It’s that beautiful time of the year for spreading love and so much cheer. It also means you’ll be doing a lot of Christmas shopping for your loved ones. Sometimes it’s hard to find the perfect gift because everyone in your life is so different. Especially if you have a friend or family member who adores books whose room is practically a library. So how do you find the perfect book for them? There are so many choices and so many genres you can’t decide. A ton of books get published every year and it’s hard to know which ones are worth a read.
Here are the Top 5 books your bookworm needs to read right now. Probably they’ve been saving a spot for it on their shelf. It would also save you some time from scouring a bookstore.
‘Turtles All The Way Down’ by John Green
From the author of “Fault in our Stars,” this is John Green’s most recent novel and by far the best one yet. Every bookworm went through a John Green phase; they’ve read most of his earlier novels. They probably forgot about him in a while since he hasn’t published a book since 2012. So why not give them a reminder this Christmas of why they fell in love with John Green’s novels in the first place?
“Turtles All the Way Down,” takes a most serious tone compared to his earlier work. Green has moved past the whole teenage love story altogether with this recent novel he tackles mental illness. Aza Holmes is a sixteen-year-old girl suffering from anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It’s such a moving and different story that will make anyone fall in love with Green’s work all over again.
‘Smaller and Smaller Circles’ by F.H Batacan
The movie adaptation has already hit theaters so make sure your bookworm reads this hard-to-read but hard-to-put-down novel. It is regarded as one of the first Filipino crime novels because of how dark and sadistic the story gets. It’s a story about a priest investigating the gruesome murder of a young boy. It’s a sensitive depiction of crime and the role of the Catholic Church in their devotee’s lives. Click here to read more about “Smaller and Smaller Circles” movie.
Batacan’s depiction of a serial killer in the Philippines is a far cry from what we are used to when watching American serial killers on shows like “Criminal Minds.” The book is terrifyingly gripping; you’ll be sucked into the mystery despite how uncomfortable it will make you. If your bookworm needs something to push her off the edge of her seat then this is definitely one that will require a breather after a few pages.
‘Salamanca’ by Dean Francis Alfar
This is the debut novel by author Dean Francis Alfar. It centers on Gaudencio Rivera, who goes back to the Philippines and return to his wife. The story has sorcery, love, lust and the consequences of our choices. It tackles how the decisions we make in life sometimes never make any narrative sense. But Alfar created a narrative of a man who was driven by selfishness and fame until he realized his unhappiness.
The protagonist’s complexity will have you hooked. At the same time, the book will take any reader on a journey through Philippine life and history. Your bookworm would appreciate the gift because they will enjoy the magic the novel offers. You’re not only giving them a book this Christmas, you’re giving them an adventure.
‘Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda’ by Becky Albertalli
A lot of bookworms prefer to read the book before it becomes a major motion picture. “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda,” is also known as the upcoming movie “Love, Simon.” Make sure your bookworm gets ahead before the covers turn into movie posters. It’s about Simon, a sixteen-year-old boy who is not so openly gay. But when a personal e-mail is sent to the wrong person, Simon is afraid of his secret coming out. Click here to read more about “Love, Simon.”
It’s written like a familiar Young Adult novel tackling the same themes of hormonal hazing and first loves. It’s a light-hearted, coming of age novel any bookworm would appreciate. So this Christmas they should have read the book before they watch it.
Warcross by Marie Lu
Do you have a friend who misses dystopian novels like “Hunger Games”? Then this book should be part of their bookshelf to help them fill in their dystopian gap. Marie Lu is known for her “Legend” Trilogy and she’s back with a new read. It centers on a teenage hacker named Emika Chen. She works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who bet on the game, Warcross, illegally. Because Warcross is more than just a game, it’s their way of life. The book focuses on how our obsession with technology can take a wrong turn.
The reason why you should give this to your bookworm is that it is exciting and spine-tingling they won’t be able to put it down. “Warcross” is an immersive, exhilarating world where choosing who to trust may be the biggest gamble of all. All of these books will make for a Merry Christmas after unwrapping your present.