It’s been quite a while since I’ve done a shopping post! I try to keep my spending within reasonable limits… and yet, I just can’t resist when it comes to gorgeous books and puzzles!

Jigsaw puzzles may not be for everyone… but if you have someone in your life who loves puzzles, here are a few that I’ve loved recently and highly recommend.

I’m a picky puzzler: I look for engaging, lively designs. I prefer lots of color and details. Monochromes, too much background, an overabundance of sky/trees/mountains — none of these really appeal to me. Of course, it’s all down to individual taste, but I gravitate toward colorful illustration, and pretty much never pick up something photo-based or with abstract designs.

Beyond that, I look for reliable, high quality puzzle makers. I want that satisfying snap when the pieces fit perfectly together. Pieces that seem like they could fit in more than one place are deal-breakers for me. I also want good materials, nothing flimsy or that peels apart.

My go-to reliable puzzle companies are Ravensburger and Eeboo. Ravensburger probably needs no explanation; for those unfamiliar, Eeboo is a woman-owned company that supports and highlights artists, and offers gorgeous, one-of-a-kind designs.

I’ve also done quite a few of the Laurence King literary-themed puzzles, such as The World of Jane Austen, The World of Frankenstein, and many more. Great designs, perfect for book lovers, nice level of detail, and very good quality pieces! I also tend to enjoy Cobble Hill puzzles, and have done White Mountain puzzles as well (although their piece shapes and images don’t always appeal to me from an aesthetic point of view).

I do branch out… with caution. As I said, I’m picky — so before I try a new-to-me puzzle company, I scour the reviews and look for deal-breaking comments.

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Here are some favorites — puzzles I’ve enjoyed recently, that check all my boxes for what makes a puzzle great! (I mainly do 1000-piece puzzles… but all of these companies have a variety of piece counts to choose from).

Midnight in Barcelona, from the Cities at Midnight series by KI Puzzles. I was so drawn to the colors and artwork that I took a chance on an unknown-to-me puzzle company — and loved the result! This puzzle was intricate, really fun to assemble, and just beautiful to look at.

Paris in a Day from Eeboo — No surprise that I loved an Eeboo puzzle! This one was especially appealing, with such vibrant colors and interesting patterns.

Here are a few more Eeboo puzzles I have my eye on:

Next up: Some Cobble Hill favorites:

Gardener’s Calendar: Tiny details and great quality — loved this one!

Save the Bees: Tricky but so satisfying!

I’ve also done Cobble Hill’s seasonal gardening puzzles, which are lovely:

I’ve done a few Pomegranate puzzles from their Charlie Harper national park series, and they’ve proven to be excellent, both in terms of design and piece quality.

Rounding out this batch of great puzzles… here are a few from Ravensburger that I’ve loved recently:

But wait! There’s more!

I know people seem to really enjoy Gallison puzzles too. I haven’t tried any yet… but did just acquire two through a puzzle swap, and I’m eager to start them! I’m also highly tempted by a few New York Puzzle Company designs… which I may break down and buy next time I’m ready to treat myself. Like this one…

Of course, there are plenty more companies selling beautiful, high quality puzzles… and some come with quite a high price tag as well! I ended up on the mailing list for Puzzledly, which sells puzzles I haven’t found anywhere else. Some are gorgeous! Alas, the ones that have really caught my eye are above my (self-imposed) price limit, but they do have special offers and discounts from time to time, so I may indulge at some point! Here’s one that’s really calling my name:

One more thing to note…

Buying puzzles isn’t the only way to add to your collection and get nice new puzzles to enjoy! I recently found a local puzzle swap group, and have traded five of my gently-loved puzzles for five new-to-me puzzles. What a treat! You may have a puzzle swap group near you. I found mine on Facebook (thanks to a friend’s suggestion), but I’ve also seen a bunch of options via Reddit and elsewhere. Take a look! You never know what you might find.