the time has come. For the sixth year in a row, I’m bringing you my ultimate, easy, budget-friendly Christmas gift. One that feels thoughtful and personal, but takes seconds to buy and is easy to wrap and post cheap. Yes, dear readers, it is the most popular post of the season: my Christmas Books ‘n Chocolates!
Do you want to look like the most stylish and considered giver, the one who really has his life together but spends almost no energy? Then this is the post for you. A carefully curated selection of the best books, artistically and tastefully matched with the fanciest, prettiest chocolate bars. Or the coolest and most graphic plates. All wrapped in plain brown paper, tied with striped string, the finished package never fails to delight.
The point of this combination of book and shock is that the recipient feels like they are being given something a little luxurious. So we’re talking about high-quality books and top-quality chocolates, but it’s not just that: both the book cover and the chocolate wrapper have to be aesthetically pleasing and also fit together in a way that makes people think, ” wow, this person has style“. These people must not know that you ordered everything on the Internet, wearing polar bear fleece pajamas and a flammable robe.
Before I introduce you to this year’s spectacular book-and-choc pairings, I must say that there is a whole catalog of these annual posts. So if you want to see dozens and dozens more examples, click on the links at the bottom of this page.
That’s right, without further ado: the Ultimate 2024 Books and Chocolates Round-Up!
[AD-info: this post contains affiliate links, marked *.]
Buy Charbonnel & Walker Sea Salt Truffles*
I will talk more about All four from Miranda in July next week. The story is completely insane. I have a feeling it could be one of those Marmite books, because it’s so far-fetched and unhinged, but if you submit (oops, err) and allow yourself to have a good sense of humor about it all, then it is absolute riot. I found myself laughing out of pure joy at how crazy it was, in places. And, on a more serious note, it tackles some major midlife issues head-on and completely unapologetically. You can’t give it to Aunt Maud while she’s having a hip replacement, maybe, or to someone you don’t know well enough, because it’s quite… familiar… in places, but this could be one of the best reads to gift to a girl who I will find this year. Or the worst. Either way, it will be a conversation starter…
Market Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors*
Stories of four brothers, one book. But there is a sad absence that binds the separate stories together. Touching and moving but not very hairy wretch, it’s a good winter break read. Especially if you enter a bar of old Ocelot Sea Salt at the same time. Be still my chocolate loving heart.
(Ocelot’s very graphic packaging is perfect for my books and chocs pairings. You almost can’t go wrong, they look good with everything!)
Market Long Island by Colm Toibin*
I wrote about Colm Toibin Long Island herebut so you don’t have to open a new window, in a nutshell I called it “delicious” and said this:
“I admire anyone who can take lives that are just like anyone else’s lives—seemingly mundane, with nothing that shocking or surprising happening—and make the lack of anything particularly notable about what is interesting. Not just interesting: valuable. Every little life and every part of that life that became so precious, so worth analyzing and thinking about… it really makes you stop and appreciate how dense each of us is with all our memories and emotions and ties to other people”.
What a wonderful, slow paced, delightful little treasure of a book. Hardly recommended.
Market James by Percival Everett*
Ouch. I hate the phrase “hard recommended” but I’m trying to be more down with the kids so I’ll use it again: Percival Everett’s James it is absolutely outstanding. If you read The Trees and you were surprised by this and then adopt the splint position because you are about to start another masterpiece that you will not be able to put down.
I’ve never wanted a character to survive so much – and not just survive, I wanted Jim (an escaped slave who wants to buy the freedom of his wife and child) to rewrite history. Strong, beyond sad and with the ability to make you feel desperate, with nauseating levels of rage.
By the way, you might notice (if you’ve seen previous books-n-chocs posts) that I’ve thrown in a new chocolate bar here. I wanted to find a simple, quaint bar that didn’t cost a fortune and oh my goodness I did. Waitrose No1 range – many different versions. Around two quid, depending on when you have stock…
My other bargain brand of choice, as you know, is Tony’s Chocolonely. I love the big, bold graphics on these chunky shock plates. Lots of colors, great value, can’t imagine a time when they won’t be included.
Intermezzo, another good read for a slow, winter week. My first Sally Rooney book and we’ll definitely be back for more – I love these detailed examinations of people’s character and inner turmoil.
Market Rabbits by Hugo Rifkind*
Buy Pana Organic Peanut Caramel
Teenage angst and dark phenomena, Rabbits by Hugo Rifkind makes you want to rent a battered mini and relive your youth. Kind.
The only book in the book stack that I’ve started but won’t finish before this post comes out. Shame on me! I was doing so well. Sister Night by VV Ganeshananthan won this year’s Women’s Award for Fiction, which caught my eye, it is beautifully written so far and with great attention to historical detail. I feel like I’m on a very emotional ride…
Market I who have never met men*
What a book! I who have never met men by Jacqueline Harpman isn’t a new release, but it’s had something of a resurgence this year and I’m so glad it did. It is excellent. Totally mysterious but also bleak and barren. I don’t want to say too much about it, but it’s a fantastic choice. Proper chat starter!
It doesn’t always have to be fiction when it comes to the Books ‘n Chocs gift. I love sending cookbooks the most, especially if I can pair them with a related spice or seasoning or accessory. Quite partial – and stay with me here – to pairing a cookbook with a nice towel. It packs flat, stays put, is light, and just feels right and fun. I like the M&S cotton ones which come in a pack of four (£8 here*) and add a total of two pounds to the price of the gift if you split the package.
I couldn’t help but add Cherry Bomb chocolate to this – I recently discovered the online store Delli for specialty and interesting cupboard purchases and condiments and so on. Went into town for a bit to the old candy store..
Market How not to be a Supermodel here*
Buy Fatso Sweet Tart Chocolate here
Enjoy me, momentarily, if you will. Because I’ve waited many, many years to enjoy this moment: my own book featured in my own ‘books n chocs’ post. What an absolute thrill! I only ask for your attention briefly, because I’m coming back to you with a whole post about it How not to be a Supermodel next week when the hardback becomes widely available in the States, which is HUGE.
I also have some alternate chocolate pairings and lots to say about how much you’ll enjoy reading this book if you haven’t already. It would be my “pick of the year” if that were allowed, which it obviously isn’t because I’d look like a proper old berk if I picked my own book, but you get the point. I love it and I think you will. It makes people laugh out loud at the most inappropriate times and that’s the best possible review I could wish for.
If you have read the book then you will appreciate the choice of chocolate brand…
I hope you enjoyed this year’s offering – remember to check out the link below for past editions and lots more ideas!
My Ultimate Easy Christmas Gift: 2019-2023 Editions
