Books are the perfect Christmas gift for all your friends and family! They're affordable, durable, sharable, re-useable, and powerful!

Look no further, here's what to get everyone on your Christmas giving list:

Mom

I don't know about you, but my mom is the hardest person to buy for simply because nothing ever seems like enough. Realistically, nothing ever can be enough for the woman who gives you everything and more, but a book is a great starting place! It shows that you thought about her and what she likes, and has the benefit of giving her a whole new world to enjoy for the low low price of roughly $15.

Bonus tip: Your mom can bring her brand new book with her when she uses that gift card for a pedicure that you paired with it.

1. For the mom who loves hallmark:

Give her "The Royal We" by Heather Cocks.

"The Royal We" is one of my favorite vacation reads of all time. Rebecca "Bex" Porter is an American student attending Oxford University along with none other than the Royal Prince Nicholas of England. Their relationship starts as something fun and frivolous but quickly escalates. It may sound cheesy, but the writing is incredibly witty and Bex is real, she is flawed but I still want to be her best friend. I'm thinking about re-reading this one in the wake of Meghan Markle's engagement to Prince Harry.

2. For the mom who loves criminal minds:

Give her "In the Woods" by Tana French.

Tana French is one of my favorite murder mystery writers. "In the Woods" is the first of a six book series which all inhabit the same universe but change protagonists. The series follows various detectives on the Dublin Murder Squad as they solve particularly strange murders. Each book in this series is better than the last and French's skill with language and world building will pull you in and never let go.

Dad

Dads (and Grandpas) are usually the easiest to buy for as they usually appreciate practicality. Give your dad a book he can relax with after being practical all day.

3. For the dad who's a WWII history buff:

Give him "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr.

"All the Light We Cannot See" is brilliant and heart-breaking. The point of view shifts in alternating chapters between a blind French girl, Marie, and a young German orphan, Werner, during WWII. They are each pushed irrevocably toward their destinies, worlds apart, until they finally collide. This will be one of those books that stays with them for the rest of their lives. The chapters are pretty short making this a very fast read despite its more than 500 pages.

4. For the dad who loves mythology:

Give him Neil Gaiman's "American Gods".

For real, this book has everything. "American Gods" follows Shadow on an epic quest with the mysterious Mr. Wednesday following the tragic death of his wife. This is a novel that explores the very meaning behind belief and all its implications. Faith is a powerful thing, and there are creatures in this world who would do anything to get it. The expansiveness of this novel is indescribable. It spans continents, religions, and millennia in a way that will blow your mind. "American Gods" is also now a TV show on Starz.

Sister

5. For your sister who loves horror:

If she loves a good scare, give her Grady Hendrix's "My Best Friend's Exorcism".

Set in the early 80's, "My Best Friend's Exorcism" follows Abby and Gretchen as they try to navigate high school. They've been best friend's since middle school, so when Gretchen starts to act kind of ... strange, Abby notices. This one is a bit of a slow burn on the horror aspect but once it begins, it pulls no punches. The characters are darkly funny and extremely relatable, and there are a lot of other important themes also swirling around in this novel in addition to the, ya know, devil lurking inside.

6. For your sister who loves dystopian worlds:

If she loves "The Hunger Games" and the "Divergent" series, give her "Flashfall" by Jenny Moyer.

In "Flashfall" we follow Orion and Dram as they navigate treacherous mines for valuable Cirium. They are Subpars in this Dystopian future, their lives revolving around obtaining the element that protects the surviving society from radiation. This novel has impressively complex world building and a heroine that any reader will love to rally behind. The many plot twists make this un-put-down-able (and the sequel, "Flashtide", just came out!).

Brother

7. For your brother who loves video games:

Anyone in the gaming world is going to love "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline. (Already read it? Try Ernest Cline's "Armada".)

"Ready Player One" takes place in a future devastated by economic crisis and a population that's out of control. For Wade Watts, his only escape from reality is when he can enter the OASIS, a virtual world where anything is possible. When the creator of OASIS dies, he leaves behind a riddle-filled treasure hunt where the winner inherits his vast multi-million dollar fortune. Wade must navigate a world without limits in a competition for the power over OASIS. This book is just plain fun.It's wildly imaginative, and it's being made into a movie!

8. For your brother who loves sports:

Get him "The Chicago Cubs: Story of a Curse" by Rich Cohen.

While I have not read this one personally, this book is praised by Cubs fans and baseball haters alike. It follows one fan's journey to discovering the source of the Cubs' curse through the Cubs' most famous players in history.

Friends

9. For your friend who loves poetry:

Anyone who loves poetry will love the work of Ross Gay.

His most recent collection, "Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude", contains some of the most moving and enjoyable poetry I've ever read. Gay's talent lies in making even the heaviest of topics light and even joyful without diminishing their importance. His poetry is a celebration of life that everyone will thank you for.

Bonus tip: If your poetry lover is also a writer, pair this with a small pocket notebook for all their random day-to-day thoughts and ideas.

10. For your friend who loves humor:

Give them "Apocalypticon" by Clayton Smith.

"Apocalypticon" is the end-of-civilization story gone awry. Patrick and Ben decide to brave what remains of Chicago after Armageddon to make it on foot to Disney World. Because, why not? Think modern Don Quixote if it was written by Joss Whedon and starred Nick Frost and Simon Pegg. Its campy, it's silly, it's seriously funny but also hits you right in the feels. I've got my hopes set on this one eventually becoming a movie. *Fingers crossed*

11. For your friend who loves historical fiction:

Give them "11/22/63" by Stephen King.

This one comes highly recommended from a friend and is currently in my "To Read" pile. "11/22/63"is about a high school English teacher, Jake, and his quest to travel back in time to stop the assassination of JFK. I can't wait to read this one!