by: Greer Macallister

Finding the right gift to give can be a challenge, and sometimes even if you’ve narrowed it down to a category, the exact right choice within that category can be unclear.

Take, for example, books.

If you have readers in your family or friend circle, you know they’ll appreciate a book, but how do you choose which one to give? You may or may not have a chance to check their shelves, and asking directly about their taste can give the game away. But I’ve got a few suggestions for types of readers and the books, recent or not-so-recent, that they might enjoy.

For the Historical Fiction Fan

Naturally I have a bias toward historical fiction, since that’s what I write and read. But there are a lot of us historical fiction lovers out here, and if you know one, here are a few suggestions they might like.

If they lean toward biographical fiction, Therese Anne Fowler’s A Well-Behaved Woman was one of the biggest histfic hits of 2018, and chances are good that your giftee knows her previous novel Z, about Zelda Fitzgerald. A Well-Behaved Woman delves into the life of Alva Vanderbilt, who married into one of America’s richest Gilded Age families, and found herself demonized for bold and progressive behavior.

Another great choice is Kathleen Rooney’s Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk, inspired by real-life Madison Avenue trailblazer who was once the highest-paid advertising woman in America. It’s particularly good for New Yorkers or former New Yorkers, as are Fiona Davis’s novels, each of which focuses on a landmark New York building – the Barbizon Hotel for The Dollhouse (my personal favorite), The Dakota for The Address, and Grand Central Terminal for her latest, The Masterpiece.

For the Audiobook Lover

Recently, audiobooks have been rising in popularity—they’re perfect for company on long drives or during gym workouts, and they make everyday household tasks like laundry-folding fly by.

Two of my favorite audiobooks: The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee, a delightful 19-hour overstuffed epic about an opera singer who transforms herself time and again; and The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee, a historical romp I’ve recommended here before. Also, anything narrated by Julia Whelan or Xe Sands is worth a listen.

You can also give audiobook lovers the power to choose with a subscription to Audible, now owned by Amazon, or Libro.fm, which allows them to buy their audiobooks from independent bookstores around the country.

For Budding Feminists of All Ages

The last few years have seen a great explosion of books sharing stories of exceptional women—some for kids, some for adults, and some for both. For young readers or even pre-readers, Chelsea Clinton’s She Persisted and She Persisted Around the World are excellent choices. For high schoolers and beyond, I highly recommend Bygone Badass Broads by Mackenzi Lee, which rounds up 52 stories of groundbreaking women in highly entertaining (and beautifully illustrated) fashion.

For the Bookish Person Who Already Has All the Books

We all know voracious readers, and with people who seem to pick up every new release on the regular, picking the right book can be just too fraught. For these people I recommend non-book gifts that are still bookish.

Out of Print has all things bookish to display, collect or wear: shirts, pins, socks, scarves, and more. (I have the Pride and Prejudice shirt in two colors.) Especially if you know the giftee’s favorite classic book, from A Wrinkle in Time to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, you can find anything from a mug for their morning coffee to a onesie for their new baby. And for chocolate lovers, there’s Open Book Chocolates, beautifully wrapped bars with flavors honoring classic texts. If you’re lucky, maybe the giftee will even share a taste of Sherlock Holmes or Jane Eyre.

Photo of chocolate courtesy of: Jacqueline Macou

Greer Macallister writes novels inspired by the bad-ass women of history, including USA Today bestseller The Magician’s Lie (“A richly imagined thriller” – People Magazine) and Girl In Disguise (“A spunky spa saga” — NPR). Her new novel, Woman 99, is forthcoming from Sourcebooks in March 2019. She is an Editor-at-Large at The Chicago Review of Books and a regular contributor at Writer Unboxed. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram @ theladygreer or find out more at www.greermacallister.com.