By Amanda Garrigus

There’s no way around it, the holidays are a crazy time of year. Whether you’re overrun with party invites, or questioning the meaning of your life in quiet solitude, things can get a little harry. Our thoughts and our schedules can feel a tad light on “jolly good cheer”, and a bit heavy on the “I’m overwhelmed”. In light of all of this external, and internal chaos, may we humbly suggest curling up with a good book? We’re sharing five of our favorites below. Pour yourself a cup of tea, or maybe a glass of mulled wine, and get your cozy on!

The Coffee Table Book
Supreme Models: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Fashion
By Marcellas Reynolds
When you’re in the mood for a tactile, visual feast, a coffee table book is the way to go. This holiday season, consider investing in Supreme Models, a stunning photographic essay that celebrates some of the world’s most successful black mannequins. Archival photography, and brief, easily digestible stories and Q&As, paint a vivid picture of the stunning and determined women who changed the conversation around race in the fashion industry.

The Biography
The Beautiful Ones
By Prince
Prince, in his own words. That’s all. Ok, we’ll say a little more. This best selling memoir pulls back the curtain on the life of one of the greatest artists the world has ever known. Prince maps for readers, in compelling, often poetic prose, his journey from young dreamer in Minneapolis through to superstardom. Widely considered one of the best books of the year, The Beautiful Ones is a must have for fans of the artist, but will appeal equally to anyone who loves a beautifully told story of triumph and success.

The Advice Book
Fair Play: A Game Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live)
By Eve Rodsky
Feeling any imbalances in your relationship? Are you doing the lion’s share of heavy lifting around the house, and with the kids? We are too! Enter Eve Rodsky and her newly-released, New York Times best selling book Fair Play. Rodsky distills years of research and some scientific evidence in support of her belief that we should run our households with the same rigor that we give to our business endeavors. Her tone is lighthearted, and imminently readable and, bonus, the book comes with a set of playing cards to make divvying up responsibilities a whole lot more fun than, well, cleaning house.

The Work of Fiction
Red, White & Royal Blue
By Casey McQuiston
It’s the fun, funny, literary romp you need in your life right now. Voted best Romance Novel and best Debut Novel by nearly 80,000 people on Goodreads, Red, White & Royal Blue will take you from the White House to Buckingham Palace were two dashing young men come together to find love amidst scandal and political intrigue. Don’t sleep on this one.

The Short Stories
Grand Union: Stories
By Zadie Smith
Short attention span got you down? Nightstand piled high with books you don’t have time to finish? All hail the short story! Celebrated author Zadie Smith, who brought us the potent and powerful novels White Teeth and Swing Time, has curated a collection of moving stories, each one illuminating a different aspect of the human experience, and each one profoundly resonant.