When it comes to holiday shopping, books make great gifts. A well-chosen title can offer an inside look at the unfamiliar or transport readers to an entirely different world. Best of all, books are easy to personalize—there’s a title to match every taste. 

Still, knowing where to begin your book shopping adventure can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, Houston is home to an abundance of independent bookstores staffed by passionate readers eager to share their ideas. Here are some of their favorite picks for the season.

For All the Feels

The staff at Kindred Stories has high praise for the coming-of-age tale These Heathens, by Mia McKenzie. Set in Georgia during the 1960s, it follows a 17-year-old girl who travels to Atlanta for an abortion and finds herself drawn into a network of civil rights and LGBTQ+ activists working for change. The experience forces her to look deeper at her own identity. “It was a standout for us this year,” the team says via email. 

Kindred staff also recommend A Novel Christmas by Houston author Charity Shane, a USA Today best-selling author with more than 30 titles to her name. It’s the tale of a romance writer who doesn’t have a lot of enchantment happening in her own life—her book sales have tanked, and it’s Christmas. The holiday season heats up when she crosses paths with a hot firefighter, setting the stage for a festive love story.

Continuing the romance theme, Jessica Gutierrez, who co-owns the La Porte–based Books by the Bay with her sister-in-law Rosa Mendez, recommends Daphne Perry’s Shield of Sparrows as a “chef’s kiss” romantasy read. The novel blends romance and fantasy, centering on an arranged marriage between a princess and prince hailing from different kingdoms. The title refers to a pact between nations: Those connected by blood or marriage are forbidden from killing one another. “This is magic and fantasy and worldbuilding, but there’s a love story and battles,” Gutierrez says. “It’s an overall great read for those who love that genre.”

Gutierrez also gives The Trouble with Love and Coaches by Harriet Ashford rave reviews. She praises the local self-published indie author for grounding her romance with real life. The novel follows April, a woman who faces a personal battle with the Ironman triathlon event. Something’s kept her from finishing the daunting swimming, cycling, and running race twice before. Will the third time be the charm? “As a person who doesn’t read contemporary romance, I felt I resonated with [April] because [she] is going through a lot,” Gutierrez says. “I need my romance to have a little bit of real life in it, some meat on the bones. I like the resilience in that character, the way she keeps pushing on. [And] the love story is really relatable.”

Houston Authors and Texas Pride

Like Gutierrez, Anna Henry, owner of Good on Paper Books in the Heights, is a champion of Houston writers. This year, she’s recommending Wild Houston by local ecologist Suzanne Simpson and Victoria, Texas–based biologist/photographer John Williams. “Wild Houston is the kind of book that makes you fall in love with where you live,” Henry says. “Beautifully photographed and incredibly informative, it celebrates the nature, wildlife, and hidden outdoor gems that make Houston special. It is also a gorgeous coffee-table book, one you’ll flip through again and again.”

Another title she’s pressing into customers’ hands is The Big Texas Cookbook, from the editors of Texas Monthly. Henry calls it a terrific selection for Texans—or anybody who loves one. “I believe cookbooks are wonderful gifts in general, and this one has full-color photography and more than 100 recipes that showcase the diverse tastes of Texas,” she says.

Dark Delights

Texas Monthly readers are likely familiar with Skip Hollandsworth, one of the publication’s veteran writers. The team at Murder by the Book (MBTB) say true crime fans need a copy of Hollandsworth’s latest, She Kills. “While this might be a more macabre pick for a holiday gift, we thrive on the macabre all year round here,” says MBTB bookseller Chelsi Lobue. These true crime vignettes feature female perpetrators in Texas, and Lobue says that Hollandsworth’s writing “tackles the real-life cases with empathy and care while still drawing you in to want to know why these people committed their crimes.”

For thriller enthusiasts, Lobue’s colleague Brooke Kaiser recommends Haven't Killed in Years by Amy K. Green. “This was such a fun and original thriller about the daughter of a serial killer who finds herself targeted by another serial killer,” she says. “I love a book with a unique premise and a hint of snarky humor. [This] checked many boxes for me and was a blast to read. I’ve been struggling to get into books this year, but it pulled me in instantly and kept me intrigued the whole ride.”

A Reflective Way to Slow Down

Readers seeking a tamer experience might consider Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, by Katherine May. “It’s one of those rare books that meets you exactly where you are,” Henry says. “It is a gentle reflection on how we navigate the ‘winter seasons’ in our lives, such as the slow periods, the setbacks, the moments of rest. It is the perfect pick for anyone craving reflection or a permission to slow down. Pair it with a highlighter, pen, and a journal—you will need it!”