "book that changed [her] life," Italian Folk Magic by Mary-Grace Fahrun, as well as Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine, along with Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman. Other "near and dear" books include Renascence and Other Poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay, The Grass Harp by Truman Capote, and The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.

With so many magical books lining her shelves, it's no surprise Burton wrote one of herself. Inspired by Italian Folk Magic and her other favorite reads, Burton wrote Grimoire Girl as a way to pass off the traditions, curiosity, and magical thinking she's gathered throughout her life to her children. "I read this book and I was so happy for [Fahrun] that she had people in her life to walk her through her birthright but then I wanted to find my own and I did that by writing Grimoire Girl," Burton says. "If you don't have it but you want to pass it on to your kids, sometimes you just got to make it up and that's what I did."

To find out which book Burton wants to turn into a movie, her recs on feminist fantasy horror, and why she prefers physical books over anything else, watch Shelf Portrait, above, then order some of her favorite books for yourself, below.

'Italian Folk Magic'

'Dandelion Wine'

'Magic Lessons'

'Renascence and Other Poems'

'The Grass Harp'

'The Grapes of Wrath'

Brooke Knappenberger is the former Associate Commerce Editor at Marie Claire, where she specialized in crafting shopping stories—from sales content to buying guides that span every vertical on the site. She also oversaw holiday coverage with an emphasis on gifting guides as well as Power Pick, our monthly column on the items that power the lives of MC’s editors. She also tackled shopping content as Marie Claire's Editorial Fellow prior to her role as Associate Commerce Editor.