1
‘It Happened One Summer’ by Tessa Bailey
This is the book you give someone when you’re trying to convince them romance is their new favorite genre. A Hollywood socialite is cut off from her family and ends up in a Pacific Northwest beach town where she, naturally, has a whole sexual tension thing with a local. It’s steamy but not too steamy, which makes it the perfect starting point.
2
Tor Books ‘The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue’ by V.E. Schwab
This book has everything: fantasy, adventure, romance. Addie LaRue makes a bargain to live forever, but also be forgotten by every person she’ll ever meet. Many years (300, to be exact) after she makes that bargain, she runs into someone who remembers her name.
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3
‘Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow’ by Gabrielle Zevin
This book was personally recommended by multiple friends, so definitely gift this to yours! Especially if they’re into video games, which is a major (and super cool/awesome/amazing) part of this storyline. But at the heart of the story is a friendship that runs deep, despite all its complications.
4
William Morrow & Company ‘Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows’ by Balli Kaur Jaswal
Community and female friendships across generations are the main themes of this Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick. But of course, there’s also spicy gossip and a sexy love interest involved, so this juicy book is def something your friends will enjoy.
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5
Hogarth ‘Conversations with Friends’ by Sally Rooney
Great friendships feel easy and simple. But we can all admit that sometimes we face complications and rough patches. This book is about two friends who suddenly find themselves in a complex tangle of a relationship with a married couple.
6
Generic ‘The Vanishing Half’ by Brit Bennett
This is for old friends who might be far away and are living totally different lives. The Vignes twins were inseparable, growing up in a small, southern black community in Louisiana. But after running away at sixteen and going their separate ways, the question is whether they’ll still recognize each other when—and if— they reunite.
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7
Puffin Books ‘Little Women’ by Louisa May Alcott
This is a timeless classic that you can gift the friends who feel like family. You can never go wrong with this tale about the four fierce March sisters, and especially with such a beautiful cover like this one by Puffin Books. Definitely worth displaying on a bookshelf!
8
Anchor ‘A Little Life’ by Hanya Yanagihara
As you can probably tell by the cover, this isn’t exactly the lightest of reads…but it was one of the finalists for the National Book Award for a reason. This heart-wrenching, all-consuming novel is about intimate and enduring friendships. IDK what else would be more perfect to gift a friend.
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9
Seal Press ‘What Would Frida Do?: A Guide to Living Boldly’ by Arianna Davis
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Credit: Amazon
We guarantee your friends will love this one. Anyone who reads this book become totally obsessed with and enamored by Frida Kahlo, a strong-willed, courageous woman who never stopped believing in herself.
10
Dial Press ‘Untamed’ by Glennon Doyle
Yeah, this is *the* book you’ve seen all over Instagram. The #1 New York Times bestselling memoir captivated everyone’s attention—including Reese Witherspoon, who showered it with the following praise: “Packed with incredible insight about what it means to be a woman today.”
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11
Flatiron Books ‘Anna K: A Love Story’ by Jenny Lee
Someone’s gotta say it: Anna Karenina is an undertaking. Sure, it’s a classic and all, but reading 800-ish pages is a way bigger commitment than starting Selling Sunset over again from season 1. If you don’t want to pressure anyone to dive into Leo Tolstoy’s tome, consider Jenny Lee’s modern re-telling about a 17-year-old girl falling in love for the first time in New York City.
12
‘Maybe You Should Talk to Someone’ by Lori Gottlieb
Fair warning, you probs want to include a caveat like, “You’re totally well-adjusted—this is just a really interesting read,” before gifting this book to a friend. This is not a self-help book, but rather a memoir written by therapist Lori Gottlieb, who tackles the ultimate question: What does it mean to be human? The best part = It’s being developed as a TV series for ABC.
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13
Washington Square Press ‘She Regrets Nothing’ by Andrea Dunlop
If Gossip Girl and The Great Gatsby had a child, that kid would be this book. Seductive, addictive, and dramatic all accurately describe Andrea Dunlop’s gripping tale about a Midwestern girl who meets her wealthy cousins, moves to NYC, and is confronted with the downsides of fortune.
14
‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid
There are many things to love about this fictional tale of a woman who decides to follow a rock band in the 1970s. Through Daisy, you get a front-row seat to the group’s rise to fame and its eventual demise. Read it before the Amazon Prime series (a guaranteed binge-watch, given that it’s a Reese Witherspoon production and stars Riley Keough) hits your queue.
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15
Atria Books ‘Head Over Heels’ by Hannah Orenstein
Yes, the 2020 Olympics were postponed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still get your gymnastics fix. Hannah Orenstein (you might recognize her name from this here website!) delivers a majorly charming read about a gymnast turned coach who accidentally falls for her fellow coach while training a promising Olympic hopeful.
16
‘The Proposal’ by Jasmine Guillory
Jasmine Guillory achieves the impossible: Writing the perfect, not-at-all-annoying meet-cute. Nikole is in trouble after turning down her boyfriend’s proposal at a L.A. Dodgers game in front of thousands of fans. That’s when cute doctor Carlos comes to the rescue to give her a ride home. Inevitably, they start hooking up and swear to keep it casual, but assuming you’ve seen a rom-com or two, you know that’s easier said than done.
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17
‘This Is How It Always Is’ by Laurie Frankel
Five sons have a lot in common, except one thing: The youngest wants to grow up to be a girl. Laurie Frankel’s stirring read examines what happens when parenting, secrets, and childhood intersect in an increasingly complicated way.
18
Hogarth Press ‘Normal People’ by Sally Rooney
Friendship turning into love isn’t a new concept, but somehow “Normal People” makes the dynamic and all its complexities seem completely original. And yes, I know what you’re thinking—you absolutely should read the book before watching the Hulu show.
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19
‘Know My Name’ by Chanel Miller
I can still remember where I was when I first read Chanel Miller’s horrific account of being sexually assaulted by Brock Turner. At the time, the former Stanford student chose to remain anonymous, but not anymore. Here, Chanel shares her story in a way that’ll break your heart and somehow make you feel hopeful, too.
20
Atria Books ‘Tell Me Lies’ by Carola Lovering
Betrayal. Love. Ambition. Desire. In other words, un-put-down-able. Give it to your friend who is soooo bored with the dating scene and wants some thrilling, sexy escape.
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