Gifts for Book Lovers Part 1
With only 18 days left until Christmas, it’s coming down to the wire to pick out gifts for friends and family. If you’re shopping for someone who loves books, it may be a bit daunting to find a title that fits the reader. YA books are a great gift for both teens and adults and here are some suggestions that you can find right here at The Reading Chamber for those specific book lovers:
For fans of teen drama shows like Riverdale, The Summer I Turned Pretty, and XO, Kitty, My Life With the Walter Boys is a great pick (bonus, it has it’s own show too!). The story follows Jackie’s acclimation into life with the Walter family, who have ten boys. A love triangle, hijinks, and some good old fashion drama are threaded throughout this book along with heartfelt moments and rediscovering what family means. Pro tip: If you know the reader already read this title, liked it, and they’re under the age of 30, you might want to check out Megan Meade’s Guide to the McGowan Boys, which has a similar concept, but a little more mature.
If your gift recipient loves sports romance books, they may not have heard of Catching Jordan. Combining Friday Night Lights with feminism, you get Jordan Woods, who is the captain of the football team, and just so happens to be a girl. It’s witty, it’s raw, it’s a book that makes you want to go after your dreams like you would a touchdown during a playoff game. While we only carry Catching Jordan, at The Reading Chamber, this is the first in the Hundred Oaks series where other books feature baseball, soccer, swimming, equestrianism, running, and two non-sports themed titles: a music one and a summer camp one. I’d recommend whichever title suits your reader’s sports interests!
Romantic comedy fans can be a bit hard to please. Believe me, I’m one of them. Sometimes the book is too cheesy, sometimes it’s not romantic enough. Maybe the main character should’ve ended up with her best friend instead (just saying). But this book is a wonderful choice as it’s not as well known so you’ll be surprising the reader with a new story and characters they can fall in love with. Bonus, there’s a Christmas sequel available too. Tessa and Weston are teenagers who each have their own struggles to deal with and can help answer that question that everyone seems to want to know these days: is love blind?
This book is perfect for someone who is just getting into fantasy books. It’s low world building so it’s easy to follow and the twists and turns throughout the book makes this a faster read. While ACOTAR fans are sure to enjoy the similarities, this story truly takes on a life of its own and as the Fae of Rewyth series evolves, so do the characters. As an independently published book that’s starting to get some more traction, this title is a great gift to give before it gets more popular!
On the Subject of Unmentionable Things
It’s no secret that book banning, sex ed, and other important topics are deemed “unmentionable” in certain curriculums. This book shows a very realistic scenario in what happens when political and educational lines start to blur and how teenagers are directly affected. If your reader is politically conscious, deeply concerned about women’s health, or loves the books that will make them mad, sad, and glad at the same time then this is the book to get. Think of it as a combination between the Netflix show Sex Education and Dear Abby. I read this book in 2023, when I was 27 and while it was the perfect time for me to read it, I also wish I had it when I was in high school. This book inspired me to be more active with women empowerment books and I think it’ll encourage your reader too.
We covered new fantasy readers, but what about fantasy veterans? This book is great for high fantasy readers who love intricate and intriguing tales. This is also a book that is up-and-coming so it makes a fantastic gift, especially since the second book is newly released and the third book will be out in 2025. Hidden identities, secrets, and betrayals make this delectable and something your reader will devour. The cover is also gorgeous and hey, as a reader, I always appreciate a book gift that has a fantastic cover.
If you don’t know anything about your reader other than they like enemies-to-lovers tales, then this is the title for you. A ruthless general, a girl desperate to get free, what will her choice be when confronting her enemy if he’s not what he seems? There’s nothing quite like discovering a new favorite title and this could be the one for your bookish Christmas recipient! This is also an independently published title so it has the benefit of being a title that they probably don’t have in their home library, but absolutely should!
Check out the above book suggestions and more will be posted next Friday!
