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Book Gifts I'd Actually Give (For Every Kind of Reader)
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items I have a very long TBR and strong opinions, so consider this my gift-giving shortlist. Organized by reader type, with books I've read, loved, or would happily receive. No "Top 10 of 2026" filler, just the ones I'd put in a gift bag without hesitating...
Sections
5
Page-Turner Readers
Cozy + Comforting
Non-Fiction Nerds
The Person You "Doesn't Read"
Coffee Table Books + Cook Books
Page-Turner Readers
Books you start at 9pm and look up from at 1am.
A story told through the eyes of a military dog trying to make his way home. For the reader who wants something quietly gripping and different from anything else on their shelf.
Etna by Paul Yoon
A reminder that even the smallest interaction can matter deeply to someone else. For the thoughtful friend who notices the little things.
The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
A girl vanishes from a summer camp in the Adirondacks, years after her brother did the same. For the reader who loves a layered, slow-reveal mystery.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Cozy + Comforting
For the reader who wants to be held by a book.
A short, moving story set in the days leading up to Christmas, about the quiet courage of one decent man. You can finish it in a single sitting, which makes it a great pick for the friend who says they never have time to read.
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
A remarkable peek into one woman’s amazing life, told entirely through her correspondence with others. For the friend who still loves a handwritten note.
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
A cozy New England college town full of fun characters and low-stakes small-town drama. For the reader who wants to settle in and stay a while.
Country People by Daniel Mason
Non-Fiction Nerds
For the person who has a podcast-length opinion on everything. Yes, I'm that person.
The doorstopper. For the person who loves a long project and wants to understand how cities and power really work. (Gift it with a bookmark and a pep talk.)
The Power Broker by Robert Caro
Serial killers, industrial pollution, and the Pacific Northwest. For the true crime reader who wants more depth.
Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser
A hopeful new collection of essays from one of the best essayists of our time. For the friend who needs a reason for optimism and a book they can read one essay at a time.
The Beginning Comes After the End: Notes on a World of Change by Rebecca Solnit
A personal, raw story told by the effortlessly funny and surprisingly relatable E. Jean Carroll, who swings from courtroom transcripts to deep dives on fashion. Content note: heavy subject matter. Fantastic on audio.
Not My Type: One Woman vs. a President by E. Jean Carroll
The Person You "Doesn't Read"
Funny, fast, and impossible to put down – and often better on audiobook.
The dark, absurdist comedy about a man and his ex-girlfriend’s cat forced to survive a deadly game show dungeon. Great on audio and the start of a very bingeable viral series.
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Carl Dinniman
Short, strange, funny essays you can dip in and out of. Perfect for the reader who gets bored easily.
Little Weirds by Jenny Slate
A relatable memoir from social media’s favorite foster dog influencer. For the dog lover who lives on their phone and wants a book that reads like a conversation with a friend.
Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About by Isabel Klee
Coffee Table Books + Cook Books
Beautiful enough to leave out, interesting enough to actually open.
A gift that belongs on the counter, not the shelf. Accessible recipes from the TikTok queen (and James Beard Award winner) Hailee Catalano.
By Heart: Recipes to Hold Near and Dear by Hailee Catalano
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THE west coast garden-to-table book for the host who cares about presentation.
Fridays From the Garden Cookbook by Flamingo Estate
Iconic street photography and a love letter to how people dress. A natural fit for fashion people.
Bill Cunningham: On the Street
For the person who loves LA, or who wants to understand why everyone else does.
Los Angeles: Portrait of a City // Taschen
A gorgeous design book that looks as good on a shelf as it does in your hands.
Art Deco Style // Assouline