50 Best Gifts for Book Lovers

by Jaylynn Korrell

Buying gifts for book lovers ain’t easy.

You’ve already tried to buy the books they like or the best books of the year, but it turns out they have oscillating interests. It’s not easy to cater to another person’s current reading tastes and even availability. So you got them coffee mugs. And then you did it again and again and questioned if there are any good gifts for book lovers left.

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 over a decade now and can tell you firsthand how difficult it has been to keep coming up with ideas over the years. It may be even harder to find gifts for writers! But I found some absolute winners and have seen how often they went to use.

So, I’m sharing them with you.

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

(Everything on IBR lists has been independently selected by a very picky group of people. We may earn a commission on items you purchase through our links.)

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#1. Literary Candle

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 candle, you can have that scent wafting in your room whenever you want.

#2. Novel Teas

Check out these punny book lover tea blends featuring quotes from famous authors! 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.

#3. 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 one offers readers spaces to fill out their favorite bits about the books they’ve read as well as writing prompts.

#4. Neck Reading Light

One of the benefits of reading is that it can put you to sleep.

Habitual readers love to read in bed at the end of the day. It’s a great way to resist the eternal phone scroll and learn/feel entertained as their eyelids start to flutter. If they read physical books to go to sleep, they have to turn off the light (which risks them waking from such a close slumber!) or creating too much light for a sleeping partner.

They can read in the dark with a flexible book light. They just curve the light to face the pages, illuminating every word they need to see, and they can straight up go to sleep if they want to. Let go of that book and snooze. I love the gifts for book lovers that help them read. This is definitely one of them.

Another way to read in the dark is an ereader, which I’ll talk about soon!

#5. Essential Novel 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.

#6. A Small Bookshelf

Any book lover will be glad to have more space to put their beloved books. This little bookshelf is a great gift option that they can put on their nightstand or a small side table to help give it some literary flare. And if you love small book cases like this check out our small bookshelf idea blog post!

#7. “The Book Was Better” T-Shirt

Sometimes a good literary t-shirt says exactly what you need it to, and that will be the case for most book lovers when they see this shirt. To often the book is much better than whatever show or movie it gets turned into, and this shirt plainly states that in a stylish way.

#8. Footnotes from the World’s Greatest Bookstores

It can be difficult to buy books for book lovers! No doubt.

But…

Buying a book about books is always exciting to open as a reader! And this one? It is an awesome (and even pretty inexpensive!) coffee table book with paintings, stories, and anecdotes from booksellers around the world. As a coffee table book, it means they don’t have to free up their reading schedule to enjoy it! It gives readers a small adventure from the comfort of their living room and can even give them places to visit in the future.

#9. Audible Subscription

Listening to audiobooks is an awesome way to branch out as a reader. I love listening to nonfiction books while doing the dishes or cleaning. It can make getting things done around the house feel not quite as arduou, time-consuming, or temporary.

An audible subscription is a gift for book lovers that will give them access to thousands of audiobooks to enjoy at their leisure. They can even start with a 30 day free trial!

#10. Personal Library Kit

If you know someone who is always willing to lend you a book, we’ve found the perfect gift for them. This personal library kit contains everything they’d need to start lending in a more organized way. It’ll make borrowing their books more fun, and help to ensure they always get them back!

#11. Personalized Bookmark

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.

#12. Wooden 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?

This tool will help your book lover read with one hand, which they would probably prefer to do.

#13. Bookshop Gift Card

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

This bookselling e-commerce 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 e-commerce site just to handle fulfillment.

That’s where Bookshop comes in. They are a non-profit that gives back to indie bookstores. 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?!

#14. Transparent Book Vase

If the book lover in your life also has a green thumb you may want to consider giving them this transparent book style vase. It’s a great way to showcase their love of books in the home without displaying an actual book (which we’re sure they’ve already done). If they like flowers, you could pair them with some of their favorites too.

If you like this list, you might also like gifts for writers!

#15. Literary Sweatshirt

This literary sweatshirt is a great gift to give the reader in your life that isn’t afraid to rep their favorite hobby through their clothing choices. If you like this shirt you might also like some of the tees on our our best book shirts post!

#16. Bedside Wooden Book Stand

If your reader loves to read in bed, this beauty could come in handy! They can keep their page without having to dog-ear it or even always have a bookmark around. Not only does it have a place for their coffee/tea and reading glasses, it’s a classy good-looking bookish piece to have around.

#17. Book Pillow Stand

Free up your hands with this comfy book stand! It’s so soft that it even doubles as a travel pillow, but I like it most as a hands-free page holder. Imagine plopping this comfy thing down on your lap and not having to prop the book open the whole time you read two pages and then the next two pages and the next. Cozy gifts for readers are good gifts indeed.

#18. Literary Tote Bag

Most literary people have a small obsession with buying books. And that’s fine! It makes useful gifts for book lovers like this all the more exciting to receive! They’ll be glad to have a new bag to accompany them to their favorite indie bookstore!

#19. Creative bookends

This is a great gift for book lovers who enjoy adding to their bookshelves. (As if that even needs to be said). 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 cats, people, cool objects, and even abstract art.

#20. 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. 

#21. Miniature Book Hair Clip

Spice up your book lover’s hair styles with this vintage inspired miniature book hair clip. It looks like something one of the Bronte sisters would make to wear, or one of the characters from Little Women. We love how unique it is and how it’s a cool nod to the hobby we all enjoy!

#22. Eyeglass Holder

It’s no fun to be ready to dive into a book and not be able to find your reading glasses. Neat eyeglass holders are great gifts for book lovers who are known to misplace their reading glasses from time to time. 

#23. 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. 

#24. Library Card Socks

Can you ever have too many socks? These comfy feet-companions pay tribute to the due date card often seen in the backs on library books, and they’re one of those special, “Guess what I’m wearing,” kind of quiet library surprises that book lovers love. They’d also make great gifts for librarians.

#25. Kindle Paperwhite

I LOVE my Kindle Paperwhite. I still love and adore holding a physical book, but I can’t always do it at night or on the road.

With this gift, book lovers can gain immediate access to thousands of books on one device, AND they’re often much cheaper than physical books. It even gives them the option to join subscription services like Kindle Unlimited and/or BookBub to make sure they don’t pay full price for a great new book ever again.

No blue light either, so it’s easy on the eyes!

#26. Kindle Unlimited Gift Subscription

Does your book lover read with a Kindle?

Give them thousands of books! Kindle Unlimited is a massive digital library where book lovers can download books, try them out, stop reading, and move on to the next; or they can do massive overhaul research by reading a bunch of free books on the same topic from the comfort of their bed. You can give them six free months, twelve free months, or even 24! A LOT of brand new books enter the library every day.

#27. “My Weekend is All Booked” Tote Bag

It can be difficult to make time for other activities when you’re an avid reader, which is what makes gifts for book lovers like this so great! They tell people you’re too busy to make plans without making you say it out loud. It is also a great way to haul your books to and from the library or bookstore.

#28. Bathtub Caddy for Reading

A bathtub caddy allows book lovers to safely place their book down in the tub and to rest their arms while they’re reading. And what a way to produce some ambiance! Light a candle, pour a glass of wine, and set it all on the bathtub caddy for a perfect night of reading.

#29. Literary Book Letters

Looking to create a more literary inspired space? These gifts for book lovers are a great way to help them add book inspiration to their home or office. Spell out any word you want, but I like it for “Read,” “Love,” or even their name.

#30. Library Candle

While you may not be able to sleep in an actual library, you can definitely help a home to smell more like one. Gifts for book lovers like this library candle can help to bring a similar aroma into their house and make them feel like they’re in one of their favorite places.

#31. 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. This is also a cool gift for book clubs!

#32. Book Ring

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. This lovely, unique, and quiet book ring both looks good and makes them feel good, reminding them that a book will be there for them.

#33. 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 here are a few of my favorites:

• Paterson – A quiet life in Paterson, New Jersey (a rich literary history here!) 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.

#34. Blue Light Blocking Glasses

If the book lover in your life likes to read on their iPad or LED-light tablet, they may be looking at the screen too much. 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.

#35. Literary socks

A book lover will love putting on these literary socks. Features typewriter text of some of the most popular novels ever written, this gift for book lovers is sure to go over well.

#36. 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?

#37. Personalized Book Art

Personalized books just have a way of making a person feel special, and this personalized piece of book art is a great way to achieve that. Have a special word or your loved one’s name carved into a book to create a keepsake book that they’ll never get rid of!

#38. Book Themed Cross Body Purse

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. It’s one of many perfect Jane Austen gifts you can choose from!

#39. Book Enamel Pins

Book pins are a great way to decorate a bags and clothing for all ages. They’re a small gift that will fit well into a stocking stuffer or go great when paired with a few more gifts from this list for an awesome literary gift basket! 

#40. Book Shirt / Game of Thrones Fans

Who doesn’t love a good literary t-shirt to add to their wardrobe? This one is a play on words from a famous Game of Thrones quote, but we think it works perfectly when talking about book lovers!

#41. “Booksmarks are for Quitters” mug

Every reader enjoys having a beverage to go with their book. This cool literary mug is one of the more popular gifts for book lovers, and a safe choice with a good vibe.

#42. 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, mug warmers make great gifts 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. 

#43. “Just one more chapter” Throw Pillow

Casual book decor can be hard to come by, but this subtle throw pillow would make a great gift for someone looking to add some literary flare to their home. It’d look great on a bed or on a couch!

#44.  Bookcase Ornament 

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 bookcase ornament to hang on the tree this Christmas. 

#45. Bedside Book Lamp

Reading should be attainable at any time of the day, and a bedside table lamp helps to make that possible. This one is shaped just like a book and opens and shuts like the real thing!

#46. Book Themed Wine Glass

If your book lover has a good sense of humor they’ll likely enjoy this funny gift for book lovers!

Find more great gifts for kids who love to read!

#47. Jane Austen Jigsaw Puzzle

Few things challenge the mind like a jigsaw puzzle. This one in particular would be a fun choice for all those Jane Austen stans in your life. They’d also probably like something over at our Jane Austen gifts blog post!

#48. 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. Here are some cheap bookshelves if we’ve got your brain churning.

#49. Literary Genius Playing Cards

A good deck of cards should be a staple in every home, and these ones will make perfect gifs for book lovers. They feature some of the most notable writers in history.

#50. Glass Cup

These cups have been all the rage lately, so we were pleasantly surprised to find one with such a funnily relevant book quote on them. Buy this for the book lover in your life so they can enjoy their favorite iced beverage while devouring their next novel.

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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.