The Best Fiction Books for Gifting 

Shortlisted for the Booker Prize and named A Best Book of the Year by several notable publications, Katie Kitamura’s Audition is a hypnotic family drama that will keep you enthralled till the last page. 

At a little over two hundred pages, it’s a relatively short but terrific read. Intricately-crafted, genre-bending and thought-provoking, Audition will appeal to lovers of lit fic, psychological thrillers and careful prose where the subtext speaks volumes. 

While shopping for books for a booklover, you can’t go wrong with a book about books. This historical fiction novel, based on real people and events, follows the escapades of Cussy Mary, a rather extraordinary figure. 

She’s a “Book Woman” who delivered books to the remote areas of the Appalachian Mountains during the Great Depression as part of a program by President Roosevelt. She’s also the last of the “Blue People”—an ancestral family whose skin appears to be blue due to a rare genetic disorder. 

Thus, her unique experiences form the crux of this novel, which is immensely readable and informative, transporting you to another place and time.

For many of us out there, fanfiction is a guilty pleasure, and those lurking around the #Dramoine ship must have certainly heard about “Manacled”—a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers fanfic that took the fandom by storm when it was first posted online. 

Now the author has taken the plot and elements from the fanfic and turned them into an original story, with new characters and a jaw-dropping romance, so even those who do not wish to engage with the source material can enjoy it as a standalone. 

Alchemised a hefty tome, so it’s advisable to get the hardcover edition that comes with special endpapers, gold foil, a deluxe dust jacket, and original illustrations.

It’s a perfect present for those who enjoyed the original fanfic or anyone with a soft spot for dark fantasy with a heavy dose of Gothic romance (but do heed the trigger warnings, because boy, does this story get dark). 

Those who enjoy woman-centric narratives with a heady blend of history will definitely be fascinated by Kristina McMorris’s The Girls of Good Fortune. The novel follows Celia, a half-Chinese woman who is kidnapped and trapped underground—and must slowly and judiciously fight her way to freedom.

It’s a compelling tale of empowerment, resilience, and hope against all odds that also sheds light on a difficult period in history.

Engaging and well-researched, The Girls of Good Fortune is a memorable read, and if you’re buying a copy, we recommend you get the classy deluxe edition with golden edges. 

R.F. Kuang, author of Babel and the Poppy War trilogy, has been making waves in the fantasy world for a while and even ventured into the lit fic space with Yellowface. Her latest release, Katabasis, doesn’t disappoint.

A dark academia take on Hell, filled with literary allusions, logic puzzles, and a slow-burn romance between two competitive PhD students—what's not to love? It’s perfect for anyone brave enough for an unforgettable descent into the underworld, peppered with magic, intrigue, and revelations. 

Are you looking for a gift for someone who’s grown up on shows like The Outlander and devours historical romances? Then the deluxe edition of Susanna Kearsley’s The King's Messenger will certainly fit the bill. 

The epic novel unfolds during the reign of King James, son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and is told through the perspective of four characters, including the King’s Messenger (Andrew), who is blessed with the “Sight” but must hide his abilities as any talk of witchcraft is taboo. 

Packed with betrayal, treachery, and romance, The King's Messenger is a beautifully written book that will stay with the reader long after they’ve turned the last page.