Looking for a gift for that hard-to-shop-for someone? We might be biased but we think books are the perfect gift for anyone! Here are some suggestions from us--of course, you can also just check them out from the library if you want to read any of these yourself. You can also fill out a Giftmatch form to get customized suggestions from our staff.
These books are all recommended gifts for adults or older teens. Our 2020 gift guide for young readers is available here.
Spirit run : a 6,000-mile marathon through North America's stolen land by Noe Alvarez For the long distance runner who is missing in-person group runs: A debut memoir by the son of working-class Mexican immigrants describes his upbringing in Washington State, membership in the Peace and Dignity Journeys movement and competition in the Native American cultural marathon from Canada to Guatemala. |
The rise : black cooks and the soul of American food by Marcus Samuelsson For the chef who likes a story with their meal: Celebrates the culinary contributions of black chefs and cooks to American cuisine including recipes such as chilled corn and tomato soup, saffron tapioca pudding, and steak frites with plantain chips and green vinaigrette. |
Ring shout : or, Hunting Ku Kluxes in the end times
by P. Djèlí Clark For the Lovecraft Country fan: |
Dessert person : recipes and guidance for baking with confidence by Claire Saffitz For the Bon Appetit fan (who you hope might send you extra baked goods): A first cookbook by the host of Bon Appétit’s Baking School shares professional tips and troubleshooting strategies for more than 100 recipes that feature Saffitz’s signature twists, including Babkallah, Crispy Mushroom Galette and Malted Forever Brownies. |
The new one : painfully true stories from a reluctant dad
by Mike Birbiglia For the new parent: |
The best of me
by David Sedaris For the casual observer who celebrates the quirky and the ordinary in life: |
Solutions and other problems by Allie Brosh For the comics fan who likes a little sadness mixed in with their humor The creator of the award-winning Hyperbole and a Half presents a new collection of comedic, autobiographical and deceptively illustrated essays on topics ranging from childhood and very bad pets to grief, loneliness and powerlessness in modern life. |
The Goode guide to wine : a manifesto of sorts by Jamie Goode For the cultured friend who had to cancel their trip to Napa this year: Who will have the last word on wine, if not Jamie Goode? Over the last decade, Goode has embarked on almost nonstop travel through the world's vineyards in an effort to understand the beautifully diverse and complicated world of wine. His hard-nosed pursuit of the most interesting stories to tell about wine has led us here, to The Goode Guide to Wine. This book--a sort of manifesto--distills many of the observations, lessons, and opinions that have made Jamie Goode a renowned voice within the wine world. In a series of short, pithy, and often rather blunt chapters, he celebrates what is exciting and interesting about wine, asks how we could do things better, and points out some of the absurdities of wine culture. Jamie Goode has a distinct philosophy when it comes to wine, and he knows you may disagree; if you do, that means it's working. The Goode Guide to Wine is a book designed to provoke and inspire in equal measure, encouraging the reader to be critical and to see the world of wine through fresh eyes. |
Action Park : fast times, wild rides, and the untold story of America's most dangerous amusement park
by Andy Mulvihill For a Gen Xer feeling nostalgic about the carefree 80s: |
We ride upon sticks
by Quan Barry For a witchy Gen Xer feeling nostalgic about the carefree 80s: |
Legendary children : the first decade of RuPaul's drag race and the last century of queer life by Tom Fitzgerald For the Drag Race superfan (Not the NASCAR kind): |
The vanishing half by Brit Bennett For the eager reader who's still on the library wait list for this popular title: Separated by their embrace of different racial identities, two mixed-race identical twins reevaluate their choices as one raises a black daughter in their southern hometown while the other passes for white with a husband who is unaware of her heritage. |
The Mexican home kitchen : traditional home-style recipes that capture the flavors and memories of Mexico by Mely Martínez For the home cook who wants to kick it up a notch: Bring the authentic flavors of Mexico to your own home with The Mexican Home Kitchen, featuring 75+ recipes for every meal and occasion. |
Bruce Springsteen : All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track
by Philippe Margotin For your relatives in Jersey: |
The house in the cerulean sea
by TJ Klune For the goody-two-shoes who's ready to break some rules: |
Xi'an Famous Foods : the cuisine of Western China, from New York's favorite noodle shop by Jason Wang For the family who wants to stop spending so much money on takeout: The CEO of Xi’an Famous Foods describes how he grew his successful restaurant to 14 locations throughout New York and offers his never-before-published recipes including Fried Chicken Wings with XFF Spices and Hot Oil-Seared Biang-Biang Noodles. |
She come by it natural : Dolly Parton and the women who lived her songs
by Sarah Smarsh For your favorite (not so) Dumb Blonde: |
Good husbandry : growing food, love, and family on Essex farm by Kristin Kimball For the mid-career middle-management mid-life set who let 2020 set them close to the edge of decamping for rural America or Canada (before the borders closed): The best-selling author of The Dirty Life evocatively describes her family’s highs and lows throughout five years on Essex Farm that were marked by injury, difficult weather, financial setbacks and renewed commitments. |
Agent Sonya : Moscow's most daring wartime spy
by Ben Macintyre For the cousin you never see and suspect might actually be a spy: |
The Southern book club's guide to slaying vampires
by Grady Hendrix For the millennial who's read Twilight 5 times: |
Moon New England Hiking : Best Hikes Plus Beer, Bites, and Campgrounds Nearby by Kelsey Perrett For the New Englander who broke in their first hiking shoes in 2020: Whether you're a veteran or a first-time hiker, Moon's comprehensive coverage and local expertise will have you gearing up for your next adventure. |
The butterfly effect : how Kendrick Lamar ignited the soul of black America
by Marcus J. Moore For Fly Guys: |
The king of confidence : a tale of utopian dreamers, frontier schemers, true believers, false prophets, and the murder of an American monarch
by Miles Harvey For the aspiring con artist in your life: |
The Dutch house : a novel by Ann Patchett For the functional older sister who "borrows" issues of Architectural Digest form the dentist office: A tale set over the course of five decades traces a young man’s rise from poverty to wealth and back again as his prospects center around his family’s lavish Philadelphia estate. |
In the waves : my quest to solve the mystery of a Civil War submarine
by Rachel Lance For the 20,000 Leagues under the Sea fan: |