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Best books for your Secret Santa and stocking filler gifts

Best books for your Secret Santa and stocking filler gifts

by Kat Brown, Katie Russell, and Eppie Shepherd

min read

We’ve all been there: drawing the Secret Santa short straw of a distant relative or colleague you know nothing about. Don’t worry. Every one of these books hits the sweet spot of being interesting, thoughtful, and a perfect match for their personality.

The biggest bonus is that they’re all wonderful books and great gifts for Christmas – be it a stocking filler or a gift for a friend. The only drawback is that you might decide just to keep them for yourself and get them a giant Toblerone instead.

From funny books to the ultimate puzzles and brainteasers, here are the best books for Secret Santa and stocking fillers.

Game and puzzle books

The Sweary Word Puzzle Book (for Adults) by C. Hill (2023)

It’s not big and it’s not clever, but it is extremely funny. Packed with cros-swear-ds, along with variants of every word game you could imagine, this immature book for grown-ups is just the release valve that’s needed to fend off swears in everyday life. Line it up for someone who is foul-mouthed or who you think could really do with letting off some steam.

Murdoku by M. Garand (2025)

Murder and logic puzzles: a festive combo if ever there was one. Murdoku serves up 80 colourful cases to crack, each one a visual feast packed with clues, suspects and the odd suspicious-looking poodle. It’s practically made for the crime-reading sudoku lover – or anyone who secretly fancies themselves a detective in disguise.

Think Twice by Alex Bellos (2024)

There’s something irresistible about a puzzle – especially one that, on the surface, looks simple. In Think Twice, Alex Bellos, creator of the Guardian’s Monday Puzzle, has created 70 confounding conundrums that are guaranteed to catch even the brainiest of puzzlers off guard. Drawing on problems across mathematics, physics, geography, psychology and more, there’s a brainteaser for everyone in this collection.

Merry Quizmas Everyone! by Chris T. Massy (2023)

Is it the holidays if there hasn’t been a quiz? If you said no, then take two points and order a copy of this bumper book of Christmas quizzing. It’s got plenty of festive-themed questions to keep the family on side during that dangerous period when everyone’s too full to move, but not quite full enough not to argue.

The Traitors by Alan Connor (2024)

Family game time is an essential Christmas tradition for many of us. But if you want a break from Monopoly, charades or Scrabble this year, we suggest the bestselling puzzle game book, The Traitors. Inspired by the hit BBC show, put your sleuthing skills to the test in this collection of 20 standalone games, where you’ll have to figure out if the characters before you are “100% Faithful” or secret Traitors…

Funny Secret Santa books

Is Your Cat a Psychopath? by Stephen Wildish (2022)

While most cat owners will already know the answer to this, usually to cries of “He’s a great big softie, really,” Wildish’s book is great fun. Forget Myers-Briggs, he has designed 16 personality profiles to ascertain where your cat lies along the psychopathy scale. Cat books are always a wonderful gift for cat owners who treasure anything even vaguely linked to their beloved

A Ladybird Book About Donald Trump by Jason Hazeley and Joel Morris (2024)

From the creators of the bestselling Ladybird Books for Grown-Ups comes this wickedly funny look at one of the world’s most controversial figures. With vintage-style illustrations and deadpan explanations of Donald Trump’s greatest hits (and misses), this is a Secret Santa winner for anyone who appreciates political satire – or just a laugh at the surreal side of modern history.

Unruly by David Mitchell (2023)

History doesn’t have to be dry – and Unruly proves it. David Mitchell brings his signature wit to the British monarchy, telling the story of England’s royals through strange facts, hilarious tangents and a healthy dose of cynicism. Perfect for fans of QI and Horrible Histories or anyone who likes their non-fiction with a side of sarcasm.

Sense and Situationships by Satu Hämeenaho-Fox (2025)

Imagine Jane Austen navigating the chaos of modern dating and you’ll get a sense of what this brilliant little book delivers. From ghosting to cringy DMs, it’s a smart, funny, and oddly comforting guide to 21st-century romance – as told through the lens of the ultimate Regency icon. Ideal for anyone trying to survive dating apps with their pride (and prejudice) intact.

Stocking filler books for avid readers

Why We Read, ed. by Josephine Greywoode (ed.) (2022)

This deceptively academic-looking book is in fact just the sort of delightful read for the post-Christmas, pre-New Year period when you’re feeling thoughtful. Seventy significant writers share their thoughts on what makes reading non-fiction so compelling. Whether it is, as Malcolm Gladwell suggests, the joy of finding out what makes people tick, or Michael Lewis’s thought of books as secret discoveries, this is a lovely gift for the passionate reader.

All God’s Chillun Got Pride by Chester Himes (1990)

Any book from the Penguin Archive collection will make a perfect gift for a serious reader, but this is one of our favourites. Best known for his razor-sharp Harlem Detective series, Chester Himes was also a brilliant literary writer who began penning short stories in the 1930s whilst serving time for armed robbery. His collection of fierce, funny and chilling stories depict mid-century America, including a satirical take on race in Los Angeles.

Reading Lessons by Carol Atherton (2024)

Part memoir, part literary journey, Reading Lessons traces how books shape who we are – from schoolroom favourites to the stories that stay with us for life. Drawing on her experience as both a teacher and lifelong reader, Carol Atherton explores why reading matters and how it connects us to one another across generations. A perfect gift for a fellow bookworm.

More Secret Santa books

The Christmas Stocking Murders by Denzil Meyrick (2024)

‘Tis the season for a cosy murder mystery. In Denzil Meyrick’s latest, the year is 1953 and Inspector Frank Grasby is spending Christmas in a remote village when a fisherman washes up on the shore, a stocking wound tightly around his throat. As hundreds of stockings start to wash up on the shore, and another murder takes place, Grasby realises everyone in the village is a suspect…

The Cheese Wheel by Emma Young (2023)

Emma Young seriously knows her cheese, being a cheesemonger, cheese maker, and the judge of cheese awards. From finding the perfect drink to pair your cheeses with, to designing your own cheeseboard and finding new types to try, this book is a true dream for anyone who goes misty-eyed over Stichelton or Y Fenni.

Fascinating Facts to Blow Your Curious Mind by @officialmjmatthew (2023)

Devastating news for those hoping to fund their retirement by finding the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow: rainbows are actually circular. And did you know that New York was once called New Orange? Or why? This book of trivia is packed full of genuinely surprising facts – plus a section of little-known ones that could one day save your life.

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! 2026 by Ripley (2025)

Every year this acclaimed annual blasts its way into bestseller lists, and the 2026 edition does not disappoint. Packed with strange-but-true stories – from a paddle-steamer made entirely of ice to an Insta-famous cross-eyed cat – Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! is a treasure trove of jaw-dropping facts and photographs from around the world. No Christmas would be complete without it!

The Book of Gifts by Lucy Claire Dunbar (2024)

Illustrator and designer Lucy Claire Dunbar has long been sprinkling joy on our Instagram feeds with her intricate, inspirational art. Now, in her debut collection, she has created a range of uplifting drawings to celebrate the joy of the everyday, while also giving hope in times of need. If you’re looking for the book equivalent of a warm hug, this is it.

Into the Taylor-verse by Satu Hämeenaho-Fox (2024)

Jump then fall into the world of musician and self-proclaimed mastermind Taylor Swift, with this pocket-sized book that charts her life through her songwriting. Into the Taylor-verse is a deep dive into the musical influences and personal experiences that have shaped each era of Swift’s work. This is the perfect stocking filler or Secret Santa present for the Swiftie who’s still mentally on The Eras Tour.

Best books for your Secret Santa and stocking filler gifts

Game and puzzle books

Beautiful books that make unforgettable gifts

Books to get you in the mood for Christmas

Cosy fantasy books for spooky season

Funny Secret Santa books

Stocking filler books for avid readers

Where to start reading the Penguin Archive collection

Books we’d recommend to Jane Austen’s best characters

Funny books guaranteed to make you laugh out loud

More Secret Santa books

Beautiful books that make unforgettable gifts

Books we’d recommend to Jane Austen’s best characters

Where to start reading Italo Calvino

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