2023 Holiday Gift Guide: Part 2

In Part 2 of the Musing Holiday Gift Guide, we have a new roundup of booksellers sharing their favorite books of the year! Need nonfiction recs? Look no further than Andy’s favorites. Is fantasy more your speed? Jenny’s picks are for you! Looking for gifts for young readers? Chelsea, Rae Ann, and Jordan have some ideas. And don’t forget about our subscription boxes! They make great gifts for folks who are searching for new reads all year round. Scroll to the bottom of the post for the December Sprout, Spark, and ParnassusNext picks!

ANDY’S FAVORITES And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle

By Jon Meacham

Now out in paperback, Meacham explores how–and why–Lincoln confronted secession, threats to democracy, and the tragedy of slavery to expand the possibilities of America. An important work in today’s political climate.

The Deadline: Essays

By Jill Lepore

One of the best historians writing today. Lepore offers insight into many of today’s most pressing issues. On topics big and small, personal, and political, Lepore will offer the reader a new and insightful perspective.

Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypt’s Ancient Temples from Destruction

By Lynne Olson

The building of the Aswan High Dam on the Nile in the 1960’s created a race against time to save many Egyptian temples from the flood waters. Olson has found another unsung heroine in Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt who led the fight to save these temples. Weaving ancient history, the plundering of archaeological sites, the Suez Crisis of 1956 and more while telling of this woman’s courageous fight against unsurmountable odds is an incredibly readable and fascinating tale.

Golf Architecture for Normal People: Sharpening Your Course Design Eye to Make Golf (Slightly) Less Maddening

By Geoff Shackelford

Geoff Shackelford is one of the country’s experts on golf design. He takes the reader through golf architecture in reader-friendly, humorous manner while imparting why understanding golf design can improve one’s score and appreciation for the game. This book will help golfers of all skill levels become keener observers while getting more joy out of playing any course.

CHELSEA’S FAVORITES All the Sinners Bleed: A Novel

By S. A. Cosby

Cosby’s latest twisty, real-life inspired thriller makes readers consider the weight of racism, institutional religion, and justice. I could not put this down. Perfect for anyone looking for this year’s hottest mystery.

When Crack Was King: A People’s History of a Misunderstood Era

By Donovan X. Ramsey

Longlisted for the National Book Award, this debut does what the best nonfiction does: examines history and encourages the reader to fully examine and understand the legacy of that history. An engrossing and accessible read.

Warrior Girl Unearthed

By Angeline Boulley

Easily one of my top reads of this year, Warrior Girl Unearthed is a page-turning heist novel that not only entertained me but educated me. A great gift for any teen reader in your life.

HEATH’S FAVORITES Small Mercies: A Detective Mystery

By Dennis Lehane

Set in the summer of 1974 on the eve of the Boston Public Schools being integrated, a high school girl from Southie goes missing and her mother, Mary Pat, will do whatever it takes to find her. While Mary Pat is definitely flawed, it was refreshing to not only see a woman as the main character in this type of narrative, but also as the most badass. This is one of Lehane’s best.

Return to Valetto: A Novel

By Dominic Smith

An American widower visits his eccentric aunts and grandmother in their family’s medieval villa in a nearly abandoned Italian village, and drama ensues. A life-altering family secret from WWII comes to surface, and the family must learn how to reconcile with the past. This is Beautiful Ruins-adjacent, and the descriptions of scenery, food, and wine made me feel like I was in Italy.

Speech Team: A Novel

By Tim Murphy

Now well into their 40’s, former members of the high school speech team decide to confront their coach who made disparaging and lasting comments to each of them. This is about the power of words and how they can affect us, but there are also some hilarious moments. Come for the totally rad 80’s references and stay for the heart.

JENNY’S FAVORITES The Jasad Heir (The Scorched Throne #1)

By Sara Hashem

The Jasad Heir is an intriguing Egyptian-influenced fantasy following Sylvia, the lost queen of Jasad. Hidden away from the world, she accidentally reveals her magic to her archnemesis Arin, the heir of the rival kingdom. Struggling to keep her queenship a secret, Sylvia teams up with Arin in a deadly game of magic that will make her question everything–and everyone– she thought she knew.

Divine Rivals: A Novel (Letters of Enchantment #1)

By Rebecca Ross

For Iris Winnow, life has never been easy. In a magical world at war with itself, it is all Iris can do to just stay alive. Her journalistic rival, the wealthy and handsome Roman Kitt, doesn’t make matters any easier. However, Iris has a secret getting her through this war: secret letters delivered through a magical portal. As Iris finds herself in the frontlines, will she have the courage to love in the midst of a divine war?

JORDAN’S FAVORITES Evil Eye: A Novel

By Etaf Rum

If you are craving a fresh and emotional coming-of-age story for adults and about adults, then this is the book for you. Yara, a Palestinian-American woman seeks to know and love herself better while unpacking the guilt of knowing she has more freedom than her mama and teta could dream of. Yara balances honoring her culture and herself while learning about generational trauma and breaking the cycle of abuse.

Is This Normal?: Judgment-Free Straight Talk about Your Body

By Dr. Jolene Brighten, NMD

I have a feeling this book will live on my nightstand forever because even after I finished reading it, I am constantly wanting to look back at it for reference. Remember the puberty books we all got when we were 12? This is like that, but for adults.

The Vanderbeekers Ever After

By Karina Yan Glaser

This beloved series, which has been charming readers of all ages since 2017 has come to an emotional yet satisfying conclusion this year with the seventh installment. If you have not read any of the Vanderbeekers books before, grab the entire series but be sure to have a box of tissues with this one.

LAUREN’S FAVORITES Fourth Wing (The Empyrean #1)

By Rebecca Yarros

I still can’t put Fourth Wing down! Dragons, special powers, spicy love interests, and a powerful heroine. Fourth Wing is the perfect mix between Divergent by Veronica Roth and the film How To Train Your Dragon.

The Burnout: A Novel

By Sophie Kinsella

After a break down at work, Sasha decides to take a relaxing holiday to the beach she visited as a child. Sasha learns to love life and herself again – and possibly a man at the hotel. This book is perfect for anyone who has felt burnt out by the corporate world or life in general.

Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma

By Claire Dederer

Claire Dederer beautifully explores the fine line between the artist and the art. Are we able to separate these two when the artist has done horrible things? And when do we classify someone as a monster in this complex, biographical society?

MARCIA’S FAVORITES Just the Nicest Couple

By Mary Kubica

Attention, suspense readers! A surgeon leaves for work one morning after a fight with his wife and doesn’t come back home. Did he leave his marriage or has something more sinister happened? Who was the last person to see him and what do they know? I stayed up way too late reading this and have zero regrets about it. So good!

Pineapple Street

By Jenny Jackson

I devoured this book in just over two days! A humorous and wildly entertaining novel about an uber-rich family in Brooklyn coming to terms with their wealth and how best to deal with it. Take this book on your spring break trip!

Mother-Daughter Murder Night

By Nina Simon

Lana Rubicon is a LA real estate force to be reckoned with. Until her diagnosis. She then finds herself moving in with her daughter and granddaughter in their small beach bungalow as she works through her illness. She also finds herself completely bored. Until there’s a dead body and her granddaughter is a suspect. There is nothing better in my opinion than a mystery beach read!

RAE ANN’S FAVORITES The Secret Book of Flora Lea: A Novel

By Patti Callahan Henry

Two sisters evacuated from London during the Blitz are held together by a story they invent about a magical land called Whisperwood, until one disappears. Twenty years later, a book called Whisperwood lands in Hazel’s hands reopening old wounds and cracking open the door of hope that her sister might be alive.

What the River Knows: A Novel (Secrets of the Nile #1)

By Isabel Ibañez

Inez Olivera sails to Egypt after the tragic death of her archeologist parents with a ring steeped in old world magic. She attempts to follow the ring and elude her uncle’s handsome assistant to solve the secrets of her parents’ quest in this immersive historical fantasy.

The Labors of Hercules Beal

By Gary D. Schmidt

Herc Jones is the smallest kid in his class. His school assignment to replicate the Twelve Labors of Hercules in real life and write about them takes him on an unexpected journey in his family, school, and community.

SISSY’S FAVORITES Time’s Mouth: A Novel

By Edan Lepucki

While Lepucki pulls the past into her novel, there’s nothing sweet or sentimental about her writing. Generational trauma chases her characters as they run from one another, and collide with one another. She’s a master of creating a beautiful setting that can hold deep darkness. While one child runs from pain and forms a cult, another child runs from the cult to free himself from pain. Gripping!

Congratulations, The Best Is Over!: Essays

By R. Eric Thomas

Like David Sedaris, Thomas hilarious and gets deeper and more introspective with each work. I really connected with this book as I faced the same feelings in my thirties… was I really an adult? What on earth was I going to achieve in my life?!?! If you need a lift, this will do it.

Soulfull: A Weekly Devotional to Nourish the Mind, Body, and Spirit

By Farrell Mason

I am … an easily overwhelmed person. Farrell and I have spoken again and again about my loves, my hates, what I can do, and what I simply cannot. I want peace and I do not want foolishness. I want rest and I do not want busy-ness. She’s written a devotional book just for me. I may not go to church, but I must feed my soul and body.

Sprout Book Club: December Selection Winter: A Solstice Story (The Solstice Series)

By Kelsey E. Gross, Renata Liwska (Illustrator)

The December 2023 Sprout Book Club selection is Winter: A Solstice Story by Kelsey E. Gross and Renata Liwska. This picture book gives us a glimpse into the magic of the forest on a winter night. As Owl and his friends celebrate the longest night of the year, they welcome a new friend in this beautifully illustrated picture book.

Sprout Book Club is the book subscription box for picture book lovers. Every month members will receive a first edition picture book.  Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite picture book lover for 3, 6, or 12 months. 

Spark Book Club: December Selection The Winterton Deception 1: Final Word

By Janet Sumner Johnson

The December 2023 Spark Book Club selection is The Winterton Deception 1: The Final Word by Janet Sumner Johnson. Twelve-year-old twins Hope and Gordon enter a spelling bee to try to save their family from financial ruin. They also hope to meet the wealthy Wintertons, their late father’s family who sponsor the bee. When they arrive at Winterton Chalet, there are clues to solve and a spelling bee to win.

Early Sparks for the novel:

“Intelligent, intricately plotted, and ultimately moving.” – Kirkus, starred review

Spark Book Club is the first editions club for middle grade readers.  Every month members will receive a first edition middle grade novel — plus a letter written by the author especially for club members. Makes a great gift for the independent reader! Sign ups are available for 3, 6, or 12 months.

ParnassusNext: December Selection Betting on You

By Lynn Painter

The December 2023 ParnassusNext selection is Betting on You by Lynn Painter. Bailey and Charlie meet on a ten-hour flight. He is her polar opposite, disagreeing with her on every topic. Two years later, they both work at a summer waterpark. When they see two coworkers flirting, they make a bet. Can a guy and girl be platonic friends? When Bailey and Charlie fake date, it turns into something more. But all bets may be off if Charlie’s secret is revealed.

Early praise for the novel:

“Painter breathes new life into a familiar premise to present an entertaining low-conflict romp.” – Publisher’s Weekly

ParnassusNext is the book subscription box for YA lovers. Every member of ParnassusNext receives a first edition hardcover of each month’s selected book, signed by the author. Not only will you have one of the best YA books of the month when it comes out, you’ll have it straight from the author’s hands, with an original, authentic signature! Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite YA reader for 3, 6, or 12 months.

Browse through these recommendations and many more in our 2023 Holiday Catalog!