30 Perfect Book Lover Gifts This Holiday Season

Regardless of whether or not you have read the Practical Magic books by Alice Hoffman, the final novel, Book of Magic, is a beautiful conclusion to the four-book series. Stand-alone or as part of the series, this tops the book lover gifts list because of its descriptively woven story around the lives of the Owen women.

Cursed are the men who fall in love with the Owen witches and after hundreds of years, three generations of Owens women set out to break the curse for themselves and the generations to come. The book begins with the death of the most beloved Owen which sets in motion the search for the end of the curse. A bestseller from Simon and Schuster, this title will surely make the reader in your life anxious to get started!

Co-written by Hillary Rodham Clinton and best-selling author Louise Penny, State of Terror is a thriller and one of the book lover gifts that you may want to keep for yourself. Who better to write about a fictional secretary of state than someone who has actually served in the position?

After receiving a text from an anonymous source, Ellen Adams, the newly appointed secretary of state, comes to the realization that the text is actually a coded warning. Multiple apparent terrorist attacks uncover an international chess game with the threat of nuclear war involving the Russian mob and multiple terrorist organizations. With the sole goal of defeating the terror brought to the United States, Secretary Adams partners with a unique team of specialists to outsmart this horrid threat.

Every person in the world has his or her own coronavirus survival story. This Will All Be Over Soon: A Memoir, as told by Cecily Strong, a Saturday Night Live cast member, is one of loss, love, and laughter beginning with the death of Strong’s cousin to brain cancer at the age of thirty. Struck with this incredibly powerful loss, Strong began the grief process in early 2020 only to be caught in New York City at the start of the pandemic.

After relocating to an isolated house in the woods, Strong’s story unfolds like a diary to tell about her challenges at the beginning of the pandemic (new boyfriend with COVID??) and the death of friends to the horrible virus. This story is on the list of book lover gifts for Strong’s ability to take horrible circumstances and weave in humor reminding the reader that gratitude and laughter are incredibly powerful tools when facing difficult life lessons.

From the former food director of Real Simple comes a cookbook that will allow you to create more than 125 recipes with food on hand that the whole family will love. Ready, Set, Cook: How to Make Good Food with What’s On Hand is on the list of book lover gifts because who wouldn’t appreciate an easy button when making family dinners?

Starting with Dawn Perry’s guidance in how to have a stocked pantry, the book moves on to help the reader understand how making family meals when short on time is still possible. Perry’s playbook will help you get your family what they like without an extra trip to the store and will benefit chefs and non-chefs alike.

Simon & Schuster published another one of its perfect book lover gifts with Aftershocks: A Memoir. Abandoned at age two by her mother and orphaned at thirteen by her father, Nadia Owusu’s incredible story is shocking and pulls at the reader’s heartstrings right from the start. A nomad from birth, Owusu travels with her father, a United Nations official, all around the world.

After her father dies, Owusu’s stepmother drops a family secret on her that is either earth-shattering or a flat-out lie. With this knowledge, Owusu travels to New York to discover who she is without a family. Her journey will keep the reader engaged as this incredible story unravels.

Monica West’s debut novel, Revival Season, is on the book lover gifts list for its celebration of feminism and faith. Miriam Horton is fifteen-year-old when she witnesses an act of violence that shatters her belief in her faith and her father. Her dad is a famous Baptist preacher who packs up his family to travel and heal the world of sinners.

After this life-altering occurrence, Miriam discovers that she may also carry the power to heal – a power that had previously been denied to women. Over the next year, Miriam has to decide for herself where her faith lies and if she has the strength to stand up for herself and heal others. A novel that will have the reader thinking long after its conclusion, make sure to keep this one in mind when seeking out book lover gifts.

Most people have heard of the singer Richard Marx. He has written fourteen number one songs and collaborated with artists like NSYNC, Keith Urban, and Josh Groban. This incredible life story is told in his own words in the new book Stories To Tell. With over four decades of stories ranging from watching Xanadu with Olivia Newton-John to his songwriting process, this is one of the perfect book lover gifts for the pop-culture lover on your list.

So much has happened during the first 21 years of the 21^st Century. The 21st Century: Photographs From the Image Collection by National Geographic celebrates the past 21 years with amazing photographs. These mesmerizing photographs showcase more than 250 images National Geographic has published across their media platforms – print, digital and social media – throughout the past two decades. Strolling down memory lane, take a year-by-year look back at images including wildlife, landscapes, portraits, and much more. Get one of the most ideal book lover gifts for the photo lover in your life!

In National Geographic Photo Ark Wonders: Celebrating Diversity in the Animal Kingdom, Joel Satore showcases amazing pictures of some of the world’s most interesting creatures. Satore is the founder of the Photo Ark, a 25-year effort to photograph every species in human care around the globe. His pictures jump off the page with vibrance and depth. His goal is to educate and motivate people to care for and save species from extinction. His love of photography and animals is on full display throughout every photograph which is why this is on the list of book lover gifts.

Best-selling author Julie Murphy echos an enchanting fairy tale as she writes a story of self-love and belief in happy endings. If the Shoe Fits: A Meant to be Novel is about a fashion-obsessed plus-size woman named Cindy who ends up on her stepmother’s dating reality show when a contestant on Before Midnight bows out at the last minute.

Cindy gets pushed into the spotlight showing off her shoe collection as the show’s first plus-size contestant. Cindy faces ups and downs as she navigates the world of lavish dates with eligible suitors, the fans, the haters, and a house full of contestants. She must learn who to trust and take a leap of faith as she sees herself actually falling for Prince Charming. If the Shoe Fits: A Meant to be Novel is on the list of enjoyable book lover gifts for your favorite chick-lit lover.

The Blue Zones Challenge: Your Guide to a Longer, Better Life is written as a companion book to Dan Buettner’s No. 1 New York Times bestseller The Blue Zones Kitchen. Buettner offers a four-week guide and year-long sustainability program to jump-start your journey to better health, happiness, less stress, and longer life. Buettner’s system starts with building a foundation for better nutrition, increased exercise, and strong social skills that he feels will extend your lifetime by years. If you are looking for book lover gifts that teach how to live a happier, longer life, this is the book for you.

If you are one of the millions who can’t help but smile when hearing the phrase “Fold In the Cheese” then this is the book for you. Best Wishes, Warmest Regards: The Story of Schitt’s Creek is a beautifully produced hardback coffee-table book that celebrates each character in the award-winning television series.

Written from the perspective of the actors playing each part, take a walk down memory lane reliving the major moments from the show. Who knew Moira’s wigs could have a category of their own? This is one of the book lover gifts you don’t want to pass by as it will be a keepsake for years to come.

Do you know someone who lives for Hallmark Christmas movies? Or is that person you? Then check out I’ll Be Home for Christmas: The Deck the Hallmark Podcast’s Guide to Your Holiday TV Obsession, ideal for book lover gifts and those you know who are guilty of loving Hallmark holiday movies.

Written by the hosts of the podcast Deck the Hallmark, this keepsake book is full of reviews and in-depth discussions of the characters and crazy plot twists that make up the movies everyone loves. Questions you will find addressed include: Why are so many successful women unlucky in love? And how is it that amnesia is so frequently common for these characters? Pick up your copy today to help determine which movie to watch next!

When you are at this year’s holiday party, carry the discussions around all things television with your trusty Rotten Tomatoes: The Ultimate Binge Guide. Whether purchased for your long list of book lover gifts or for yourself, this guide is your go-to for all things fascinating in the evolution of bingeable television.

Broken into easy-to-navigate sections, find fun sidebars, series recaps, and more about your favorite television shows. Whether you are into classics, mysteries, horror, fantasy, or reality, this book has you covered. In addition to specific show information, read about viewing habit evolution, how streaming has changed the medium, and more.

When shopping for book lover gifts this season, classic novels make for an ideal choice. Running Press just released The Great Gatsby: A Novel: Illustrated Edition, a beautifully illustrated version of this classic tale by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Originally published in 1925, this new edition was produced to paint a picture of the Jazz Age in all its splendor and exuberance. The Roaring Twenties is a time most can only imagine and the illustrations in this book by Adam Simpson bring to life the lively age of the Twenties.

Ready to host some holiday gatherings? Not until you read The New Cooking School Cookbook, you’re not! Brush up on your cooking techniques, or learn some completely new ones before the company comes to town with one of the many book lover gifts from America’s Test Kitchen.

With 200 skills, 400 recipes, and 80 themed courses, you’ll be taking your holiday entertaining game to an entirely new level. Learn the ten habits of a good cook, see how to properly clean your cookware, have some fun with herbs and get to know spices.

When you’re ready to take a break from learning, put the lessons learned from The New Cooking School Cookbook into practice with delicious recipes like Perfect Poached Eggs, Smashed Potatoes, Pan-Roasted Chicken Breasts, and more. Impress your gifts this holiday season with America’s Test Kitchen.

Looking for book lover gifts for the foodie in your life? Help them upgrade their Mediterranean cooking repertoire, with More Mediterranean: 225+ New Plant-Forward Recipes Endless Inspiration for Eating Well, from America’s Test Kitchen. Delicious food, moderate portions, and great company are cornerstones of the Mediterranean lifestyle. Prepare to experience these, plus ingredients like avocado, sweet potatoes, and tempeh in all-new and inspired dishes. 

Eat the More Mediterranean way for life right at home, with recipes like Crispy Artichoke Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette, Spicy Roasted Pepper Whipped Feta, Sweet Potato and Tahini Dip, Farfalle with Beets Arugula and Blue Cheese, Harissa Wings with Cucumber-Tomato salad, and so much more. America’s Test Kitchen definitely knows the way to their heart this season!

When it’s time to kick back and relax, break out the Healthy and Delicious Instant Pot cookbook. Now you can use your favorite kitchen appliance to craft inspired meals with a world of flavor! This makes one of the perfect book lover gifts for the person in your life obsessed with his or her instant pot.

Breathe some life into your weekly meal plan with unique and creative dishes like Chipotle Chicken and Black Beans with Pickled Cabbage, New England Fish Chowder, and Lamb Meatballs with Creamy Lemon and Feta Orzo. With the Instant Pot, they will not only be flavor-rich but done in a fraction of the time, leaving you more time for online shopping, present wrapping, and spending time with family.

Dogtography: A Knock-Your-Socks-Off Guide to Capturing the Best Dog Photos on Earth packs tips and tricks for professional photographers looking to up their dog photography game, as well as for the amateur who wants better shots of their four-legged friend. Dogtography is a guidebook by Kaylee Gree to help you capture the personality of your pup in photos. The book draws you in right from the cover. Each of the more than 300 pages features gorgeous examples of Gree’s dog photographs.

The easy-to-read book explains doggie body language, lighting, composition, and the technical side of dog photography and so much more. This is one of the best book lover gifts for the person in your life obsessed with his or her pup. Gree travels the world photographing dogs for large pet brands, teaches industry-renowned workshops, and stars in Nat Geo Wild’s original television mini-series Pupparazzi, chronicling her colorful adventures photographing dogs across America.

Artist and instructor Rachel Eskandari believes anyone can learn to paint. She shares more than 25 lessons in her book, Watercolor: Botanical Garden – A Modern Approach to Painting Bold Flowers, Plants, and Cacti, about how to create a variety of plants including roses, peonies, agave, cacti, and more. If you’re looking for book lover gifts for the creative soul in your life, the author teaches you how easy it can be to create beautiful, bright exquisite garden watercolors.

Eskandari teaches color theory, shading, blending, and how to incorporate multiple botanical images to create a landscape. From cacti to flowers, Eskandari gives you colorful step-by-step instructions on how to master the basics of watercolors, while expanding your color palette. Be prepared to create paintings you never knew you were capable of doing.

Many of you have heard of Truman Capote’s true-crime novel, In Cold Blood. What you may not be familiar with is Capote’s never-published final novel, Answered Prayers, a book betraying Capote’s group of female friends by divulging their secrets. Capote’s Women takes the reader behind the scenes of Capote’s writing career and how he ultimately decided to compose a novel celebrating the lives of his incredibly rich friends.

Included in Capote’s group of “swans” as he called them was Lee Radziwill (Jackie Kennedy’s sister), Slim Hayward, Pamela Churchill, Gloria Guinness, a dnd more. After befriending these dynamic women, Capote gained their trust and became part of their lives. None of these women could have predicted that trust would be betrayed in one last remarkable novel.

Investigative journalist Josiah Hesse decided to use his skills to research if pot’s proclivity to laziness is accurate or if it actually fuels a running high. His thorough investigation is detailed in Runner’s High. If seeking book lover gifts for an athlete – or a marijuana aficionado – don’t miss out on this title by Running Press.

Pot has long been flagged to cause laziness and the munchies. But according to Hesse, many athletes have attributed positive physical and mental transformations to marijuana. Moving from the lab onto the pavement, this book takes readers on a journey that may shift their thinking about this leafy substance.

Santa Claus Worldwide: A History of St. Nicholas and Other Holiday Gift-Bringers documents and showcases the diversity of the gift-bringer tradition. The entertaining and educational book follows the evolution of these figures from tribal priests who presided over winter solstice celebrations thousands of years ago to Christians like St. Martin and St. Nicholas, as well as a number of secular figures.

Santa Claus Worldwide by Tom A. Jerman, explains how the popular poem, “The Night Before Christmas,” by Clement Moore tied the diverse European gift-givers into the American tradition everyone knows today. Santa is still one of the most loved and popular figures in the world, despite repeated efforts to eliminate him as early as the 17^th Century. Santa Claus Worldwide is an interesting read and a perfect fit for book lover gifts when seeking a present for history buffs and those who love Christmas traditions.

Want to get away but are unable to travel? Thanks to Finn Beales, an award-winning travel and lifestyle photographer, your family or friend suffering wanderlust can enjoy the world’s most stunning and remote locations without leaving home.

Let’s Get Lost features 240 pages that help you escape and enjoy the beauty of this world. Featuring off-grid coastal views, rugged mountain landscapes, forests, and even the wilderness of the PNW, this book is ideal as one of the book lover gifts for family and friends who love to travel.

Brent Eviston simplifies drawing skills from the basics to the most complicated concepts in his book, The Art and Science of Drawing: Learn to Observe, Analyze, and Draw Any Subject. Eviston believes drawing is not a talent, but a skill anyone can be taught and this book showcases that belief.

The projects, guidance, and examples in the book help budding artists learn to draw using easy-to-follow, innovative methods. From beginner to the seasoned artist, Eviston simplifies the process. If you have an artist on your list to buy book lover gifts, this is a great one to give this year under the tree.

The book, Advent: Recipes and Crafts for the Countdown to Christmas, details what is needed to relax and reconnect with loved ones this holiday season. The book by Kerstin Niehoff and Laura Fleiter is filled with fantastic photos, delightful recipes, homemade gift ideas, as well as fun family-friendly crafts that give you the framework you need to start many new traditions. Slow down and enjoy the 24 days of advent that lead up to Christmas. Make your holiday truly festive.

Set in the early twentieth century of New York, The Pilot’s Daughter is a tantalizing novel that transitions between the glittering Jazz Age and the final months of World War II. Ellie Morgan is a secretary planning her wedding. As with any bride, she desperately wants her father in attendance, a pilot who disappeared during a mission.

While searching for her father, Ellie learns of an affair, a mystery romance, and a multitude of family secrets. Written by bestselling author, Meredith Jaeger, this page-turner dives into the exploration of how our personal and family histories are shaped by the stories we tell. If looking for book lover gifts in the historical fiction genre, make sure to pick this one up this holiday season.

Life on the Grocery Line: A Frontline Experience in a Global Pandemic takes you to the aisles of the grocery store from the beginning of Covid and onward. Author Adam Jonathan Kaat, who worked at Dream Grocers from January 2020 until May 2021, shares a candid account through the eyes of a fictional character named Daniel of what it was like to work as a grocery store worker in 2020 at the start of the pandemic.

Kaat describes life on the “green line” – when masks and plexiglass were new, when toilet paper was hard to come by, and when food was scarce. The easy-to-read book takes you from what it was like to be just a grocery store worker transformed into an essential worker/hero. The compelling narrative is something everyone can relate to as he shares accounts of interactions at the store – both the best and the worst of humanity. Book lover gifts with stories of difficult times everyone lived through are relatable for everyone.

With fall here and the holidays soon on the way, there may be a lot more stress entering your life. Year-end work deadlines, sports practices, school projects, holiday entertaining, cards, photos, and shopping – the list goes on and on! While it’s easy to get overwhelmed and negative, BenBella Books has something to help you invite a little extra positive energy into your day.

The Positive Shift: Mastering Mindset to Improve Happiness, Health, and Longevity shows us that the way we think has a dramatic impact on our lives, in more ways than you would expect. Backed by psychology, neuroscience, and medicine, this fantastic find will help you master your mindset, find mental shortcuts to wire your brain for a more positive outlook, and to see the silver lining in the little things every day.