Looking for the perfect book pick to give as a gift this holiday season? Maybe you are headed off on vacation before the year end and need a great read — we've got some suggestions for you from GrubStreet Staff members:

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan

“I loved this book because it's a deeply moving best friends story, an examination of how our past haunts us, and how material successes don't solve or absolve everything that came before them. Plus, I love a good writer as the central character novel and this one weaves that in beautifully with parts of it written as a fictional memoir.”

Nora, Marketing Operations Manager

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Nobel Prize-winning author Olga Tokarczuk

“Set in a Polish village, this unique and unforgettable novel is part murder mystery, part political satire, and part profound meditation on the environment and human existence.”

Dariel, Artistic Director

Heart the Lover by Lily King

“I couldn't put this book down! It's beautifully written without being dense, portraying the lasting impact of first-love and the interconnectedness of family, love, friendship, and desire. Lily King is such a great writer, and I love how she writes about the act of writing and literature itself in this novel.”

Ruby, Operations Assistant

On the Calculation of Volume (a series) by Solvej Balle

“These wild little books took me way outside of my normal reading zones, changed the way I think about time, and are a wonderful testament to what can happen when a writer takes their time–30 years!–making something the best it can be.”

Erin, Education Director

Gentle Writing Advice by Chuck Wendig

“So many writing books inadvertently make us feel bad about not getting enough done, but this one takes a softer approach. Most of all, it's just funny. For writers who sometimes take themselves too seriously in a high-pressured world, this was a nice reminder to just, not.”

Eson, Director of Faculty & Fellowships