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With Christmas and Hannukah swiftly approaching, gifting season is coming down to the wire. If you’re looking for the right present for the reader in your family, young or old, and you want to support local authors and businesses, books from local authors are the perfect place to end your search.
For the Sports Aficionado
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The legendary Philadelphia Flyer adds yet another stamp to his legacy with his first book. Following a massive stroke in 2015, he was left without the ability to speak or walk. This latest work details his road to recovery and the full story of his personal journey on the ice across his 15-year career.
The Franchise: Philadelphia Eagles by Zach Berman
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PHLY writer Zach Berman brings his vast football knowledge to the Birds for a deep dive into the history of the storied franchise. Berman’s collection of captivating essays is the perfect fan companion for putting the Eagles’ 2024 rollercoaster season into perspective. Delving into unsung players, mythmaking and under-discussed aspects of the team’s history, it will make the squad’s current dominance all the more magical.
For the Mystery Lover
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
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The director of Temple University’s MFA program in creative writing, this New York Times bestselling author returns with her fifth book, The God of the Woods.
When summer camper Barbara Van Laar goes missing in 1975, the community is put on alert. It’s not just because any child going missing is a tragedy, but because Van Laar is the daughter of the wealthy camp owners and their second child to have gone missing in 16 years. Weaving themes of inheritance, identity, love and second chances, this novel brings to a head the drama festering beneath the surface between a family, a community and a history of secrets.
The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
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Released in October and already a New York Times bestseller, Rekulak’s latest novel is a thriller centered around themes of classism and belonging in a luxurious New Hampshire estate. Protagonist Frank Szatowski is shocked when his estranged daughter, Maggie, invites him to her wedding but feels out of place when he realizes Maggie is marrying the heir to a tech billionaire.
When Szatowski notices how hostile the locals are to Maggie’s new family, he begins digging for clues in a world in which he may not belong. If he pushes too deep though, he could lose his daughter forever.
For the Romance Fan
Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
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This former TikTok star turned author released the second novel in her Assistant and the Villain series this August. Hannah Nicoel Maehrer’s Apprentice to the Villain follows Evie Sage, who’s delighted to work for an outrageously handsome evil overlord. When the forces of the king threaten her boss’s manor, Evie must step in to protect his lair while the villain is away.
For the Ambitious Young Girl
Super Science Girls! by Ellen Langas
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Local marketing vice president Ellen Langas is author of the Girls Know How series. Her fourth book in the series, Super Science Girls!, is perfect for the daughter, granddaughter or niece interested in STEM.
For the Kid Who’s Growing up
Great Big Feelings Series by Hallee Adelman
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Haverford local Halle Adelman’s Great Big Feelings series is just right for the parent who wants to teach their child how to handle their developing emotions. Adelman’s most recent books, Way Past Sorry and Way Past Embarrassed, will be followed by Way Past Shame coming this March.
One of the greatest gifts we can give children is time together with a forum for them to express their feelings. I write these books to help our kids gain tools to work through big emotions and feel strong, brave and supported,” Adelman says.
My Mom Is…Â Series by Cassandra Bailey
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West Chester-based CEO Cassandra Bailey had a hard time explaining what she did for work to her daughter. That’s why she wrote My Mom Is a CEO as a Christmas gift for her daughter. Now her My Mom Is… series has a dozen entries for all kinds of moms, with more on the way.
For the Inquisitive Child
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Winter’s Gifts shares a unique perspective on the holidays. Main Line-based author Kaitlin Curtice shares the tale of a young Potawatomi girl named Dani whose family celebrates the darkest months by treasuring the slowness and stillness of the winter season. Though her schoolmates find her traditional silly, Dani recognizes and attempts to spread the gifts that winter brings—resting, remembrance and gratitude.
