Book Riot Managing Editor Vanessa Diaz is a writer and former bookseller from San Diego, CA whose Spanish is even faster than her English. When not reading or writing, she enjoys dreaming up travel itineraries and drinking entirely too much tea. She is a regular co-host on the All the Books podcast who especially loves mysteries, gothic lit, mythology/folklore, and all things witchy. Vanessa can be found on Instagram at @BuenosDiazSD or taking pictures of pretty trees in Portland, OR, where she now resides.
Whether you’re buying for someone who isn’t a huge reader or for that person who already has all the books, we have suggestions for all tastes and budgets. You may even find a little something for yourself. Happy gifting!
Vanessa Diaz, Managing Editor
image from PARUPARU Blue Chamomile Tea ($18)
I drink a lot, and I do mean A LOT of tea. When it comes to teas to help me wind down, to center me, to hold in my hands while I take deep breaths, it’s gotta be the Blue Chamomile Tea from San Diego-based tea purveyor PARU. You can’t go wrong with any of their teas and tisanes, but this one is both tasty and a treat for the senses. This ain’t your boring cup o’chamomile, but a delightful blend of lavender, rose petals, chamomile, and butterfly pea flower. It’s sweet, it’s floral, it’s a pretty blue color thanks to that pea flower (or green, or purple, depending on what else you add to it). My favorite way to enjoy it is with a splash of milk and a touch of sweetener. It’s a cup of blue heaven, delicious hot or iced.
The Goods
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image from NopaleraNopalera Hand Cream Gift Set ($32)
I’m of the age where the gift you reliably gave folks who liked a smelly something back in the day was a gift set from Bath and Body Works. Having escaped the clutches of Cucumber Melon, I’m always on the lookout for grown-up fragrance gifts in unique scent formulations. Nopalera ticks all the boxes: it’s a Latina-owned business that formulates with oils derived from the Nopal cactus fruit, and the scents they infuse into their products (amber, smoky copal, jasmine oil, to name a few) are ones used in ancient Mexican rituals. I love their soaps and scrubs, but my favorite recent additions to the lineup are their hand cream and fragrance gift sets. They’re a perfect way to sample these unique offerings and discover a scent profile that’s unique and alluring.
image from The Olive PressThe Olive Press Little Dipper Gift Set ($60)
I remember being a kid and wondering why the hell adults would get so jazzed over “really good olive oil.” Then I became an adult with grown person money and finally understood this particular hype. There’s the EVOO you swirl around your skillet, and then there’s the good stuff you bust out for dipping and spreading. Enter The Little Dipper set from The Olive Press. It comes with a bottle of their Master Blend Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a bottle of Classic Balsamic Vinegar, and two delicious spice blends. Just add some crusty, rustic bread, and you have a whole sensory experience to gift or to keep for yourself.
Danika Ellis, Editor
image from Good StoreKeats & Co Blue Fields Earl Grey Tea ($18)
Is it any surprise that Book Riot staff have a lot of tea opinions? I start every morning with a London Fog using the Keats & Co Blue Fields Earl Grey loose-leaf tea. It’s spoiled me for other teas. The best part is that all the profits go towards tuberculosis treatment through Partners in Health. And there’s a literary connection: Keats refers to the poet John Keats, who died of tuberculosis, and the Good Store is run by the authors John Green and Hank Green.
Erica Ezeifedi, Associate Editor
image from Jack Black on AmazonJack Black The Balm Squad® Holiday Gift Set ($28)
I am a huge proponent for not going around with ashy lips, and the Jack Black lip balms have been ones I’ve been returning to for years. Not only are they one of the few balms that I feel actually sink and help retain moisture in my lips, they also have SPF while not tasting foul. Plus, this gift set has cute seasonal scents, like hot buttered rum and mulled cider. Whoever you gift these to will be glistening.
image from LyricallyCorrect on AmazonLyrically Correct Card Game: ’90s & 00s Pop Edition ($25)
I love gifts like this Black-owned card game that can immediately be put to use during holiday season family/friend time. This also gets bonus points for being deliciously nostalgic (one of the questions is “What do the Spice Girls really, really, really wanna do?”*). And, let’s be real, after discussing all these ’90s/’00s songs, you’re absolutely going to want to start playing a few, and then *boom*, you’ve moved into karaoke territory. It’s giving activities on activities.
(*Answer: Zig-a-zing, ah)
Kelly Jensen, Senior Editor
image from AmazonInexpensive Over-The-Head Bluetooth Headphones ($29)
My favorite wired headphones bit the dust this year after something like 10 years of service (RIP!) and I decided to finally seek out Bluetooth headphones. These came highly rated and under $30, and I have been so happy. I use ‘em to catch up on all my podcast listening at the gym. They’re not going to be for your high-quality music listening, but they sure are going to serve you well for little cash.
image from CanvaCatching Whimsy Vito and Door County Cherry Teas ($5)
I get asked about my favorite loose-leaf teas frequently, as I’m a multi-cup-a-day drinker. I cannot recommend my local shop’s teas enough, especially Vito. I’m also regularly raving about how good the Door County Cherry black tea is for something fruity but not too sweet (Door County cherries are on the tart end!).
image from AmazonWRITECH Retractable Gel Ink Pens ($12)
These dual-color pens write SO nicely and they come in vintage colors that make me happy every time I write something down. I have specific pen preferences, so I took a chance on these earlier this year and I’m so glad I did. I ended up buying a second box of pens from this brand in another colorway because I love them so much.
Rebecca Joines Schinsky, Chief of Staff
image from Govee on AmazonGovee Life Smart Electric Kettle ($90)
Honestly, there are a lot of smart kettles on the market, and most of them are probably fine. This is more of a recommendation for the category than this specific item, but I do love the Govee. Having water already at the perfect temp for my morning pour-over when I wake up feels like the height of luxury, and I love that Govee integrates with other smart home automations, so you can set it for various days and times depending on your schedule.
image from Brick AppBrick ($59)
Everyone I know is trying to spend less time looking at their phones, and willpower doesn’t stand a chance against algorithms and apps designed to tap into our brains’ deepest systems. The apps that promise to help you limit screen time are all ultimately workaround-able, and many of them come with expensive subscription fees if you want the full feature set. Brick comes at a one-time cost of $59 and can be used by everyone in a household. You determine which apps and websites to block during focus mode, tap your phone to the Brick to activate, then go about your peaceful, merry way. Tap the Brick again to unlock. You can even block different apps on different schedules, which is truly clutch. I leave my Brick in my office, and the added friction of having to get off the couch and walk to a different room to unlock it if, for instance, I want to use social media before bed is incredibly effective.
Clinton Kabler, COO and Co-founder
image from AmazonDreo Omni-Directional Pedestal Fan ($110)
Let’s be honest, fans are often cheap, noisy afterthoughts bought for a utilitarian purpose. If you use one nightly while sleeping, a nearly silent and attractive fan upgrades your room and your sleep. It comes with a remote (we’ve never used it), and best of all, this one has a backlit display that goes dark after a few moments, eliminating the electrical tape-covered indicator lights. With a substantial pedestal and sleek aesthetics, you won’t feel like you need to hide the fans away when you have company.
image from AmazonCombo Mio Hotel-Style Shower Curtain ($34)
Our family survived a double bathroom renovation this year. This untrained professional warns you not to try this in a home with two teenagers. After six months of various trades tromping through our home (oh yes, we had asbestos), hanging the shower curtains was a welcome relief. These Combo Mio shower curtains have a three-quarter-length liner that snaps off for easy laundering. The top quarter is a water-resistant sheer fabric that allows in ample light. An attractive and wallet-friendly addition for your bathroom (renovation not required).
Jeff O’Neal, CEO and Co-founder
image from ChioPistachio Cream ($22+)
We bought this on a whim at a farmers market and now have to go across town or mail order or hunt down another farmers market because pistachio cream on toast is apparently a crucial part of my life now. Did I mean to buy pistachio butter instead of pistachio cream? Who can say? (And the difference is the cream is mixed with coconut oil and I wouldn’t trade it for the world).
image from AmazonHades II Game ($30)
Super Giant’s sequel to its revolutionary rogue-like game based on Greek mythology is not better than the original. It is not worse than the original. It is just different enough to scratch the itch without feeling like a rerun. Be careful here: there are hundreds of hours of gameplay to be exhausted if you are a completist, though you can have a satisfying experience of twenty or so as well.
Not a Nintendo Switch user? It’s also available via Steam.
image from LAMYLamy Studio Rollerball Pen ($90)
I wanted a substantial, quality pen to be my daily driver. One that would stay on my desk and feel different enough that I would remember to keep it there. So far, paired with a simple metal pen holder, this combination has stemmed the tide of cheap pens flowing everywhere except at hand when I need one.
Amanda Pecora, Operations Coordinator
image from Mini BrandsMini Verse Real Brands
Are these tiny replica food items ridiculous? Why yes, absolutely. Are they also a total delight to unbox and display? YUP. Each ball comes with five random miniatures designed to look just like real food items you’d see in the grocery store. And this particular line is my favorite because it comes with tiny (non-edible) versions of the food item inside each one. Now you too can know the delight of opening a tiny Cheez-It box to discover itty-bitty realistic Cheez-Its inside.
S. Zainab Williams, Executive Director of Content
image from AmazonFoam roller ($50)
I sit at my desk much of the day. I carry anxiety on my shoulders. I strength train. And I turn to my foam roller multiple times a week to work out the kinks. This is a great gift for the friend who plans on getting a gym membership in 2026, the family member new to mid-life wondering why everything hurts, the reader who has to rotate reading positions every half hour, and anyone who needs deep muscle release at home without having to spend massage money. Pair this with a YouTube playlist of foam roller stretches, because these aren’t standard stretches everyone knows and guidance is useful with this tool.
image from AmazonLacrosse Balls ($8)
If you’re looking for more precise, aggressive muscle release, use a lacrosse ball. Don’t bother with a tennis ball or anything with give. You need a firm, unyielding mass to dig into that deep tissue. These have become indispensable in my mobility training but, fair warning, anticipate a lot of internal screaming when using these.
image from Vermont Country StorePoire William Chocolate Pears ($30)
If your best version of relaxation comes in the form of chocolate and adult seasonal beverages, might I recommend a box of Poire William Chocolate Pears under the tree or in the stocking? I anticipate a wintertime romance with these sweet, curvy bon bons every year. They do not skimp on the at-once fresh and cockle-warming pear brandy and they use quality dark chocolate. This makes for a luxurious desserty nightcap when roasting in front of a crackling fire after a holiday meal.
English (US) · 