Michelle Obama’s last book, Becoming, was one of the most insightful, inspiring, and downright compelling books I’ve read in the past several years. Her latest work, The Light We Carry, could not have come at a better time. With its empowering messages and real strategies to find hope and connection in today’s world, it truly is the perfect pick this holiday season, and one I’m definitely going to be giving to multiple people this year.

Find more of Haley’s book recommendations here.

My husband, Nick, is a huge baseball fan and adores the work of Roger Angell, the essayist and famed baseball writer, who passed away in May of 2022 at the age of 101. Nick has a few volumes of Angell’s writings on baseball (including a signed copy he once found in a used bookstore!), but for the holidays this year, I’m getting him Roger Angell’s This Old Man. It’s a collection of essays that Angell compiled in 2016, at the tender age of 95. The essays are both humorous and wise, and reflect on Angell’s life well lived.

Find more of Abbe’s book recommendations here.

This is such a great gift – even if the recipient isn’t a big reader. Mindy Kaling’s voice shines in this collection of hilarious essays. I would truly read anything she writes and recommend giving this to your friend who is a fan of her work, including The Office, The Mindy Project, and Never Have I Ever. They’ll get a behind the scenes look at some of their favorite shows and laugh-out-loud stories from one of the best comedy writers around.

Find more of Sarah’s book recommendations here.

My go-to book to gift is Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. The first time I read it I was completely sucked into the story from chapter one and only got more invested from there! This story has suspenseful high-stakes action, hilarious comedy, and heart-warming companionship. A perfect book for sci-fi newbies and lovers alike. It opened my eyes to how immersive and fantastic sci-fi books are and I hope to give friends and family that same realization by gifting it this year.

I’m purchasing HYPERtheticals as a gift because it has brought me hours of entertainment and started some really thought provoking conversations with my friends, colleagues, and family! This gift is perfect for anyone who loves good ice breakers, has a great imagination, and/or never stops asking “what if?”

I read this book in one sitting (and that never happens!). I often pick up a romance to “clear the cache” and indulge in a predictably happy ending that leaves me feeling fulfilled and entertained. I got so much more with One to Watch: The heroine is smart, multifaceted, and fully human. The story is equal parts sweet and poignant. This book felt like hanging out with a good friend. It’s a no-brainer gift for romance lovers looking for a tale that’s a cut above and a heroine that you root for and identify with wholeheartedly.

I originally bought this cookbook for myself, and I loved it so much I’m giving a copy to my sister this year. She cooks dishes from all over the world, and I can’t wait to see (and eat) the dishes she’ll make from it. This cookbook shares recipes by women from eight East African countries and the culmination is the perfect blend of recipes, history, and personal stories. This is the gift for the traveler or chef in your life!