Book Riot Staff Picks for Holiday Gifting

Jeff O’Neal, CEO and Co-founder

Countertop Nugget Icemaker ($189)

I hate the ice machine in my refrigerator. It works just enough to make me mad. It will work fine for a while, and then right when it is 98 degrees outside, it will jam up and not only be busted but require a multi-day defrost that requires minor disassembly. Plus, the ice it makes is just that chunky rectangle kind.

But what if there were another way? What if you could have a stand-alone table-top icemaker that always works and makes those little rabbit-pellet-shaped ice nuggets that you dream about in a cherry limeade from Sonic? Friends, let me introduce you to the wonders of a countertop nugget ice machine. You turn it on, and about 30 minutes later you have nugget ice. And it keeps making it as long as you keep filling the reservoir. It is a functional, sense-of-occasion frivolity that does not require that I ever remove a gasket from my refrigerator again. Do you need it? No. Is it the kind of affordable luxury that you will enjoy and that your guests will find winningly bewildering? Absolutely.

Clinton Kabler, COO and Co-founder

Mountain Gazette ($70 USD/year) and Adventure Journal ($60 USD/year)

Mountain Gazette and Adventure Journal are perfect for a family who thrives in the outdoors. The former arrives semiannually and the latter arrives quarterly. These print-only publications are not glossies. They are coffee table-worthy pieces of art printed on matte paper. Mountain Gazette is 11 by 17 inches and leans longform and artsy. Adventure Journal is 8.5 by 11 inches focused on short-form, profiles, and how-to. You lean back to read these in print – preferably outdoors following a paddle down the rapids or by the fireplace after a day on the slopes. Both offer stunning large-format photography. Two of my favorite articles over the past year have included a profile of Nick Ybarra, who began “mowing” the 144 miles (232 kilometers) of the single track Maah Daah Hey Trail in North Dakota, and a profile of Rachel Lord and the small cadre of female surfboard shapers. Don’t search for the articles, they are only available in print. Together, these magazines bring me delight six times a year. A subscription to one or both will delight the adventure-seeker in your life.

Rebecca Joines Schinsky, Chief of Staff

Cadence Travel Toiletry Capsules ($45+)

Nothing harshes a travel buzz like opening your suitcase to the discovery that your toiletries have escaped their supposedly leak-proof containers and oozed all over the rest of your lotions and potions (if you’re lucky) or your clothes (if you’re not). I’ve logged some serious travel miles, and I’ve tried every variety of toiletry setup. To a one, they have all failed me at some point…until I discovered Cadence shortly after their launch in 2020. These colorful little capsules are on the pricey side, but they’re so great that when I realized I forgot one set in a hotel room last year, I ordered replacements before I was even on the plane home. They are actually leak-proof! They’re magnetic and stackable! They’re economically sized so that you can fit shampoo, conditioner, hair product, face wash, moisturizer, night cream, and meds all in one TSA-safe quart-size bag with room to spare! Even The Wirecutter is on board now.

S. Zainab Williams, Executive Director of Content

Instant Pot Duo ($100)

It is my firmly held belief that too many people give up on their Instant Pots because they don’t realize how versatile these fairly affordable workhorses are. For instance, I cannot believe it took me as long as it did to fully appreciate the sauté function and recognize what a game changer it would be for my soups and stews. You’d think someone who reads for a living (this is not actually what I do, but let’s go with it) would look at that button and say, “Hey, actually, I don’t have to dirty up another dish. I can sauté and get all those good burnt-up bits right in the cavern, ready for deglazing.” It took me two years to arrive at this realization. Even still, my Instant Pot has been an all-seasons appliance ever since it arrived, and it has gifted me beautiful soups, stews, curries, collards, mulled beverages, you name it. One day I’ll follow through on making my own yogurt or cheese and be fully commune-ready.

Loog Ukulele ($80)

The level of discipline I exercised in piano, flute, and guitar lessons as a kid would lead you to believe I have no interest in learning a musical instrument, but I do. I do! My partner heard my cries for musical competency and decided to invest in my dream–to a point. He got me a ukulele, and I am certain it’s because he figured that if I let it gather dust, our kids would eventually enjoy it. But I have played around with it, and the brightness of the music and the instrument itself never fails to uplift me.

Vanessa Diaz, Managing Editor

Electric Kettle with Temperature Control ($70)

Years ago when I ran away to Europe for several months to “find myself,” I came back with two passionate convictions. The first was that I wanted to ditch my then career to write and work in book media. The second was that all the bewildered Brits and Scots I spoke to about various Americanisms were right: it is silly that more Americans don’t use an electric kettle. Whether you’re an avid tea drinker or connoisseur of pour-over coffee, an electric kettle just makes sense. I invite you to claim back the precious minutes you’ve spent turning on the stove and staring at that glass kettle, willing the water to boil faster. The next time you go to make a matcha or a cuppa English breakfast, or maybe a lil Nescafé instant cafecito (don’t you dare judge me), imagine having this sleek gooseneck bad boy on your counter ready and waiting to serve, and quickly! This version with temperature control settings is a great gift for a loved one or yourself, a small and relatively affordable upgrade for an extra bit of beverage-related ease.

Portland Leather Goods Mystery Boxes ($99+)

A good, high-quality leather bag is one of those little life treats that makes me feel a bit fancy and I love to gift this feeling to other people. Portland Leather Goods makes gifting easy with a huge selection of everything from coin purses and wallets to backpacks, totes, and handbags. Their color selection ranges from classic browns and blacks to fun hues in all the colors of the rainbow, and they release new products and colorways on the regular. PLG does have brick-and-mortar shops in Northwest Portland (plus an outlet store in Southeast) as well as Austin, TX if you want an in-person shopping experience, but their online shop is fantastic if you’re looking for a deal. They run sales very frequently, have a year-round Almost Perfect section of goods with slight imperfections offered at discounted prices, and offer these mystery boxes perfect for gifting (or as a treat for thine own self). They come in several combinations featuring different sizes of tote bags, crossbody bags, and small goods. You get a great value with a little element of surprise.

If you prefer product-specific recs, I love the circle crossbody bag, the Nora shoulder bag, the market tote, the taco tassel pouch, and have my eyes on the new Flora bag. For a stocking stuffer, this teeny tiny purse keychain is where my airpods or hand sanitizer live and it’s just! so! cute!