Giving books is a skill, and not everyone has it. The instinct is to go for the bestseller list, which gives you books that are technically good gifts (widely praised, widely read, professionally packaged) and practically safe ones. She might love it. She might have already read it. She might have exactly zero interest in narrative nonfiction about the history of salt, even though it spent six months on the New York Times list. The bestseller list is where book gifting goes to be average.
A great book gift requires matching the book to the person, not just the cultural moment. That takes more thought and yields much better results. The person who receives a book she has never heard of, that was chosen specifically for her, and loves it, will remember that gift for years. That is the standard.
How to match the book to the person
Start with what she reads for pleasure, not what she reads for self-improvement or work, though those matter too. Does she read before bed or carry a book everywhere? Does she read fast or slow? Does she tend to like character-driven fiction or plot-driven fiction? Does she mention movies or TV shows that are based on books? All of this is information you probably already have. Use it to narrow the category before you pick a title.
The safest book gift is one that fits the genre or type of book she already loves but is a title she likely hasn't read. If she loves literary fiction, find a beloved novel from fifteen years ago that didn't get a big marketing push but that serious readers love. If she reads essays, find an essay collection from a writer she hasn't discovered. If she reads about food, find the book that food writers give each other rather than the one on every Food Network sponsored list.
Genres that make great gifts vs. the ones that don't
Literary fiction is an excellent gift genre because the field is vast and there is usually something the recipient hasn't read. Essay collections are strong gifts, especially from writers with a distinctive voice. Memoir is often excellent when the subject is someone the recipient would find interesting. Poetry collections are a beautiful gift for someone who reads poetry, and a confusing one for someone who doesn't, so know your audience.
Self-help is the most personal book gift because it implies you think she needs to improve something. If she loves self-help and reads it enthusiastically, it's a welcome category. If she doesn't, a self-help book as a gift reads as a comment on her life. The same goes for finance books, diet books, or anything that presumes she wants to change something. Stick to the genres she reads for pleasure.
How to find out what she's already read
If you are close enough to give her a book, you are close enough to ask what she has been reading. This sounds obvious and is widely underused. "I'm thinking of getting you a book, have you read anything lately that you loved?" is a normal question that will give you either the exact answer (she recommends something that tells you exactly where her taste is right now) or a clear signal (she says she hasn't been reading much, which tells you a book might not land). Either is useful information.
A beautiful hardcover edition of a beloved novel (opens in new tab) is a gift that works both as a book and as an object. There is a Penguin Clothbound Classics series, a Barnes and Noble Leatherbound edition, a Folio Society edition. Getting a beautiful edition of a book she already loves makes the gift different from a simple reread suggestion. She might frame it.
Making the book gift complete
A book paired with something thoughtful is better than a book alone. A bookmark she'd keep. A candle in a scent that matches the mood of the book (yes, this is a thing people do). A handwritten note about why you chose this specific book for her, specifically. If you have read the book, share what you loved about it. If you haven't, explain what you heard that made you think of her.
A beautiful bookmark (opens in new tab) alongside the book is a small addition that makes the overall gift feel more considered. Books are among the most personal gifts you can give when they are chosen well. They are also among the easiest to phone in. The difference is thought, which is free and takes about twenty minutes.
