DOWNTIME

Read the room

Books make the best presents at any time of year

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1 Bloom by Lia Eldred Steinkopf ($39.99, Allen & Unwin). Perfect for those who need a hand keeping a houseplant alive. 2 The Sensory Home by Pippa Jameson ($54.99, Ryland Peters & Small). Mindful decorating to soothe your senses and improve your wellbeing. 3 The Little Book of Chocolate ($16.99, Orange Hippo). Facts about chocolate to make you drool. 4 Finding Freedom in the Lost Kitchen by Erin French ($27.99, Aurum Press). A rollercoaster memoir from the American chef. 5 The New Naturalists: Inside the Homes of Creative Collectors by Claire Bingham ($55, Thames & Hudson). Get a glimpse inside the curiosities of collecting. 6 Arms & Legs by Chloe Lane ($30, Te Herenga Waka University Press). A gritty exploration of relationships by an up-and-coming Kiwi novelist. 7 You Probably Think This Song Is About You by Kate Camp ($35, Te Herenga Waka University Press). True life brimming with nostalgia and humanity. 8 London, Block by Block illustrated by Cierra Block ($27.99, Welbeck). Delightful drawings for Anglophiles. 9 Costa Smeralda by Cesare Cunaccia ($95, Assouline). A gorgeous gift for the coffee table. 10 Style: The Art of Creating a Beautiful Home by Natalie Walton ($65, Hardie Grant Books). Transform your interiors using what you already own and love. 11 The Joy of Small Things by Hannah Jane Parkinson ($22.99, Guardian Books). Everyday inspiration to savour small pleasures. 12 Daily Diary 2023 by Juliette Hogan ($59, Father Rabbit). Prepare for the new year in style.