Looking for the perfect bookish gift for everyone on your list this holiday season? Finding it difficult to match a book to the jokester in your life, the person who is mooching your Netflix, or that one friend who’s just plain impossible to buy for? ECW’s got you covered.
Check out these 10 gift guide sheets for 10 of the kinds of people you might have to buy for this season! We’ve paired our books with other gift ideas that you can add to your cart (online or in real life!) when visiting your favourite retailers in the coming weeks. Put them together and bam, you’ve got the perfect gift for that special someone!
Want more ideas along these lines? Feel free to shoot us an email at marketing@ecwpress.com and we’ll be happy to give you some recommendations.
ECW’s Holiday Gift Guide 2017
1. The person who loves to discuss books (especially over wine... with snacks... possibly at a book club.)
This person loves to get together with close friends to talk about their favourite reads. They have a colour-coded notebook dedicated to discussion questions and favourite passages, are geniuses with their charcuterie arrangements, and have the best taste in wine. They need a beautiful book that packs a punch and will stay with them long after they’ve finished reading.
Malagash links: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Indigo/Chapters, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound
Rose & Poe links: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Indigo/Chapters, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound
2. The season ticket holder
This person is the definition of a hockey fan. They know their team (cough Leafs cough) and will stick with them come hell or high water. They look forward to the “fifth season” every year, with all the stats, replays, beers, and team repping that comes with it. Get them a book that will help them relive the glory days, or one that will supplement their pre- (and post-) game analytics.
Gratoony the Loony links: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Indigo/Chapters, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound
Fast Ice links: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Indigo/Chapters, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound
Toronto and the Maple Leafs links: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Indigo/Chapters, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound
Dennis Maruk links: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Indigo/Chapters, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound
If hockey isn't quite their thing, but they're super passionate about another sport, check out the Best Canadian Sports Writing anthology edited by Stacey May Fowles and Pasha Malla!
These remarkable pieces offer lasting insight that, like sport itself, excites, inspires, and never fails to reveal the truth about ourselves.
3. The person who is impossible to buy for
You’ve tried over the years to find the gift that fits this person to a T. You’ve Googled “gift ideas hard to buy for”, spent hours searching stores, and asked everyone you know for recommendations. Sometimes you end up getting them a gift card, because hey, it may seem impersonal, but at least they can get what they want! ECW’s pop classics series provide much-needed inspiration for just this kind of person on your list. These colourful handbooks explore different pop culture phenoms, from Elvis Costello to TMNT to Twin Peaks. And the collection grows each year!
ECW's Pop Classics series links: ECW website, Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Indigo.ca, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound
4. The person who steals your Netflix password
Your best friend who swears they’ll get their own account next month. Your boyfriend with whom you’re splitting the membership. Your kid piggybacking on the family login. Whoever they are, this person streams their favourite show(s) daily. Your gift ideas for them almost always consist of TV– or movie-related memorabilia, or some other way to feed their streaming habit. Check out the TV and movie companion guide picks we have below for just this kind of person on your list!
Science of Orphan Black links: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Indigo/Chapters, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound
5. The person who journeys to mystical worlds
This person loves to lose themselves in a good sci-fi or fantasy novel. They become completely engrossed in the world and count down the days until the next book in the series is released. They collect beautiful hardcover editions, love setting up the perfect #bookstagram picture, and often peruse the internet for fan art, blog tours, and Tumblr gifs. We guarantee that they’ll love sinking their teeth into our picks this season, including Scion of the Fox, the first in a YA fantasy trilogy!
Scion of the Fox links: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Indigo/Chapters, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound
6. The environmentally conscious
This person’s home is filled with reusable items; they love to garden and make their own food; they donate to the WWF, PETA, or another animal-saving organization; and they know all the answers to the question,“is this recyclable?” Though you might not want to admit it, they make you want to be greener, too. Inspire them with the gifts below!
Rights of Nature links: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Indigo/Chapters, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound
7. The person with a knack for detective work
This person rips through crime novels like nobody’s business. They kick butt at escape rooms, have a (possibly unhealthy?) obsession with murder stories, and can’t resist solving a mystery. They often wonder if they should have been a cop, or a forensic scientist. ECW’s list is chock-full of dark, engrossing, and even humorous mystery novels that are perfect for this friend on your list. Check out some of our recent ones below!
Zero Avenue links: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Indigo/Chapters, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound
Ragged Lake links: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Indigo/Chapters, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound
Whipped links: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Indigo/Chapters, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound
8. The jokester
It goes without saying, but this person is the life of the party. You look forward to seeing them at holiday gatherings because of how fun they become with this person leading the charge. You can always count on them to make you laugh. Return the favour with these great humorous picks — each of these books is guaranteed to be a fun read!
A Brief History of Oversharing links: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Indigo/Chapters, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound
Beforelife links: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Indigo/Chapters, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound
9. The concert-goer
If Ticketmaster had a membership, this person would be a platinum cardholder. They go to concerts every few weeks, are working on their vinyl collection, and are constantly wearing headphones when on the move to listen to their tunes. We have books on bands across multiple decades — our latest music book goes in-depth into AC/DC frontman Bon Scott’s life. Check out some more gift ideas for the music lover on your list!
Bon: The Last Highway links: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Indigo/Chapters, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound
10. The aspiring writer
Chances are, if you’re following ECW news, you’re either a writer yourself or you know someone who dreams of getting published. Maybe they hunkered down this past November for NaNoWriMo (if they succeeded in their goal, send them congratulations from us!), and maybe they’re going through a bit of writers
’ block. In any case, this person is often fun to buy for — get them a beautiful pen, a fun notepad, and some great writing to inspire them to do what they love.