What I'd Give Book Characters for Christmas

I had a lot of fun curating a small business bookish gift guide last week, so today I’m going to share what I’d gift some characters from books I’ve read this year. With over 160 books to choose from, it was really hard picking just a handful of characters to shop for. I’m sure it goes without saying, but if any characters were to find an…ahem...unfavorable demise, I’m pretending such things never happened because Christmas is not about spoilers or devastating character deaths. 

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Ampert from Sunrise on the Reaping

Ampert is the twelve-year-old tribute reaped from District 3 into the Hunger Games. Like his father from Catching Fire, Ampert is brilliantly competent with electronic technology. Ampert’s skill is vital to the favorable outcome of this book and Haymitch’s presence in the rest of the series. 

I’d gift Ampert this gorgeous leather electronics organizer for Christmas. It’s nice and compact, so he could take it with him as he’d flit from project to project. It’s classy and beautifully crafted, which I’m sure is a far cry from what Ampert would have had been gifted in his district throughout his childhood.

Item listing: here

Shop: leathergiftistry

Annie from The Gingerbread Bakery

Annie’s dream has always been to open a well-loved baking empire in Dream Harbor. She single-handedly provides all confectionery and baked goods to the town’s special events. She has a strong work-ethic and desperately wishes to serve the loved ones around her. 

For Christmas, I’d give Annie an engraved bread warmer plate. She frequently delivers baked goods in her little van to her neighbors–even in the snow! This warming plate would keep loaves of bread or muffins nice and warm for her deliveries. Everyone knows bread is better when it’s warm and the butter melts right into the crumb. 

Item listed: here

Shop: GiftShopByKORISSA

Beth Harmon from The Queen’s Gambit

Beth discovered her two lifelong romances while growing up in an orphanage–tranquilizer pills and chess. As a chess prodigy, Beth quickly rose through the ranks of chess tournaments with the help of her adoptive mother. Beth’s one goal is to play in Russia and become a world champion. 

I bet you were expecting me to gift a beautiful chess set to Beth. Actually, she has an incredible skill in visualizing chess boards and playing full games in her head. She doesn’t even need a board to practice. Instead, I’m giving Beth some adorable bookends for her extensive chess book collection. I’m certain the first book she was able to buy from her competition winnings would be proudly displayed there.  

Item listed: here

Shop: erodbuilds

Vera Vixen from Shady Hollow

Shady Hollow (apart from the alarming number of murders per capita) is the cozy small town of my dreams. Vera Vixen works as the star reporter for the local newspaper. Her job frequently sends her into amateur sleuthing, but Vera always saves the day and gets the scoop!

Vera loves cozy snacks and warm drinks. Her days of writing and detective work frequently start in the local coffee shop with a couple of warm pastries. For Christmas, I think Vera would love a box of decadent cookies to pair with a hot coffee. I could see her and Lenore sampling cookies together as they discussed details of a case. 

Item listed: here

Shop: sweeterthanhoneyNC

[Unnamed Narrator] from The Unworthy

Our narrator secretly chronicles her experience in a violent cult in a post-apocalyptic world. The origins of the cult is unknown, but it follows unnerving orthodox Christian practices alongside self-flagellation and dismemberment. (Merry Christmas, folks.) There are no men save one, and no children are permitted despite the recurrence of the murdered pregnant women that keep turning up. 

The narrator in this book must keep her diary a secret. There’s few to no writing implements, and she must use bugs, berries, and sometimes her own blood as ink. The girl could really use a break. For Christmas I’m going to smuggle in a gorgeous ink and pen set for her… and hopefully escape the cult before becoming mutilated or trapped. 

Item listed: here

Shop: GCQUILL

Summer Hamilton from Flawless

Summer Hamilton is stuck baby-sitting one of her dad’s clients, Rhett Eaton, because he just can’t seem to keep himself in good PR this rodeo season. As Rhett tries to shake off his shadow, Summer begins to learn there’s more to this bull-rider than meets the eye. What she doesn’t expect from this assignment is a rodeo of emotions in her heart. (Okay, I’ll see myself out.)

Bull riding is one hell of a dangerous sport, but Summer loves the thrill of spectating as Rhett completes. I’d gift her this cute bolo tie-style necklace to wear while she’s in the stands supporting Rhett. It’s dainty and girly while still being perfectly on brand for a rodeo gal. 

Item listed: here

Shop: IslaFlora

Scarlett Vandermeer from Deep End

Scarlett is a student athlete at Stanford. She’s a remarkable platform diver. Or, she was, before her injury last season and the anxiety-induced block she now experiences. To blow off steam, she enters into a no-strings sex arrangement with the swim captain as she tries to overcome her mental block and pursue her STEM degree. 

Scarlett loves quirky swim caps and comfortable clothes. Like all Hazelwood heroines, she’s funny, smart, and quippy. Though not all people want a quirky t-shirt for Christmas, I think Scarlett would genuinely enjoy my gift for her. This shirt combines her passion for platform diving with a cute science pun. 

Item listed: here

Shop: WordTeesCo