It’s the simple moments in life that I adore, like reading a good book. I am thankful that I had the time to read some great books this year. I think receiving a book as a Christmas gift is such a sweet and personal touch.
Here are my 5 favorite books that would make a wonderful Christmas gift this season.
First up — Where The Crawdads Sing — This book does start out a little slow in the beginning but gosh once it grabs a hold of you, it will not let go. Delia Owens is the author and describes the marsh so beautifully that you feel you have been there.
The main character is Kya Clark who grows up in the swamplands of North Carolina. She learns from the wildlife so there is quite a bit of reference to the complexity of nature and how Kya relates to it.
There is a murder mystery but honestly, there is so much more to this book. You really understand the effects that abandonment and isolation had on Kya. The ending left me shook and the book as a whole brought so many emotions. I completely loved it.
I give this book a 9.8/10. Also, since the book was made into a movie this year, you can give both the book and movie as a great Holiday gift for the one who loves to be emotionally attached to a character in a book that they are reading.
I did not think any book could top my love for Where The Crawdads Sing, but this one did — Wrong Place Wrong Time — This book is absolutely the most spectacular read of all time. It’s a how do you stop a murder after it already happened wonder. The author, Gillian McAllister is the most clever how she puts the reader on a tense rollercoaster ride throughout the entire book. You will not want to take a break and put the book down.
Jen is the main character, a Mom who just wants to protect her son from what he did. Each day, she wakes up in the past with a chance to figure out how to stop the murder. As a Mom, I was completely drawn in from the very beginning. It tugged at my heart as it brought so much emotion and suspense. The twists were perfection. It’s the best kind of thriller.
I give this book a 10/10. It’s a must read and would make the best Christmas gift for the one who loves a good Thriller.
My Top Three Favorite Book is The Last Thing He Told Me — Oh how I loved this book; such an easy and smooth read. The author, Laura Dave did such a fantastic job at making you feel for the main characters; Hannah (Owen’s wife) and Bailey (the daughter of Owen, stepdaughter to Hannah).
The mystery of the Owen’s disappearance unfolds perfectly. I read the last 180 pages in one setting because I couldn’t put it down. I was truly invested into these characters and I just had to know how it was going to unfold. The ending left me conflicted but in a good way.
I give this book a 9.7/10. I would recommend it to anyone because Hannah and Bailey are so relatable. The book really digs into the relationship between a stepmom and stepdaughter and how they continue that relationship with their one constant, Owen disappears. It’s all about real human emotion and connection and who can’t relate to that!?
The Last Thing He Told Me is going to be a television miniseries on Apple TV+. I cannot wait, I will absolutely be watching it.
Another great read from Reese’s Book Club is the book Lucky — I am a big fan of Reese’s Book Club selections that I decided to pick up this book and I am glad I did because this book is my Top Four read.
Lucky is a con-artist who finds out the lottery ticket she purchased is actually the winning lottery ticket worth millions of dollars. One problem, she can’t cash it in because she is on the run from the FBI. Oh and as if that isn’t enough for a suspenseful plot, the author, Marissa Stapley adds a search for the long-lost mother. Plus more characters, including the con-artist Dad and the con-artist boyfriend that makes for some crazy twists and turns.
It had me on pins and needles which is why I read this book extremely fast. I give it a 9.4/10. This book is about redemption and forgiveness. I truly loved every page. It has some of the best quotes. My favorite is “If we never forgave, we’d all be alone”. I would gift this to someone who likes thought provoking books.
Closing out my Top Five Books is The Guest List — The author, Lucy Foley spends a great deal of the book letting you get to know all of the characters. She really paints a picture to allow the reader in so that you feel informed to help determine who did it but a twist for you…you may not figure it out until the very end.
It’s a murder mystery which is set on an island off the coast of Ireland. It’s about the guest list of a wedding and all the days leading up to the wedding day. The last 25% of the book is packed with twists and turns and more information with each page that you cannot put the book down because you cannot wait to learn what else is there.
The crazy good ending makes it worth the read. I give it a 9.3/10. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to try and figure out the mystery of “who did it”?
Thank you so much for visiting my blog. I do not think you could go wrong with any of these five books. I enjoyed them all so much. I hope you have the best Holiday Season. ๐๐
Thanks for the recommendation ls, I will definitely be checking some of these out!
Awesome! Let me know what you think!
The heck with buying these as gifts for friends. I think I’ll get them for myself!
There you go! They are great books!