An Incomplete List of Books I'd Buy for People

I'm not good at blanket recommendations of books - I'm more likely to ask well what do you like to read and how quickly do you read and how important is it for everything you read to make you feel some type of way. I'm throwing caution to the wind here and sharing some books I'd buy for people if I was looking for a gift book. I meant for this to be a pretty extensive categorically refined list but look, it's less than two weeks until Christmas and I didn't get there. If you are looking for a recommendation for the type of reader you don't see listed below, comment or email me. Like kid books. I have no kids but I buy a lot of kid books for the kids in my life. I didn't corral those titles here.

Most kindle and paperbacks I've shared are within a few dollars of each other price-wise. For gifts, I like to give actual books unless I'm giving a subscription or gift card. These are all linked to Amazon and are affiliate links - the pennies I make if you purchase through these links cost you nothing and pay for Show Us Your Books. If you hate Amazon most of these can be found at your local bookstore.

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez
For an in-tune teen.
Buy the hardcover/kindle

Sworn to Silence: A Kate Burkholder Novel by Linda Castillo
For someone looking to start a series
Buy the paperback/kindle

Becoming by Michelle Obama
For people who like strong, smart women
Buy the hardcover/kindle

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
For someone who likes a smart mystery
Buy the paperback/kindle 

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
For someone who likes an emotional, layered read
Buy kindle / hardback.

Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler
For someone who likes a little angst and 80s movie type-glancing over the cold, empty Midwestern landscape
Buy paperback/kindle

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
For the woman who likes chick lit with a few knives buried inside
Buy paperback/kindle

Wild Embers by Nikita Gill 
For the woman that lets you see glimpses of wild and fire in her soul and likes poetry
Buy the paperback/kindle

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
For your damn self, especially if you're white. Nothing says holiday like a book about racism! Ho Ho HO. This is a book written by a white person specifically for white people who are progressive and think they are beyond racism. Buy it over library it so you can highlight and write in the margins. My copy is highlighted to high heaven. It was a good way to look at myself and my attitudes. Give yourself the gift of reflection and the world the gift of less white fragility and the ability to talk about race. It's not bad to talk about like we've always been taught. p.s. saying "I'm colorblind" is not as good as we were taught it was, either
Buy the paperback/kindle


Other Book-y things

Kindle Unlimited/Audible
Not sure of someone's taste but know they read on an e-reader? Get them a six month Kindle Unlimited membership. If you or a loved one drive a lot, consider signing up for a free 30 day trial of Audible and listen to some books in the car. Even though I am not a good listener, I am in the car alone too much back and forth to the shore and might do this next spring.

Book of the Month Club
Send someone a month and see if they like it. If they do, they can continue it on their own.

E-reader
If you are looking for an e-reader, I recommend the Kindle Paperwhite 100%. I spend a lot of time reading outside and you can do that with this and still see even when you're wearing polarized sunglasses. It's on sale for $99 until 12/23. Prior to this I had two hand me down Amazon Fires from my aunt Lori and they were great but I couldn't read them in the sun.

Book Light
This one is rechargeable and priced well at $12. I use it when I read on the little porch at the shore in the summer.

Happy Friday!