Looking for a little help with your holiday shopping this year? We’ve got you covered! Below are our recommendations for every type of reader on your list — recommendations borrowed from our booksellers' gift-giving lists, so you know they’re good. (And while you’re at it, why not grab a copy for yourself, too?)
In the Black Fantastic
by Ekow Eshun
To: My nephew, who's way cooler than me
From: Your uncle, who expects you to explain things that he could just google
Newsroom Confidential
by Margaret Sullivan
To: My cousin who's covered many beats in her career at now-defunct publications
From: A reader who'll follow you anywhere
All the Women in My Brain
by Betty Gilpin
To: My friend, the former actress who still holds audiences captive wherever she goes
From: Your forever-captivated friend
One Hundred Saturdays
by Michael Frank
To: My mother, who has an acute appreciation of the horrors and wonders of history
From: Your son, who loves to hear your perspective
Faith, Hope and Carnage
by Nick Cave and Séan O'Hagan
To: My concert-going buddy who loves a good art/rock/genius
From: Your friend and frequent seatmate (yes, we're old — we sit)
Folk Music
by Greil Marcus
To: The amateur music historian with a guitar and a pretty good one-man campfire cover band
From: The off-key voice in the sing-a-long
Dying of Politeness
by Geena Davis
To: My bestie who used to quote lines from Thelma and Louise with me
From: Your pal who knows you love a good second act
Stay True
by Hua Hsu
To: My artsy, brilliant, forever-friend who devours extraordinary memoirs
From: Your unlikely bestie
Quit
by Annie Duke
To: My frustrated, dedicated friends who deserve better
From: Your pal who celebrates Quittin' Season
Somebody Feed Phil the Book
by Phil Rosenthal
To: Any kindhearted, good-humored, aspiring foodie — and my parents, who I got remorselessly hooked on the show
From: Someone who needs snack recipes for her next Netflix binge…
Dinner in One
by Melissa Clark
To: My brother, who has a small kitchen but a big appettite
From: Your sister who thinks you should invite her over for dinner more often
Dinosaurs
by Lydia Millet
To: My friend who always seems to have read the books before they win big awards
From: Your friend and fellow avid reader, who's still working though last year's National Book Award list
Random
by Penn Jillette
To: My dad, who would watch any of the Ocean's 11 movies before anything else
From: Your kid, who has loved all our capers over the years
The Hero of This Book
by Elizabeth McCracken
To: My phenomenal mom
From: Your sends-her-complicated-love-via-book-recommendations daughter
The Pachinko Parlor
by Elisa Shua Dusapin
To: My polyglot friend, who knows the loneliness of being caught between cultures
From: Your friend who is glad we've found a common language
Lavender House
by Lev AC Rosen
To: Everyone on my list — this queer, historical, soap-fortune murder whodunnit is too good to not share
From: Your friend who just tricked you into the best book club
Sign Here
by Claudia Lux
To: My son, who has had to work some soul-sucking jobs in the past
From: Your mom, who's always checking in to make sure you kept your soul — and that you're eating well
Plant Coach
by Nick Cutsumpas
To: My black-thumbed sister
From: Your sister, who hasn't killed a ficus in months
Magnificent Rebels
by Andrea Wulf
To: My husband, who thinks that philosphers are more interesting in packs
From: Your husband, who's just over here, pontificiating by himself
The Mosquito Bowl
by Buzz Bissinger
To: My grandpa, who admits that he's only interested in clichéd grandpa things
From: Your efficient granddaughter who found just the right book
Lady Justice
by Dahlia Lithwick
To: My friend who always says she's one of the good lawyers
From: Your friend who thinks you're in good company
Confidence Man
by Maggie Haberman
To: My newsjunkie partner, who thought they'd read their last Trump book
From: Your partner, who knows you too well for that
Visual Thinking
by Temple Grandin
To: My friend, a big-hearted teacher who's always working to meet people where they are and help them thrive
From: Your admiring friend who isn't a visual thinker (but you know that, you've seen my apartment)
Men in Blazers Present Gods of Soccer
by Miranda Davis
To: My mate who's come to some Timbers games and is ready to learn more
From: Your pal who could explain this to you himself, but this will be faster
Spirit Week
by Ira Marcks
To: My favorite middle schooler who loves graphic novels and spooky stories
From: Your buddy that enjoys sharing classic movies with you
The Wolf Suit
by Sid Sharp
To: My nephew, who's learning about the power of clothing to hide or reveal
From: Your aunt, who wants you to always feel empowered
Witch Hazel
by Molly Idle
To: Little witches past and present, of every age
From: A witchy woman reminiscing on my days being babysat by my beloved grandmother
Bad Drawer
by Seth Fishman
To: My son, who's so good at so many things
From: Your dad, who's pretty okay at a few
Farmhouse
by Sophie Blackall
To: My kiddos, who love it when we get outside the urban growth boundary
From: Your mom, who loves the daytrips, but we're coming home to the dishwasher, thanks
Sisterhood of Sleuths
by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
To: My inquisitive daughter
From: Your grown-up Nancy Drew (but not in a CW-reboot way)
Tales of the Prehistoric World
by Kallie Moore
To: My son, who will read this so many times
From: Your dad, who accepts that he's less interesting than a sauropod
Finding My Dance
by Ria Thundercloud
To: My graceful niece
From: Your clumsy aunt
Meanwhile Back on Earth...
by Oliver Jeffers
To: A family of explorers journeying through time and space on a quest for perspective
From: A fellow traveler (we’re all traveling together)
The Antiracist Kid
by Tiffany Jewell
To: My kids, who are going to make a better future
From: Your dad, who's going to keep helping you do it
The First Thing About You
by Chaz Hayden
To: A John Green obsessive who needs a new book
From: Someone who's going to read it once they're done
The Gathering Dark
edited by Tori Bovalino
To: My child, a fan of all things macabre
From: Your parent, who scares easily
Anne of Greenville
by Mariko Tamaki
To: My friend who loves emotionally intelligent new spins on old stories
From: Your homespun friend
I'm the Girl
by Courtney Summers
To: All those fans of Sadie who love to look below the surface
From: Another capivated reader
Numb to This
by Kindra Neely
To: The young people in my life who live with possibilities I hate to imagine
From: Your caring friend
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More Holiday 2022 Gift Ideas
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Powell's Picks of the Season
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Avoid Supply Chain Woes: 10 Fall Releases to Preorder Now