My Favorite Book Dedications

Up until the last few years, I have overlooked book dedications almost entirely. I really don't know why I developed this habit. I think it may be because many book dedications are similar. Oftentimes, books are dedicated to a certain individual in the authors life. I have no idea who these author are referring to and have no attachment to them, which makes it easier to just skip over the dedication and get to 'the good stuff' (the meat and potatoes of the writing, if you will). As I have gotten older and a little more attentive, I guess, I have discovered how much I truly love book dedications. Today I am going to be showcasing some of my favorite book dedications. From the funny, to the sentimental, and all others in between!

I think it is only fitting to start this post off with a dedication of my own:

This post is dedicated to my mother---for raising a strong, independent, headstrong young woman who is just like you in more ways than she would ever admit. Thank you for your unwavering support and the tough love along the way. I have always needed both.

To my father----thank you for my sense of humor (since my other relatives are lacking a bit in that department) and for being my biggest cheerleader. You are the only person I know who likes all of the blog posts, even though you don't know how to work the links I send you.

I love you both to, at least, the mailbox and back (to the moon most days, though).

Now that I have had my own amateur author moment, I will let the professionals take it from here...

"56 Days" by Catherine Ryan Howard

"To Iain Harris, because I couldn't think of what to get you for your fortieth and also, just because"

Who said that thriller can't have a good, heartfelt dedication? Not Catherine Ryan Howard, that's for sure! I love the subtle humor behind this one.

"Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

"To those out on their own paths, setting little fires"

This one is so simple, yet so wonderful. I adore the sentiment behind this one. I think it is empowering and impactful. I am also a sucker for a title tie-in.

"The Beginning of Everything" by Robyn Schneider

"To my parents, who will no doubt try to find themselves in this book. Don't worry, I made it easy for you----you're right here, at the very front!"

This one made me laugh out loud, literally.

"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

"Once Again to Zelda"

It simply would not be a list if I did not include Gatsby. I mean, it is an absolute classic and a favorite of mine. I find this dedication to be really endearing. It is incredibly simple and to the point, but I think its beauty is found in its simplicity.

"The Layover" by Lacie Waldon

"For Carey Page, who taught me that everything is an adventure when you're with the right person."

This one warms my heart. I think it is such a genuinely kind thing to say about someone. I just love it.

"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid

"For Lilah. Smash the patriarchy, sweetheart"

Lilah is the author's daughter. I adore this dedication, regardless of who it would be dedicated to. Knowing that Lilah is her daughter makes it even better, to me. I love strong women who are raising their little girls to be strong women. Keep raising them to be strong. The world needs more women who struggle to lower their voice and aren't afraid to speak their mind.

"November 9th" by Colleen Hoover

"To Levi---- You have great taste in music and your hugs are awkward. Never change."

Colleen Hoover is a master of dedications. Colleen's range from funny to heartfelt and I had to physically stop myself from making this list only include her dedications. I have snuck in more than one of her dedications here because I just couldn't narrow it down to one favorite! Like I said, she has so many great ones (which will more than likely be included in hypothetical future lists). I chose this one because I think it perfectly encapsulates the humor that Colleen features in her books.

"One to Watch" by Kate Stayman-London

"For Dede, who thinks it wouldn't kill the women on The Bachelor to wear pants to a cocktail party once in a while. Thanks for choosing Dad and me to be your family."

This one is funny enough on its own, but I feel like I should provide a bit of background as to why this dedication is so perfect. This book is about a plus-sized woman who gets the chance to star on a reality television dating show, comparable to ABC's The Bachelor. I love it when the dedication ties back into the title, the plot of the book, or is incorporated somehow into the book itself.

"A Secret for a Secret" by Helena Hunting

"For the restless souls searching for some calm within the chaos and for the ones looking for a little chaos to temper the calm."

While I enjoy when dedications are specific to an author's loved one, I also enjoy when they are more open-ended like this one. I had to include this one because I love how eloquent it is.

"Layla" by Colleen Hoover

"For Beckham. When I die, you'll be the first person I haunt. You are so much fun to scare."

I told you, I would be including more than one Colleen Hoover but I bet you didn't think there'd be another one so soon! This is yet another example of the CoHo humor I was telling you about earlier. Though I think this one could stand on its own with no further explanation, I will preface this by adding that this book does have some paranormal themes!

"The Devil Wears Prada" by Lauren Weisberger

"Dedicated to the only three people alive who genuinely believe it rivals War and Peace:

My mother, Cheryl, the mom "a million girls would die for"; My father, Steve, who is handsome, witty, brilliant, and talented, and who insisted on writing his own dedication; My phenomenal sister, Dana, their favorite (until I wrote a book)."

I love how well set up this one is. It is funny and geniously (spell check has just made me aware that that's not a word, but you get my point) written.

"Beach Read" by Emily Henry

"For Joey; You are so perfectly my favorite person."

Emily Henry is the queen of contemporary romance novels. All of the witty banter and swoon-worthy love interests in her books warm my cold heart and so does this dedication!

"Good Girl, Bad Blood" by Holly Jackson

"For Ben, and for every version of you these last ten years."

This is another dedication that warms my cold heart. This is the sweetest sentiment and display of unconditional love. I think this dedication is criminally underrated. I never hear anyone talking about this one, but I love it.

"After" by Anna Todd

"To my readers from the start, with so so much love and gratitude. You mean the entire world to me."

I like it when authors address their readers/audience in the dedication. Its a really heartfelt moment for all involved parties. Its like a direct letter from the author to the reader. This one feels special, to me.

"Verity" by Colleen Hoover

"This book is dedicated to the only person this book could possibly be dedicated to. Tarryn Fisher, thank you for accepting the darkness in people as much as you accept their light."

This is the last one on this list so I, of course, wanted to pick an author that I hadn't already mentioned extensively throughout this post and in other posts on this blog. I couldn't. Here's another Colleen Hoover dedication to close this post out, consider it one more for the road!

Colleen Hoover has co-written a book with another author, Tarryn Fisher (who is wonderful, by the way!). Colleen dedicated this book to Tarryn. Tarryn returned the favor in her book, "The Wives".

These are just a few of my favorite book dedications. If you also appreciate book dedications, let me know which book dedication is your favorite! Did you like any of these? If you don't appreciate book dedications, I think you should start giving them the recognition that they deserve!

As always, thank you for reading!

XO,

Madison