Book Christmas Gift Guide 2021

As a book lover, you can never go wrong with a book for me under the tree.

In fact, a friend of mine and I have exchanged a book every Christmas Eve for the last few years and it’s a tradition I love. There are not many things I love more than to curl up with a new book around Christmas.

So, as the big day is approaching, I wanted to share a book gift guide – some recommendations for the bookworm in your life.

The first book on the list is a new edition of a bestseller.

Marian Keyes is due to release Again, Rachel next year. This is the follow up to her best-selling novel, Rachel’s Holiday.

The 25th anniversary edition was released by Penguin Michael Joesph and would be a perfect gift for Marian Keyes fans or someone who is yet to discover this wonderful author.

This edition features celebrations from authors including David Nicholls and Graham Norton, as well as an extract from Again, Rachel.

Rachel Walsh has been living it up in New York City. She spends her evenings talking her way into parties and then returns home in the early hours to her boyfriend, Luke.

Her sister showing up and taking her to rehab was not part of her plan.

She agrees. It’s all spas, jacuzzis and celebrities right? Sounds like a nice holiday.

Losing freedom and fun will be hard. Losing the love of her life will be harder.

I have not read this but that will have to change, especially with a sequel coming.

I am a big fan of Celia Imrie. She was in one of my favourite films, Bridget Jones’ Diary.

I was excited to hear that she’d written a novel. It sounds so intriguing.

Orphans of the Storm, released in August by Bloomsbury focuses on Marcella, Michael and Margaret as their paths cross on the RMS Titanic.

After three years of marriage, Marcella is determined to divorce her cruel and controlling husband, Michael.

Whilst awaiting a decision over the custody of their two young boys, Michael receives news that changes everything.

Meanwhile, Margaret, who has been touring Europe with friends is growing restless. She resolves to head home aboard the Titanic.

As the ship sets sail, they all soon realise that nothing will be the same.

If I were to ever have a dinner party where I could invite anyone – you know, one of those fantasy dinner parties, Dawn French would be on my list. I love her.

Because of You is her latest novel. It was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick and has been on my TBR pile for a while. It may have to be a book I read over the Christmas week. It does sound like a book that’s probably going to make me cry.

The New Millennium rolls in.

In the same hospital, two different women give birth to daughters.

Hope leaves with a beautiful baby girl.

Anna leaves with empty arms.

Seventeen years later, the gods who watch over broken-hearted mothers wreak mighty revenge and the truth starts rolling toward them all.

Hannah Beckerman’s The Impossible Truths of Love was released by Lake Union Publishing in October 2021.

It sounds fantastic and this one will be added to my list.

Nell’s father makes a deathbed declaration; one that hints at a long held secret.

This reignites feelings of isolation that has followed Nell for years.

Suspicions are further tightened when her mother, Annie, who has dementia, makes cryptic comments.

Thirty-five years earlier, Annie’s life was a series of traumas – events she buried deep. Decisions that she knew nobody would understand but motivated by love.

As both Nell and Annie’s stories unfold, Nell discovers devastating truth about both her mothers past and her own.

Oh this sounds so good. A perfect one to curl up with at Christmas once dinner is done.

The final book on my gift guide is one I’ve featured before. It would make a perfect stocking filler for a child or an adult who grew up reading the original books.

Once There Was a Bear is a beautifully illustrated authorised prequel that was released in September to celebrate the 95th anniversary of Winnie-The-Pooh.

Jane Riordan has created a collection of stories in the style of A.A.Milne. She takes us back to where it all began, when Winnie-the-Pooh was purchased for baby Christopher Robin.

The illustrations by Mark Burgess are in the style of original artist, E.H. Shepard and are absolutely gorgeous. The cover is also stunning.

I’d love to hear from you in the comments if you have any other suggestions for books you’d think people would enjoy reading for Christmas.

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.