I’m biased, I know, but A State of Emergency: The Story of Ireland’s Covid Crisis by Richard Chambers is a must-read. It’s about a group of psychopaths granted free tuition if they take part in a psychology study it’s impossible to put down.Įmma Dabiri: wrote the book on how to dismantle racism The plotline of a young woman moving to Dublin to study English at Trinity might bring Sally Rooney to mind, but Nealon is very much her own writer.Īnother novel set at college is Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian. The writing is beautiful, the story heartbreakingly relevant, and the illustrations are sublime.įor older teenagers, I would recommend Snowflake by Louise Nealon. Medusa by Jessie Burton would make a gorgeous gift. If you have a romantic in the house, A Single Thread of Moonlight by Laura Wood will hit the spot - think Cinderella with a twist. The excellent All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue is the perfect choice for any teen with an interest in the occult. Reputation by Lex Croucher is like Bridgerton meets Gossip Girl by way of Jane Austen. Her latest book, All The Money In The World, is laced with her trademark compassion and kindness.Ĭaroline O'Donoghue: YA fiction hits the spot for fans of tarot and the occult If your child is at the older end of this age category, anything by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald is a winner. Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Tom de Freston is a triumph - beautiful, true, immersive. (The usual disclaimer applies - I’m only recommending books I’ve read this year, so if you’re looking for memoirs by your favourite sports star, I’m probably not your woman!)

Which is why, once again, I am offering you a book-buying guide. Scratch that - there’s no better present you can give anyone than a book that will capture their imagination.

As neill books