Explore the literary wonderland of our 2023 Holiday Gift Guide to inspire your gifting plans for the readers and fellow book clubbers in your life. Find a selection of giftable new books including memoirs to inspire and entertain, literary fiction to stimulate the mind, thrillers for suspense junkies, laugh-out-loud essay collections to brighten your days, and, of course, a touch of classic holiday romance to add a festive spark. Whether you're seeking the perfect gift for a friend, compiling your own wishlist (let's admit it, we're adding all of these to our "want-to-read" shelves), or looking for your next book club selection, let the magic of books bring you and yours warmth and joy this holiday season.
Medusa by Jessie Burton
“A beautiful and profound retelling” (Madeline Miller) of the Greek myth of Medusa, illuminating the woman behind the legend. Exiled to a far-flung island after being abused by powerful Gods, Medusa has little company other than the snakes that adorn her head. Haunted by memories of life before everything was stolen, she's forced to make peace with her present: she’s Medusa the Monster. But when charming Perseus arrives on the island, it unleashes desire, love—and betrayal. For readers of Circe and Ariadne, Medusa is an astonishing reinvention that brings to vivid life a heroine history has set in stone.
The Jolliest Bunch by Danny Pellegrino
For many families, the holiday season is—quite frankly—unhinged. Whether that involves inappropriately improvised monologues at the children’s Christmas pageant or gifts that land someone in the emergency room, the holidays are a chaotic and magical time.
From New York Times bestselling author and hit podcast host, Danny Pellegrino, the holidays are always accompanied by both merriment and mayhem. And like the gay Ghost of Christmas Past, he’s here to take you on a nostalgic trip through his most festive memories in a collection of stories that are heartfelt, hilarious, and (unfortunately) true.
Rebecca, Not Becky by Christine Platt and Catherine Wigginton Greene
A compulsively readable novel about two upper-class stay-at-home mothers—one white, one Black—living in a "perfect" suburb that explores motherhood, friendship, and the true meaning of sisterhood amidst the backdrop of America’s all-too-familiar racial reckoning.
Christmas at the Shelter Inn by RaeAnne Thayne
Come home to Shelter Springs this Christmas, where hearts are warm and hopes are bright.
When Natalie Shephard returns home to help her pregnant sister, she doesn't expect to run into her late brother's best friend, Griffin Taylor. Christmas in this small town is filled with treasured traditions and new adventures that hold the promise of something sweet and lasting. From matchmaking seniors to rambunctious nieces, it seems everyone is hoping Nat and Griff will put loss behind them and find a happy new beginning…
The All-American by Susie Finkbeiner
“The All-American is a moving novel, fit for inspiring any reader to dream big and believe that anything is possible.”—BookPage
In this 1950s coming-of-age story, two sisters are left reeling when their father is accused of being a member of the Communist party. Bertha finds a haven with the All-American Girls Baseball League. Flossie finds herself in an unexpected friendship. Both are about to discover how much good there is in the world--even in the hardest of circumstances.
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
From the megabestselling author of Luckiest Girl Alive comes another shocking thriller inspired by the real-life sorority and target of America's first celebrity serial killer.
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
From James McBride, author of the bestselling Oprah’s Book Club pick Deacon King Kong and the National Book Award–winning The Good Lord Bird, a novel about small-town secrets and the people who keep them
How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair
With echoes of Educated and Born a Crime, How to Say Babylon is the stunning story of the author’s struggle to break free of her rigid Rastafarian upbringing, ruled by her father’s strict patriarchal views and repressive control of her childhood, to find her own voice as a woman and poet.
My Name Is Barbra by Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand is by any account a living legend, a woman who in a career spanning six decades has excelled in every area of entertainment. No entertainer’s memoir has been more anticipated than Barbra Streisand’s, and this engrossing and delightful book will be eagerly welcomed by her millions of fans.
The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl
From the beloved New York Times opinion writer and bestselling author of Late Migrations comes a “howling love letter to the world” (Ann Patchett): a luminous book that traces the passing of seasons, personal and natural. The Comfort of Crows is the perfect gift for nature lovers, gardeners, and birders.
The Last Love Note by Emma Grey
You may never stop loving the one you lost. But you can still find love again. Kate is a bit of a mess. Two years after losing her young husband Cameron, she's grieving, solo parenting, working like mad at her university fundraising job, always dropping the ball—and yet clinging to her sense of humor.
The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
From the bestselling author of The Garden of Evening Mists, a spellbinding novel about love and betrayal, colonialism and revolution, storytelling and redemption. Based on real events, The House of Doors traces the fault lines of race, gender, sexuality, and power under empire, and dives deep into the complicated nature of love and friendship in its shadow.
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Vivacious and plainspoken, lyrical and honest, Zauner's voice is as radiantly alive on the page as it is onstage. Rich with intimate anecdotes that will resonate widely, and complete with family photos, Crying in H Mart is a book to cherish, share, and reread.
These book picks are a combination of titles chosen by the Bookclubs editorial staff, and the top titles recommended for book clubs by our publishing sponsors, including Bloomsbury Publishing, Sourcebooks, HarperVia, Canary Street Press and Revell. If you buy books through links on this page, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
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