5 Book Ideas to Gift a Loved One This Christmas (Based on Their Personality)

Struggling to find the perfect Christmas gift for your loved ones? Finding the perfect Christmas gift can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack—especially when you’ve got a family full of wildly different personalities.

Forget socks, mugs, and another scented candle they’ll regift next year.

This year, why not give your loved ones something they’ll actually enjoy? A book tailored to their unique quirks could be just the thing to bring a smile to their face—or at least spark a lively conversation over Christmas dinner. Books are personal, thoughtful, and—if you choose well—they might even crack a smile.

Here’s a hilariously accurate list of book suggestions for every quirky personality in your family.

Spoiler alert: it’s full of books I’ve already reviewed on my website, so if one tickles your fancy, you can read the full review (and support your favourite blogger!) through the links provided.

1. For the Rebel Aunty: The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

We all have that aunty—the one who never does anything by the book and has a million wild stories from her younger days. This Christmas, give her The Red Tent, a novel that reimagines the lives of the women in the Bible with a feminist twist. It’s bold, rebellious, and dripping with historical intrigue—perfect for the woman who marches to the beat of her own drum.

Want to know more about this beautifully rebellious book? Read the full review here.

2. For the Bathroom Philosopher: Things to Do While You Poo on the Loo by Alex Smart

We all know someone who treats the bathroom like their personal retreat. For dads, uncles, and brothers who spend suspiciously long “thinking” in the loo, this hilarious book is a winner. Packed with puzzles, trivia, and cheeky humour, it’s the ultimate bathroom entertainment.

Perfect for the king of dad jokes in your family. Want to know why this book will make them laugh and think? Read my review here.

3. For the Playfully Racist Grandpa or the Extremely Woke Big Sister: The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

Okay, hear me out. This book is either a tool for self-reflection or the literary equivalent of handing someone coal. If Grandpa’s off-colour jokes are a bit much, this classic Southern Gothic novel might remind him why being racist isn’t cute. On the flip side, your ultra-woke big sister can use this as intellectual ammo in her next heated discussion. Either way, The Sound and the Fury is bound to spark some holiday table conversation.

(Full disclosure: this book wasn’t my favourite, and I get into all the juicy details in my review. Check it out here.)

4. For the Cousin Who’s Had Four Breakups This Year: The Art of Detachment in 90 Days by Amber Daniel

We all know this cousin—the one who’s perpetually heartbroken, yet still swiping through dating apps like it’s their part-time job. Save them some tears (and tissues) with The Art of Detachment in 90 Days. This practical guide helps anxious-attached women move on from heartbreak, reclaim their self-worth, and maybe even stop texting their exes.

Because we’re all tired of hearing, “This time, it’s different.”

Want the lowdown on why this book is a breakup lifesaver? Here’s my full review.

5. For the Mid-Life Crisis Uncle: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck by Mark Manson*

If your balding, recently divorced uncle is about to drop his savings on a flashy car or a questionable hobby, steer him toward The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck* instead. Manson’s brutally honest approach to life is perfect for anyone rethinking their priorities—and trying to figure out what actually matters.

Whether he’s contemplating hair plugs or a new lease on life, this book will guide him through the chaos.

Read the book review, and learn why it’s my ultimate mid-life crisis pick here.

Wrap It Up (Literally and Figuratively)

This Christmas, skip the clichés and gift a book that matches your loved one’s unique personality. And if you’re intrigued by any of these recommendations, you can read my full reviews on each one by following the links.

Loved this blog? Follow me on social media for more bookish fun, and don’t forget to subscribe to my website, Read Read Rant, for honest book reviews, witty commentary, and all the bookish goodness you didn’t know you needed.

You can also follow me on Instagram or TitkTok.

Let’s make this holiday season a literary one! 🎄📚