As an avid reader, I want to put a good book in the hands of everyone I know. Yet buying books for other people can be hard; it feels like such a personal gift.
Here is a round up of personal, specific recommendations of books to give as gifts. While it would be nice if there were numerous books that appealed to anyone, the fact is that not every book is for every reader, so you have to keep that in mind when you shop. Besides, the feeling of picking a book that a friend or family member truly loves makes it worth the effort!
Here are my picks based on what the gift recipient enjoys.
If they liked Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, give Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid. Similar to Little Fires, it is compelling and hard to put down, yet it’s thought-provoking and packs a punch.
If the baking bug bit them during quarantine, give them Sourdough by Robin Sloan. I adored this story of Lois, a smart, quirky software engineer who never baked a day in her life, and a sourdough starter she inherited that changed her life.
For the craft beer connoisseur, try The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal. Brewing beer is the theme that weaves this story together, and it’s just begging to be read with a good craft beer in hand. I think pairing this book with a 6-pack from a local brewery would make a great gift for the beer-lover in your life.
If they can’t get enough Hallmark Christmas movies, I recommend The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller. This book is the equivalent to a cup of hot chocolate and a piece of pie, in book form. Pastry Chef Olivia Rawlings leaves her job at a posh Boston hotel after literally setting the place on fire. She escapes to a small Vermont town and reluctantly takes a job at an inn, whose owner is on a mission to re-establish her blue ribbon status in a pie contest.
If they enjoyed Angie Thomas’s On the Come Up, try Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson. This would be a great way to gift an audiobook subscription as well, as it is wonderful on audio.
If the last book they really enjoyed was The Hunger Games series, try Scythe by Neal Shusterman (also a trilogy). In this YA novel set in the future, the world has conquered death, disease, war, and hunger. In order to keep the population in check, people are appointed as “scythes” to selectively kill–and they are the only ones with the power to do so.
If The Parent Trap is one of their favorite movies, try giving them To Night Owl from Dogfish by Meg Wolitzer and Holly Goldberg Sloan. This is the sweet story of two girls whose dads fall in love and send them to the same summer camp (against their will), in the hopes of them creating a bond. The girls have other things in mind, and their summer camp experience turns into quite an adventure.
If they’re fans of Gretchen Rubin, try The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi. While Rubin focuses more on habits and happiness, Adachi helps you figure out what matters in your life, and adjust your habits to prioritize those things.
If they love talking to you about their New Year’s Resolutions and other personal development goals, I recommend Atomic Habits by James Clear. This book, filled with practical advice, is all about habit formation and the power of taking small, repeated action. (Another great book all about habits is Better Than Before, which I recommend as well.)
If they say things like, “I love a good cry,” I recommend When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. This memoir by a young neurosurgeon and his experience with terminal cancer may not be everyone’s cup of tea right now, but for some it may be just the thing. Kalanithi’s writing is honest and sincere, and it’s heartbreaking, of course, but the circumstances make it so rather than the way it’s written.
For the non-fiction lover who cares deeply about social justice, I recommend Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. This is another one that is excellent on audio (the author narrates it himself), so it would make a great gift along with an audio book subscription.
For the new-ish mom who loves to read, try The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie. If she’s a reader chances are she’s read a lot of books on raising children already, but this one all about helping your kids grow to love reading, may not yet be on her radar.
That may not cover all the bases for bookish gift giving, but hopefully it gave you a few good ideas. Do you like to give books as gifts?
If you’re looking for more gift ideas, be sure to check out my post on Toys that Spark Imagination, Best Books for Lego Lovers, and this round-up of some of our favorite activity books.
