Struggling to find the right present for everyone on your holiday shopping list? I’m here to help.
Write a comment with a few sentences describing the person (or people) you’re shopping for and I’ll respond with a book or two to consider. For example: a brother who loves baseball and trivia (hey, bro), a friend who has taken stress baking to the next level or a cousin who spends her days binging true crime documentaries.
If you see a gift-giving conundrum you can help to solve (with a book or anything else), please respond to one another. Let’s try to take some of the stress out of holiday shopping off each other.
I promise to respond to every request, but just know it might take me a bit.
Aunt who introduced me to the unique joy of audiobooks - mostly into scientific non-fiction, fantasy, and anything by Christopher Moore. I'd love to introduce her to a great audio production she hasn't found yet.
Any recommendations for a friend whose favorite authors are Kevin Wilson and Miriam Toews. I feel like she's read everything and would love to surprise her with a new-to-her author who has a similar vibe to those two.
I would like an idea for my 20 year old daughter who is in college and too stressed and busy to read anything outside of her class schedule. She is a lover of books and a big reader of sci-fi, fantasy, and romance. I giver her a book every Christmas but this year I don't want to give a traditional book because I think the thought of adding to her unread pile of books will stress her out even more. I am looking for something short, something inspirational, sweet, but still a book but not a traditional book to read. Ideas?
Looking for suggestions for my fiancé. His thing is kind of niche, so not sure if anybody can help. He loves Battletech (think Pacific Rim, but books and a whole futuristic world setting). So anything with mechs/mechas would work. He read and LOVED Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao. (partly because he studied some Chinese in college)
He also told me he's been looking for good sci fi and fantasy in translation. Already read Vagabonds by Hao Jingfang, trans. by Ken Liu, and The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu (he felt kinda "meh" about that one). I too love SFF, but I'm not knowledgeable about the translated work. Any ideas?
20 year old college daughter who loves to read but has NO time to read. I want it to be a book but a book that takes her 10 minutes to read or look at. I give her a book every year for Christmas but I feel that giving her a book, even though I know she would love to read it, will stress her out. Ideas for books that inspire her, make her laugh, cut her college stress?
What would you recommend for my best friend who’s a mom of 2 and working like crazy and she’s a powerhouse and really funny and also kind of a control freak (we have that in common)? Thank you!
For my retired engineer husband, definitely not reading technical words anymore but does like old time Nevil Shute’s (aeronautical related) fictions. Now he reads more historical fiction tending toward male writers, plus murder spy mysteries, occasional classics, no thrillers. Right now he is reading some fiction by Icelandic authors (possible cruise to Iceland). He loved all the Patrick O’Brian books.
We both like nature, like the books of P. Wohlleben’s three. He used to read biographies of the Supreme Court judges before 2016, but now definitely not politics. Briefly read humor. No science fiction, memoirs, or plain history.
30-year old single woman obsessed with human relationships/psychology. Usually reads contemporary fiction and prefers wholesome/heartwarming reads. She looooveeed Kevin Wilson’s Nothing to See Here and Dolly Alderton’s Ghosts...anything else you recommend adding to her collection?
So many great recs here! Here’s one that’s stumping me...12 year old girl who only reads realistic fiction...Past favourites have included all of the Ramona Quimby books, the Front Desk series, and the Babysitters Club.
Friend who can't stop raving about Boomtown. It's outside of what she normally reads (mystery, contemporary, romance) and I'd love to find something similar. I think she liked that it was about a place and was a mix of informative, funny, moving, and warm. Looking specifically for non-fiction.
I have a friend of many years. Retired attorney, well read, retired to a golf community in the mountains; former high level athlete; still works out; studying classics for fun. Favorite mystery Nero Wolfe. Likes Agatha Christie. We both loved Shaun Bythell Seven Kinds of People You Find In A Bookstore! Irreverent and too true! I'm thinking of getting another Bythell book but I'm open to ideas. Happy Holidays! Eric Davis, Savannah Georgia.
For my 50 year old son -- Mr Businessman (president of a multi-state insurance brokerage). Loves to golf, likes limited first-class travel. In the past has enjoyed best-selling business books and books about sports stars.
My dad in his sixties who’s about to retire after a decade of running the local public transit service? He loved his job but also enjoys traveling, Christianity, family, and learning new things.
Aunt who introduced me to the unique joy of audiobooks - mostly into scientific non-fiction, fantasy, and anything by Christopher Moore. I'd love to introduce her to a great audio production she hasn't found yet.
What book do you recommend for a sister who writes a book newsletter?
Any recommendations for a friend whose favorite authors are Kevin Wilson and Miriam Toews. I feel like she's read everything and would love to surprise her with a new-to-her author who has a similar vibe to those two.
Early 20s best friends who love to read. Contemporary fiction, mystery, romance, and smut are favorite categories lol
20 year old male college sophomore mostly listens to books; loved East of Eden & Gentleman in Moscow
A brother who moved to Canada to do amazing geologist stuff, and also loves National parks
A very funny best friend, working in pediatric ER.
I would like an idea for my 20 year old daughter who is in college and too stressed and busy to read anything outside of her class schedule. She is a lover of books and a big reader of sci-fi, fantasy, and romance. I giver her a book every Christmas but this year I don't want to give a traditional book because I think the thought of adding to her unread pile of books will stress her out even more. I am looking for something short, something inspirational, sweet, but still a book but not a traditional book to read. Ideas?
Looking for suggestions for my fiancé. His thing is kind of niche, so not sure if anybody can help. He loves Battletech (think Pacific Rim, but books and a whole futuristic world setting). So anything with mechs/mechas would work. He read and LOVED Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao. (partly because he studied some Chinese in college)
He also told me he's been looking for good sci fi and fantasy in translation. Already read Vagabonds by Hao Jingfang, trans. by Ken Liu, and The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu (he felt kinda "meh" about that one). I too love SFF, but I'm not knowledgeable about the translated work. Any ideas?
20 year old college daughter who loves to read but has NO time to read. I want it to be a book but a book that takes her 10 minutes to read or look at. I give her a book every year for Christmas but I feel that giving her a book, even though I know she would love to read it, will stress her out. Ideas for books that inspire her, make her laugh, cut her college stress?
One other request! A teen very into the Truly Devious series by Maureen Johnson (and has pre-ordered the new one)
What would you recommend for my best friend who’s a mom of 2 and working like crazy and she’s a powerhouse and really funny and also kind of a control freak (we have that in common)? Thank you!
For my retired engineer husband, definitely not reading technical words anymore but does like old time Nevil Shute’s (aeronautical related) fictions. Now he reads more historical fiction tending toward male writers, plus murder spy mysteries, occasional classics, no thrillers. Right now he is reading some fiction by Icelandic authors (possible cruise to Iceland). He loved all the Patrick O’Brian books.
We both like nature, like the books of P. Wohlleben’s three. He used to read biographies of the Supreme Court judges before 2016, but now definitely not politics. Briefly read humor. No science fiction, memoirs, or plain history.
Can you help? Please, and thanks.
30-year old single woman obsessed with human relationships/psychology. Usually reads contemporary fiction and prefers wholesome/heartwarming reads. She looooveeed Kevin Wilson’s Nothing to See Here and Dolly Alderton’s Ghosts...anything else you recommend adding to her collection?
So many great recs here! Here’s one that’s stumping me...12 year old girl who only reads realistic fiction...Past favourites have included all of the Ramona Quimby books, the Front Desk series, and the Babysitters Club.
Friend who can't stop raving about Boomtown. It's outside of what she normally reads (mystery, contemporary, romance) and I'd love to find something similar. I think she liked that it was about a place and was a mix of informative, funny, moving, and warm. Looking specifically for non-fiction.
I have a friend of many years. Retired attorney, well read, retired to a golf community in the mountains; former high level athlete; still works out; studying classics for fun. Favorite mystery Nero Wolfe. Likes Agatha Christie. We both loved Shaun Bythell Seven Kinds of People You Find In A Bookstore! Irreverent and too true! I'm thinking of getting another Bythell book but I'm open to ideas. Happy Holidays! Eric Davis, Savannah Georgia.
For my 50 year old son -- Mr Businessman (president of a multi-state insurance brokerage). Loves to golf, likes limited first-class travel. In the past has enjoyed best-selling business books and books about sports stars.
My dad in his sixties who’s about to retire after a decade of running the local public transit service? He loved his job but also enjoys traveling, Christianity, family, and learning new things.
looking for a book for my husband, who's really into sci-fi (generally hard science fiction, really loved The Expanse)
A stepdaughter who loves the series Doc Martin, Selfridges, and Downton Abbey (must come as an audiobook because she has eye problems)
A girlfriend who reads a TON of romcoms (something optimistic! -- I know this is generic :)
Non-fiction for a13-year old boy who likes travel, the outdoors, etc. Think Into the Wild, but for a younger audience maybe.
Dad (60-ish), loves golf, philosophy and crime novels. Bonus points if it's already been translated in French