Last-Minute-Gift Reads

I saw a meme on Instagram recently that I’m paraphrasing, saying, “Only 732 more little tasks to do before I can relax and enjoy Christmas.” So, in case one of your 732 little tasks is buying a few last-minute gifts, I have some book recommendations for you. And because my own pre-holiday to-do list feels equally long, I’m keeping this short and sweet for all our sakes!

Just quickly though: I did get the bookish advent calendar I was dreaming of, and it’s great! The only catch is that the font in some of the tiny books clearly wasn’t designed for people who need reading glasses, so I’ve occasionally resorted to a magnifying glass to get the full impact. Which makes me feel… not young. And slightly less delighted with my gift. 

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter 
I have always been a bit disdainful about romance novels. Sure, I’ll read Emily Henry now and then, but I’m much more of a mystery/crime reader. Well, I'm big enough to admit that I was wrong, because this novel combines romance and crime, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The cover initially threw me — the colour scheme was not aligned with what I expected from a modern romance — but I was hooked by the New York Times description: “Knives Out gets a holiday rom-com twist.”

Why does a holiday romance hit the spot during the December chaos? Apparently, they are the ideal antidote to cognitive overload — that feeling when you’ve made all the decisions, managed your family, and made sure the holidays will be merry and bright, and your brain cannot handle one more thing (see 732 tasks). So books that require literally no executive functioning, with comforting, predictable storylines, are just what’s needed to offset that overload.

Anyhow, TMWCofY combines all that comfort and predictability with a satisfying Agatha Christie-esque plot, an English manor house, lots of snow, and even some mistletoe. It also made the New York Times’ list of magical holiday romances, which is a great place to start if you’re looking for some more festive reads that will help balance your (or someone else’s) cognitive overload. 

The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer
Speaking of best-of lists, Belinda Bauer’s The Impossible Thing landed on the New York Times list of best thrillers of 2025. I put a hold on it months ago, and, when it finally came in, I wasn’t sure I wanted to read it. Sure, it was blurbed by Paula Hawkins, Lee Child, and Val McDermid, but again, the cover wasn’t wildly compelling, and I was craving something a little low stress (see above). 

But I felt compelled to give it a chance, and it had me hooked in the first few pages. The storyline bounces between the cutthroat trade in rare bird eggs in Britain between the wars, when collecting them was legal, and the present day, when it’s very much is not. It’s a slow-paced (but in a good way) historical thriller that has you rooting for Bauer’s sparingly sketched but fully rounded characters. And for the birds. Definitely for the birds. Perfect for anyone who likes historical fiction, thrillers that don’t rely on chase scenes and violence, and books about the natural world (or bird watching). When they say a book’s a cliffhanger, they don’t usually mean literally, but here, they do. 

Joyride by Susan Orlean
My book recommendations come from lots of places, but for some reason, the New York Times is dominating this month.  They call the Orleans’ memoir  “A postcard from the heady bygone days of glamorous, exorbitant-expense-account magazine writing, it’s also an excellent primer on writing itself and a love letter to her profession.” And while they are wrong about women ruining the workplace, they are right about this!  

I was primed to enjoy Joyride after seeing Orlean interviewed by Matt Galloway at the Vancouver Writers Festival (you can listen to part of that interview here; it’s delightful). Joyride started as a primer for writers but evolved into a memoir, tracing Orlean’s career and her endlessly curious way of moving through the world. She has a rare talent for examining the ordinary and making it fascinating — and for reminding readers not to lose touch with their own curiosity. This is a perfect gift for writers, memoir lovers, fans of long-form journalism, or anyone who could use a nudge back toward curiosity.

Also, I don't make New Year's resolutions, but one of my goals for ATK Reads next year it to expand its reach, so if you know a reader who might enjoy these newsletters (or the website or Instagram), it would mean a lot if you’d pass this along to them!

And that’s a wrap on 2025! I’ll see you in January, when I hope to share some of the great books I’m sure to receive over the holidays. Wishing you and yours health and peace for the year ahead, and thank you for making my year a little brighter by subscribing, commenting, and sending along your book recommendations.