It’s time. For the sixth yr working I deliver you my final, straightforward, budget-adaptable Christmas reward. The one which feels considerate and private but takes seconds to purchase and is straightforward to wrap and low cost to publish. Sure, expensive readers, it’s the most well-liked publish of the season: my Christmas Books ‘n Candies!
Do you need to seem like probably the most trendy and regarded gift-giver, one that actually has their life collectively, but expend nearly no vitality? Then that is the publish for you. A fastidiously curated number of the best books, matched artistically and with nice aptitude to the daintiest, prettiest bars of chocolate. Or probably the most cool and graphic slabs. All wrapped up in plain brown paper, tied with striped string, the ultimate package deal by no means fails to please.
The purpose of this book-and-choc pairing is that the recipient feels as if they’re being given one thing a little bit bit luxurious. So we’re speaking excessive finish books and top of the range sweets however that’s not all: each the e book cowl and the chocolate wrapping have to be aesthetically pleasing and in addition matched collectively in a manner that makes individuals assume, “wow, this individual has fashion”. These individuals are to not know that you just ordered every little thing on the web, sporting fleece polar bear pyjamas and a flammable dressing robe.
Earlier than I current you with this yr’s spectacular book-and-choc pairings, I ought to say that there’s a whole again catalogue of those annual posts. And so in the event you’d like to take a look at dozens and dozens extra examples then click on the hyperlinks on the backside of this web page.
Proper, with out additional ado: the Final 2024 Books and Candies Spherical-Up!
[AD-info: this post contains affiliate links, marked *.]
Buy Charbonnel & Walker Sea Salt Truffles*

I’m going to speak extra about All Fours by Miranda July subsequent week. The story is completely mad. I get the sensation it may very well be a type of Marmite type of books, as a result of it’s so far-fetched and unhinged, however in the event you submit (ooh err) and permit your self to have a very good sense of humour about all of it then it’s an absolute riot. I discovered myself laughing simply out of pure glee at how batshit loopy it was, in locations. And, on a extra critical notice, it tackles some large midlife points head-on and fully unapologetically. Not one to offer to Auntie Maud whereas she’s having her hip alternative, maybe, or anybody you don’t know fairly effectively, as a result of it’s fairly…intimate…in locations, however this may very well be among the finest reads to reward a girlfriend that you just’ll discover this yr. Or the worst. No matter, it’ll be a dialog starter…
Buy Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors*

4 sisters’ tales, one e book. However there’s a tragic absence all through that binds the separate tales collectively. Poignant and touching however not too hair-clawingly depressing, it’s a very good winter vacation learn. Particularly in the event you’re breaking right into a bar of the previous Ocelot Sea Salt on the similar time. Be nonetheless my chocolate-loving coronary heart.
(Ocelot’s very graphic packaging is ideal for my books and chocs pairings. You nearly can’t go incorrect, they appear good with every little thing!)
Buy Long Island by Colm Toibin*
I wrote about Colm Toibin’s Lengthy Island here, however to avoid wasting you having to open a brand new window, in brief I referred to as it “scrumptious” and stated this about it:
“I love anybody who can take lives which might be similar to anybody else’s lives – seemingly pedestrian, with nothing that surprising or shocking happening – and make the shortage of something notably notable into the factor that’s attention-grabbing. Not simply attention-grabbing: valuable. Each little life and each a part of that life made so valuable, so price dissecting and giving thought to… it actually makes you cease and recognize how densely-packed every of us is with all of our reminiscences and feelings and hyperlinks to different individuals.”
What a gorgeously slow-paced, delectable little treasure-chest of a e book. Laborious advocate.
Buy James by Percival Everett*

Oooph. I hate the phrase “exhausting advocate” however I’m attempting to be extra down with the children and so I’ll use it once more: Percival Everett’s James is totally excellent. If you happen to learn The Bushes and had been blown away by that then undertake the brace place since you’re about to start out one other masterpiece that you just received’t be capable to put down.
By no means have I wished a personality to outlive so badly – and never simply survive, I used to be keen Jim (an escaped slave who is ready on shopping for his spouse and baby’s freedom) to rewrite historical past. Highly effective, past unhappy and with the capability to make you’re feeling determined, nauseating ranges of rage.
By the best way, you might discover (in the event you’ve seen earlier books-n-chocs posts) that I’ve slipped a brand new chocolate bar in right here. I wished to discover a easy, graphic bar that didn’t value an absolute fortune and by God I’ve carried out it. Waitrose No1 vary – a great deal of totally different variations. Approx two quid, relying on if you fill up…

My different bargainous model of selection, as , is Tony’s Chocolonely. I like the large, daring graphics on these chunky slabs of choc. A great deal of colors, nice worth, I can’t think about a time once they received’t be included.

Intermezzo, one other advantageous learn for a slow-burn, wintery form of week. My first Sally Rooney e book and I’ll most undoubtedly be going again for extra – I like these detailed examinations of individuals’s character and interior turbulence.
Buy Pana Organic Peanut Caramel

Teen angst and darkish goings-on, Rabbits by Hugo Rifkind makes you need to rent a battered mini and relive your youth. Form of.
The one e book within the e book pile that I’ve began however received’t end earlier than this publish goes reside. Disgrace on me! I used to be doing so effectively. Brotherless Evening by V.V. Ganeshananthan received this yr’s Girls’s Prize for Fiction which is the way it caught my eye, it’s superbly written to date and with sensible consideration to historic element. I’ve a sense I’m in for a really emotional trip…
Buy I Who Have Never Known Men*

What a e book! I Who Have By no means Recognized Males by Jacqueline Harpman isn’t a brand new launch however has had one thing of a resurgence this yr and I’m so happy that it has. It’s glorious. Completely mysterious but additionally bleak and barren. I don’t need to say an excessive amount of about it, nevertheless it’s a unbelievable choose. Correct dialog starter!

It doesn’t need to all the time be about fiction on the subject of the Books ‘n Chocs reward. I do fairly like sending out cookbooks, too, particularly if I can pair them with a related spice or condiment or accent. Fairly partial – and stick with me right here – to pairing a cookbook with a pleasant tea towel. It packs flat, nonetheless, is light-weight and simply feels applicable and enjoyable. I like M&S cotton ones which are available in a pack of 4 (£8 here*) and add a grand whole of two kilos to the reward value in the event you cut up the pack down.
I couldn’t resist including on this Cherry Bomb chocolate bar, although – I just lately found the web store Delli for area of interest and attention-grabbing storecupboard buys and condiments and so forth. Went to city a bit on the previous confectionery..
Buy How Not to be a Supermodel here*
Buy Fatso Sweet Tart chocolate here

Indulge me, momentarily, if you’ll. As a result of I’ve waited many, a few years to get pleasure from this second: my very personal e book featured in my very personal “books n chocs” publish. What an absolute thrill! I ask you in your consideration solely briefly, as a result of I’m coming again at you with an entire publish about How To not be a Supermodel subsequent week, when the hardback turns into extensively out there within the States, which is a HUGE factor to be taking place.
I even have some various chocolate pairings and a load to say about how a lot you’ll get pleasure from studying this e book in the event you haven’t carried out so already. It will be my “choose of the yr” if that was allowable, which clearly it isn’t as a result of I’d seem like a proper previous berk if I selected my very own e book, however you get the gist. I find it irresistible and I feel that you’ll find it irresistible. It has been making individuals chuckle out loud at very inappropriate occasions and that’s the very best evaluate I may want for.
When you’ve got learn the e book you then’ll recognize the selection of chocolate model…
I hope you’ve loved this yr’s providing – keep in mind to take a look at the hyperlink beneath for earlier editions and masses extra concepts!
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