Last-Minute Gift Guide From the Editors of Writer’s Digest
Whether you’re late or right on time, the editors of Writer’s Digest share their book gift guide for readers of all types.
Listen, we get it. It's a busy time of year no matter who you are and what you celebrate. But from where we're standing, there's really no wrong time to give the reader in your life the gift of their next favorite book.
The editors of Writer's Digest have put together this last-minute gift guide of books for every kind of reader. You won't go wrong with any of these choices.
Amy Jones, Editor in Chief
“If I'm giving book recommendations without knowing the reader or their preferences, I'd pick a book that exemplifies a deeply felt universal experience, like the quest for love (either romantic or familial) or finding meaning in life.”
A Room by the Sea by André Aciman
Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah
Still Life by Sarah Winman
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Moriah Richard, Managing Editor
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
"If you think cozy sci-fi doesn’t exist, think again. This is the perfect, short read for anyone interested in hopeful futuristic fiction, with quiet, reflective moments and explorations around joy, purpose, and belonging.”
Chef’s Choice by TJ Alexander
"This is the second novel to Chef’s Kiss but doesn’t have to be read in release order. A fake-dating trope that simmers into genuine connection, this slow burn is a sweet, low-stakes read with trans joy at its heart.”
The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coate
"This is such an influential book for anyone who loves storytelling—whether your family rehashes the same five stories every time they’re in a room together, you endlessly obsess over one franchise, or you’re still staying up way too late reading just one more chapter, just one more. This is a book about the stories we tell ourselves about history, the present, and how these things can affect the way we imagine the future.”
Robert Lee Brewer, Senior Editor
Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
"I'm the type of reader who likes to revisit my favorite books every few years. For instance, I just revisited Vonnegut's best novel, which is equal parts hilarious and frightening—and always timely.”
The Intentions of Thunder by Patricia Smith
"I've long been a fan of Patricia Smith's poetry, and this collection of new and selected poems recently won the 2025 National Book Award for Poetry.”
How to Build a Time Machine by Paul Davies
"Science was one of my worst subjects in school, but I'm a sucker for science books that are dumbed down just enough for me to kind of understand them. And it's fun to consider the possibility of time travel.”
Michael Woodson, Content Editor
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
"This is the kind of contemporary novel that is both hilarious and heartwarming, sweet without being sentimental, and funny without shying away from the hard stuff.”
James by Percival Everett
"An unputdownable literary reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Clever, darkly funny, and often nightmarish. Whatever hype you’ve heard doesn’t do it justice.”
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue
"For all my fellow middle- to older-millennials out there who were either in college or graduating amidst the 2008 financial crisis with creative degrees—i.e., unemployable. A coming-of-age novel with lovably flawed characters and an atmosphere that’s all too familiar.”
