The Ultimate Book Gift Guide : 2017 Edition

 

 

As a writer and a reader, books are one of the best aspects of life in my opinion — and they're always at the top of my gift lists every holiday season. Last year I rounded up a list of some of my favorite recommendations in the Ultimate Book Gift Guide, and this year I decided to add to the list. If you already perused last year's list, start from the top, as that's where I'll be adding the newer recommendations. 

No matter who is on your shopping list (or maybe you're just looking for some good reads yourself!), you're bound to find some good options below. As with last year, I've tried to offer suggestions for who might enjoy the books, but definitely click the links to check out the titles that appeal to you, since you never know who might enjoy certain titles! 

And if you have any recommendations for books that make good gifts, feel free to leave the titles in the comments section below!  

  

FOR ADULT FAMILY MEMBERS

For the one who could use a little more magic in her life...
The Rules of Magic / Alice Hoffman

For the aunt who really needs a life overall...
Reinvent Me / Camilla Dollerup

For anyone (or related to someone) battling addiction...
Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions / Russell Brand

For the cousin who is really into his dog (and science)...
Being a Dog: Following the Dog Into a World of Smell / Alexandra Horowitz

For the aunt who is obsessed with animals...
How to Find Your Spirit Animal / David Carson

For your dad who loves Charles Dickens...
The Man Who Invented Christmas / Les Standiford

For everyone in your family who doesn't understand introverts... 
Text, Don't Call: An Illustrated Guide to the Introverted Life / Aaron Caycedo-Kimura

For your mom, who's always trying to make things cozy...
The Little Book of Hygge / Meik Wiking

For literally anyone related to you or who has a family... 
It Didn't Start with You / Mark Wolynn

For your uber-opinionated and vocal grandfather...
The Joy of Argument / Albert Navarra

For your too tough-and-cool for self-help uncle...
10% Happier / Dan Harris

For your memory-hoarding mother... 
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up / Marie Kondo

For your self-involved (but secretly sweet) teenager... 
Tiny Buddha's 365 Love Challenges / Lori Deschene

For your not-quite-on-the-same-page spouse...
The Five Love Languages / Gary Chapman

For your romance-novel-reading mother-in-law...
Other People's Love Letters / Bill Shapiro

For your hilarious (and a bit odd) aunt...
Furiously Happy / Jenny Lawson

For your sibling with a kid who's struggling in school...
Thinking Organized / Rhonna Gordon

For the dad who thinks feminism is for women only...
Feminism Is for Everybody / bell hooks

For your aunt and uncle who're constantly bickering...
Blamestorming / Rob Kendall

For your health-conscious, foodie brother-in-law...
In Defense of Food / Michael Pollan 

For the mother who puts everyone else first... 
Too Nice for Your Own Good / Duke Robinson

For your brother who needs a bit of inspiration...
This is How / Augusten Burroughs

For your father-in-law who loves a good mystery...
Knights in White Satin / Philip DiPirro

For your sister who's against ever marrying...
Spinster / Kate Bolick

For your aunt who's self-identifies as a dog mom...
Inside of a Dog / Alexandra Horowitz

For the cousin still working on that novel...
On Writing / Stephen King

For the niece struggling through her 20s...
It's a Wonderful Lie / Emily Franklin

For the aunt who loves daily bits of insight... 
Stay Positive / Dani DiPirro (me!)

For your spouse (read it together!)...
Love 2.0 / Barbara L. Frederickson

For the sibling you've not-so-subtly resented for years... 
Forgiveness / Dani DiPirro (me!)

For your parent who's curious about self-improvement...
The Positively Present Guide to Life / Dani DiPirro (me!)

 

FOR KIDS AND TEENAGERS

For your teenage niece / nephew / neighbor / anyone...
Turtles All the Way Down / John Green

For all the kids who adore funny and smart books...
Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt / Ben Clanton

For the teen who needs to get out of her comfort zone...
Surprise Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and Into the World / Lisa Currie

For the kids and teens who'd rather stay in then go out...
Introvert Doodles / Maureen "Marzi" Wilson

For every child or teen or adult on your list...
Everyone's a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too / Jomny Sun

For your slightly neurotic niece or nephew...
Owl at Home / Arnold Lobel

For a teenager at odds with her mother...
The Runaway Bunny / Margaret Wise Brown

For the child who's not like his/her siblings...
The Trumpet of the Swan / E.B. White

For the teen who doesn't like standing out... 
The Perks of Being a Wallflower / Stephen Chbosky

For the little toddler who's always a bit grumpy...
Have You Filled Your Bucket Today? / Carol McCloud

For the little one who's always daydreaming...
Once Upon a Cloud / Claire Keane

For the middle-schooler adjusting to a new place... 
I Capture the Castle / Dodie Smith

For the teen with a potentially self-destructive friend...
Looking for Alaska / John Green

For the teenage girl who love the broody boys...
The Wind Blows Backward / Mary Downing Hahn

For the girl who needs some modern advice...
Girl Talk / Christie Young

For the little girl who wants a place of her own...
Mandy / Julie Andrews Edwards

For the creative teenager who needs a pick-me-up...
Pick Me Up / Adam J. Kurtz 

For the deep-thinking, graphic-book-loving teen...
Persepolis / Marjane Satrapi

For the teenager always snapping Insta pics...
A Beautiful Mess Photo Idea Book / Elsie Larson

For the super creative (and a little spooky) kid...
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick / Chris Van Allsburg

For the kid who loves animals more than people...
Guardians of Being / Eckhart Tolle

 

FOR YOUR FRIENDS

For the pal who needs a spiritual boost...
White Hot Truth / Danielle LaPorte

For the antisocial buddy you rarely see...
Solitude: In Pursuit of a Singular Life in a Crowded World / Michael Harris

For the super busy boss babe who needs to chill...
Chasing Slow: Courage to Journey Off the Beaten Path / Erin Loechner

For anyone who struggles with anxiety or OCD...
Turtles All the Way Down / John Green

For your friend who loves The Little Prince...
Everyone's a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too / Jomny Sun

For the friend who's a (not so) secret badass...
Bad Girls Throughout History / Ann Shen

For the friend going through a really tough time...
Loving What Is / Byron Katie