After giving you the 9 non-fiction books we love for Christmas gifts 2023, it is time for fiction! In this post, you’ll be able to find suggestions of not that popular fiction books for Christmas Gifts separated by genre: Classics, Literary Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Fantasy, and Young Adult (YA).
Are you ready for it? Let’s see which are the chosen ones!
Classic Fiction Books for Christmas Gifts
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Three Stories”, by Truman Capote – for the classy-elegant friend
(Goodreads | Storygraph)
A lot of you might be familiar with the film version with the renowned actress Audrey Hepburn. The novel brought to us by Truman Capote presents a scenario in New York back in the 1940s. Our narrator sees his life being crossed with Holly Golightly’s – a heartbreaker and traveller pursued by Mafia gangsters and playboy millionaires, desired by all.
Holly represents an icon when it comes to style, with her up-tight hair, large sunglasses and, what until this day is said as indispensable in a woman’s closet: the little black dress. This is the reason why I believe it is such a fit with, not only the classy-elegant friend we all have and fits Holly’s description, but also for the fashionista who loves the 40s.
However, the book is not only focused on Holly’s adventures and misadventures, as Truman brings three of his best-known short stories: “House of Flowers” about a girl who leaves her life to live with a young man and his grandmother (and quickly regrets it); “A Diamond Guitar” takes us to a prison when the newest inmate arrives with this rhinestone-studded guitar; and, finally, “A Christmas Memory” perfect for this season as it tells the story of a friendship between a young boy and an old woman and drives us through holiday tradition.
“Brave New World”, by Aldous Huxley – for the dystopia obsessed one
(Goodreads | Storygraph)
If your dystopia obsessed friend has read “1984” by George Orwell and loved it: this is the book you’ll surprise them with this Christmas!
Written in 1930, under the rise of fascism, “Brave New World” brings us a technologically advanced future where humans are genetically handmade to fit a specific place in the workforce and in their social life. An authoritarian regime that controls all their lives, freedoms and even souls.
Following a passionate and impossible to let go of narrative, Aldous brings Bernard Marx, the main character, and his journey as he reconsiders his life the way it is.
Despite being written almost a hundred years ago, it is a perfect read (and match) for our days as it speaks directly to a world dominated by mass entertainment, technology, medicine, and pharmaceuticals.
Literary Fiction Books that Make the Ideal Gift this Christmas
I just want to state right here that it was a struggle to only include three books under this section as so many others would be ideal for this Christmas.
“Book Lovers”, by Emily Henry – for the book lover romance girlie
(Goodreads | Storygraph)
Not wanting to seem biased, I’m absolutely obsessed with each and every single book Emily Henry puts out there but this one must be my absolute favourite.
For someone who loves books and loves a good enemies to lovers trope – this is it, this is your match! It is no other than a book about books with this exact trope!
Giving you a bit of the background story: Nora, our main character, has surrounded herself with books her entire life as an editor. For ones she is known as a heroine (mostly, her clients), for others she is a ruthless literary agent – and then, there’s Libby (her sister, whom you and your friend will love!).
They both decide to go together to a community in North Carolina, where one of the books she edited takes part, and have a sister’s away trip (with an important sisters’ trope here too).
This trip couldn’t start worse as she finds her college (I believe) nemesis resides in the community she just arrived and will be staying for the following month.
It is a truly delicious book your friend will love, and you will definitely want to borrow!
“I’m a Fan”, by Sheena Patel – for the one who can’t get their eyes off Instagram
(Goodreads | Storygraph)
This is a book with a unique format as it resembles the social media context, with specific similarities with Instagram descriptions.
Sheena brings us a story from the point of view of a main character, whose name or physical characteristics are never mentioned. Besides, of course, for the fact that our narrator is obsessed about the woman that has a relationship with the man the narrator is also sleeping with.
Starting off with this obsession, the author criticizes very contemporary topics such as social media, relationships, the patriarchy, and our cultural obsession with status and how it is conveyed.
It really is a journey in the form of a roller coast through our narrator’s emotion as sex, politics, work, art and humour are covered in the first novel written by Sheena Patel.
A different read but a very worthy one!
“Cleopatra and Frankenstein”, by Coco Mellors – for those who can appreciate a different type of happy ending
(Goodreads | Storygraph)
If your friend happens to be a Sally Rooney fan who absolutely adores “Conversations with Friends” or “Normal People” – look no more, this is the present for them this Christmas!
There are two main characters in this book: Cleo and Frank, whose lives end up crossing, despite the age gap in-between.
It all starts when our twenty-four-year-old British painter Cleo is a few months from the expiration of her student visa and meets Frank, an extremely successful man that lives his life with all the excesses Cleo can’t afford to. Frank offers that possibility and a chance to happiness, to painting and to applying for her so desired green card.
The narrative follows the changes both lives, and their closed ones, face with as they decide to impulsively get married.
Going through topics such as relationships, financial struggles in early ages, friendship, marriage and mental illness, Coco delivers a cast full of relatable characters and an ending that is just the cherry on top of the cake. Taking the reader through an emotional roller coaster, we laugh, we feel the heartbreak, we want to cry but it is just absolutely brilliant.
Mystery & Thriller Book for Christmas Present
I’m both surprised and disappointed to only have one recommendation in this genre as I believed to be such a fan. It is true a lot of titles are suck in my endless TBR (to be read list). Although I’m currently in progress with “The Housemaid” by Freida Mc Fadden, I promise myself, here, in this post, to try and read more Mystery and Thrillers in 2024.
Let’s see what the option I bring you today as a suggestion for a Christmas present!
“If We Were Villains”, by M. L. Rio – for the dark academia stans
(Goodreads | Storygraph)
“If We Were Villains” is the first novel of M. L. Rio. It starts as our main character, Oliver Marks, is released from jail and greeted by the detective who arrested him ten years ago, wanting to know what really happened prior to his arrest.
Based on an elite arts conservatory, this book immerses the reader in the Shakespearean world and presents us with seven friends on their fourth and final year of the conservatory.
The students are used to play roles while onstage and are suddenly forced to play them off as one of them is found dead and the police investigation starts.
For the lovers of Shakespeare, theatre, or dark academia, “If We Were Villains” is just the perfect fit as it is a book that will have your attention from the beginning.
Even though it is filled with Shakespeare references (as it is the main subject under study of the last year of conservatory), you will be alright reading it without knowledge of cause. I’m not a Shakespeare expert myself and didn’t have trouble navigating through this novel.
Fantasy Book Suggestions for Christmas Presents
“The Song of Achilles”, by Madeline Miller – for the friend looking for the right side of Greek mythology
(Goodreads | Storygraph)
The known Greek myth that ended up naming a part of our bodies is what Madeline Miller’s novel is all about.
With the background of the Greek Heroic Age, “The Song of Achilles” brings us a retelling of the Trojan war in Patroclus’ point of view. Starting with how Patroclus and Achilles, randomly crossed paths, one being exiled from his homeland and the other being known as “the best of all the Greeks”, following to the start of the Trojan War as Helen of Sparta is kidnapped.
After spending 10 years studying and writing this novel, Madeline writes one of the few books that portraits the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus as romantic as it was, rather than a friendship or a servantship.
The study and knowledge of the author on the topic are one of the best reasons for you to choose this as the Christmas gift for your Greek mythology lover friend.
“Stone Blind”, by Natalie Haynes – for the feminist Greek mythology fan
(Goodreads | Storygraph)
Natalie Haynes, alongside our just mentioned Madeline Miller, Margaret Atwood, and many other female authors, take part in a group of writers dedicated to retelling some stories we are all very familiar with in Greek mythology, reclaiming the roles women had in them.
We’re all probably aware of Medusa and how evil she was, right? Wrong.
In “Stone Blind” Natalie Haynes shares the true story of Medusa – who is she, where she came from and what happened to her.
But, because Medusa’s story is not only about her but also about those around her and what they did to her, this book also takes us through a variety of other personas very known from Greek mythology.
Even though it can be intense to read for a beginner in the topic, as I were when reading it, Natalie brings such a captivating narrative that culminates with the perfect context for you to understand all and everything about Medusa’s misfortunes in life.
“Before the Coffee Gets Cold”, by Toshikazu Kawaguchi – for the one who’s been delaying his trip to Japan
(Goodreads | Storygraph)
For the one who can’t stop obsessing over the Japanese culture and dreams and dreams about going to Japan – “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” is just the book to offer this Christmas!
Toshikazu takes us to a small alley in Tokyo where a very special café is located. In this a hundred-year-old place, magic things happen as a unique experience is offered: the possibility to travel back in time.
Through the histories of four visitors, who expect to go back to a specific moment, we can learn more about the Japanese culture, the particularities of time travel and the people who ran the café.
However, such possibility doesn’t come without a catch and that is for the traveller to come back before the coffee gets cold, which can be a trouble when you’re facing your long-lost loved ones.
This book is truly a gigantic hug in the form of words, sentences, and chapters, bringing us a perfect read for this wintery holiday season.
Young Adult Books that Make Perfect Gifts
I’d like to start this fifth and last section by clarifying the concept of “Young Adult”, as I have come to have it clarified for me very recently as well.
Some might believe it stands for literature written specifically for those in the young adult phase of their lives. “Young Adult” genre is literature with a main character belonging to that age group and, in which, the centre of the plot engages with problematics of this population.
Having this clarified, let’s dive right into the two suggestions I have for you!
“American Royals”, by Katharine McGee – for those who always look for a good royal drama
(Goodreads | Storygraph)
“American Royals” premise replies to the simple question of: what if America had a royal family?
In our contemporary times, we’re presented with the three siblings from which America’s heir will come: Princess Beatrice, the older and future queen of America; Princess Samantha, the spare reckless middle sister; and her twin, Prince Jefferson, a bachelor desired by the entire country and two young women willing to really fight for him.
For the lovers of Gossip Girl, imagine as if all of them had Royal blood and this is your book. The amount of drama makes you unable to put it down as you’re just wishing to know what will happen next.
The first book of a series of six books (and I believe counting… I know… I’m still trying to find the time myself) is just the perfect gift for a gossip fan!
“Red, White and Royal Blue”, by Casey McQuiston – for the one who can’t take the British Royal Family off their head
(Goodreads | Storygraph)
I believe this book won’t pass unknown by much, especially those who are usually on streaming platforms. Why? “Red, White and Royal Blue” was such a hit that it became a film (available on Amazon Prime).
In another platonic royal universe (I don’t know what is in me, but it seems I have a clear Young Adult subgenre), the first son of the United States (Alex) and the Prince of the United Kingdom (Henry) are portrayed as enemies, as photos of a confrontation during the Royal Wedding of Henry’s brother become public.
Threatening the relationship of the two countries during the approach of elections in the United States, a plan for damage control is put into practice and, with that, our narrative unfolds.
This is the type of book that, even though there is a movie, I would still recommend reading as every single detail of the story line is delicious and delivered in the best way by Casey.
It has come the end of suggestions of fiction books for Christmas gifts.
Has this post helped you deciding what to give this Christmas? Let me know in the comment section if any of these options will be under a Christmas tree this year 🙂