Heres an item that works for solo moments and group gatherings.

The astounding new novel from the bestselling and Costa-shortlisted author of time travelling with a hamster, this is a story for everyone of 10 and older who loves adventure, laughs and tears. One of My Favourite middle-grade writers Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of the girl of ink and stars when 12-year-old Georgie makes friends with an eccentric retired scientist, she becomes the test-subject for a thrilling new experiment: a virtual reality, 3D version of the future. Then a deadly virus threatens to wipe out every dog in the country and Georgians beloved dog Mr Mash gets sick. Which is bad C but worse is still to come. As the world is thrown into chaos, Georgie embarks on a desperate quest: to save every dog on Earth and all of humanity without actually leaving the room. An extraordinary quest with the biggest stakes of all and a huge idea at its heart, this is time travel C but not as you know it.

The kind of find that makes you think, Why didnt I get this sooner?