“50 Best Gifts for Book Lovers”

by Jaylynn Korrell

Buying gifts for book lovers ain’t easy.

All they ever do is read. For the first few years of your relationship, you probably tried to buy the books they like, but it’s difficult to keep up with their interests or pinpoint their specific reading tastes. Then maybe you moved past buying books, and you got them coffee mugs. And then you did it again and again and…

Now, here you are, ready to go beyond your usual choices and find a unique & awesome bookish gift to buy for them.

I’ve been dating a book lover for almost a decade now and can tell you firsthand how difficult it has been to keep coming up with ideas over the years. But last year, I came up with some absolute winners and have seen firsthand how often they went to use.

So, I’m sharing them with you.

Here are 50 creative gifts for book lovers that the reader in your life will actually love.

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#1. Tree Bookshelf

If you have a true reader in your life, then you probably know that they’re constantly running out of space to put new books. This bookshelf is both stylish, and sleek, making it a great gift for anyone looking for more book storage space. 

#2. Page Holder

Book lovers run into this problem all the time—especially with brand new books. How do you read when you’re busy straining to keep the book fully open the whole time? Sometimes reading the words really close to the spine can be difficult, but with a page holder, you just slide your thumb through the hole and let it do the straining for you.  

#3. Audible Subscription

Not all readers enjoy staring at the page, but that doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy a story. An audible subscription is a gift for book lovers that will give them access to thousands of audio books to enjoy at their leisure. They can even start with a 30 day free trial!

#4. Bananagrams Game

A good word game will entice any book lover, which is why readers love the game Bananagrams. This can be played with two players or many more. You make words out of a limited amount of scrabble-like tiles, and whoever can complete their words first before the tiles run out is the champion. Fair warning, this game can get pretty intense, but in a fun way. 

#5. Lit Chat: Conversation Starters about Books & Life

This little book holds 50 cards that act as conversation starters for people who love to talk about all things literary. 

#6. E-reader pillow stand

Free up your hands with this e-reader stand, which will safely hold your e-reader or kindle while you’re busy doing other things. It’s a great gift for people who use their kindle or e-reader to read cookbooks, or just like to read in bed. Cozy gifts for book lovers are a good gift indeed.

#7. A reading journal

Whether they know it or not, the reader in your life could love an opportunity to track the books they read. This specific journal from Book Riot takes the joy of chronicling your reads even further by adding “fill-in prompts, charts, lists, and dot-grid pages to customize.” In addition to that, it even offers reading recommendations so you know that the reader in your life will get some informed ideas that they wouldn’t have gotten without your help.

#8. A literary poster

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Decorating can be a challenge for book lovers. They usually choose to decorate their walls with the books themselves, but it can be cool to mix it up with different forms of literary art. If the book lover in your life has a favorite author or quote, finding a poster of it can be a fantastic gift idea.

You can purchase one of these posters or one like it from one of our favorite artists:

#9. Creative bookends

This is a great gift for book lovers who enjoy adding to their bookshelves. (As if that even needs to be said—who doesn’t?) If the reader in your life feels this way, giving them a cool bookend can give their shelf a more polished look. It even helps the books avoid damage due to excessive leaning.

Bookends come in all shapes and sizes, and they can serve a good purpose. I’ve seen bookends in the shape of animals, people, cool objects, and even abstract art. Oh, and be sure to grab two so that they add one of both sides of their shelf.

#10. Noise Cancelling Earbuds

Though some people can read no matter where they are, others are more easily distracted by the sound of others. Luckily, this no longer means you have to read alone in a room. Noise cancelling headphones can give readers the flexibility to read wherever they please, while avoiding having to hear the noisiness of their surroundings. 

#11. Book Stand

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Though I’m sure that they’ll claim that they love all their books the same, it’s normal for readers to have favorites. It can also be sad to have your favorite book squished in with all the others. For this reason, a book stand can be a great gift for book lovers. This will allow them to put their favorite or most interesting book on display. Bookstores often do this for best sellers, and it will feel like a rite of passage to own one for their book collection. Almost as if they are curating their own special bookshop, they’ll love the opportunity to make their shelves look awesome.

#12. Literary Magazines

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If you want to buy the book lover in your life something new to read, bypass the usual gift of a popular book and venture into the world of literary magazines! While you’re opening up the reader in your life to brand-new voices, you’ll also be supporting the small passionate community of literary magazine publishers and inspiring them to bring more art into the world.

Here are a few of our favorites:

#13. Kindle Paperwhite

For me, nothing can match the feeling of holding a physical book in your hands, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love eBooks too. Once they figure out how it works, the reader in your life might just feel the same.

They can gain immediate access to thousands of books on one device, and if they’re a writer, they may enjoy the function that Kindle has where you can send attachments (like Microsoft Word or .PDF) to the device so that they can not only read their book like a reader would, but they also don’t have to deal with that pesky blue light that emits from their laptops. And you can read them at night no problem!

(Already have a Kindle? Check out how you can get a TON of new books through Kindle Unlimited).

#14. Kindle Case

If you’re going to invest in a Kindle, you should also invest in keeping it well protected. Just like you wouldn’t walk around without a case for your iPhone, your Kindle should be protected by a case as well. There are many options out there, but this charcoal one is a classic you can’t go wrong with. 

#15. Upgraded Kindle

If you want a little more out of your standard Kindle, or you have an outdated one, an upgraded Kindle could be a great gift for readers. The Kindle Oasis comes with a few added features that the Kindle Paperwhite doesn’t have, like an adjustable warm light, a variety of color options and a convenient page turner.

#16. Bathtub Cady

Reading in the bath sounds like a good idea, but it can soon turn problematic if you don’t have the right set up. A bathtub caddy allows book lovers to safely place their book down in the tub, or to rest their arms while they’re reading. It’s also a great item to help you create some ambiance in the room. Light a candle, pour a glass of wine, and set it all on the bathtub caddy for a perfect night of reading.

#17. String Lights

If you want to transform a space into a cozy reading nook, a set of string lights can be just the gift to give to readers. These lights make a space feel magical, and can be a really great gift to help readers navigate their books through the night. 

#18. Indie Books

If you’re not already aware, most of the books that get shelved in the major bookstores across the country are published by just five big companies. But there are SO MANY amazing books put out every year by small press and self-published authors. Honestly, some of the best books I’ve ever read are by cool indie presses like Two Dollar Radio, Feminist Press, and Tin House.

To give the book lover in your life something they might not expect, check out some of the reviews on this very website—IndependentBookReview.com! Chances are that you’ll find something that you know your reader will love, and you’ll be supporting lesser-known and often brilliant authors that your reader might not have found otherwise.

#19. Personal Library Embosser

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I told you I was digging deep! Check out this awesome find I discovered while scrolling around on Etsy. With this embosser, you can stamp each one of the books in your collection so that you can bring a library feel to them. But it’s also great for those who lend their books out often—like teachers!—so that the recipient of the book loan doesn’t try keeping your book to themselves.

#20. A Book Light

When you’re a reader, there is no time of day that reading is off limits. The reader in my life always feels the urge to read at night-time, but I’m sleeping over here, so he can’t just leave the light on.

That’s when he breaks out his new book light. He can attach the light to the last pages of the book, curve it to face the pages, and illuminate every word he needs to see—all while I’m sleeping soundly. And this way, he has no reason to bring his phone to bed like he did with the flashlight.

#21. Eyeglass Holder

It’s no fun to be ready to dive into a book and not be able to find your reading glasses. A neat eyeglass holder is a great gift for readers who are known to misplace their glasses from time to time. 

#22. Book Locket Necklace

It can be impractical to bring a book with you wherever you go, but that doesn’t mean you can’t always rep your love of reading. A great gift for book lovers is this unique book locket that can be filled with tiny text or pictures of those you love.

#23. Literary movie

A movie about books might just be the next best thing to reading them. Luckily there are a ton of literary movies to choose from. You can send them something that’s based off of a book or you can pick a movie that’s about a famous or fictional author. There’s a wide range of movies to pick from, so you kind of can’t go wrong here.

Here are a few of my favorite movie gifts for book lovers:

• Paterson – A quiet life in Paterson, New Jersey featuring Adam Driver as a bus-driving poet.
• The Pieces I Am – Toni Morrison documentary
• The End of the Tour – Journalist (Jesse Eisenberg) interviews David Foster Wallace (Jason Segal) while on tour for Wallace’s Infinite Jest.

#24. Floating Bookshelves

There are all sorts of different ways you can display your books. From book stands to traditional shelves to the IBR style of wooden crates, I thought I understood it all. But then I remembered floating bookshelves! And, voila, this gifts for book lovers blog post was born.

I mean, just take a look at that picture. The reader in your life could use these floating bookshelves all throughout their house. But it’s not only about decoration. They’re also great for storing your books when you’re done reading them in bed.

#25. Blue Light Blocking Glasses

If the book lover in your life likes to read on their iPad or LED-light tablet, they may be doing unknown damage to their eyes. That’s where blue light blocking glasses can be beneficial.  They could help readers turn pages for a far longer time than they currently can because they’re no longer looking away from the screen with a headache.

#26. Shakespeare mints

Minty fresh breath is even more appealing to readers when they remind them of one of the greatest playwrights of all time. These Shakespeare mints are a great stocking stuffer that lets the reader in your life know you’re thinking of them. they’re also really cheap gifts for book lovers.

#27. Literary t-shirt

The clothes people wear reflect how they wish to be seen, and book lovers like people to know that they love books—whether subtly or loudly. That’s why literary t-shirts are such a great gift.

And they don’t have to just be t-shirts with famous authors on them or corny “I LIKE TO READ” designs. You can snag a t-shirt from your reader’s favorite indie press, a cool literary quote, or even their favorite book. They can be as loud or as subtle as you’d like.

Here are some fun options:

#28. Literary Postcards

Most readers can appreciate the art of writing, and what better way to put that to use than by writing to friends! Postcards are a nostalgic way to check in on people, letting them know what you’re up to, so why not make them a little more literary while you’re at it?

#29. Bookmarks

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Everyone who reads needs bookmarks. This is about as close to a fact as I can get. I can’t tell you the amount of times that I’ve started a new book only to realize I’ve lost my old bookmark AGAIN.

Whether it’s an old piece of string or a delicately created work of art, so long as there are books, there will be bookmarks. So why not buy a bookmark with their favorite author on it? Or a cool quote? These can be perfect, inexpensive little gifts for book lovers.

Here’s one of my favorite Etsy artists who does bookmarks that would make great gifts for book lovers:

#30. Tote Bag

No matter if you’re a teacher or a coffee shop reader, getting a literary tote bag can be a great way to carry your books, notebooks, pens, and other necessities along with you. And luckily, there’s a design for almost every style, so book lovers who prefer subtle, funny, or eye-catching looks will all have something unique for them.

#31. Book Letters

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Book letters are a great way to decorate a room for people of all ages. Kids’ rooms can feature their names spelled out with these book letters, or more adult spaces can spell out a word or two that is meaningful to them. Try making out the last name of your family, or your initials, to really bring a literary element to a new space. 

#32. Bookshop Gift Card

If you haven’t heard about Bookshop yet, you are in for a TREAT.

This bookselling ecommerce store has “a mission to financially support, local independent bookstores.” Since more people wanted to buy books online over the last decade, indie bookstores were hurting to compete with the shipping fees and delivery time that Amazon can work from. So bookstores needed an ecommerce site just to handle fulfillment.

That’s where Bookshop comes in. This non-profit organization offers indie booksellers 10% commission on every sale they close by promoting this site (compared to Amazon’s 4.5%) and even matches your 10% to send to indie bookstores across the US (and now UK).

This means that you can send the reader in your life a gift card that allows them to choose whichever book they want to read while also supporting the industry they love so much. They can buy from their favorite indie booksellers like Independent Book Review (!), Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books, and A Novel Idea. Pretty cool, right?!

#33. Library Candle

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Having a candle burning while you’re reading creates the ultimate ambiance, and it’s so much better when the scent is book related. It used to be impossible to recreate the amazing book smell that book lovers can’t get enough of. But now, with this awesome Etsy candle-maker, you can have that scent wafting in your room whenever you want.

#34. Novel Tea

If you’re like most people and have been buying book lovers mugs for all these years, it’d be nice of you to switch it up and buy them something to put in the mug. The perfect drink to read with is tea, and there’s a lot of delicious and creative tea out there. Snag them a bag of loose leaf with a cute little strainer and they’ll finally be able to put those mugs to work. Or check out these punny book lover tea blends with quotes from famous authors.

#35. Blind date with two books

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Surprise the literary fiction & nonfiction reader in your life with a blind date with two different books! Two Dollar Radio is an awesome indie press based out of Ohio, and every book I’ve read from them (like The Book of X & The Deeper the Water the Uglier the Fish!) has been a five-star reading experience.

With this offer, the editors over at 2DR choose two books from their backlist and send them over to you. Not only will you be supporting a small press and its authors, but your book lover will be reading something without the loud buzz of new release fever.

#36. 100 books scratch-off poster –

Keeping track of the classics you read has never been more fun. This poster features 100 spaces with book titles around them. Each time you read one, you scratch off the space and a unique icon for that book will appear.

#37. Library card mug

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Every reader enjoys having a beverage to go with their book. This cool library mug is one of the more popular gifts for readers, and a safe choice to go with when you’re unsure what to give. 

#38. Mug Warmer

A good cup of tea or coffee goes great with your favorite book, but it often doesn’t keep warm for the length of your reading experience. For this reason, a mug warmer is a great gift for book lovers. It allows them to keep their hot beverage warm long after it would be naturally, and give them more time to enjoy it while diving into a good story. 

#39. Spine Bookshelf

When you have a lot of books, they begin to take over your living space. Just ask any book lover you know. A nice spine bookshelf is a great gift for readers that allows them to store a lot of books in a vertical position, which means it’ll take up less room. With this bookshelf, the books are able to sit spine out, making them easily accessible while also being an attractive display of your collection.

#40. Do You Read Me?: Bookstores Around the World

Who doesn’t love a book that’s main subject has to do with books? This gift for readers is a great coffee table book that showcases bookstores from around the world, giving readers a small adventure from the comfort of their living room.

#41. Book Tissue Dispenser

Liven up a common space with your love of great literature! This book tissue dispenser is a fun way to bring a literary element into an uncommon area of your home. 

#42.  Library Card Ornament 

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The perfect gift for readers during the holiday season can be something as simple as an ornament. You can mark the year for your reader with a cute library card ornament to hang on the tree this Christmas. 

#43. Bedside table lamp

Reading should be attainable at any time of the day, and a bedside table lamp helps to make that possible. 

#44. Scrabble

This popular word game is a must have for readers, who typically have the vocabulary to become really good at it pretty quickly.  It’s one of the more classic for a reason, so you’re reader will definitely appreciate having it.

#45. Typewriter

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There’s something nostalgic about hitting the keys of a typewriter. A cool vintage typewriter makes for a one of the hippest gifts for book lovers as it will bring them that much closer to the famous writers they love so much. It also looks cool as decoration in any room. 

#46. Bookshelf Jigsaw Puzzle

Few things challenge the mind like a jigsaw puzzle. This one in particular features an amazing picture of a dream bookshelf. 

#47. Lap Desk

A lap desk is a great gift to give to readers who love to read in bed or on their laptop. It gives them a space to safely rest their book or kindle, or to keep a notebook handy to write down notes and thoughts from the story. 

#48. Library Chair

If you’re looking to splurge on the book lover in your life, might we suggest this library chair. It’s an awesome way to store some of their favorite books in a completely unique way, and will make for an extravagant gifts for book lovers that they’ll never forget!

#49. Free Standing Bookshelf

If the reader in your life has a little more space in their home, this freestanding bookshelf could be a great gift to give them. It gives them a space to organize their books, while adding a cool element of style to their home. 

#50. Stair Book Decals

There’s a good chance you’ve seen something like this before in a bookstore, but now you can give. it as the perfect gift for book lovers. These decals are a great addition to any literary home!

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About the Author

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Thank you for reading “50 Best Gifts for Book Lovers” by Jaylynn Korrell! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.