13 Books I’d Gift Family and Friends, and Why

If you’re like me and are trying to switch scrolling for reading, or just getting back into it for enjoyment after years of nothing, then welcome! You’ve most likely also become consumed and just want to share this experience with friends and family now as well.

Whether they read or not, because sometimes people don’t but you still want to get them into reading as well, this list is to help give you book ideas for gifts! 

I’m going to break down the personality of each person and why I would gift them that specific book.
I’ll share what each person likes, is interested in and their general vibe. That way, if you or someone you know is similar, then the book suggestion could be a good fit!

So hopefully you can find some relatable ideas for your own gift giving, or ideas for yourself based on these explanations.
I will say though, coming up with this list made me realize I don’t read enough. I fell into a slump and have a HUGE TBR that’s being neglected. So I’m really looking forward to coming back and updating this as time passes.

So be sure to join me in the Diary where I’ll be sending updates as well as monthly challenges to create a realistic healthy lifestyle together.
Now, let’s dive in!

Mom

A recently retired nurse that never worked 40 hours in her professional career and made it work, a true woman to strive to be. She does what she wants when she wants, is open to trying new things, and sometimes hard to find.

She’ll bike a few towns over on her ebike just to see if the path would be good to pick up her granddaughter (who isn’t even 1 at the time of writing this, so it would be awhile before that could even be a possibility). She’s also been known to drive hours if not states away to help someone with a loom she met online (yeah, good advice about being aware of people you meet on the internet MOTHER!)
She’s GREAT at having hobbies! Growing up, that was something she always did, and I’m sad to say I lost sight of that. But because of her, I’m trying to get back into it. From fitness, rebounding while watching a show, quilting, crafting, reading, walking, riding bike, volunteering, helping and now recently sourdough making.
She has a huge heart but is also at the point in her life where she’s protecting her peace. Another thing to strive for and work on.

Once I read Remarkably Beautiful Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, I knew I wanted her to read it! She actually watched the movie on Netflix, but I would still gift it to her!
It’s about a woman who’s husband recently past and she lost her only son years ago too in a mysterious accident. She works part time at the local aquarium and becomes friends with the octopus that’s there. When this random guy shows up looking for his potential father, they end up crossing paths and forming a friendship.

This was SUCH a great book that made me laugh and cry. Between healing from loss, deciding that it’s never too late to start living your life, and what the power of true friendship in your life can bring. This is one book that will stick with me for awhile.

I did read this on audiobook, and that was FANTASTIC too! I feel like the narrator can make or break a reading experience, but this one was perfect.

Dad

A man who cares and speaks highly of the people in his life, hard working and willing to get the job done. I love this man, but he can be incredibly stubborn at times, which I think just points out to me how much I’m like him. Uh oh!

But no matter what, he’s behind his kids 100% and has complete confidence that we can do whatever we want.
He was a big part of me getting into fitness and learning about the gym. And no matter how bad my life chapters have been, he’s always been confident in me getting through things.

Now that he’s close to retirement age though, I’m hoping he starts taking on hobbies outside of work, church and AA meetings. All of which are great! But come on, it’s time to start living your life and seeing what other experiences you can have out there!

So I’d of course love to get him back into reading, and more fiction books, so I’d start with The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. And in all honesty, this is the only one I haven’t read yet on this list.

HOWEVER!

He loves history in general, but of course US history. And I think getting him into a thriller that goes deep into history and conspiracy that takes place in Washington DC would be a good way to explore other books.
It follows our guy Professor Langdon on a night when he’s asked by his mentor to give a lecture. But that changes when his mentor is brutally kidnapped and Langdon is sent on a chase throughout DC to uncover clues for the kidnapper.

The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons are some of my favorite movies, so the thought of going deeper into even more stories involving Professor Langdon sounds just perfect to me! I’m working on collecting all of Dan Browns books involving the Professor, so stay tuned as I dive deeper into his collection.

Sister

A new mother with big dreams for her farm, she truly is a storybook character in her own right and I love her to pieces! A caring, controlled chaos woman who I can easily talk to about anything for hours, or just sit next to existing.

She’s been in the nursing field since high school, is an amazing part-time photographer and always down for an adventure. She’s just got a small child that comes along now.

She and her husband recently purchased a farm and are redoing/rebuilding it themselves. She’ll ride the lawnmower for hours on their property in the summer, listening to audiobooks and true crime podcasts. Has recently started trying her hand at refurbishing furniture, and has plans to create a flower garden and berry patch as another business in the future.

She and I also want to create a to-go coffee stand on bikes, she’s going to teach me to be her second photographer at weddings which is terrifyingly exciting and create whatever other joint venture we can come up with next!
Happy to say she and I are both chasing anything and everything to not work a normal job.

I have two recommendations for my sister. First, The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. This is such a psychological mystery, at least I think so! It’s about this doctor who decides to join this (mad house) and help a famous woman who killed her husband and has been mute ever since.
The story is super interesting because it feels like multiple timelines are happening at once, as you slowly start to find out how these two people are connected.

This was a GREAT murder mystery! Maybe don’t read it on vacation because it was hard for me to put it down so we could go explore. But still worth the read.

And second, because she wants to create her own daisy flower garden and shop, The Daisy Chain Flower Shop by Laurie Gilmore. This is a part of the Dream Harbor series, but can be read out of order. The only warning if you do, is you find out what happens to other couples in the other stories. I’d highly recommend all of them, but this one was just SO cute!

The owner of the Daisy Chain Flower Shop is said to be “cursed” by love, since her last 2 relationships ended with the guys finding their future wives right after. Also doesn’t help that the last 2 weddings (I think) ended in divorce. But when the new cute architect in town happens to walk into the shop when her ex came in with his finance looking to get married in Dream Harbor, she grabs the architect and says they’re dating.

So fake dating, he falls first, finding confidence in yourself and healing from past relationships, such a cute book! I will say, all the Dream Harbor books have spice in them, so be aware of that.

Brother

A guy who went straight into the Navy right out of high school and is now working to become a firefighter, this man is a people person! Whether he likes to admit it or not, he can form deep connections with people, cares a lot and I’m truly lucky to call him brother and friend.

He’s super chill with most things and will try anything at least once.
He’s gone to Colorado for a long weekend to meet up with a friend he met on XBox as a kid and go skiing (wonder where he got that from…), and still has friends from the military he can visit around the US.
He walked straight into a fire station he was trying to get ahold of with no success for a week, only to walk out 4+ hours later with multiple invites back and directions on how to apply to get a job there.
He loves skiing, fishing, concerts, adventures and seeing what the world has to offer.

So thinking of a book he would like, I had to pick The Martian by Andy Weir. He saw Project Hail Mary in theaters and loved it so much.
The Martian follows Mark Watney who was left behind on Mars in a freak accident that happens right away in the book. And that’s the plot. His crew is on their way home, and he has to try and survive until someone else comes back.

There’s a lot of science involved that went right over my head, but the humor and writing style made it a book I looked forward to reading as time went on.

I loved the movie and the book was just as good. I’m honestly looking forward to reading all the books that Andy Weir has written. It’s also a great way to get into more science fiction books if fantasy is your thing.

Partner/Boyfriend/Husband

The man that has seen me laugh cry, is a huge nerd with a heart of gold and a friend to all. He’s honestly been the biggest push and supporter of having more hobbies and starting this blog, or really anything I’ve brought up.

He’s only worked for tech companies his whole professional life in the pricing department, where I’ve had almost a new job every year we’ve been together. Can you tell who’s the stable one in this relationship!?
He plays DND with his high school friends weekly, golfs whenever he can by himself or with other friends, and had to create a diagram to explain how he knows the other 20+ friends in his life.
And when he’s not doing that, he’s trying new hobbies, finding new and old Anime, collecting Pokemon and Magic cards, learning and deep diving on his latest interest or deciding what piece of equipment he’s ready to try and add to the garage gym.

Honestly, being with him has been really good for me to see what it can be like to have a balanced life. That it’s important to have time for yourself, to create a life and identity outside of work, and of course smothering me in love until my cup is overflowing.

So the book I would recommend for him would be The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne. It’s a trilogy that I can’t wait to keep reading, following 3 people on very different life paths, but of course they somehow are all going to be connected.

One is a female warrior who was trying to live a quiet life with her husband and son, until her husband is killed and son kidnapped. So she takes off after him. Another one is an active warrior, trying to make a name for herself outside of her father with her found and created family on the crew she’s with. And the last is a freed slave who’s seeking revenge on his sister that was murdered.
All set in a post-God war world where things may not be as over as one might think.

For all the DND, theory crafting and adventure stories he loves, I just know he would really enjoy this world and the characters in it.
It doesn’t stray away from the blood and gore you’ll find on a battlefield, so be aware of that.

Creative Friend

Whether you have a photographer, painter, author, decorator, crafter or generally creative person in your life, this is for them.

I imagine my friends that like creative ways of doing life. Whether that’s forging their own path in work, creating out of the box ways of getting jobs done, have a home that is just fun and lived in, or are always down to learn new things.

The book that comes to mind is One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig. It’s a dark and spooky set book and, up to this point, is unlike anything I’ve read before. The magic system is super creative based around a deck of cards, the FMC has had a “monster” in her mind since she was a little girl, and the lore this world is based around is so cool.

This is a duology so they’ll be locked in for at least 2 books, but I thought it was the perfect length to invest in.
Anyone that’s creative and gets a spark of joy from things that are different would really enjoy this book. There is a spark of a romance with maybe a little spice in book 2, but otherwise it’s very good.

And side note, the author has come out with another duology that’s supposed to be great too! So maybe a automatic read author?

Adventure Friend

To all my misfit, mountain and woods loving friends, this one is for them.

I’m thinking of my girlies who would rather be outside than stay in, who will happily say yes to go on an adventure, and maybe don’t fit the norm of society in general. Maybe they’re a little taller, a little bigger, a little “much” for others. I think they’ll be heard in this book.

And that would be Legend of the Huntress K. Godin.
It’s about this girl who has only known difficulty and heartache in life so far. She doesn’t fit in, but something’s happening in her village. When she finally figures out what it might be, disaster happens.
Now she’s stuck with this guy who she hates, but as fate would have it, they end up working together to try and stop this evil.

There’s wolf shifting, spice, enemies to lovers-ish, and finding a confidence in yourself that you would truly love to embody.
The author currently has the first 2 books out, but there should be at least 3 in the series. And I for one am anxiously waiting because the last book ended on a cliffhanger that still makes me mad I couldn’t find out more about to this day.

So be warned!

Active Friend

Calling all my gym girlies! The ones that want to get stronger, faster, befriend the good guys in the gym and have a healthy relationship with themselves.

This book recommendation also hits home for me because it’s what sparked me wanting to create my Hybrid Program. So wanting to be the best athlete you can be, but also creating a good life to enjoy. Being able to help out, do hard things and know you’ll survive. Hopefully not to the extent in this book, but at least feel strong and capable.

The Scattered Bones by Nicole Scarano is for you!
A girl who has been chosen at a young age to be the next vessel of the goddess is locked away and kept from love, connection or any true human contact. A man enters her room to rob the place, which leads to a growing romance over time that can’t happen. Eventually it’s found out what happens and he’s killed, his body scattered to all corners of the globe and she’s given a way to bring him back.
Collect the body parts and maybe someone can put him back together.

All I can say is I wanted to train better after reading this book.
I felt really connected to the FMC realizing that she should be able to and want to live her own life for herself and not for other people.
And the overall vibe just left me feeling optimistic for the future, which I really liked!

Business Owner Friend

Alright business besties that are done hustling, pushing for perfection, following the gurus and want to create a life on their own terms, this is for you!

I’m thinking of myself, friends and family that are tired of working a job that exhausts them. Are tired of the life they have and want to create something different. Have a passion or interest they want to share with the world, or are just ready for a fresh start.
Also, if you are a biz bestie, check out my Brain Dump Virtual blog where I’m sharing all the behind-the-scenes parts of growing online.

There! That’s my one plug. Back to the book recommendations, because I actually have 2.

The first one is a perfect Christmas gift honestly, because it’s the Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore. It looks super cute on the outside, and it’s super cute on the inside too, but know this has spice in it!
Honestly, I personally think spicy books can do more good than reading a bunch of self help books, but that’s for another day.

Kira shows up in this small town, trying to escape and start fresh from her life back home, only to find it to be super friendly yet nosy. They want her to open up the Christmas tree farm she bought, but that’s the last thing she wants to figure out right now. Bennet is visiting his sister for the holidays and somehow gets roped into trying to connect with her. Do some spying to make sure she’s ok, but as a good cozy romance goes, he starts falling for her too.

If you doubt your capabilities to do hard things, change and heal from your past and actually have good in your life, this is for you! It may be a cute and spicy romance, but the personal self healing the characters go through in ALL the Dream Harbor books make it an easy read for all of them. 

The second book being the legendarily cozy Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. This is a super cozy, little mystery with who’s-trying-to-sabotage-me questions. It follows Viv, an orc barbarian, as she’s trying to start a new life. She’s tired of battle and has found this magical thing called Coffee that she’s looking to open shop with and sell.

It follows her as she’s trying to build her new life, make new connections and move on from her past. It’s truly a cute book for following your dreams, changing to let people in and proving that things can work out in the end. This was also a great audiobook!

Book Lover Friend

This one will ALWAYS be hard, because they will, most likely, always have read the book you’d like to give them. Most likely at least.

Honestly, any book on my list of Books to Escape the World for a Bit would be what I’d want others to read, or have as a pallet cleanser.

But the book I would gift to a book loving friend would be the Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore. One, because how cute is the name!? If you’ve been reading books for any amount of time, there will always be a small dream to open your own book store. But two, because it’s another Dream Harbor book. I personally think they’re worth the hype and only get better as the series goes on!

We follow Hazel in this story who’s turning 30, feels like she hasn’t done much with her life and wants to get out of her comfort zone. Of course Noah, the handsome fisherman who has a crush on her is more than willing to help out.
This is just such a cute story of growth, a little mystery and letting yourself be loved. As all Dream Harbor books go, this has spice throughout but even those I feel have some healing and self discovery elements.

So if your bookish friend hasn’t read this one yet, I’d highly recommend wrapping it up!

And those are my book recommendations! Again, writing this post made me realize how much more reading I have to do!

But as any good book girlie, my digital and physical TBR is strong and full of great adventures. So I can’t wait to keep updating this as I go.

And if you’re wanting to create a healthier lifestyle where you make healthy choices, have hobbies and focus on actually living your life rather than living for a number on the scale, I would love for you to join me in the Year of Health and Hobbies!

Thanks for being here, and happy reading!