’Tis the season for bringing family and friends together, for celebrations and great food and – let’s be honest – gifts. No matter what you’re celebrating this year (or even if you aren’t celebrating at all), one thing you can bet we’re recommending to give a loved one this December is a good book. (Though if you’re looking for a few more suggestions, we have more gift ideas here.) We’re always sending book reccs your way, so for a festive change, we’ve asked some of our Service95 friends from across the globe – Omar Musa, Denai Moore, Lucas Oakeley, Jodie Harsh, Rosie Viva, Malala, Saja Kilani, Billy-Ray Belcourt, Sister Bliss and Jack Edwards – to share the books they’ll be putting under the tree this year.
The result is a carefully curated mix of novels, memoirs, poetry and guides, from intimate, character-driven stories and sweeping, multi-generational epics to thought-provoking memoirs, lyrical poetry and practical books that inspire. Some are cosy and comforting, some are challenging and inventive, but all are unforgettable in their own way – perfect for gifting, sharing, or losing yourself in on a quiet afternoon. These are the books that left a mark in 2025 – and might just leave one on you, too.
Jack Edwards
The internet’s resident librarian and contributing literary editor at Esquire
Our Evenings by Alan Hollinghurst
“The latest offering from the Booker Prize-winning author follows Dave Win from a wild school weekend into decades of love, theatre and tangled politics. Funny, tender and the representation of modern Britain is spot on.”
The Coin by Yasmin Zaher
“This debut follows a wealthy Palestinian woman in NYC as teaching chaos, Birkin hustles and identity pressures push her toward a gripping unravelling. It’s sharp, sensory and darkly funny.”
PAN by Michael Clune
“A truly original writer and book. Nicholas’ world tilts when panic attacks make him think the god Pan is lodged inside him. A strange, tender and wickedly smart coming-of-age trip that really stays with you.”
So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell
“William Maxwell’s story tracks two lonely Illinois kids whose friendship blows apart after jealousy sparks a tragedy. Fifty years later, the narrator tries to make sense of it all. Honestly, I think you could talk about this book with someone for hours.”
Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte
“Deserving of all the praise and attention it got this year, Rejection is a wild, brutally funny chain of stories about people coming apart when love, sex or the internet doesn’t give them what they want. It nails how modern delusion and desire keep colliding in all of us.”
My Friends by Fredrik Backman
“Possibly one of the best books of 2025, it follows four teens escaping rough home lives in a seaside town, building a friendship so fierce it ripples forward to change a stranger’s life decades later. I just loved it.”
Sister Bliss
Musician, DJ, producer and founding member of Faithless (watch our interview with her here)
There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
“An incredible writer whose story telling is totally compelling. Spanning continents and decades, with the most delicate of threads – a drop of water – tying all the strands and characters together, this is so imaginative and elegant.“
Face It: A Memoir by Debbie Harry
“A brilliant memoir from the Queen of Pop/Punk, Blondie – really evocative of that raw formative period in ’70s NYC. It brings together all the characters that shaped modern culture as we know it, from her encounters with the likes of Andy Warhol, Patti Smith, Nile Rogers and many more. You really get a feel for this groundbreaking era. It’s also a very poignant read, given the huge obstacles of her early years, and the challenges of being a woman and a true survivor in the music industry.”
Rave New World by Kirk Field
“Another book by a journalist – this time a whirlwind ride through the early days of rave, with Kirk’s rave – travel promoter business providing so many laugh out loud moments. And also peppered with an almost spiritual tone – we really felt we could change the world – and Kirk manages to strike a great balance between the anecdotes & the higher purpose we found communing on the dance floor.”
Looking For A Fight by David Matthews
“One journalist’s story of his immersive journey into the rather hidden underworld of boxing – leading him to question whether pugilism is mightier than the pen – which becomes a deep dive into the nature of masculinity and self-actualisation. A gripping and surprisingly emotional read!”
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
“An incredible, Booker-winning, very short novel about astronauts orbiting our fragile earth, exquisitely written with a lot of tenderness for its subjects, and for our planet. Every sentence is so rich – you can reread it again and again.”
The Book Of Witchcraft by Semra Haksever
“This is a fantastic gift for anyone who is curious about living intentionally, and wants to harness their inner vision – and to develop a deeper understanding of how to do this in practical steps. The illustrations are absolutely stunning and each page is packed with wisdom and guidance. Great for dipping in and out of when you need a boost!”
Billy-Ray Belcourt
Writer, poet and academic (read our interview with him here)
Landbridge by Y-Dang Troeung
“A beautiful and intellectually vibrant document of lives lost and remade in the face and wake of genocide. LANDBRIDGE complicates the 20th-century immigration story and demonstrates how, in the words of Christina Sharpe, “The past that is not past reappears.’”
The Cree Word For Love by Tracey Lindberg
“Tracey Lindberg is one of our sharpest observers of Cree love and pain. This book is honest and wry and provides glimpses onto Cree worlds from angles that are both rare and necessary.”
Theory of Water by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
”Theory Of Water foregrounds water and snow in our analyses of contemporary political life. It is overflowing with Nishnaabeg wisdom and hope, and ultimately demonstrates to us that other ways of living are not only possible but already being practiced.”
Saja Kilani
Actor and spoken word poet
The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy
“This book genuinely changed my life. It opened my eyes to an inner power I never knew I had, and I’d love for it to inspire the same transformation in whoever receives it.”
The Prophet by Khalil Jubran
“A beautiful classic on love, friendship, freedom, and the soul’s journey. It’s like a hug.”
Home Body by Rupi Kaur
“If you love poetry, this collection is simple yet profound, making it deeply relatable.”
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Murakami
“This was gifted to me recently, and now I understand why, it’s a quiet reflection on discipline, creativity, and showing up for yourself. I’d love to pass it on to someone else.”
Malala
Activist, author and producer (read her issue as guest editor of Service95 here)
This American Woman by Zarna Garg
“It’s hard to be inspiring and hilarious at the same time, but Zarna pulls it off. I loved this memoir and think it would make the perfect gift for your mom (or mother-in-law).”
Are You Mad At Me? by Meg Josephson
“As a Cancer and pathological people-pleaser, I felt like this book was written specifically for me. Give it to anyone who needs to break free and live their own life.”
Heart the Lover by Lily King
“I’ve heard raves about this recent novel and I’m dying to read it. Somebody give it to me, please!”
Rosie Viva
Author and activist (read our interview with her here)
Is This OK? by Harriet Gibsone
This is a book I would give to any female millennial friend! It really made me laugh and I think any book which achieves that is one to share with others. It’s such a skill.
Don’t Laugh, It’ll Only Encourage Her by Daisy May Cooper
“This is a book I would give to anyone who’s a fan of This Country. It dives into Daisy’s fight to have the show made, as well as the harsh reality of being an actress – even when you’ve studied somewhere prestigious. Again, it’s an easy read but gave me so much respect for her as a creative. I whizzed through this.”
Half The Sky by Nicholas D Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn
“This book was mind-blowing. It taught me so much about just how far women have to go in order to reach equality. Sometimes books that shock you are the ones which end up opening important conversations around the table with friends or at work. It’s a book I feel so many people need to read in order to be better educated on feminism.”
Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
“Japan is my favourite place in the world, but even before I visited, this book gave me such a sense of joy and calm. A lot of people go through periods where they don’t read, and I believe you need a gateway book to break that cycle. This little fiction is just so perfect to fall back in love with the magic of reading, especially over Christmas to take you miles away mentally.”
Completely Normal & Totally Fine by Rosie Viva
“Someone told me this was quite good... And that they laughed a little while learning about Bipolar 😉 For anyone who has ever experienced any ill mental health, I really hope this book will give some comfort. Go fill your stockings with it!!”
Jodie Harsh
DJ and producer (discover her Sunday List for Service95 here)
Without Reservation by Jeremy King
“A glorious memoir from the restaurateur who brought us The Ivy, The Wolsley and Le Caprice. It’s name-droppy (Diana! Warhol!!), gossipy and revealing. I ate up every page.”
There Are Rivers In The Sky by Elif Shafak
So good, our friends are recommending it twice!
“Hands-down, my favourite read of 2025. Shafak weaves a spellbinding, time-slipping tale that sweeps between Dickensian London and on the banks of the river Tigris. The paperback cover is as stunning as the story inside.”
Leigh Bowery: The Life and Times of an Icon by Sue Tilley
“An electrifying dive into ’80s London clubland and one of the most audacious, shape-shifting figures of late-20th-century art. A must-read for anyone fascinated by culture, costume and the power of radical self-invention.”
Home by India Knight
“I recently read this as I began planning a refurb. It’s a how-to guide on making your nest the most joyful, beautiful, useful place. I love how much of a magpie Knight is and I adore her writing.”
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
“It’s become a bit of a tradition of mine to read this epic thriller every winter. Its tension chills! Try to find an old secondhand hardcover if you can – that would make for the perfect gift.”
Lucas Oakeley
Author and writer (read his essay on why more men need to read about love here)
Honey From a Weed by Patience Gray
“A beautifully written memoir and cookbook that’s as delicious to read as the recipes tucked inside it are. The perfect gift for anyone in your life who likes to feel their fruit and finds solace in the kitchen. ”
Brian by Jeremy Cooper
“This short, tender novel is best wolfed down on a frosty afternoon. It traces the life of a man named Brian who lives a solitary existence that’s slowly but surely expanded by the trips he makes to the British Film Institute.”
Skippy Dies by Paul Murray
“The Bee Sting might be Paul Murray’s masterpiece [and Dua’s Monthly Read for February – discover it here], but Skippy Dies is a hilarious and hugely likeable novel that I think just about everyone would love to unwrap and read on Christmas Day. It wonderfully captures all of the humour and heartbreak of growing up.”
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
“Set during the weeks leading up to Christmas, Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These is a book you can finish in a few hours, but it’ll stick with you for years. Keegan’s writing is sublime, and the way the story of its protagonist, Bill Furlong, unfolds makes it as gripping as it is affective. An emotional page-turner.”
Cuddy by Benjamin Myers
“An ambitious retelling of the story of the hermit St. Cuthbert, Benjamin Myers’s Cuddy is a book that’s worthy of being called an ‘epic’. Myers experiments with several writing styles and narrative techniques throughout, and pulls off something of a Christmas miracle by packaging them all into a note-perfect novel.”
Denai Moore
Chef and artist (watch her cook up her signature dish for our series Serving Up With... here)
Bluets by Maggie Nelson
“This was the first book I ever read in one sitting. When I finished it, I immediately bought every Maggie Nelson title available. Its genre-bending, chapter-less prose, woven with poetry, makes for a truly magical reading experience. I’m jealous of anyone who gets to read it for the first time.”
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
“Last year I read five memoirs, which took me even by surprise, as I’d probably only read a handful in my entire life before that. This memoir is unlike any other: structurally inventive and untamed, beautiful writing.”
Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson
“Set in Peckham, southeast London, this book will have you grinning from ear to ear. It’s such a beautifully written novel – definitely one for a fellow ‘lover girl’.”
Omar Musa
Author, visual artist and poet (read our interview with him here)
The Palestine Laboratory by Antony Loewenstein
“The Palestine Laboratory investigates how the Israeli state tests weapons and surveillance technologies on Palestinians, then profiteers from exporting these tools worldwide. By exposing how a system of oppression has become big business, this is a chilling and essential book for this moment in history.”
Mama Amazonica by Pascale Petit
“I love this poetry collection dearly; it has been hugely influential on my own writing. Petit reimagines the Amazon rainforest as both mother and madhouse, exploring trauma, environmental devastation and familial fraughtness. It is stunning, surreal and unforgettable.”
Narcotopia by Patrick Winn
“A fascinating, clear-eyed account of the struggle for power within Myanmar’s Wa State, the world’s largest producer of methamphetamine. Winn’s reportage reads like a Southeast Asian season (or three) of Narcos. Gripping stuff.”
The Rot by Evelyn Araluen
“A ferocious, funny book of poetry about disillusionment, injustice and the rot at the heart of settler-colonial institutions. A searing read with love at its heart.”
Whitemud Walking by Mathew James Weigel
“A unique, moving ‘resistance historiography’ of Indigenous identity, sovereignty, and treaty in Canada. This brilliant work repurposes the archive and combines poetry, visual art, and typesetting to tell the story of what has been stolen, erased, and what might yet be reclaimed.”
