Liv’s Personal Christmas Gift Guide: 2020 edition!

They say you should never give books as a Christmas gift; I say bah humbug to that nonsense. A well-chosen book (more on that in a second) is the gift that will keep on giving, and if 2020 has shown us anything, it’s that books will always be a comfort during tough times.

I’ve written before about my weird love of gift-giving and I have long accepted that I am an outlier on the Christmas Shopping Enthusiasm scale. Nevertheless, I still approach the task with genuine happiness, especially when it comes to picking books for the people I love.

Now, book shopping can be tricky and you do have to be honest here. The emphasis here is on well-chosen books – you have to pick something that you actually think the person would like, not the book that you think they should like. Now is not the time to embark on a mission to turn your thriller-reading dad into a literary fiction connoisseur!

So, with that in mind, I perused the Booktopia Gift Guide and picked out the books I’m getting everyone on my list.

(It goes without saying that if you’re one of my close friends/fam, please click away immediately.)

I’m getting my Dad … The Sentinel (Jack Reacher: Book 25) by Lee Child and Andrew Child

With an exciting Jack Reacher thriller out just in time for Christmas every year, these books are a reliable source of gifting inspiration for me. My Dad just loves them – in the cart The Sentinel goes!

Buy it here

I’m getting my Mum … Clanlands by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish

This is one for those who swoon when they hear the word ‘Sassenach’ (preferably in Jamie’s sexy Scottish brogue). When your mum is as big a fan of Outlander as mine is, this romp through the Scottish highlands with stars Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish is an easy Christmas gift win.

Buy it here

I’m getting my big sister … Uncook Yourself: A Ratbag’s Rules for Life by Nat’s What I Reckon

With his hilarious, no-bullsh*t approach to cooking videos, Nat’s What I Reckon emerged from the sea of mediocre jar sauce as our culinary lockdown saviour. (Hey, anyone who can get a 20-something-year-old guy to cook Osso Bucco is a hero worthy of being crowned Australian of the Year.) My big sis loves him and I think she’ll also love his new book, a hilarious cookbook/guide to life.

Buy it here

I’m getting my little sister … The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

I wrote last year about how my little sister is my favourite person to buy books for, and this year has given me plenty of books that I think she’ll love. I’m going with The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, an author that I know she’s read and loved before whose latest book is a family saga that considers the fraught American history of race and passing.

Buy it here

I’m getting my boyfriend … The Witcher Boxed Set by Andrzej Sapkowski

Netflix’s The Witcher series was one of 2020’s breakout hits, resulting in a resurgence of popularity for the original fantasy series by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. My boyfriend was one such fan of the show, and since he loves other fantasy books by Raymond E. Feist, Brandon Sanderson and Philip Pullman, I think these books might be a hit.

Buy it here

I’m getting my brother-in-law … Home Style Cookery by Matty Matheson

What do you get a hard-working, tattooed chef who likes hearty, boozy food like my brother-in-law? The new cookbook by Matty Matheson, of course! This book is all about cooking at home, which is perfect for our uncertain pandemic reality, and it’ll look great on the shelf too.

Buy it here

I’m getting my bestie/flatmate … The Burning God (The Poppy War: Book 3) by R. F. Kuang

My best mate has literally not shut up about this series since I got her The Poppy War for her birthday last year. Not getting her The Burning God — the final book in this epic fantasy series inspired by the bloody history of 20th century China — for Christmas is simply not an option.

Buy it here

If you need more inspiration, take a look at our ‘Ask A Booktopian!’ videos over on Facebook – general gifting here and Kids & Teens here!

Order In Stock items by the 9th of December for your best chance of pre-Christmas delivery.

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About the Contributor

Olivia Fricot

Olivia Fricot (she/her) is Booktopia's Senior Content Producer and editor of the Booktopian blog. She has too many plants and not enough bookshelves, and you can usually find her reading, baking, or talking to said plants. She is pro-Oxford comma.

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