The 5 Best Books to Give This Holiday Season
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Well, we’ve nearly made it, folks. The holidays are just around the corner, meaning many of us will enjoy a blissful break in the grind we call life. But, as with just about everything, it’s all give and take — in this case, literally.
Shopping for loved ones, especially in the book category, can appear simple at first blush. Then you read the jacket copy and realize that no, your 70-something-year-old mother probably won’t relish in that serial killer true crime tell-all as much as you did. Plus, when you’re holiday book shopping, it’s easy to have a biblio-blackout. One minute you think you’ve got everyone on your list covered, the next you’re marching out of your favorite bookshop with an armload of reads for…yourself (guilty).
That’s why I’ve compiled a list of easy book gifts that work for just about any and everyone who might be on your list. Do y’all want more customized book gift guides (like, best books for dad)? LMK in the comments — I’m noodling a mini gift series for the weeks leading up to the end of December.
The Best Books to Give This Holiday Season
Below, I’ve handpicked five books that should cover pretty much anyone on your list. Looking for a longer list? Be sure to reach out or leave a comment below.
“These Precious Days” - Ann Patchett
Honestly, anything that Patchett writes will probably work here, but this book of essays circles the idea of gratitude without feeling trite or Pollyanna. The wonderful thing about essays is that, should one not be a hit, the reader can simply bounce to the next one, no harm, no foul.
Best Gift For: Mom, sister, aunt, bestie who went through some shit this year
“Small Things Like These” - Claire Keegan
With the story occurring in the lead up to Christmas, this one gives Dickens vibes minus any controversial child labor. Following an Irish coal merchant who must make a difficult choice to maintain his integrity, this story emphasizes how to find your moral north star, and not lose sight of it. With its skinny size, this petite novel is a quick read that leaves a lasting impression.
Best Gift For: Work friend who’s dealt with all the toxic office drama this year, Dads who actually read fiction, anyone who’s into BookTok
“Open Throat” - Henry Hoake
Equally esoteric and lyrical, this book knocked my socks off. Hoake imagines the internal narrative of the late P-22, the mountain lion who stalked the Hollywood Hills. The book sheds an unflinching eye on how we humans treat one another, our planet, and the natural wildlife that inhabits it. It almost reads like a book of meditations, it’s super quick and has chuckle-worthy moments, too.
Best Gift For: The Gen Z-ers on your list, your art friend, and obviously anyone you know who just moved to L.A.
“The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the C.I.A.” - Liza Mundy
It should be a surprise to no one that the C.I.A. succeeded due to unacknowledged women. Since no one would believe women were spies (L O L — HAVE YOU EVER HEARD BRUNCH GOSSIP), the new agency leaned on female operatives for a range of tasks and operations. Here, Mundy finally sets the record and gives overdue credit to the women who worked fearlessly along their male counterparts with far less accolades.
Best Gift For: Dads, grandads, pretty much any dude in your life, your entrepreneurial gal pal, and anyone who actually understands the plot of Zero Dark Thirty
“Ladies’ Lunch: And Other Stories” - Lore Segal
One of the OG contemporary short story maestros, 95-years-young author, Segal, captures the heart of female friendship that’s often revealed over a gushy lunch (see my above note on brunch gossip). In these 16 short stories, Segal plants the reader at the core of fictional gossip that’s just as juicy as the latest Housewives tea. With nods to suburban geniuses like Cheever, Segal’s genius can creep up on you, and is felt in her spare prose and hilariously biting descriptions.
Best Gift For: Your Bravo-obsessed person who’s trying to lower their screen time, your UES friends, and pretty much every other woman in your life.