So You Got a B&N Gift Card for Christmas! 10 Great Books to Buy

All the Bright Places, by Jennifer Niven
Adults reading YA novels can hardly be called a trend at this point—it’s more like a given. If you’ve been meaning to jump aboard that train, this book is your golden opportunity. The story features two teens, Theo and Violet, who are each carrying an emotional burden that threatens to overtake them. They find one another at the exact right moment—when they each need a kindred spirit more than anything else. Their struggle to make sense of themselves and one another in the midst of all of life’s inconvenient catastrophes will be familiar to anyone who has been, well, alive. This book is equal parts bitter and sweet, and wholly not to be missed.

The Harder They Come, by T.C. Boyle
If you’re looking for something off the beaten path, the latest from national treasure T.C. Boyle is an excellent choice. The story revolves loosely around Sten Stensen, an aging marine-turned-school-principal trying to make sense of his life, his country, and his family in the face of unthinkable events. As many of Boyle’s stories do, The Harder They Come explores the changing-yet-familiar face of American culture, the generation gap between baby boomers and their sometimes coddled adult children, and the effects of modern avarice on the environment. With its unconventional story arc, masterful use of point of view, and haunting questions about American culture, this novel is sure to stay with you long after you read the final page.

Moby Dick, by Herman Melville
Be honest—have you ever actually read this classic? Or did you, like some of us, dutifully carry it around for a high school semester and then give it a perfunctory skim before the final? If so, you may have (also like some of us) been reminded of your young and foolish literary fail in the wake of the recent film inspired by Melville’s masterpiece. No more shall you be haunted by the specter of the great novel! Add Moby Dick to your cart and you’ll be well on your way to besting your white literary whale.

Alexander Hamilton, by Ron Chernow
History buffs need look no further for one of the decade’s best bios. Master biographer Chernow seems to make a case that, somewhere along the line, it became cool to pigeonhole Alexander Hamilton. We all think we know him—the hotheaded treasurer who liked duels and capitalism, right? Well, yes and no, as Chernow so deftly shows. There was much more to this towering figure than your fourth-grade history lesson led you to believe. For instance, did you know he was a self-schooled orphan from the British Virgin Islands? Or that he founded the Bank of New York? As the little-known facts unfold, Chernow convinces even the most Jeffersonian of readers that the U.S. as we know it is largely an ode to the fellow on the ten-dollar bill.

We Were Liars, by E. Lockhart
This gem of a novel is another knock-your-socks-off YA read that promises to captivate readers of all ages. In the grand tradition of the young and extremely well-to-do, Cady has a habit of getting herself into, shall we say, mischief. On top of that, she, her cousins, and her (more than just) friend have a bad habit of being less than truthful about…well, everything. When tragedy strikes, the reader is left questioning everything unreliable narrator Cady says—right up until a stupefying twist ending leaves the facts crystal clear. Between the gorgeous Cape Cod backdrop, the old New England money, and the intriguing and sinister tone, this novel has everything a reader could ask for.

A Work in Progress, by Connor Franta
YouTube sensation Connor Franta tells the story of his life and pursuit of happiness in this debut memoir. At the ripe old age of 23, Franta’s decision to enter the literary world with a memoir might seem an odd choice. It might, that is, if you’re not very familiar with Franta. It begins to make a lot more sense as he describes his small town boyhood, struggles with body image and sexuality, and meteoric rise to YouTube stardom. Also included are his forays into clothing and music mogulhood. Did I mention he also has a coffee brand? This young powerhouse’s memoir is an uplifting reminder that, with enough ambition, the American dream is within reach for anyone.

The Bazaar of Bad Dreams, by Stephen King
For horror devotees, there are few things more satisfying than when the master discusses his craft. In his first short-story collection since Night Shift, King provides commentary on each of the stories featured. Readers get an uncommon glimpse into his creative process, which is by turns inspiring and eerie. Whether you are a King aficionado or a newcomer looking to dip a toe into his spine-tingly world, The Bazaar of Bad Dreams has something scary-good to offer.

Humans of New York: Stories, by Brandon Stanton
Brandon Stanton was an unemployed photographer adrift in the Big Apple when he decided to take to the streets and photograph everyday New Yorkers. The Facebook page Humans of New York was born, and the world hasn’t been the same since. With over 16 million followers, three books, and several high-profile fundraising campaigns to his credit, Stanton is deservedly revered as an internet hero. This latest book represents the shift the franchise has taken to accompanying each vivid photo with a passage of the subject’s story in his or her own words. The result? Arguably the most touching and captivating coffee-table book ever written. You might want to hide this the next time you throw a party—unless, that is, you want to lose a guest or two to the fit of giggles, gasps, and tears a HONY book induces.

The Pines, by Blake Crouch
Imagine you’ve woken up in the middle of nowhere with no identification, no cell phone, no money, and not a single clear memory of how you got there. You’d probably be pretty relieved to discover you’re only steps from a darling little town full of ever-so-helpful folk. Unless, that is, you’re Secret Service Agent Ethan Burke, and that quaint little town is Wayward Pines. You see, although Agent Burke’s memories begin to resurface one by one, he can’t say the same about straight answers. It becomes increasingly clear Ethan is going to have to move faster and be smarter than everyone around him if he wants to get out of Wayward Pines alive. This first novel in the Wayward Pines series introduces us to Crouch’s signature style—terse, disorienting, and dripping with suspense. Mystery lovers be warned: even if Ethan does manage to get out of Wayward Pines, you might not want to. And when you’re done reading, check out the TV adaptation, starring Matt Dillon as hardboiled Burke.

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto, by Mitch Albom
With this novel, the celebrated author of Tuesdays with Morrie brings us a new insta-classic. When we meet Frankie Presto, he’s a child imbued with a gift for music that promises to shape his destiny. As Frankie comes of age in the 1940s, he realizes the true power his talent holds. In the ensuing decades, Frankie’s musicality inspires some of the 20th century’s most earth-shaking hits, and kickstarts the careers of the best and brightest musicians alive. When one misstep sends Frankie into seclusion, he must find it within himself to change one last life for the better before his curtain falls. In a heady brew of fact, fiction, and a dash of magical realism, Albom reminds us that he, like Frankie Presto, is a legend in his own time.