We all have that one person in our life who loves to read. They come equipped with a book to any event (just in case there’s some downtime) and often have different books on the go at once. This beloved bookworm almost always has their nose buried in the pages of a new novel, and will happily tell you about the plots of interesting books they’ve read and recommend gems to you.
Most people think that all book lovers want is more books, and that’s true (in theory). The problem becomes knowing which book to buy them. See, some bookworms finish dozens of books a year. That makes finding them a novel they haven’t read downright daunting. Luckily, there are still plenty of other gifts you can give the dedicated book lover in your life that will honour their love of the written word, without giving them the third copy of a bestseller they already own.
Whether it’s for a birthday, an anniversary, or just to say “I love you,” here is the ultimate list of gifts for someone who loves to read that we can guarantee they’ll love.
- A book-themed purse or bag
No matter what your friend wants to carry to stash their stuff, they’ll appreciate a fun, book-themed tote or handbag. StoriArts has a great selection of canvas totes emblazoned with classics like Pride & Prejudice and Dracula. These great totes are made to look like the books they represent, done up in a classy black and white finish.
Got a purse-carrier in your life? We adore these incredible book clutches from Bags By M. These gorgeous Italian-designed, leather clutches that look just like the books they’re designed to represent. These clutches may be a bit pricey for the average gift-giving event, but these unique clutches with their silk interiors can be personalised according to colours, front decoration, and back decoration–you can even add a personalised Ex Libris with your book lover’s name for an extra fee!
- The perfect place to read
Every reader is always on the hunt for the ideal reading nook. Ask any book lover, and they’ll be able to describe the ideal place to curl up with a book. While you may not be able to give them the reading nook overlooking the sea, with shelves thick with books on either side, you can still give them a great place to sit!
Reading is all about settling in with a cup of tea in a comfy spot, so why not give them a reading chair that will stay comfy no matter what ludicrous angle they get themselves into when in the middle of an intense thriller. A huge bean bag chair isn’t just for college students. These modern, custom-made bean bags are made with high-quality stitching, fabrics, and filling to keep them squishy and ideal for ages to come. They’re also surprisingly stylish and will still fit into almost any decor style.
3. A gorgeous page anchor
If you’ve noticed your bookworm using scraps of receipts, pens, or even bending pages to mark their spot in a book, it might be time to consider gifting them with a gorgeous bookmark. The aptly named Page Anchor is the bookmark to end all bookmarks. This Swedish bookmark was a Kickstarter original that promises to transform the way you read.
Unlike traditional bookmarks that can easily slide down inside a book and get lost, the Book Anchor uses two back prongs and a front anchor to hold a book open on the pages you’re currently reading. Available in a variety of finishes, including rose gold, winter platinum, obsidian black, and classic gold, the Book Anchor is ideal for any dedicated bookworm.
4. Bulk bookmarks
While a gorgeous, high-quality bookmark is a great gift, if you’re loved one is someone who often has multiple books on the go, then they’ll be left high and dry for most of their choices. That’s why a gift of bookmarks in bulk can go a long way for practicality. Vistaprint or other bulk printers will let you design a custom bookmark with any color or pattern you want and buy it in bulk for a low price.
Best part? You can easily reorder when all the bookmarks mysteriously disappear, get soaked in coffee, or get accidentally returned to the library.
5. An eReader
We know that a lot of readers abhor the idea of an eReader, but their convenience factor can’t be denied. You can still love paper books, but admit that traveling with them is less than ideal. An eReader allows you to take an almost infinite amount of books with you anywhere you go, and only weighs a fraction of what actual books do!
Reading on an eReader is nothing like reading on a computer. They are carefully calibrated to mimic a physical page and not strain the eyes. You can keep on supporting your local library as well since most now support loaning ebooks. Plus, you won’t incur any late fees since the books automatically expire when they’re due back and are returned to the library.
6. Cool bookends
When the books start piling up, your book lover will need a way to keep them under control. Gifting them some amazing bookends is the ideal way to keep their bookshelves tidy while showing them you care.
Modern bookends are far from simply utilitarian. Instead, they can be whatever you want. From thick wedges of gemstones to bicycle bookends, to plant bookends, to camera bookends, you can find almost anything you want to represent your friend’s love of books. They range in price, which means you can practically find something for any price point.
7. The ultimate reading lamp
Curling up in a corner with a good book might be an ideal situation for a lot of people. However, that doesn’t mean the lighting is going to be ideal. Eye strain is a common issue if you’re reading in an area that isn’t properly lit. However, that doesn’t mean you want to have floodlighting on while you’re trying to disappear in the plot. Instead of letting your book lover strain their eyes in the dark or ruin the mood while sitting under bright, overhead lighting, consider getting them a reading lamp.
This practical gift is perfect for readers. Find out where your loved one does most of their reading and assess the situation. Would a floor lamp with an adjustable, secondary arm be best? Or an armchair companion that sits just beside their favorite reading nook? Maybe they already have a little table set out for their mug of coffee where a table lamp would be perfect?
The great thing about lamps is you can find one to match whatever décor style your friend has in their home so that it’s ideal for them.
8. A book mug
We’ve mentioned it plenty in this article, but we’ll repeat it: readers love to have a warm cup of something to sip while they read. Whether it’s tea, coffee, or hot chocolate, give your reader something to drink out of with a book mug. A book lovers mug could be as simple as a minimalist white mug with a reading quote like “Drink Coffee, Read Books, Be Happy” or a latte mug with an adorable owl reading a book in a tree.
You can also find plenty of mugs that feature quotes from someone’s favorite book or mugs printed with images of libraries. Whatever you want to find, it’s out there for your book-loving friend!
9. A book-centric bath caddy
Self-care takes a lot of forms, but with reading, soaking in a hot tub with a good book is high up on the list of relaxing ideals. However, every book lover knows the gutting feeling of dropping their book in the tub and watching the pages saturate with water. Even worse is if you drop your eReader in the tub and watch it short-circuit.
While we can’t guarantee this will negate all risk of dropping books in the tub, gifting your book-loving loved one with a bath caddy is a great way to help prevent it. Bath caddies can look like the height of luxury—and they really are! You can get a simple bath caddy that only holds a bar of soap with a ledge for a book. Or you can go all out and get an extendable bath caddy that will hold a wine glass, a book, a candle, your phone, and some products! The only crucial thing with this gift is to make sure it will fit their tub, so sneak into the washroom one night and measure the width of the bathtub first.
- A book-of-the-month club
While you may not know every book your friend is reading, you can give them the chance to get the perfect book by signing them up for a book-of-the-month club. These subscription-based services either send you a book of your choice, or one chosen by the company.
You can also get fun boxes like the Introverts Retreat Box, which includes things like a book, body care items, candles, snacks, colouring books, and more introvert-approved items.
