Books
78 New Books For Everyone On Your Holiday List
Books
78 New Books For Everyone On Your Holiday List
Books are no-fail presents for everyone. Here’s our roundup of the best stories of the season to give.
Books about the natural world
Photo courtesy Little, Brown And Company
Ever heard of Steller’s sea cow? Named for Georg Wilhelm Steller, who observed it around the Bering Sea while he was shipwrecked there in 1741, the marine mammal is now the stuff of legend. Turpeinen’s moving novel details the journey of this gentle giant’s intersection with humans—from Bering Sea to Russia to Helsinki’s former Museum of Zoology—and its eventual tragic extinction at our hands.
5 more picks:
- The Tortoise's Tale by Kendra Coulter
- The Illuminated Book of Birds by Robin Crofut-Brittingham
- The Hidden Seasons by Tristan Gooley
- The Science of Pets by Jay Ingram
- Frostlines by Neil Shea
Books featuring true tales
Photo courtesy Doubleday Canada
Fans of multi-hyphenate Canadian treasure Alan Doyle will smile at the release of his new book. In The Smiling Land, the former tour guide takes readers on an insider’s rollicking trip covering all things Newfoundland, from lighthouses, puffins and icebergs to historical sites, world-class restaurants and, of course, local music haunts.
6 more picks:
- Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood
- The Finest Hotel in Kabul by Lyse Doucet
- We Did Ok, Kid by Anthony Hopkins
- Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn
- Hope and Destiny by Niklas Natt och Dag
- We The Raptors by Eric Smith and Andrew Bricker
Books with art as a theme
Photo courtesy HarperCollins
The author of The Gift and Love, Rosie is back with this tale of Pip, Irish single mother and browbeaten daughter. With a dead-end job and lack of social life, Pip spends her free time crafting intricate origami art, a metaphor for a life that has folded in on itself. But then a local astronomer encourages Pip to look up and out toward a wider world where she can find love and fulfillment, if she just opens her heart again.
5 more picks:
- Listen by Sacha Bronwasser and David Colmer
- Just Enough to Start Over by Sarah Gothelf Bloom
- The Kings Ransom by Janet Evanovich
- The Burning Library by Gilly Macmillan
- The Sacred Space Between by Kalie Reid
Books set in fantastical realms
Photo courtesy Random House Canada
Book two of the Heavenly Bodies series sees disgraced Queen Elara turn for help to a league of lost gods while also contending with dark forces on the horizon, figuring out a way to save her love, Prince Enzo, and mastering her new power. This heart-pounding sequel will have you waiting with bated breath for book three.
6 MOre picks:
- The Strength of the Few by James Islington
- Daughter of the Otherworld by Shauna Lawless
- The Last Wish of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson
- Dawn of the Firebird by Sarah Mughal Rana
- The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers
- Fallen City by Adrienne Young
Oliver's twist
Photo courtesy Appetite by Random House/Magic Cat
Everyone's favourite "Naked Chef" has extended his empire with only his latest cookbook, Eat Yourself Healthy, but also a series of books for toddlers to learn about food. In addition, he's provided the forward for a new kids' cookbook written by his adorable and equally talented son, Buddy. We're excited for this new generation!
More from Jamie Oliver:
- Let's Make Cookies by Jamie Oliver
- Let's Make Pancakes by Jamie OIiver
- Let's Make Pasta by Jamie Oliver
- Let's Make Pizza by Jamie Oliver
- Let's Cook by Buddy Oliver
Books featuring fierce female protagonists
Photo courtesy Grove Atlantic
Love and loss, tenderness and tension—all pieces of an ordinary life. But in the hands of this author, those elements become something extraordinary. Creating a world that feels like a warm hug, O’Nan snapshots the The Humpty Dumpty Club, a group of women who support their Pittsburgh community in times of need. Spoiler alert: Catch familiar characters from O’Nan’s previous novels, including Emily Maxwell, fan favourite from 2003’s Wish You Were Here.
7 more picks:
- The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage
- Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite
- Queen Esther by John Irving
- Deeper Than The Ocean by Mirta Ojito
- The Time Hop Coffee Shop by Phaedra Patrick
- The Dinner Party by Viola van de Sandt
- The Forget-Me-Not Library by Heather Webber
Books of romance and revelry
Photo courtesy Atria
Enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, academic settings—some of our favourite romance tropes expertly come together in this smart and charming novel by one of the genre’s best and brightest. Sadie and Jonah are vying for the same coveted position; when Sadie notes that the job comes with partner hire, she develops a scheme for both she and Jonah to succeed. All they need is a quickie marriage to set it all up! Is it a surprise that sparks fly? Of course not, but McAlister’s writing skill means this story is fresh, fizzy and fun.
6 more picks:
- Thrown for a Loop by Sarina Bowen
- The Mating Game by Lana Ferguson
- Coldwire by Chloe Gong
- Audrey Lane Stirs The Pot by Alexis Hall
- A Lady's Handbook of Espionage by Katrina Kendrick
- The Bodyguard Affair by Amy Lea
Books of mayhem and mystery
Photo courtesy Gallery/Scout Press
Suspense novels that centre around elements of social media have breathed new life into the thriller genre in recent years, and author L.M. Chilton has capitalized on the trend. With 2023’s Don’t Swipe Right and this year’s Everyone in the Group Chat Dies, Chilton writes books that take on the digital world with humour and heart. This one melds I Know What You Did Last Summer—roommates who did a bad thing receiving messages from their dead friend—with the clever comedy of New Girl. It’s fast and funny and sure to be on your Year’s Best lists.
6 more picks:
- Where He Left Me by Nicole Baart
- A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death by Maxie Dara
- The Perfect Hosts by Heather Gudenkauf
- Silent Bones by Val McDermid
- The Italian Secret by Tara Moss
- In The Bones by Tessa Wegert
Books for those hard-to-buy-for people
Photo courtesy Simon & Schuster
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us discovered the difference between being alone and being lonely. Turns out Robert Coplan has known it for years. The psychologist has studied the pros and cons of solitude for more than three decades. Here, in simple accounts, he details the many faces of being alone, and how it can boost your mood, enhance your creativity and provide deeper connection in your relationships. Whether you’re an introvert or a social butterfly, this guide will help set you up with valuable insight into the human experience.
6 more picks:
- Sorry Not Sorry by Mark Critch
- Don't Stop: Why We (Still) Love Fleetwood Mac's Rumours by Alan Light
- What Could Possibly Go Wrong? By Duncan McKenzie
- Winter Stories by Ingvild Rishøi
- The Eleventh Hour by Salman Rushdie
- Alchemised by Senlinyu
Festive feels
Photos courtesy Atria/Bloomsbury
Anticipating the holidays is half the fun of this time of year, and these new novels bring the spirit in spades.
More picks:
- Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands by Bella Osborne
- Five Golden Wings by Donna Andrews
- Christmas Eve Ultimatum by Jackie Ashenden
- Good Spirits by B.K. Borison
- Yours for the Season by Kate Cochrane
- The Gallagher Place by Julie Doar
- A Little Holiday Fling by Farah Heron
- The Best Christmas Choir Ever by Elizabeth Hrib
- Her Cowboy for the Holidays by Makenna Lee
- Scene of Crime by Jill McGown
- Christmas at the Ranch by Julia McKay
- Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal by Meghan Quinn
- At Midnight Comes the Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming
- Fortune's Unexpected Gift by Jennifer Wilck
- The Christmas Cure by Kristine Winters
- Joy to the Girls by Rachel Lippinott and Alyson Derrick
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