Books can be tricky gifts.
On the one hand, they’re quick and easy buys, the perfect shape for wrapping, and they hold the power to demonstrate a genuine understanding of your recipient’s interests. On the other hand, if you purchase the wrong book, it might just end up sitting on a bookshelf unread for years — or worse, in a box marked “free” on the side of the street.
Looking at it like that, picking the perfect book can start to feel like a lot of pressure. Thankfully, we’re here to help. We scoured best-of lists across the internet and pulled five favorites we think will be sure-fire wins for anyone.
Keep reading for five books to gift this new year, or cut to the chase and buy a book you know they’ll love.