Ho ho ho! Book Suggestions to Gift for Christmas 2025 🎅
Gift a book this Christmas.
With the holidays coming up, a book that matches someone’s interests can be a truly meaningful gift. Here are seven standout titles from 2025, each from a different genre. I’ll share why each one makes a great present and who might enjoy it most.
Click on any of the titles below to see an Amazon link.
1. Literary Fiction. Audition  by Katie Kitamura
This quietly powerful novel is a masterclass in psychological tension. An actress rehearsing for a play meets a young man, Xavier, who insists he's her son, though she says it's impossible. As the story unfolds, you realize you’re being shown two competing realities: one in which she's never had him, another in which she did. It’s a meditation on identity, memory, and performance, underscored by spare, precise prose. Reviewers praise its “deeply radical thesis” about the self.
Best for readers who like thoughtful, emotionally complex fiction.
2. Rom-Com. The Attraction Abacus  by Evelyn G. Foster
This warm and witty rom-com has only recently been released. When philosophy grad Evelyn Foster lands a job at The Attraction Abacus, a hopelessly chaotic start-up that claims to calculate a single dating score for each of their customers, she’s expecting spreadsheets, not sparks. Between her incompetent boss, a parade of awkward fake dates, and Luke, the maddeningly charming street canvasser who keeps challenging her (and her heart), Evelyn’s soon knee-deep in romantic confusion and workplace mayhem.
Witty, offbeat and full of charm, this is a great gift for anyone who enjoys smart, character-focused romance with a lot of fun!
3. Science Fiction / Dystopia. Sunrise on the  Reaping  by Suzanne Collins
This much-anticipated prequel takes readers back to Panem, set 24 years before the original Hunger Games trilogy. It focuses on the 50th Games, known as the “Quarter Quell,” and follows Haymitch Abernathy. The story explores propaganda, power, and survival in a harsh regime. Critics have called it “gripping” and “devastating,” with Suzanne Collins mixing action and political satire.
Ideal for fans of the Hunger Games or anyone who likes dystopian thrillers with real emotional impact.
4. Contemporary / Writer Fiction. The Book Game  by Frances Wise
Written together by academics Chloë Houston and Adam Smyth, this novel takes place during a week-long writing retreat in Cambridge. It’s smart, literary, and full of insights about craft, creativity, and working together. The book gives a behind-the-scenes look at what it means to write and be a writer. The Spectator named it one of its Books of the Year for 2025.
A great pick for aspiring writers, book lovers, or anyone interested in how creative work happens.
5. Self-Help / Personal Development. The Let Them Theory  by Mel Robbins
This popular self-help book from 2025, The Let Them Theory, gives practical advice for handling things we can’t control and letting go of unrealistic expectations for ourselves and others. Bookshops like Waterstones have named it a top Christmas gift.
Best for anyone who could use a gentle, empowering reminder to let go and not try to control everything.
6. Cozy / Mystery. The Impossible Fortune  by Richard Osman
This witty mystery follows four friends in their seventies who meet each week to look into old cases. When a real murder happens nearby, their club turns into a team of amateur detectives. Richard Osman mixes humor, heart, and smart plotting, making this a feel-good story with real suspense.
Perfect for anyone who loves cozy mysteries, sharp dialogue, and lively group characters.
7. Children’s / Middle-Grade. The  Seaside Sleepover by Jacqueline Wilson
This new book from well-known children’s author Jacqueline Wilson follows sisters Daisy and Lily as they go to the seaside with their dog Scruff. The story is full of summer adventures, sisterly love, and thoughtful moments, especially as Lily is disabled.
Great for young readers or adults who enjoy heartfelt, family-centred stories.
Santa’s Tips for Gift-Giving
🎅Add a handwritten note inside the book to explain why you picked it. This makes your gift feel more personal.
🎅Bundle your gift with something extra, like a cozy candle or a tin of tea, especially for winter reading.
No matter if you want something deep, comforting, or exciting, these books offer a wide range of choices. They’ll look great under the tree and are ready to be enjoyed by candlelight. Happy gifting and happy reading!
