It’s time. For the sixth year in a row, we’re bringing you the ultimate Christmas gift that’s easy and budget-friendly. Something that feels thoughtful and personal, yet takes seconds to purchase, is easy to package, and costs less to ship. Yes, dear readers, the most popular post of the season is my Christmas books and chocolates!
Do you want to be seen as the most stylish and thoughtful gift giver – someone who spends their life together using very little energy? Then this is the post for you. A carefully selected selection of the finest books, matching the most exquisite and beautiful chocolate bars with artistic flair. Or the coolest and most graphic slabs. Wrap everything in plain brown paper and tie with striped string, and the final package is sure to please.
The key to pairing books and chocolates is to make the recipient feel like they’ve received something a little luxurious. I mean, we’re talking about fancy books and top-quality chocolate, but there’s more to it than that. Both the cover of the book and the packaging of the chocolate must be aesthetically pleasing and work together in a way that makes people think, “This person has style.” Those people don’t know that you wore fleece polar bear pajamas and a flammable gown and ordered everything over the internet.
Before I share with you this year’s amazing book and chocolate pairings, I should mention that I have a whole back catalog of these annual posts. If you would like to see more examples, click the link at the bottom of this page.
Yes, without further ado, here is the ultimate roundup of books and chocolates for 2024.
(Advertising information: This post contains affiliate links marked *.)
Buy All Four here*
Purchase Charbonnel & Walker Sea Salt Truffles*
Next week we’ll be talking more about Miranda July’s all fours. The story is completely crazy. It’s such a far-fetched and rambling book that I suspect it’s going to be a bit like Marmite, but if you accept that (oh yeah) and allow yourself a good sense of humor about all of this. , it would be an absolute riot. At places I found myself laughing out of sheer glee at how crazy it was. And, more seriously, it tackles some of the big issues of midlife head-on and completely unapologetically. It’s probably not the book you should give to your Aunt Maud, who has had a hip replacement, or to someone you don’t know very well. Because this book is pretty…intimate…in places. But this might be one of the best books to give her. You’ll find it this year. Or worse. Anyway, it’s a good conversation starter…
Buy Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors*
Buy Ocelot Sea Salt Chocolate
A story of four sisters, one book. But throughout there is a sad lack of tying the separate stories together. Heart-wrenching and moving, but not gruesomely gory, it’s the perfect winter holiday read. Especially if you’re invading a bar of old ocelot sea salt at the same time. Please don’t change my love for chocolate.
(Ocelot’s highly graphic packaging is perfect for my book and chocolate pairings. You can hardly go wrong with it. It looks great with everything.)
Buy Long Island by Colm Toibin*
Buy Ocelot Sea Salt Chocolate
I wrote about Colm Toibin’s Long Island here , but to save you the trouble of opening a new window, I’ll keep it simple: I’ll call it “delicious” and say this about it:
“I like to take a life that is exactly like someone else’s life, where nothing shocking or surprising happens, seemingly ordinary, and turn something interesting from nothing particularly noteworthy.” I admire people who can. It’s not only interesting, it’s precious. Every little life and every part of that life is so precious and worth analyzing and thinking about…it’s all about each and every one of us. It makes us realize how dense our memories, emotions, and connections are with other people.”
It’s such a gorgeous, slow-paced, delicious little treasure chest of books. Highly recommended.
Purchase James by Percival Everett*
Buy Waitrose No1 Chocolate
Oops. I don’t like the word “highly recommend,” but I’d like to use it more sparingly with children, so I’ll use it again. Percival Everett’s James is completely outstanding. If you read The Trees and were shocked by its contents, adopt a braces attitude. Because you’re about to start your next masterpiece that you won’t be able to put down.
I’ve never wanted a character to survive so much. Rather than just survive, Jim (an escaped slave trying to buy his wife and child’s freedom) is willing to rewrite history. It’s powerful and has the ability to move past sadness to desperate, nauseating levels of anger.
By the way, (if you’ve seen my previous Book and Chocolate posts) you may have noticed that I slipped in a new chocolate bar here. I was looking for a simple, graphic bar without spending a lot of money, and I was able to achieve that perfectly. Waitrose No1 Series – Available in different versions. It costs about 2 pounds, depending on when you buy it.
Purchase Tony’s Chocolate Lee*
Another great value brand I chose is, you guessed it, Tony’s Chocolonely. I love the big, bold graphics on this thick chocolate slab. Lots of colors, great value, and I can’t imagine a time when they weren’t included.
Click here to purchase Intermezzo*
Click here to purchase Ocelot Violet Milk
“Intermezzo” is another great read for a slow-burning winter-like week. This is my first Sally Rooney book and I definitely want to read more. I love exploring people’s personalities and inner turmoil in great detail.
Buy Rabbits by Hugo Rifkind*
Buy Pana Organic Peanut Caramel
Hugo Rifkind’s depiction of teenage angst and dark events, Rabbits, makes you want to rent a beat-up toy car and relive your youth. In a sense.
Buy Brotherless Night here*
This is the only book in my pile of books that I started but couldn’t finish by the time this post is published. shame on you! He was very energetic. Brotherless Night by VV Ganeshnanthan caught my attention after winning this year’s Women’s Fiction Award. Beautifully written so far, with admirable attention to historical detail. I feel like I’m on a very emotional journey…
Buy I Who Have Never Know Men*
Buy Charbonnel Truffles*
What a book! Jacqueline Harpman’s I Who Have Never Known Men isn’t a new release, but it’s been making a comeback of sorts this year, and I’m very happy about it. That’s wonderful. It’s completely mysterious, but also dark and barren. I don’t want to say too much, but it’s a great selection. Start a good conversation!
Click here to purchase tacos*
buy cherry bomb chocolate
Books ‘n Chocs When it comes to gifts, they don’t necessarily have to be about fiction. I also like to send cookbooks, especially if they can be paired with related spices, seasonings, and accessories. I’m pretty partial when it comes to pairing a cookbook with a nice tea towel, but please bear with me here. It stores flat, is lightweight, and feels appropriate and fun. I like the cotton ones from M&S. This comes in a pack of 4 (here priced at £8*) and splitting the pack will add a total of £2 to the gift price.
But I couldn’t resist adding this Cherry Bomb chocolate bar. I recently discovered Delli, an online shop where you can buy cupboards, seasonings, etc. from niche and interesting stores. I went into town for a bit to find some long-established sweets.
Click here to purchase How Not to Become a Supermodel*
Click here to purchase Fatso Sweet Tart chocolate
Please indulge me for a moment if you like. Because I’ve been waiting for years to enjoy this moment. My own books will be featured in my own “books nchocs” posts. What a thrill! Just a quick note: I’ll be back with a whole article on How Not to Become a Supermodel next week when the hardcover is widely available in the US. This is a very big event.
We’ll also show you some alternative chocolate combinations. I have a lot to say about how much you will enjoy reading this book if you haven’t read it yet. If that were allowed, this would be my “pick of the year,” which of course it isn’t. Because if I choose my own books, I look exactly like an old man. But you get the point. I like it, and I think you’ll like it too. It’s made people laugh out loud at very inappropriate times, and that’s the best review I could hope for.
If you have read this book, you will understand the choice of chocolate brands…
We hope you enjoy this year’s products. Don’t forget to check out the links below for previous versions and other ideas.
My Ultimate Easy Christmas Gift: 2019-2023 Edition
