Best Gifts for Book Lovers

As we approach Christmas I wanted to put together a list of bookish items that would make a perfect gift for book lovers. Of course, the easiest and most obvious route is to buy them a book. But chances are you’re not up to date with their latest reads and you don’t want to buy a book they’ve already read, or something they have no interest in reading.

Whether you’re looking for something for the bookworm in your life, ideas for something to treat yourself to or something to suggest when someone asks you “what would you like for Christmas?” this list will hopefully provide some insight.

Limited editions

Limited or special editions of someone's favourite book can be the perfect gift. When it comes to books one could argue that you only need one copy... but many book lovers will disagree with you. Owning multiple different copies of the same book may seem like a waste of money to others but a lot of readers love nothing more than collecting all the different editions of their favourite stories. Some books have what seems like hundreds of different versions - there are some that have different covers in different countries, some that are different depending on the publisher, some that have special anniversary editions and some even have different versions for paperback and hardcover copies. The picture above shows the Penguin Clothbound Classics editions.

Gift cards

A gift that I appreciate the most, For me, receiving a gift card to buy books with is generally even better than receiving an actual book (unless it comes from a wishlist). Reading is a very personal hobby and not everyone has the same tastes so being given a gift card or voucher means they can buy whatever books they want while still feeling like a personal present since it's being given specifically for them to buy books with.

100 books scratch off poster

Help them reach their reading goals with this scratch off poster that includes 100 classic must-read books. A gift that may be most suitable for someone who doesn't read a specific genre.

Throws & pillows

Most readers have a specific place they like to read - sometimes referred to as a "reading nook" or "reading corner", or, if you're lucky enough an at-home library (the dream.) A throw/blanket or cushion is the perfect way to make a reading area more cozy, making it a great gift for the reader in your life.

Candles

Not only is a candle the perfect addition to a cozy reading atmosphere but there are also lots of people that use them as decoration on their bookshelves; particularly when the candle is based on a specific book, like the Little Women themed one pictured above.

Mugs

I love getting mugs, either for myself or receiving one as a gift since I drink a lot of coffee, particularly when reading. Having a fun book/reading themed mug to drink tea or coffee from, while curled up in a reading corner with a blanket, some cushions and a candle lit sounds as close to a reader's paradise as you can get.

Reading journal

A book journal is a good way for people to record any detail they want about the books they read, finally making it a little easier to keep track of what they read over the years. It can be used to keep track of books they have already read, and their thoughts on them, as well as particular quotes that have stayed with them or books they want to read but haven't gotten around to yet.

Clothes

Bookish clothing is another gift that a lot of readers will appreciate, whether it's specific to a particular book like the Jane Eyre t-shirt pictured above or an item that's more generalised like the skull jumper. If neither of these are to someone's tastes there are also lots of other clothing items such as bookish socks, ties, tote bags etc.

Artwork

Book related artwork is a brilliant gift to buy someone - they can be used to decorate bookshelves and break up stacks of books or can be hung up on the wall. If the artwork comes in the form of a postcard, like the one pictured featuring a character from Gothikana by RuNyx, they can even be used as bookmarks that aren't so easily lost.

Personalised book stamp/embosser

Stamps/embossers are a little hit-or-miss, depending on who you are buying the gift for. Some book lovers will loathe the idea of marking or marring their physical copies of books while others will love the idea of labelling them as theirs, especially if they are the type of person to lend books to loved ones often.

Book subscription box

There are lots of book subscription boxes available, Owl Crate, A Box of Stories, Dangerous Romance Club, Illumicrate, FairyLoot and Book of the Month being just a few. Some offer lots of different genres, some stick to one, and they all offer different timescales for when you receive each new book - some are every month while others are every 3-6 months. Some book boxes also offer the option of "book only" subscriptions rather than full boxes - there's something for everyone!

Book case accessories

As I mentioned above, lots of readers, particularly those that are part of the Bookstagram or BookTube community, use lots of decoration on their bookshelves to break up all the book stacks. Many use small plants (recommended to use fake ones since plants need sunlight and sunlight is a book's worst enemy) and trinkets relating to their books. I have plants, bookmarks in a bookmark holder, candles and a cauldron oil-burner on mine.

Fake book storage

This is something that I personally think is a really cool gift idea. You can put anything in it, from valuables that may be best left hidden like passports, money, jewellery, birth certificates etc. to less valuable items that just don't really have a specific storage place yet like bookmarks, pens, sticky notes and other things people might use to annotate books.

Invisible/floating bookshelf

In small rooms/houses/flats without much floor space, floating bookshelves are an ideal solution. They're great for people who have run out of room on their regular shelves or for those who never had the space for them in the first place. They keep everything tidy and means that no one has to stop buying books. It's a win-win.

Kindle/e-reader

I love my Kindle, it's the best present I've ever bought myself - there's no eye strain, a super long battery life and access to library and Kindle Unlimited books on the go, Even die-hard fans of physical books will likely see the benefit of being able to download and read new titles anywhere, anytime. A lot of readers may already have an e-reader in which case a new protective cover is a good gift instead.

Reading accessories

For any readers who prefer to read in bed then a book light is the perfect gift, particularly if they have a partner they don't want to disturb. If you're said partner that doesn't want to be disturbed then it's a bit of a Homer Bowling Ball really, but a great present for everyone all around. The book page holder is a must for any bookworms who hate using two hands/need to have one hand free and also reduces reading induced hand cramp.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks are something a reader can never have too many of. A pretty bookmark will always be appreciated by a book lover but is always a particularly good gift for anyone who thinks it's appropriate to fold book pages (because it's not.)





★Most items on this list or similar items can be found on Amazon & Etsy★