If you’re looking for books to gift your friends and family, here’s a list of the best ones you to get:

Becoming – Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama released her autobiography less than three weeks ago and it has since broken sales records, becoming the bestselling book this year in the US. In it, she covers everything from her roots, to her marriage difficulties with Barack Obama and using IVF to conceive her daughters. Critics have described it as ‘rich’, ‘entertaining’, ‘revealing’ and ‘refreshing’. A genuine page turner, this would not only make a brilliant gift but also works wonders as an antidote to the current, exhausting Trump-centric political narrative.

 

Normal People – Sally Rooney

Described by The Guardian as ‘a future classic’ and lauded by Waterstones as the book of the year, Sally Rooney’s Ordinary People has taken the literary sphere by storm. Set against the back-drop of a small Irish town in the time of the financial crisis, this novel focuses on the intimate story of a relationship between two school friends. This contemporary romance is the perfect gift to brighten up someone’s winter.

 

 

Milkman – Anna Burns

Written by Northern Irish newcomer, Anna Burns, Milkman was the winner of this year’s Man Booker prize. Set in Ireland during the Troubles, this novel is told from the perspective of an 18 year old girl. This novel is not only bold, innovative and comical, but also strikes a chord with the current political concerns surrounding the Irish Border as well as the #MeToo movement.

 

 

Ottolenghi Simple – Yotam Ottolenghi

Although ‘Ottolenghi’ and ‘Simple’ are not two words often associated with each other, in his most recent publication, the widely acclaimed chef, food writer and restaurateur has endeavoured to use no more than ten ingredients in each of his recipes. Although this does exclude salt, pepper, oil and several other essentials, this book is still drastically simpler than his previous cookbooks. This would make the perfect present for the person in your life who loves food but doesn’t have quite enough time to use three different types of soy sauce to make their dinner.

 

 

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine – Gail Honeyman

Although this novel came out over a year ago it still regularly features on bestsellers lists. In her debut novel, Honeyman explores what it means to be lonely in a book that is as heartbreakingly sad as it is jaw-achingly funny. It tells the story of socially isolated Eleanor Oliphant and her often comical attempts to decipher society. Both a profound statement on loneliness and a feel-good page-turner, this novel would make the perfect Christmas gift.

 

 

Martha Sanders

 

Images: Amazon, Goodreads