Hello friends!

So I heard you were looking for some book recommendations to gift your loved ones – and of course, I’ve got your back!

Today I’m bringing you 3 books I read this year that I would gift other book lovers. In this list you’ll find a Romance, a Thriller, and a Non-Fiction book in today’s selection! You just need to figure out the genre the other person likes to read and look for the right recommendation.

Wanna see today’s list?

Let’s take a closer look at each individual recommendation!

1. The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté: 5/5⭐

If you’ve been following my posts, my Non-Fiction pick won’t come as a surprise. I absolutely loved this book and can confidently say this is one of the best books I’ve read this year! It’s a book written by the wonderful physician Gabor Maté and it talks about how trauma and illness develop when you are living in a toxic culture. It was fascinating and I saw myself a lot in it, so if your loved one is into science and/or psychology this may be a good option for a gift!

Synopsis

“By the acclaimed author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, a groundbreaking investigation into the causes of illness, a bracing critique of how our society breeds disease, and a pathway to health and healing.
In this revolutionary book, renowned physician Gabor Maté eloquently dissects how in Western countries that pride themselves on their healthcare systems, chronic illness and general ill health are on the rise. Nearly 70 percent of Americans are on at least one prescription drug; more than half take two. In Canada, every fifth person has high blood pressure. In Europe, hypertension is diagnosed in more than 30 percent of the population. And everywhere, adolescent mental illness is on the rise. So what is really “normal” when it comes to health?
Over four decades of clinical experience, Maté has come to recognize the prevailing understanding of “normal” as false, neglecting the roles that trauma and stress, and the pressures of modern-day living, exert on our bodies and our minds at the expense of good health. For all our expertise and technological sophistication, Western medicine often fails to treat the whole person, ignoring how today’s culture stresses the body, burdens the immune system, and undermines emotional balance. Now Maté brings his perspective to the great untangling of common myths about what makes us sick, connects the dots between the maladies of individuals and the declining soundness of society—and offers a compassionate guide for health and healing. Co-written with his son Daniel, The Myth of Normal is Maté’s most ambitious and urgent book yet.”

2. Hello Stranger by Katherine Center: 4.5/5⭐

I had to add this book as my Romance pick because I believe it deserves more hype! This was probably one of the most fun and unique books I have read this year – and that’s saying a lot! What I liked the most about this book was how unique and original the story was. Who would even remember to create a love story with a main character who acquired temporary face blindness… and has to look at faces for a living? Can you imagine how funny the love story is since she can’t recognize the love interest? The story is genius and leads to many funny and heartwarming events. Definitely recommend this one if you want to gift a nice book for a romantic!

Synopsis

“Love isn’t blind, it’s just a little blurry.
Sadie Montgomery never saw what was coming… Literally! One minute she’s celebrating the biggest achievement of her life—placing as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition—the next, she’s lying in a hospital bed diagnosed with a “probably temporary” condition known as face blindness. She can see, but every face she looks at is now a jumbled puzzle of disconnected features. Imagine trying to read a book upside down and in another language. This is Sadie’s new reality with every face she sees.
But, as she struggles to cope, hang on to her artistic dream, work through major family issues, and take care of her beloved dog, Peanut, she falls into—love? Lust? A temporary obsession to distract from the real problems in her life?—with not one man but two very different ones. The timing couldn’t be worse.
If only her life were a little more in focus, Sadie might be able to find her way. But perceiving anything clearly right now seems impossible. Even though there are things we can only find when we aren’t looking. And there are people who show up when we least expect them. And there are always, always other ways of seeing.”

3. Survive the Night by Riley Sager: 4/5⭐

For my Thriller pick, I want to recommend a book I’ve read recently that I enjoyed very much. I don’t want to give the story away, but it involves a girl who is being driven across the country possibly by a serial killer. The same serial killer who killed her best friend. Isn’t it intriguing?! What was so great about this story was the never-ending plot twists! Personally, that’s how I love my thrillers, so it was a very entertaining story from beginning to end. This is a great option if you’re looking for a thriller to gift!

Synopsis

“Charlie Jordan is being driven across the country by a serial killer. Maybe.
Behind the wheel is Josh Baxter, a stranger Charlie met by the college ride share board, who also has a good reason for leaving university in the middle of term. On the road they share their stories, carefully avoiding the subject dominating the news – the Campus Killer, who’s tied up and stabbed three students in the span of a year, has just struck again.
Travelling the lengthy journey between university and their final destination, Charlie begins to notice discrepancies in Josh’s story.
As she begins to plan her escape from the man she is becoming certain is the killer, she starts to suspect that Josh knows exactly what she’s thinking.
Meaning that she could very well end up as his next victim.”

So there you have it friends – I hope you enjoyed this mini-recommendation post and I hope you took some ideas from it to gift your loved ones.

See you in the next one!