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Life

10 Of the Best Books To Give As Gifts

Lauren Deaton
The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Pitt chapter.

With the holiday season already upon us, gift-giving season is also coming into full swing. Figuring out the perfect gift for someone can prove to be a daunting task, but when looking for the best gifts for your bookish friends and family, here’s some ideas.

Normal People By Sally Rooney

An achingly beautiful story about love and connection, this book makes the perfect gift for readers who love flawed characters and heart-wrenching situations. (And as an added bonus: it also has one of the best book-to-screen adaptations!)

Beach Read by emily Henry

This book will have the reader smiling and kicking their feet one moment and crying the next. It is hilarious, insightful, tender and loving. This is the perfect gift for a reader moving through grief and looking for healing and laughter. 

better than the movies by Lynn Painter

Featuring fake dating, the boy-next-door troupe and an abundance of rom-com references, this is the perfect book for the hopeless romantic in your life.

funny you should ask By Elissa Sussman

For readers who love second-chance romance and who constantly talk about their celebrity crush, this book makes the perfect gift. 

the house in the cerulean sea by TJ Klune

A delightfully whimsical book, this cozy tale is perfect for the reader who loves rainy days, cups of tea and fluffy blankets.

daisy jones and the six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

If you know someone who loves Fleetwood Mac, this is the book for them. Following the whirlwind rise of a 1970s rock group, this book is packed with beautiful lyrics, moving connections and a masterfully crafted story.

an ember in the ashes by Sabaa Tahir

An incredible story that features forbidden romance, an intense competition, a bit of magic and life-and-death stakes, this book is perfect for the fantasy lover in your life.

the invisible life of addie larue by V. E. Schwab

With a story that spans centuries and an incredible young woman who no one can seem to remember, this book makes the perfect gift for people who love books about books, and who are trying to find their place in the world.

i’m glad my mom died by Jennette McCurdy

Former child star Jennette McCurdy broke onto the writing scene with this book, detailing her experiences as a child star and her complicated relationship with her mother. Full of candor, resilience, heartbreak and bravery, this book makes the perfect gift for almost anyone.

the anthropocene reviewed By John Green

An incredible collection of essays, John Green’s adventure into nonfiction proves to be tender, thoughtful, at times hilarious and filled with hope, love and humanness. Perfect for any reader, at any time, this book offers something for everyone. 

Happy reading, happy giving and happy holidays!

Lauren Deaton is a third-year student at the University of Pittsburgh, she is currently serving both as Chapter Chair and Writer. She most frequently writes about entertainment topics– including music recommendations, topics of representation, and anticipated movie lists. Lauren is double majoring in English Literature and Media and Professional Communications with a focus on Corporate and Community Relations. She is also pursuing a Film and Media Studies minor and Public and Professional Writing and Children's Literature Certificates and is a member of the Honors College. She recently completed a research position with the Pitt School of Education and will be continuing a research position with the Language and Literacy Division at Pitt during the Fall 2024 semester. In the future, she hopes to work in publishing helping to increase access to representation. She is also a writer for Studio 412 a creative outlet on Pitt’s campus and is a member of Alpha Epsilon Phi Sorority. Lauren loves her dog, her friends, her family, and everything reading and coming of age related.