Random House’s 2012 Bestselling eBooks

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This past year was a fantastic year for readers of all genres — but fans of love, fantasy, and a good thrill seem to have come out ahead, as evidence by the Random House Bestselling eBooks of 2012. If you’re not yet familiar with any of the books on this list, there’s still time before the calendar changes over to 2013!

Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James

Fifty Shades Darker by E. L. James

Fifty Shades Freed by E. L. James

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy Bundle by E. L. James

The Racketeer by John Grisham

Defending Jacob by William Landay

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson

A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

A Wanted Man by Lee Child

The Litigators by John Grisham

A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin

Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich

A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin

Calico Joe by John Grisham

Deep Down: A Jack Reacher Story by Lee Child

Best Book Gifts for Young Readers Ages 10 - 12

No batteries, no plastic, no disappointment…These books are sure to please even the most particular tween on your list.

Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead (Also available as an audiobook)
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
Chomp by Carl Hiaasen
The Dragon’s Tooth by N. D. Wilson
The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
The Fire Chronicle by John Stephens (Also available as an audiobook)
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Babymouse #15: A Very Babymouse Christmas by Jennifer L. Holm and Matt Holm
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken

Chapter Books Gifts for Ages 7 - 10 

Junie B., Babymouse, and the Wizard of Oz, oh my! Don’t be surprised if the little kids make a beeline for their favorite reading spots after they’ve unwrapped these beloved books.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Audiobook) Written by Frank L. Baum; Read by Brooke Shields and Paul Rudd
Junie B., First Grader Turkeys We Have Loved and Eaten by Barbara Park
Junie B., First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! by Barbara Park
Top Secret, Personal Beeswax: A Journal by Junie B. (and me!) by Barbara Park
Magic Tree House #29: Christmas in Camelot by Mary Pope Osborne
Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Babymouse #16: Babymouse for President by Jennifer L. Holm and Matt Holm
Squish #1: Super Amoeba by Jennifer L. Holm and Matt Holm
A to Z Mysteries: The Bald Bandit by Ron Roy
A to Z Mysteries: Books K-N  by Ron Roy
A to Z Mysteries: Books O-R by Ron Roy
Calvin Coconut: The Zipper Fix by Graham Salisbury
Zigzag Zoom by Patricia Reilly Griff

Gifts for Animal Lovers

Whether their fancy runs to fur or feathers, you’ll never fowl out with these endearing tales of animals and the people who love them.

The Big New Yorker Book of Dogs Foreword by Malcolm Gladwell
Buddy: How a Rooster Made Me a Family Man by Brian McGrory
Zoobiquity: What Animals Can Teach Us About Health and the Science of Healing by Barbara Natterson-Horowitz and Kathryn Bowers
The Eighty-Dollar Champion by Elizabeth Letts
The Birding Life: A Passion for Birds at Home and Afield by Laurence Sheehan
Dancing Dogs by Jon Katz
Horse Stories (Everyman’s Library Pocket Classics) Edited by Diana Secker Tesdell
The Original Dog Tarot by Heidi Schulman
Sibley Backyard Birding Flash Cards by David Sibley

Best Holiday Picks for Kids Overall

There’s no greater gift than the love of reading. Readers of all ages will be thrilled when they unwrap these beloved books this year.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
Inheritance Cycle 4-Book Boxed Set by Christopher Paolini
The Worlds of Lois Lowry 3-Book Boxed Set by Lois Lowry
I Have a Dream (Book and CD Set) by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. Seuss’s Second Beginner Book Collection by Dr. Seuss
The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
The Fire Chronicle by John Stephens
Junie B. Jones’s First Boxed Set Ever! by Barbara Park
Magic Treehouse Boxed Set: Volumes 1-4 by Mary Pope Osborne
Magic Treehouse #29: Christmas in Camelot by Mary Pope Osborne
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Favorite Little Golden Books for Christmas: 5-Book Boxed Set
The Heroes of Olympus, Book Three: The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
D’Aulaire’s Books of Greek Myths by Ingri d’Aulaire and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire

Gifts for Teens

Avoid eyerolls, groans, and cries of, “Mom, Dad, what were you thinking?” from your teens this holiday season. Give them a book, the gift that’s never out of touch or out of style.  

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott
The Enchantress by Michael Scott
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Eragon: Inheritance, Book 1 by Christopher Paolini
Inheritance (Deluxe Edition) by Christopher Paolini
Inheritance Cycle 4-Book Boxed Set by Christopher Paolini
Every Day by David Levithan
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Rapture by Lauren Kate
The Fallen Series Boxed Set by Lauren Kate
Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Kill Order by James Dashner
Son by Lois Lowry
Mystic City by Theo Lawrence
The Paladin Prophecy by Mark Frost
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
You Have Seven Messages by Stewart Lewis
Ask the Passengers by A. S. King
The Diviners by Libba Bray

Books for Judy Blume Fans

Whether your special reader is seven or seventeen, give her a holiday present she’ll treasure. Share the joy of Judy with these classics.  

Best of Judy Blume 4-Book Boxed Set
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume
Blubber by Judy Blume
Iggie’s House by Judy Blume
Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself by Judy Blume
Deenie by Judy Blume
Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume (Also available as an audiobook)
Here’s to You, Rachel Robinson by Judy Blume
Then Again, Maybe I Won’t by Judy Blume
It’s Not the End of the World by Judy Blume
Just as Long as We’re Together by Judy Blume
Soupy Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One by Judy Blume
The Pain and the Great One Boxed Set Quartet by Judy Blume
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Jersey Angel by Beth Ann Bauman

New Christmas Tales

Share the spirit of the season with timeless Christmas tales for young and old alike.

Jesus of Nazareth: His Infancy and Childhood by Pope Benedict XVI
Nutcracker Written by E.T.A. Hoffmann; Pictures by Maurice Sendak
A Christmas Home by Gregory D. Kincaid
Christmas in Apple Ridge by Cindy Woodsmall
Angels at the Table by Debbie Macomber
A Christmas Garland by Anne Perry 
The Christmas Plains by Joseph Bottum
A Christmas Carol (Audiobook)  Written by Charles Dickens; Read by Jim Dale
Christmas Stories (Everyman’s Library Pocket Classics) Edited by Diana Secker Tesdell

Indulgent Gifts for Health Fanatics

From recipes for guilt-free cocktails to an inspirational plan to attain a sound mind and body, even those who watch their waistlines will be thrilled you splurged on their holiday gift this year.

Hallucinations by Oliver Sacks
Running with the Mind of Meditation by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
The Skinny Rules by Bob Harper
Culinary Intelligence by Peter Kaminsky
Super Brain by Deepak Chopra, M.D., and Rudolph E. Tanzi, Ph.D.
Finding Ultra by Rich Roll
Deliciously G-Free by Elisabeth Hasselbeck
Zero-Proof Cocktails by Liz Scott
Running with Kenyans by Adharanand Finn
The Detox Diet by Elson M. Haas, M.D.

Stocking Stuffers

Good things really do come in small packages. Spark a child’s imagination with a Q & a Day journal; stir up some fun with a swatchbook of cocktail recipes; and share sage advice from Dear Sugar, Katie Couric, and The Believer.

Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed
The Mini Minimalist: Simple Recipes for Satisfying Meals by Mark Bittman
Q & A a Day for Kids: A Three-Year Journal by Betsy Franco
The Best Advice I Ever Got by Katie Couric
Mrs. Lilien’s Cocktail Swatchbook by Kelley Lilien
Instant Happy: 10-Second Attitude Makeovers by Karen Salmansohn
The Little Book of Talent by Daniel Coyle
Dogfight: The 2012 Presidential Campaign in Verse by Calvin Trillin
Color Worn Scratch Pads by Potter Style
You’re a Horrible Person, But I Like You: The Believer Book of Advice
Torch by Cheryl Strayed
The McSweeney’s Book of Politics and Musicals
Live the Life You Love Postcard Box: 100 Hand-Lettered Postcards by Scott Albrecht