I love giving books as gifts. There’s such a thrill in picking out a book that I think will suit a person in my life absolutely perfectly. Sometimes I buy them as Christmas or birthday presents. What better way to mark such a special occasion than by giving them an adventure bound in a fancy cover? Other times I buy books as presents for no reason other than that I feel like giving someone a surprise gift. Over the last few years, I’ve given plenty of great books as gifts for all sorts of reasons. Some are books that I’ve read myself and wanted to share with someone else. Others I’ve never heard of, but the blurb sounds like they would suit someone in my life down to the ground. It’s my favourite thing to do, and today, I thought I would share my top five books that I’ve given as gifts..
Illuminae
Jay Kristoff | Amie Kaufman
This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.
The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than a speck at the edge of the universe. Now with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to evacuate with a hostile warship in hot pursuit.
But their problems are just getting started. A plague has broken out and is mutating with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a web of data to find the truth, it’s clear the only person who can help her is the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.
The Illuminae Files have been among my all-time favourite books ever since I first discovered them. I’ve shared them with most of my sisters, but it wasn’t until last year that I finally got to share them with someone outside of my immediate family. I bought a copy for a co-worker as a Christmas present, in the hopes that he would love it and maybe be introduced into a new series that he could read and enjoy as much as I did.
A Thousand Perfect Notes
C. G. Drews
Beck hates his life. He hates his violent mother. He hates his home. Most of all, he hates the piano that his mother forces him to play hour after hour, day after day. He will never play as she did before illness ended her career and left her bitter and broken. But Beck is too scared to stand up to his mother, and tell her his true passion, which is composing his own music – because the least suggestion of rebellion on his part ends in violence.
When Beck meets August, a girl full of life, energy and laughter, love begins to awaken within him and he glimpses a way to escape his painful existence. But dare he reach for it?
This book is just so beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time, the sort of book that has to be shared. I made sure everyone in my family read it, including my mum, who doesn’t normally gravitate towards YA, and she loved it. So I knew that it was going to make an amazing present for someone at some point. Cue me buying it for a different co-worker as a Christmas present, because I knew she loved books, and I couldn’t think of a more perfect story to share with her.
All Our Shimmering Skies
Trent Dalton
Darwin, 1942, and as Japanese bombs rain down, motherless Molly Hook, the gravedigger’s daughter, turns once again to the sky for guidance. She carries a stone heart inside a duffel bag next to the map that leads to Longcoat Bob, the deep-country sorcerer who put a curse on her family. By her side are the most unlikely travelling companions: Greta, a razor-tongued actress and Yukio, a fallen Japanese fighter pilot. Run, Molly, run, says the daytime sky. Run to the vine forests. Run to northern Australia’s wild and magical monsoon lands. Run to friendship. Run to love. Run. Because the graverobber’s coming, Molly, and the night-time sky is coming with him. So run, Molly, run.
I’ve never read any Trent Dalton books, though I’ve heard that they’re very good. But my mum has, and loves his writing. I bought a copy of his book Boy Swallows Universe book for her after she read a copy borrowed from the library. So when I saw his new book All Our Shimmering Skies in the stores, I didn’t even hesitate, but picked up a copy for her right away so that I could surprise her with something new to read and love.
House of Dragons
Jessica Cluess
When the Emperor dies, the five royal houses of Etrusia attend the Call, where one of their own will be selected to compete for the throne. It is always the oldest child, the one who has been preparing for years to compete in the Trial. But this year is different. This year, these five outcasts will answer the call….
THE LIAR: Emilia must hide her dark magic or be put to death.
THE SOLDIER: Lucian is a warrior who has sworn to never lift a sword again.
THE SERVANT: Vespir is a dragon trainer whose skills alone will keep her in the game.
THE THIEF: Ajax knows that nothing is free–he must take what he wants.
THE MURDERER: Hyperia was born to rule and will stop at nothing to take her throne.
I bought a copy this book for myself, thinking that it sounded intriguing, and just the sort of book that I would very much enjoy. Someone else who was also very much looking forward to reading it was my sister Sophie, who then moved eight hours away from home and never got the chance. So as a surprise present, I bought a copy for her to have for herself and sent it up to her as a little present to help her settle in to her new home.
Words In Deep Blue
Cath Crowley
This is a love story.
It’s the story of Howling Books, where readers write letters to strangers, to lovers, to poets.
It’s the story of Henry Jones and Rachel Sweetie. They were best friends once, before Rachel moved to the sea.
Now, she’s back, working at the bookstore, grieving for her brother Cal and looking for the future in the books people love, and the words they leave behind.
I stumbled across this book in my local library and fell in love with it almost immediately. It is, after all, a love story. Not just a romance, but a love story to books and bookstores, and letters and words, and all the things that are near and dear to my heart. I bought a copy for one of my sisters as a birthday present, but honestly, it was also slightly a present for myself, because now I can steal it from her and read it for myself as well.
So these are my top 5 books that I’ve given as gifts. But I would love to hear from you. What your favourite book you’ve ever received as a gift? Do you ever give books as presents? Let’s chat in the comments!
Looking for a great book to give as a gift? Why not check out my brand new novel Frost Hands? It’s a YA sci-fi about teen mutants, secret agents, and an uprising. Available now in print and ebook!
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