it is Best Christmas Gifts: Books and Chocolates 2023 Edition. I write this article every year, and even though he usually prepares it at the beginning of November, it’s only published a few weeks before Christmas. I like that. It’s my own Christmas tradition and aligns perfectly with my own festive timeline. This is because in my family we don’t start thinking about presents until about 10 days before Christmas, and even then we end up ordering them online. (I’ve rarely met someone with such a relaxed, last-minute approach, so if you’re into it, please let me know. Please write in the comments.)
This is the only Christmas shopping guide you really need. If you want the best Christmas present but don’t have that much money to spend, this one ticks all the boxes. So imagine if you could buy someone the ultimate bespoke Christmas present – something thoughtful and great-looking – for less than £20. There’s never been a Christmas present that’s easy to order, easy to wrap, cheap to post, makes you, the giver, look knowledgeable, educated, and, dare I say it, more unfriendly than ever. mosquito?
If you have never given a Christmas gift of books and chocolates before, you will be very happy after reading this article. you are forever, quietly A person who gives a stylish present. And if you have any doubts about whether this will work, just accept a birthday present from one of my oldest best friends. When I opened it on the train on the way back from London, it was a simple notebook with a beautiful cover and a bar. pump street chocolate. I was really happy. It was very chic and nice.
There are some rules. For a ‘books and chocolates’ gift to really work, the combination needs to be a) quality and b) stylish. This isn’t a galaxy block or the latest throwaway romance book you’ll find on the shelf next to the cash register at the co-op. What we’re looking for are literary gems with striking, graphic or highly photogenic covers and equally appealing chocolate bars.
There’s nothing wrong with a slab of a galaxy, but that’s not quite the vibe we’re going for here. We strive to create Christmas presents that look and feel delicious, despite their modest content. We strive to give gifts that are thoughtful, carefully considered, and tailored to the recipient. We want our customers to open their parcel and notice how beautiful and visually pleasing everything is inside.
If this sounds like too much work, don’t worry. I chose it for you. You can purchase the exact book and chocolate pairings below, or find inspiration from previous year’s pairings.
Books and Chocolate 2022
Books and Chocolate 2021
Books and Chocolate 2020
Books and chocolate 2019
When it comes to books, I try to choose new releases, but sometimes I end up choosing only the best books I read that year, regardless of release date. However, they all have something in common. High-quality, fun writing and a nice jacket. Well-wrapped chocolate is more difficult to obtain (and can be very expensive). I’ve listed all my favorites at the bottom of the post, including budget options that crows will love.
Right: Let’s start talking about this year. Best Christmas gifts: books and chocolates 2023.
(AD info: No paid or sponsored content. I bought all the books and chocolates. Affiliate links are marked *.)
Oh sister Written by Jody Chapman, £14.29 here* + Rococo Rose Milk Chocolate Bar, £2.95 here – Total spend: £17.24
I think this is my book of the year. Not a single word was out of place, with great attention to timing, and it was so wonderfully written that I might have enjoyed it even more if it had been about paint drying. However, it wasn’t about paint drying, it was about three different women at various stages of leaving a religious cult. So the subject couldn’t be more appealing. I couldn’t wait to get into bed every night and start reading again…
night bitch Written by Rachel Yoder, £9.05 here* + Hip Oat Milk Chocolate, £2.00 here* – Total spend: £11.05.
If there was a book for modern mothers…this is a hell of a story. Quite literally. A fast and furious read that perfectly encapsulates what it’s like to become a mother and completely lose your identity. It’s punchy and bold and will leave your jaw hanging open for at least the first third. (Also, how is the cover?
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead, £7.60 here* + Tony Chocolory, £1.35 here* – Total spend: £8.95
Devoured Colson Whitehead harem shuffle I immediately ordered the second part of the trilogy during my summer vacation (pictured below). It has the exciting pace and plot of a crime novel, but it’s also an extraordinary characterization of an ordinary man trying to stay on the right side of the law. In Harlem in the early ’60s, this was easier said than done. It was truly shocking. It was like reading a movie.
Scammer declaration Written by Colson Whitehead, £15.81 here* + Coco Black Forest Chocolate, £5 here* – Total spend: £20.81
Alas, I went 81p over budget, but I promise it was worth it. It’s a wonderful gift. Whitehead’s genius comes in a thick hardcover and is the perfect chocolate treat to enjoy while reading.
stung by a bee Written by Paul Murray, £16.99 here* + Pana Organic Golden Comb, £2.70 here – Total spend: £19.69
stung by a bee This is a book of brilliance. Set in Ireland, this novel focuses heavily on untold family stories, with dark secrets and comic twists unraveling as the novel progresses. This book teaches you, for want of a better, less used phrase, to never judge a book by its cover (HA!). Because the initial judgments you make about characters almost always turn out to be wrong.
We’ve combined this Booker Shortlist novel with Pana Organic’s finest novels. golden comb Plant-based chocolate. I love Pana. It’s fancier than traditional chocolate, almost like eating ganache, but just as satisfying.
Mr. Rubberman Written by Bernadine Evaristo, £9.19 here* + Coco Milk Chocolate, £5.49 at Selfridges here* – Total spend: £14.68
I read this last year but forgot to post it. This has a surprising twist, and it doesn’t even come at the end of the novel. This is a thoroughly heartwarming novel, and the characters immediately captivate you, sit you in the middle of the story, and surround you with their raucous noises.If you loved me girls, women, other Then you’ll see how vividly Bernadine Evaristo uses her words to paint a picture of London as a whole. That’s just a pleasure.
yellow face Written by Rebecca F. Quan, £8.49 here* + Tony’s Chocolonely, £1.40 at Ocado – Total spend: £9.89
Honestly?I didn’t like the last third yellow face But that’s only because the first two-thirds were completely insane. It’s a novel about a girl who steals her best friend’s books and passes them off as her own, and parts of it were so chilling that I thought she might actually turn inside out. There are snippets about the “cancelled” scenes and social media that will give me nightmares for years.
Oh, you can’t do that – repeat Can not – Mistake Tony Chocolonery in this entire “Books and Chocolates” game. It’s graphic, a little retro, cool, and very delicious. And it’s easily available (in any supermarket) and relatively cheap.
Yo, beautiful lady Written by Ann Napolitano, £13.99 here* + Rococo Sea Salt Milk, £6.95 here – Total spend: £20.94
Oh, I tried again just to be sure – my calculations were shocking! Slightly over budget, but again, So worth it. What a novel! A brilliant, moving, and gently written fictional tribute to the love four sisters have for each other and how quickly this love can be torn apart. Despite the huge emotional load, I found this very comforting. A must-read book this year.
claire keegan’s foster7.45 lbs. here* + Rococo Salted Caramel Truffles, £9.95 here – Total spend: £17.40
Unfortunately, this is a nice looking little package. Who wouldn’t be simply happy to open this? I’ve introduced Claire Keegan before. She is officially a master of the short story. Reading them is like shaking her snow globe and watching the flakes sink into the glass with her nose. It doesn’t take long to finish reading any of them, but when you do, you feel lonely and almost give in to the earth-shaking temptation to read them again. Small books are great stocking stuffers.
black butterfly Written by Priscilla Morris, £9.19 here* + Coco Chocolate, £5 here – Total spend: £14.19
This is a harsh story of war-torn Sarajevo, but it is buoyed by the protagonist’s hope and joy in life until the end. There is nothing dramatic or far-fetched about this novel, and the horrors of war are mostly underplayed, but it shows how easily one part of the world can be destroyed while other parts of the world survive. It makes you keenly aware of the situation you are in.
This is my shortlist for 2023. I hope this gives you some good ideas. To purchase online, simply click on the link for each pairing title. Remember that you can always reduce the price of chocolate to reduce your total spending. Tony’s bars and his HiP bars are easily available and relatively inexpensive. But if you want to spice things up a bit and make your present special, you can always buy whatever you want. Some gorgeous truffles. I have always found Charbonnel and Walker incredibly beautiful.
Let us know which Book & Choc pairing is your favorite. Frankly, I think the night bitch with chocolate lips is invincible.
[[[[Little Women The photo shown in the post is a special edition of Puffin. Price is £9.99. the best It’s worth a pretty thick hardcover book.can be found online here*. )
