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    The Ultimate Book Gift Guide Of 2019: 56 Books For Every Person In Your Life

    Including children's lit, YA, romance, true crime, fantasy, and more!

    Isabel Daly
    by Isabel Daly

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Books for Kids

    1. Here We Are: Notes for Living On Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers.

    Harper Collins Children's Books / Via amazon.co.uk

    Earth is a weird place, especially if you've recently arrived. Luckily, we have Jeffer's exquisite book to break down and explain the complexities of Earth one picture at a time.

    Ages: 3-6

    Price: £10.45

    2. Fantastically Great Women Who Made History by Kate Pankhurst.

    Bloomsbury Children's Books / Via amazon.co.uk

    From Ada Lovelace to Sayyida al-Hurra, history is full of powerful women who changed the world. Fantastically Great Women Who Made History is a celebration of these wonderful women and it overflows with engaging texts and delightful illustrations.

    Ages: 5-7 years old.

    Price: £3.50

    3. Stories for Boys Who Dare To Be Different, written by Ben Brooks and illustrated by Quentin Winters.

    Quercus / Via amazon.co.uk

    Most children's books tell boys that they can be a Prince Charming, a Dragon Slayer, a Mischievous Prankster, and not much else. This revolutionary book provides young boys with much-needed alternative stories about masculinity. It's a compilation of 100 stories of real men who changed the world without being stereotypically masculine: Galileo Galilei, Nelson Mandela, Louis Braille, Lionel Messi, King George VI, etc. A brilliant read!

    Age Range: 9-12 years.

    Price: £14.00

    4. The Field Guide by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi.

    Simon and Schuster / Via amazon.co.uk

    A deliciously spooky story, The Field Guide is the first installment in The Spiderwick Chronicles. The saga begins when Jared Grace finds his great uncle's supernatural field guide and stumbles into a world of faeries, boggarts, and other, less pleasant, things that go bump in the night. It's one of those books that kids will secretly read past their bedtimes under the covers with a torch in hand.

    Ages: 7-10

    Prices: £7.99

    5. Murder Most Unladylike written by Robin Stevens and illustrated by Nina Tara.

    Puffin / Via amazon.co.uk

    Miss Bell, the Science Mistress at the Deepdean School for Girls, is found dead in the gym before her body mysteriously disappears. Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong, two precocious students at Deepdean, must not only solve the murder but prove that the murder took place at all. Full of twists and turns, Murder Most Unladylike (the first in a delightful series) is sure to keep young readers on the edge of their seat.

    Ages: 9-11 years.

    Price: £4.72

    6. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.

    Puffin / Via amazon.co.uk

    The Percy Jackson series became an instant classic upon publication, spawning sequels, spin-offs, and a hilarious musical. Its success stems from Riordan's wit, guaranteed to make both parents and children giggle. The series also represents kids with dyslexia and ADHD, while providing an intro to Greek mythology.

    Ages: 10-13 years.

    Price: £5.24

    Books For Teens/YA Enthusiasts

    7. Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram.

    Penguin / Via amazon.co.uk

    If they enjoyed Aristotle and Dante Discover the Universe, they'll love this book. It follows Darius Keller, a boy who speaks more Klingon than Farsi, and his first trip to Iran. In the chaos of the culture clash, he meets his neighbour Sohrab. The two teens form an instant connection, and Darius, who has always felt torn between two cultures, finally starts to feel like he's found his home.

    Price: £6.53

    8. The Art of White Roses by Viviana Prada-Núñez.

    Papillote Press / Via amazon.co.uk

    Set in 1957 Cuba, The Art of The White Roses is an award-winning novel about youth in the midst of personal and national tragedies. Adela Santiago, our protagonist, is only 13 years old, but she sees how people are disappearing from the streets, how her parents' marriage is starting to crumble, and how revolution is brewing in Havana. Núñez's masterful debut novel may be historical fiction, but its themes couldn't be more modern.

    Price: £7.99

    9. If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann.

    Swoon Reads / Via amazon.co.uk

    A fun and heartwarming coming of age novel, If It Makes You Happy begins with Winnie living her "best fat girl life" the summer before she starts university. She's making loads of tips working at her grandmother's diner, and she can see her "ungirlfriend" whenever she wants. However, when Minnie's small town crowns her Summer Queen, she's forced into the small-town spotlight. Her perfect summer becomes endangered by constant photoshoots, community engagements, and mandatory hang-outs with the exhaustingly earnest Summer King.

    Price: £9.79

    10. The Exact Opposite by Laura Steven.

    Electric Monkey / Via amazon.co.uk

    Izzy O'Neil is not okay. After explicit photos involving her and a politician's son are published online, her life becomes a slut-shaming nightmare. Fed up with double standards, male entitlement, and society's deep hatred for teenage girls, Izzy decides to become the heroine of her own story. The Exact Opposite of Okay is a great read for burgeoning feminists.

    Price: £5.75

    11. Killing November by Adriana Mather.

    Ember / Via amazon.co.uk

    The Academy Absconditi trains the children of the elite on the art of espionage and assassination. This secretive boarding school has no electricity, no internet, and an eye-for-an-eye punishment system. When an unauthorised murder takes place, November must figure out who she can and can't trust before the crime gets pinned on her (or she becomes the next victim). It's Gossip Girl meets The Hunger Games, and you can't find a more thrilling page turner.

    Price: £8.54

    12. Finding Yvonne by Brandy Colbert.

    Brown / Via amazon.co.uk

    Written by the author of Pointe and Little & Lion, Finding Yvonne is an emotional journey about family, ambition, and identity. As graduation comes closer and closer, the chances of Yvonne, a talented violinist, attending a music school gets smaller and smaller. To make matters worse, Yvonne becomes pregnant. She must face an uncertain future and make her most difficult decision yet. It's a well-written exploration of family, duty, and the perils of young love.

    Price: £12.99

    Books For Hardcore Bookworms

    13. My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaité.

    Atlantic Books / Via amazon.co.uk

    Longlisted for the Booker Prize? Check. Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction? Check. Winner of the 2019 LA Times Award for Best Crime Thriller AND Capital Crime Debut Author of the Year? Check and check. This literary masterpiece has earned its decorations. Braithwaité weaves a funny and dark story about a woman constantly cleaning up after her sister's murders.

    Price: £6.20

    14. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong.

    Johnathan Cape / Via amazon.co.uk

    A bestseller on both The New York Times AND The Sunday Times, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous is a debut novel that will not be ignored. The story is a brutally honest letter from protagonist Little Dog to his mother; Ocean Vuong writes about trauma with such grace and compassion. It's one of those books that forever leaves a mark on its reader.

    Price: £9.08

    15. Milkman by Anna Burns.

    Faber & Faber / Via amazon.co.uk

    Winner of the 2018 Man Booker Prize and shortlisted for the 2019 Women's Prize for Fiction, Milkman is an abstract novel that has captivated literary fiends from around the globe. It's a story about gossip, silence, and the consequences of passivity.

    Price: £6.04

    16. Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney.

    Faber & Faber / Via amazon.co.uk

    It was Sally Rooney's other book, Normal People, that really took off in 2019. But her lesser-known debut novel, Conversations With Friends, holds its own. It's a well-written commentary about love, sex, and friendship in the 21st-century, brimming with frustrating yet compelling characters.

    Price: £6.08

    Books for True Crime Addicts

    17. My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf.

    Abrams / Via amazon.co.uk

    Author Derf Backderf actually attended high school with, and briefly befriended, Jeffrey Dahmer. After graduation, Backderf became a successful cartoonist, and Dahmer became one of the most notorious serial killers in the world. This graphic novel is Backderf's recollection and reflection upon his time with Dahmer. This thoughtful memoir wonders what makes a murderer and how to make sense of unimaginable violence.

    Price: £10.49

    18. Billion Dollar Whale by Tom Wright and Bradley Hope.

    Scribe / Via amazon.co.uk

    Over the course of ten years, Jho Low swindled $5 billion right under the noses of global financial industry watchdogs. He used this money to fund elections, throw massive, Gatsby-esque parties, finance the The Wolf of Wall Street film – and all with the help of Goldman Sachs. Billion Dollar Whale breaks down the white-collar crime of the century in a compelling book that proves the truth is stranger than fiction.

    Price: £7.19

    19. The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale.

    Walker and Company / Via amazon.co.uk

    Inspector Jonathan Whicher is the most famous detective you've never heard of. He's the inspiration behind some of the most iconic fictional detectives, from Sgt. Cuff to Sam Spade. In the summer of 1860, Whicher investigated the shocking murder of a child and quickly suspected that the perpetrator was a relative of the victim. His suspicions were widely rejected by Victorian society. Whicher's reputation crumbled, but his determination never wavered.

    Price: £3.82

    20. Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow.

    Fleet / Via amazon.co.uk

    Catch and Kill is a feat of investigative journalism. Ronan Farrow, who won a Pulitzer for his 2017 article that helped spark the #MeToo movement, delves into the rampant abuses of power that silence survivors of abuse through tactics of intimidation and espionage. It's a book that will forever change the way you look at the world.

    Price: £14.99

    21. Party Monster by James St. James.

    Simon & Schuster / Via amazon.co.uk

    The Club Kids went from club to club in '90s NYC, promoting venues, wearing elaborate costumes, and ingesting lethal amounts of drugs. Celebrities in their own right, they influenced the fashion world and attracted the attention of artists like Björk. Their party empire crumbled overnight after Robert D. "Freeze" Riggs and Michael Alig, the founder of Club Kids, brutally murdered fellow Club Kid and purported drug dealer Andre 'Ange' Mendez. Party Monster is a glittery, gory story about greed, privilege, and hedonism in a city that never sleeps.

    Price: £8.16

    22. One Last Job: The True Story of Brian Reader, The Man Behind The Hatton Garden Heist by Tom Pettifor and Nick Sommerlad.

    Mirror Books / Via amazon.co.uk

    One Last Job is a thoroughly researched biography of Brian Reader, the man who orchestrated the burglary of over £40 million worth of jewellery at the age of 71. Pettifor and Sommerland interview Reader's friends and associates to try and pin down the character of the UK's most enigmatic thief.

    Price: £6.47

    Books For People Who Love Romance

    23. One Day In December by Josie Silver.

    Penguin / Via amazon.co.uk

    Love-at-first-sight may sound romantic, but it's actually extremely annoying. That's what Laurie discovers when she instantly falls for a stranger at a bus stop...who ends up dating Sarah, Laurie's best friend. For fans of Jojo Moyes and Lucy Diamond, One Day in December is a guaranteed hit.

    Price: £5.19

    24. They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera.

    Simon & Schuster / Via amazon.co.uk

    Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emetrio meet through "Last Friend," an app designed to connect people who are both going to die in 24 hours. Together, they decide to make every minute of their last day count. Simultaneously heartwarming and heartwrenching, They Both Die At The End is a clever romance that joins the ranks of The Notebook and Me Before You.

    Price: £5.75

    25. Meet Cute by Helena Hunting.

    Piatkus / Via amazon.co.uk

    Meet Cute is a heartwarming Hollywood romance between Daxton Hughes, a former actor, and Kailyn Flowers, his former biggest fan. Daxton and Kailyn attend the same law school and quickly become academic rivals. Their friendly competition turns sour, and Kailyn plans to never see Daxton after graduation. Eight years later, he walks into Kailyn's office seeking legal assistance in setting up a trust for his little sister. Sparks fly, and the former competitors realise that they have quite a bit in common.

    Price: £6.47

    26. Love From A To Z by S.K. Ali.

    Salaam Reads / Via amazon.co.uk

    After being suspended for standing up to her Islamophobic teacher, Zayneb is heading over to Qatar to spend some time with her aunt. She crosses paths with Adam, a student who stopped attending classes after being diagnosed with MS and is exhausted from constantly hiding his medical condition from his grieving father. Together, Adam and Zayneb feel like themselves for the first time in ages.

    Price: £9.35

    27. The Proposal by Jamine Guillory.

    Headline Eternal / Via amazon.co.uk

    A failed proposal that goes viral unexpectedly brings strangers Nikole Paterson and Carlos Ibarra together. At first, neither of them view their fling as anything serious. However, their casual hook-ups slowly but surely become something deeper. Will either of them be brave enough to face their feelings?

    Price: £6.47

    28. To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han.

    Scholastic Press / Via amazon.co.uk

    To All The Boys I've Loved Before is perhaps the best romantic comedy of the 2010s. Nay, the best romantic comedy of the 21st century. A YA story that's enjoyable at any age, Jenny Han's novel is a heartwarming masterpiece that everyone should read.

    Price: £5.75

    Books For People Who Love To Laugh

    29. Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams.

    Trapeze / Via amazon.co.uk

    Despite her royal name, Queenie Jenkins is living a less-than-regal life. Her boss doesn't see her, her family doesn't listen to her, and Tom, her long term boyfriend, is taking a break from her. In Queenie, author Candice Carty-Williams expertly wields her dark sense of humour to explore themes of race, love, and family. Expect to be laughing one minute and weeping the next.

    Price: £9.35

    30. Twas The Nightshift Before Christmas by Adam Kay.

    Picador / Via amazon.co.uk

    Doctor-turned-comedian Adam Kay delves back into his hospital days for a festive sequel to his hit book This Is Going To Hurt. It's a hilarious ode to the people who spend the festive season suturing wounds, pumping stomachs, and removing a variety of items from people's bodies.

    Price: £5.00

    31. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

    Transworld Publishers / Via amazon.co.uk

    Who knew the end of the world could be so funny? This hit book, recently adapted into an award-winning miniseries on Amazon Prime, follows an angel and a demon, teaming up to stop the Antichrist. Behind Pratchett and Gaiman's witty prose, Good Omens is actually a pretty moving statement on the value of humanity.

    Price: £8.79

    32. The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish.

    Gallery / Via amazon.co.uk

    After her break-out role in Girls Trip, Tiffany Haddish took the world by storm. But this hilarious star had a rocky road to success. The Last Black Unicorn is a down-to-earth, moving, funny as hell memoir of how Haddish used humour to survive a pretty rough childhood.

    Price: £14.02

    33. Hyperbole and A Half by Allie Brosh.

    Square Peg / Via amazon.co.uk

    Allie Brosh adapted Hyperbole And A Half, her popular blog that invented the 'Do ALL the things' meme, into one of the most hilarious books of the decade. Brosh can find humour and heart in any story, whether she's recounting the time that a goose broke into her house or the existential tale of the time she never got around to returning a DVD to Blockbuster.

    Price: £8.63

    Books For Cooks

    34. Tasty: Latest And Greatest by Tasty.

    Ebury Press / Via amazon.co.uk

    From Buzzfeed's very own cooking brand comes the highly anticipated cookbook, with easy-to-follow recipes that result in delicious and photogenic dishes. It includes recipes for meat-lovers and vegans alike, plus decadent desserts that are sure to please.

    Price: £11.80

    35. Dishoom by Shamil Thrakar, Naved Nasir, and Kavi Thrakar.

    Bloomsbury Publishing / Via amazon.co.uk

    Finally, popular restaurant Dishoom reveals the recipes for their scrumptious food like the bacon naan roll, black daal, okra fries, and more!

    Price: £15.96

    36. Wagamama: Feed Your Soul by Wagamama Limited.

    Kyle Books / Via amazon.co.uk

    Everybody loves Wagamama! This helpful book is full of recipes for every occasion. It even teaches you how to make gyoza!

    Price: £9.94

    37. The Roasting Tin: Simple One Dish Dinners by Rukmini Iyer.

    Square Peg / Via amazon.co.uk

    Simple often means delicious. If you know someone who likes to cook but doesn't have a lot of time, this down-to-earth recipe book makes the perfect gift.

    Price: £7.00

    Books for Adults Who Loved Harry Potter

    38. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.

    Vintage / Via amazon.co.uk

    One of the most successful books written during NaNoWriMo, The Night Circus features beautiful writing, complex world-building, and a slow-burn romance sure to warm the heart of any reader. Two strangers are unknowingly locked in deadly competition at the heart of the Circus of Dreams, an impossible and enchanting spectacle that appears without notice.

    Price: £6.29

    39. A Darker Shade Of Magic by V.E. Schwab.

    Titan Books / Via amazon.co.uk

    The first book in the Shades of Magic trilogy, A Darker Shade of Magic follows Kell, one of the last people with the gift of travelling between the parallel Londons. It's a compelling tale of magic, madness, and alternate universes.

    Price: £5.75

    40. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater.

    Scholastic / Via amazon.co.uk

    From the bestselling author of The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy, The Raven Boys has everything a fantasy book needs: magic, mystery, star-crossed lovers, and a most unlikely friendship. The Raven Boys is the first of four books in the addictive The Raven Cycle series.

    Price: £7.99

    41. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi.

    Macmillan / Via amazon.co.uk

    Toni Adeyemi draws inspiration from West Africa to create a world full of dark magic, revenge, and danger. In it, Zélie, one of the last few people in Orïsha with the power to wield magic, allies herself with a rebel princess to return magic to her home after the establishment of an anti-magic monarchy. This YA masterpiece is a refreshing alternative to all the Eurocentric fantasy novels out there.

    Price: £5.75

    42. The Magicians by Lev Grossman.

    Arrow / Via amazon.co.uk

    The Magicians, fondly dubbed by fans as 'Harry Potter but college,' begins with a mystery. Quentin Coldwater shows up for an entrance interview at Princeton. Unfortunately, he finds his interviewer to be very much dead. Suddenly, Quentin is at the heart of a mysterious magical community where all is not as it seems.

    Price: £8.99

    Books For Film And TV Buffs

    43. Fleabag: The Scriptures by Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

    Sceptre / Via amazon.co.uk

    Is there a more iconic television show than Fleabag? The constant breaking of the fourth wall, the guinea pig-themed cafe, and, of course, Hot Priest. Fleabag: The Scriptures is a combination of new writing from Phoebe Waller-Bridge alongside her tragicomic filming scripts for the Fleabag series.

    Price: £7.99

    44. 1001 Movies To See Before You Die by Steven Jay Schneider.

    Cassell / Via amazon.co.uk

    Do you know someone who spends ages scrolling through Netflix? This book ensures that they'll always have something to watch. This book contains 500 original movie posters, hundreds of stunning movie stills, quotes from movie directors and critics, and fun trivia about each movie! The film recommends films from every genre imaginable. Whether they prefer Spike Lee or Nancy Meyers, this book has something for everyone.

    Price: £10.00

    45. If It's Purple, Someone's Gonna Die by Patti Bellantoni.

    Routledge / Via amazon.co.uk

    A staple in film studies classes, Patti Bellantoni's illuminating (pun intended) book has guided countless filmmakers in their colour selections. Bellantoni conducted over twenty-five years of research on the effects of colour on behaviour, and the results are fascinating. A perfect gift for an aspirational filmmaker.

    Price: £28.99

    46. Writing Movies For Fun And Profit by Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon.

    Touchstone / Via amazon.co.uk

    Screenwriting duo Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon have written blockbuster after blockbuster. This hilarious book peels back the curtain of their success, and they break down the absolute madness of being a screenwriter in Hollywood – from getting an agent to the production hierarchy. It's both a practical guide for anyone who wants to break into the business and a fascinating exposé of the Hollywood machine that will delight any cinephile.

    Price: £4.99

    47. The Making of Star Wars by J.W. Rinzler.

    Lucas Books / Via amazon.co.uk

    George Lucas's low budget film starring completely unknown actors changed cinema forever. This book is a stunning behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film that defined a generation.

    Price: £30.14

    Books For History Buffs

    48. Young & Damned & Fair by Gareth Russell.

    William Collins / Via amazon.co.uk

    Catherine Howard was done dirty by her husband AND by centuries of historians. After her beheading at the age of 18 (again, she was 18 YEARS OLD), Catherine was painted as a politically irrelevant, dimwitted flirt. Russell reexamines the most dismissed wife of Henry VIII, and the result is equally refreshing and tragic. Young & Fair & Damned is a historical account of a young woman struggling to navigate a nightmarish court.

    Price: £9.99

    49. Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow.

    Head of Zeus / Via amazon.co.uk

    This thoroughly researched and compelling book inspired Hamilton, the Tony award-winning musical/cultural phenomena. Even the five people who haven't gotten caught up in the Hamilmania will be enraptured by Chernow's account of an orphan overcoming poverty, disease, and loss to become one of the most influential figures in American history.

    Price: £10.50

    50. Black And British: A Forgotten History by David Olusoga.

    Pan / Via amazon.co.uk

    In this comprehensive book, historian David Olusogga reveals a complicated and troubling history between the British Isles and the people of Africa and the Caribbean. He studies Elizabethan ‘blackamoors’, the global slave-trading empire, the relationship between industrialism and American slavery, and the importance of Black Britons in both World Wars.

    Price: £9.35

    51. Hell In A Very Small Place: The Siege Of Dien Bien Phu by Bernard Fall.

    Da Capo Press / Via amazon.co.uk

    This critically acclaimed military history of the 1954 battle of Dien Bien Phu is sure to fascinate the historian in your life. This thorough account of a battle, where a guerrilla force of Viet Minh destroyed a technologically superior French army, foreshadows and gives context to the complexities of the Vietnam War.

    Price: £16.99

    52. Beautiful Idiots and Brilliant Lunatics: A Sideways Look at Twentieth-Century London by Rob Baker.

    Amberly Publishing / Via amazon.co.uk

    Based on the popular London history website, Beautiful Idiots and Brilliant Lunatics is a collection of fascinating, true stories about London in the twentieth century. This book has everything from suffragettes to high society scandals, prostitutes to protests, and beauty queens to criminals. Rob Baker celebrates the rich tapestry of London's history with an infectious sense of wonder.

    Price: £10.49

    Books For People Who Don't Have A Lot of Free Time

    53. 1001 Photographs To See Before You Die by Paul Lowe and Fred Ritchen.

    Cassell / Via amazon.co.uk

    This collection includes photographs of art, fashion, war, and nature. Their subjects may vary, but each image is captivating in its own way. A coffee table book anyone would enjoy.

    Price: £10.00

    54. That Glance of Truth: 100 Of The Finest Short Stories Ever Written by David Miller.

    Head of Zeus / Via amazon.co.uk

    A good short story is a powerful thing. David Miller has carefully selected 100 thought-provoking short stories from the likes of Kate Atkinson, Anton Chekhov, Charles Dickens, and Roald Dahl.

    Price: £10.46

    55. More Letters of Note: Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience by Shaun Usher.

    Canongate Unbound / Via amazon.co.uk

    Following the success of Letters of Note, Shaun Usher returns with an even more fascinating compilation of brilliant letters. The collection includes Richard Burton's farewell note to his two-time wife Elizabeth Taylor, Helen Keller's letter to The New York Symphony Orchestra, and a young David Bowie's response to his first piece of American fan mail.

    Price: £17.99

    56. Vogue 100: A Century of Style by Robin Muir.

    National Portrait Gallery / Via amazon.co.uk

    This book pays tribute to the most iconic moments of Vogue fashion and photography. From famous covers to recently rediscovered gems, the Vogue 100 collection is the ultimate coffee table book and the perfect gift for fashionistas.

    Price: £17.97