10 Books to Gift Yourself This Holiday Season

The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You, by Lily Anderson
If it were possible to kick my past self for not reading this hilarious, romantic YA contemporary sooner, I would jump into a time machine immediately. Anderson’s novel retells Shakespeare’s classic Much Ado About Nothing in an original, modern way, centering on Trixie Watson as she fights for a higher ranking at her extremely competitive high school. Her major obstacle is none other than Ben West, her rival since first grade. But when their best friends start dating each other, Trixie and Ben are forced into a shaky peace treaty. Between comic books, nerd references galore, and biting wit, you’ll fall in love with Trixie’s journey and her enemies-to-lovers romance along the way.

Iron Cast, by Destiny Soria
Iron Cast delivers something we don’t get nearly enough of in literature: dynamic, complex female friendships. Corrine and Ada work for gangster Johnny Dervish, performing at his club at night and conning the elite during the day in 1919 Boston. Corrine and Ada are hemopaths, people with the ability to form illusions through various art mediums. Their society doesn’t like hemopaths, and when a job goes wrong and Johnny disappears, the two friends are forced to find answers as the law breathes down their necks.

Girl Against the Universe, by Paula Stokes
Have you ever had a day when the whole world seems against you? You lose your keys, your train is late, and you got the wrong order for lunch. Maguire, the protagonist in Stokes’s latest contemporary, has had more than a day of feeling in battle with the forces around her; she has had a lifetime. From a car wreck that killed multiple members of her family but didn’t hurt her, to a roller-coaster disaster that left two of her friends injured, Maguire is convinced she’s bad luck, no matter what her therapist says otherwise. She carries around good-luck charms and performs lucky rituals in an attempt to counteract her bad luck, but that doesn’t stop her from being anxious and on edge. Girl Against the Universe has one of the best representations of anxiety I’ve ever seen, and even though there’s an absolutely lovely romance, the focus is on Maguire and her attempts to navigate the world around her without feeling constantly at war.

Ward Against Death, by Melanie Card
Readers who crave a dark fantasy with a spicy romance need Melanie Card’s Necromancer series on their shelves immediately, beginning with Ward Against Death. Ward de’Ath’s job as a necromancer is shaky, but he does what he can. When he is tasked with bringing back a nobleman’s daughter, Celia, for her family to say a quick goodbye goes wrong, he instead finds himself starting a journey with her to find her murderer. As they start finding several enemies and encounter more danger, Ward and Celia go from butting heads to kissing each other to butting heads again.

The Weight of Zero, by Karen Fortunati
If you’ve been searching for books with bipolar representation, grit, and love of all kinds, this is a must-buy. Cath is haunted by Zero, the depression side of her bipolar disease. Zero prompted Cath’s first suicide attempt, and while Zero is restrained right now, she knows he will come again. Preparing for his return, she stocks up on medication, planning another suicide attempt when he arrives. However, unexpected developments delay what Cath expected to be a short wait for Zero. Through the help of a new psychiatrist, unexpected relationships, and more, Cath finds herself starting to consider her bipolar disease in a different way.

Storm Siren, by Mary Weber
Weber’s fantasy series took my breath away the first time I read it. Nym is an Elemental, and theoretically, she shouldn’t exist. Previously, Elementals were only born male and killed at birth. As Nym grows, she’s sold again and again, while attempting to hide her storm summoning gift. When an auction leads to her using her powers, she is given a choice: to either be killed or used as a weapon for the country. Nym reluctantly chooses the second, entering a world full of scandal, dangerous whispers, politics, and a looming evil. Warning: you’ll want to have the next two books on hand once you finish this.

Lucy and Linh, by Alice Pung
More than ever, we need the perspectives of diverse voices both in America and across the globe. Alice Pung’s protagonist, Lucy, lives in Australia after her Chinese parents immigrated there from Vietnam. Lucy is accepted into a prestigious private school (think Chilton in Gilmore Girls), and struggles with a strange environment where power and wealth generate particularly cruel students. Lucy and Linh has humor, heart, and depth. Lucy’s voice demands to be heard, and Pung’s writing will entirely captivate you.

Kingdom of Ash and Briars, by Hannah West
West’s debut is prime treat yo’ self material if you even mildly enjoy fairy tales. This isn’t a specific retelling but rather draws elements from Sleeping Beauty, Hua Mulan, Cinderella, etc. We follow Bristal, a newly discovered, rare elicromancer who can shape shift. Kingdom of Ash and Briars is a true “with great power comes great responsibility” tale. Bristal’s power is strong, and while she could use it to protect and serve, war has wiped nearly all of the elicromancers out. I recommend reading this with warm tea, a blanket, and some snacks because you won’t want to stop reading for quite a while.

The Stepsister’s Tale, by Tracy Barrett
Barrett’s novel is spunky, fun, and has all the intense emotions we get in the original Cinderella. Jane has had enough of pretending to be a wealthy young lady when her family’s money is gone, her mother and little sister are hungry, and she tends to the animals every day. After her mother comes home one day with a new stepfather and stepsister for Jane, her burden grows heavier as her stepfather insists on spoiling his child far beyond their financial means. When her stepfather dies, Jane and her struggling family, including her stepsister, must find a way to survive together.

Rites of Passage, by Joy N. Hensley
Hensley crafts the story of Sam McKenna, one among a small number of girls enrolling in a famous military academy that just became coed. As Sam attempts to prove herself, she faces obstacles (both literal and metaphorical) at every turn, particularly from a secret society on campus that wants her and the other girls out. Reading that, you might expect this to be a historical novel, but unfortunately sexism is still alive and thriving. Rites of Passage will leave you feeling empowered nonetheless, and ready to stand against inequality.