Christmas is approaching and what better way to share some joy by giving the gift of books. There’s still time to get your gifts for Christmas.
What are the top gifts for Christmas?
This year we are changing it up, and we are not personally choosing our favorite books to recommend to our readers, but will be relying on the New York Times Bestseller list for the best books to read for 2016. Don’t worry, you can still get our opinions on the books in our reviews.
Trade Paperback Fiction
For the week of December 18, 2016, the bestsellers in trade paperback fiction are as follows: (All book covers link to Amazon).
1. 
This book is on NY Times bestseller list for 49 weeks and is also on Amazon’s bestseller list in humorous fiction category. Ove, a grumpy old man, gets new neighbors that changes his outlook. Read book review here.
2. 
This psychological thriller is not only on the New York Times bestseller for 21 weeks but also USA book of the year, as well as a major motion picture this year starring Emily Blunt. Read book review here.
3. 
Milk and Honey is a collection of poetry and prose. It is also found on Amazon’s bestseller list in Religion and Spirituality category. It is on NY Times bestseller list for 34 weeks.
4. 
7 year old Elsa embarks on a journey to deliver a series of letters left by her granny. Also written by NY Times bestseller Fredrik Backman. On NY Times list for 33 weeks. Read book review .
5. 
A murder disrupts the marital bliss of police detective who goes to the Women’s Murder Club for help. 4 Weeks on the NY Times bestseller list.
6. 
Topping the world’s bestseller list in 74 countries, The Alchemist has been on NY Times bestseller list for 417 weeks. A fable of a shepherd boy from Spain who goes to Egypt to find his dream and destiny.
7. 
Winner of the Man Booker Prize, this is a satire on race in the USA. Winner of the National Book Critics Circle award in fiction, winner of the John Dos Passos Prize for literature and on NY Times bestseller list for 6 weeks.
8. 
Science fiction book, in which Arrival was originally published in 2002 as Stories of Your Life. Arrival is now a major motion picture. On NY Times bestseller for 3 weeks.
9. 
A reclusive crime writer is invited to a party for a weekend in the countryside which takes a sinister turn. This twisted psychological thriller has been on NY Times bestseller list for 28 weeks. A major motion picture coming soon.
10. 
A Vietnamese army captain living in America post Vietnam war turns into a Communist spy. Winner of 2016 Pulitzer Prize for fiction and other awards, this book has been on New York Times bestseller list for 5 weeks.
11. Ready Player One by Ernest Kline. Read review.
12. See Me by Nicholas Sparks. Read review.
13. Diary of An Oxygen Thief by Anonymous.
14. The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom.
15. The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George. Read Review.
So there you have the top gifts for Christmas.
Some of the best books to read for 2016 have become a classic must read books such as The Alchemist, which is a fantastic book.
You can’t go too wrong with a gift of books for an avid reader and choosing the bestselling books for 2016 will steer you in the right direction. Whether you choose an old classic or a recently published book, a gift of a book is a wondrous thing!
For more information on other book selections, please check our reviews.
Have you read any of the books listed in the New York Times or Amazon’s bestseller list? Which book will you gift?
For some reason, I actually don’t really ask for books for Christmas. But I wouldn’t mind getting a copy of Milk and Honey because I have heard so many different things about that poetry collection and I’ve heard it is just beautiful D:
Hi Olivia!
I guess you buy a lot of books and get them somehow so that’s why you probably don’t ask for it. I think vouchers or gift cards are a great way to go for book lovers as they can choose themselves, unless there’s a book you think that they would really enjoy.
I haven’t read Milk and Honey, on my TBR, and so is The Sellout. There’s a few on the list that I will be reading at some point…
Hiya, Dinh – Very first thing – merry Christmas to you, Mike and Arlene. Cool site you’ve got here.
Very second thing – this is a brilliant idea for this time of year, especially with all them book vouchers what’ll be whizzing around at Crimbo.
Very third thing – when I learn to read I might read one of these books so will start with the poetry and prose ‘coz spiritual is well cool with me and poetry is short enough to write poems about. – can ya think of anything that rhymes with Welfy Filiate ‘coz I can’t? That makes it a bit of a beggar when I write my life story in poetry form with ballet, eh?
I’ve never seen a website portrayed in the medium of ballet, have you?
Thanks for keeping us entertained and informed with your great reviews. Have a truly great time over the holidays and I look forward to your next article.
Have fun always – Andre
Hi Andre!!
Merry Christmas to you as well!
I am happy to hear that you like the list of books. These are the most popular books going around and worth checking out- when you get a chance to learn to read 🙂
Don’t worry I can’t rhyme either and for ballet… well perhaps a video of a ballet set up on the site? Each ballet could be on a book. Now that would be interesting, if ballet was interesting… I personally prefer contemporary dance and other dance forms.
Let’s not digress. Back to wishing you Merry old Christmas and HAVE A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!
Cheers!
There are some people on our Christmas list that’s hard to buy for, so having your best book list makes it a much easier task! Thank you for your list and appreciate all the reviews you’ve linked so I can see which one will be best fit for each person. 🙂
Hope you have a very nice holiday coming up!
Grace
Hi Grace!
Books are great gift ideas for avid readers. They will appreciate a good book that they can snuggle up with. 🙂
The New York Times bestseller is a good indication of what people are reading and why.
I hope you enjoy your Christmas!
I’ve always wanted to read the Alchemist. I’ve added it to my wishlist now, thanks!
Hi Sarah!
The Alchemist is one of my favorite books. It’s a thoughtful book and Coelho is such an excellent writer!
I hope you enjoy the novel and do let me know what you thought of it!
Happy holidays!
I was shopping for my husband’s xmas gift, and I had a thought to buy him a book this year…actually, it was to create a collection for him from Juniper books. But, I decided not to b/c he’s really so difficult to buy for. These would have made excellent choices for him. =)
I’m personally not fond of war books–they are too hard to digest for me for it’s very real cruelty. But, The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen, sounds interesting b/c it hits close to home. Great list!
Hi Lonna!
It’s always hard to buy for love ones especially when they can be so fickle and difficult.
I haven’t read The Sympathizer but is on my TBR list. It got my attention because it won the Pulitzer so I was intrigued…Hope it lives up to it. 🙂
Happy holidays!
I was so excited when I saw the topic of your post – I love book lists! I see you have ‘The Girl on the Train’. It’s so popular I feel like I’m seeing it all over. We saw the movie recently – it was OK but I was thinking that the book is probably better. Have you seen the movie and read the book? I’m wondering what your opinion is. 🙂
Hi Teresa!
I haven’t seen The Girl On The Train movie but the book is very good. I usually prefer the book in most cases. I think you can miss quite a bit when you don’t read the book. I do want to see the movie at some point as I like Emily Blunt.
Thanks stopping by and have a great Christmas!