17+ Unique Gifts for Book Lovers They’ll Love
Gift giving can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be if you’re looking for great gifts for book lovers.
I’m an avid reader, and I’ve received and gifted plenty of great gifts over the years. Plus, as a book blogger, I always have my ear to the ground for the latest book trends and products for readers.
So I’m making your life 100 times easier this holiday season with 17 truly unique and personal gifts you can give to readers to show them you care. Each of these gifts can be adapted in so many ways to suit different styles and reading preferences.
These bookish gift ideas can suit a range of budgets and can be adapted for any gender of reader.
These aren’t your run-of-the-mill gift ideas, either; we don’t do that here. Each of these has the potential to be a truly thoughtful present, whether for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, a birthday, or a “just because.”
As always, this post may contain affiliate links, which means at no additional cost to you, shopping from them may generate small commissions to support the operations of this blog.
Whenever possible, I recommend buying books at local bookshops or through Bookshop.org, because shopping there puts the profits right into the hands of indie bookstores all over the country.
Book Subscription from an Indie Bookstore
One of the reasons why indie bookstores are absolutely fantastic is that they are run by people who genuinely love books and can give you great recommendations if you simply ask. Or, if you don’t have an indie bookstore near you or prefer not to talk to people (trust me, I get it), many indie bookstores do monthly subscriptions.
Usually, you can choose from a few categories of books, and then once a month (or quarter, depending on the subscription), they will curate and mail you or your favorite bookworm a great book for them to read.
I think this is a fantastic gift idea for readers, because it’s a gift that will keep on giving the whole following year, making them feel loved and appreciated every month that they receive their mail. Here are some indies that run subscription services, though of course there are many more (and I recommend finding a local one if you can! You might be able to save on shipping costs):
- Mr. B’s Reading Subscriptions — After completing a reading questionnaire online or by phone (or even in person), a bookseller becomes your appointed “bibliotherapist” who picks out a monthly read for you. Subscribe for 3, 6, or 11 months. Ships globally.
- Mr. B’s Emporium is an amazing bookshop in Bath, England, and one of the best indie bookstores I’ve ever visited.
- Topping & Co. Signed Book Club — Select from fiction, non fiction, detective fiction, and fantasy. Receive an author signed copy of a book in your chosen genre each month. UK only.
- Topping & Co. is a UK-based small chain of independent bookshops, and they are some of my favorites. I’ve visited them in Edinburgh, St. Andrews, and Bath.
- Tuma’s Books Monthly Diverse Read — Tuma’s Books is an online-based indie bookstore owned by a Black, Muslim, First Generation, Gambian-American woman dedicated to helping you diversify your bookshelf. Receive a new diverse read she selects however often you like: every month, every other month, or every quarter.
- Hatchard’s — Books are handpicked for specific readers based on their preferences. Choose from fiction, non-fiction, children’s, travel, art, or mixed. Books are gift wrapped each month. Ships in the UK and globally.
- PostBooks via Golden Hare — Sign up for your choice of 3 month to 1 year subscriptions. Choose between fiction and non-fiction or a mixture of both. Option of 1 or 2 monthly books. UK only.
- Note: This is one of the best bookshops in Edinburgh
- The Strand’s Book HookUp — Quarterly subscription of signed first edition books + bookish merchandise. Choose from Fiction, Young Adult (YA), Feminist Literature, Nonfiction, Mystery & Suspense, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Little Readers, Classics. US and Canada only.
- Note: This is a fan favorite indie bookstore in NYC
- The Mysterious Bookshop — Signed first editions. Choose from Crime Collectors, First Mystery, Psychological Suspense, Hardboiled & Noir, Thriller & Espionage, Traditional & Historical, Unclassifiable, American Mystery Classics, and British Crime. Three month, six month, and twelve month subscriptions.
- The Mysterious Bookshop is another cool NYC bookstore to check out
- The Random Book Club from The Bookshop — a random book is chosen from the shelves of Scotland’s largest secondhand bookshop and mailed to you once a month. “Every book you receive will be selected by the owner of The Bookshop, Shaun Bythell. Books will be a mixture of fiction and non-fiction; paperback and hardback.” Ships globally.
- The owner of this bookshop, Shaun Bythell, wrote one of my favorite books about bookstores.
- Apple-a-Month Club from Green Apple Books — Local booksellers choose one small press, new fiction paperback book that they thought was stellar to send each month. Subscribe for 3, 6, or 12 months. US only.
Tip: I have lots of lists of indie bookstores around the world you can check out to find more.
Unique Book Ends
Of course readers aren’t all the same, but many book lovers love to add a little bit of beauty and whimsy to their bookshelves and book displays. So some well-chosen book ends can make a fantastic present for book lovers.
This is a chance to show how well you know your favorite reader. Do they love fantasy? Search for fantasy-inspired bookends (I love the ones below from the Lord of the Rings series). Do they love things with a vintage feel? Why not some old world vibe bookends?
If your book lover is more of a minimalist, go for something like these sleek, wooden book ends. These can also be a nice choice for readers who have already filled up their bookshelves, so they can expand onto other surfaces, like the top of the bookshelf, for example.
Related: Looking for inexpensive gift ideas? Check out my list of stocking stuffers for book lovers. These could also work as stand alone gifts.
Book Nook
You may have seen ads for these floating around on social media recently (or maybe that’s just my algorithm!), but these Book Nooks are absolutely adorable additions to a book lover’s bookshelf. These are a great gift for a book lover with a crafty, artistic side.
Note that they come as a kit that requires assembly, and the pieces are very small, so it wouldn’t be suitable for someone who doesn’t have the fine motor mobility for tiny parts (unless you’re going to assemble it for them).
This also wouldn’t be suitable for a book lover who’s always out of shelf space and piling their books multiple rows back. They just don’t have the real estate for something like this. But if your favorite reader likes an aesthetic bookshelf with touches of whimsy, this could be just the perfect gift.
Cozy Reading Blankets or Pillows
In cold weather, a reader can think of nothing more inviting than to curl up with a great book while wrapping themselves in a warm blanket and lying on some soft pillows. So if you’re getting your favorite bookworm a book as a gift, why not pair it with a cozy blanket or a supportive pillow for their reading corner?
If you really want to keep it book-themed, there are tons of bookish printed blankets out there you can choose from, including some that declare themselves a designated reading blanket. Plus, on Etsy, there are lots of sellers who will print custom book blankets, with your bookworm’s name on them.
Tip: Try to consider their decor style when picking out a blanket, so it doesn’t clash.
Read Around the World Journal
This is the perfect gift idea for a book lover who is globally minded. I personally designed the Read Around the World journal to be a functional, fun, and inspiring way to read more world literature and track your progress as you go.
If your book lovers likes to track their reads, they will love getting to color in countries as they read from them, track their Read Around the World TBR, fill in their continental bookshelves, and track books read by country in list form. With coloring elements throughout, this reading tracker is a labor of love and designed to be exactly what a reader wants.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive gift for a book lover, I really think they will be delighted with this thoughtful and unique present.
Related: If your favorite bookworm also loves to travel, check out my ideas for the best gifts for travelers that are $50 or less.
Unique Copy of their Favorite Book
Many book lovers own (or want to own) several copies of their favorite books, for different reasons. If you know them well enough, you can surprise them by adding a treasured copy of one of their favorites to their libraries.
Now, what constitutes a special edition worthy of adding it to their shelves? This could be a rare, antiquarian, first edition, or signed copy of their favorite book. If the book is a classic, I recommend checking on Abe Books, which is a reputable marketplace on which dealers sell rare copies of books. You can always roll the dice with eBay or Etsy, too.
If it’s a modern book written by a living writer, check out indie bookstores such as Topping & Co. Oftentimes, authors will sign copies exclusively to be sold by independent booksellers. In my experience, Topping & Co. always has the largest selection of modern signed first editions.
Or, you can seek out a special edition of one of their favorite reads. Stenciled edge book editions are all the rage right now, so that might be just the ticket.
If you want to get something really unique, check out the amazing artists that do custom painted edges for a one-of-a-kind gift (make sure you give yourself enough time if you go this route! It might just be their very favorite gift). This is called custom fore-edge painting. Check it out on Instagram or TikTok; it will really blow your mind what these artists can do!
Donation to a Literacy Charity in Their Name
If you need a gift idea for a book lover and you’re uncertain about buying them any physical books, then a donation to a literacy charity or other book-related charitable cause can be a great option. It’s a way to show you know them and what’s important to them without running the risk of buying them something they won’t like.
If you need some ideas, here are a few you can donate to:
- Little Free Library.org — “Sixty-one percent of of U.S. children living at or below the poverty line have no books at home. No books at home. Little Free Library works to give everyone, especially children, books they can call their own.”
- The Book Bus — “I take all my profits from The Book Bus and buy new children’s books for low income area schools and organizations to give all children the opportunity to experience the joy of reading.”
- Bookaid.org — “We provide brand new books to over 1,000 school libraries every year and support teachers to bring those books to life.”
- Adult Literacy Trust — “We provide adults with one-to-one support to improve their reading skills and confidence, as a complement to formal education provision, ensuring that individuals who wish to improve their literacy skills receive the help they need to become successful readers, and to increase their life chances.”
- Prison Library Project — “The Prison Library Project (PLP) provides free reading materials to inmates nationwide with the goal of promoting literacy, personal responsibility, reflection, and growth.”
Alternatively, you could donate to a non-profit literary museum that is important to them.
Book Purse
A bookish purse can make a great gift for an avid reader. There are many options out there, but I am in love with my bookish purse from Well Read Co. I got so many compliments on it when I wore it in Bath (not entirely surprising, since it is home to the Jane Austen Centre and many other Austen sights).
This really is a statement bag and one that many book lovers will absolutely flip for. They also make wallets and eReader covers that look like books.
Related: Need more ideas? Check out my list of Valentine’s Day gifts for readers.
Reading Retreat
Ask 100 readers what they want more of, and at least 90 of them will tell you, “More time to read.” So, why not make that dream come true and gift your favorite book lover dedicated time away to read?
This is an especially great gift idea for a busy parent who loves to read but never seems to be able to be able to find any uninterrupted reading time.
Depending on what you think your favorite bookworm would like, you could sign them up for a group reading retreat or just book them a hotel for a night or a weekend and give them a Bookshop.org gift certificate to stock up on new reads ahead of time.
Look for someplace cozy and inviting, perhaps with some beautiful outdoor space. To take it to the next level, you could even book a specific book-themed hotel, like the Bookhouse Hotel in Pennsylvania or the Library hotel in New York City. If you’re in the UK, you can even book a stay in one of Jane Austen’s homes she lived in in Bath.
Look for a good hotel deal here:
Bookish Board Game
If the reader you’re shopping for loves playing games, then a bookish board game might make a perfect present idea. These range from literary trivia games to book-specific games (like the Jane Austen Game or even a Shakespearean card game that’s suited for families).
Alternatively, you can opt for a bookshelf edition of a classic board game. These limited edition board games fit inside a book-shaped box to be stored on a bookshelf. Hint: for readers, Scrabble is usually a good idea.
Bookish Jewelry
Another gift idea for bookworms is to get them jewelry inspired by their favorite books or authors. The sky is really the limit here, but here are a few ideas:
Are they a Jane Austen fan? Did you know you can actually purchase a high quality replica of Jane Austen’s own ring? It’s sold at the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, but they do ship worldwide. They also cater to a range of budgets, with gold plated jewelry on the less expensive side to full 18 carat gold if you’re looking to make more of an investment. You can also find replicas of her ring sold on Etsy.
If they’re more of a Romantasy reader, you can go for something like an officially licensed High Lady of the Night Court ring from A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Lord of the Rings fans might get a thrill out of having their very own One Ring to Rule Them All , which is also available at a range of quality and price point. Alternatively, you could consider a replica of Arwen’s pendant necklace, which she gifts to Aragorn, as a sign of eternal love.
There’s also a ton of options of Harry Potter jewelry for the Potter fan. That includes replicas of Hermione’s time turner necklace, the Gaunt family ring-turned-horcrux, and the Slytherin family locket (also turned horcrux).
Nightstand Book Holder
Readers are notorious for staying up way too late reading “just one more chapter,” so a book holder for their nightstand could make a great gift for a book lover. There’s several different style options, and you’ll have to apply your knowledge of your reader to determine the best one.
For example, this style of book stand is quite popular among Etsy makers, so readers can set the book down without losing their place. This is best for a reader who’s not too precious with their book bindings (As a Virgo, I wouldn’t personally ever use this style, but a Type B reader might love it):
However, I do have one like this on my nightstand, which can make a good gift for a more Type A reader:
eReader
Of course, an eReader can also be a good gift option if the person you’re shopping for doesn’t have one or has one several years old and could use an upgrade.
To help you decide which eReader they might like, you can check out my detailed review of the Kindle Paperwhite and my detailed review of the Kobo Clara Colour 2e. Plus, check out my comparison: Kindle vs. Kobo to help you decide between the two major eReader makers.
Tickets to a Literary Tour, Festival, or Event
If your favorite bookworm values experiences over physical gifts, you can look into upcoming literary events, tours, or festivals in your area and gift it to them. For example, lots of cities offer a literary pub crawl or themed bookish walking tour, which can make a fun present. Or, get them tickets to an upcoming literary festival.
I include upcoming literary events in my monthly newsletter, so feel free to sign up if you need some specific upcoming event ideas. I also frequently share bookish events in my Instagram stories. You can also search for literary events and tours on Get Your Guide or Viator.
Tip: If they are a Harry Potter fan, then booking a trip to Staunton, Virginia for the annual Harry Potter festival, Queen City Mischief and Magic, is sure to delight.
Library Cart
Again, you’ll need to exercise your judgment here and know whether your bookworm is a minimalist or a maximalist when it comes to their library and library furniture. But many readers swoon over the idea of having their very own library cart on which to store their books.
There’s endless options when it comes to library carts on Amazon, so you can take your pick, but make sure you check the dimensions and get what you think will be the right size for them and their space. Lots of book lovers would love to use a library cart for their TBR books.
Bookish art
If your favorite reader appreciates book-themed art, then a well-chosen piece can make a perfect bookworm gift. This could range from wall art or signs for their reading nook to paintings or book sculptures.
You could even commission an artist on Etsy to create a custom drawing or painting with your bookworm’s likeness.
Little Free Library
If the person you’re shopping for lives in a place that can accommodate it, then a Little Free Library could be the gift of their dreams.
If you’re not aware, Little Free Libraries are tiny spaces people put in their yards or other public areas stocked with books. As people come and go, they can take and/or leave a book. They are great community spaces for book sharing, and many book lovers would love being a Little Free Library steward.
This will take some effort and planning and is best undertaken if you have any sort of handy skills. You can search Etsy for kits or plans, find free tutorials online, or just imagine and build your own. Whatever you should choose, be creative and let it reflect the personality of the bookworm it’s for.
Bonus: Book Basket
If you want to gift your favorite book worm something really personal but not too expensive, try creating your own book basket.
Get a nice looking basket or other reusable container (thrift shops are a great place to find them for cheap!), add in a book —or two or three— you think they will love, and then fill the rest of the basket with other items for a cozy reading session.
You can include:
- Bookish tea
- Reading snacks
- Comfy reading socks
- A literary-scented candle
- A cute bookmark or two
- No-bleed highlighters
- Any other fun idea you have
Hopefully this list has given you some good gift ideas for a book lover. There’s really something here for everyone! What other unique gift ideas do you have? Feel free to email them to me.
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