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What should you buy the book lover in your life for Christmas? What are the best gifts for bookworms that aren’t just more books?
You might think the perfect Christmas gift for a book lover is a book. But trust us when we say that they most likely have shelves of books they still haven’t read. So, why not buy them something different this Christmas?
From floating bookshelves to Jane Austen doormats and a book summary subscription, we’ve pulled together the most unique gifts for bookworms this Christmas.
Shortform Subscription
What is a bookworm’s biggest problem? We can safely say it’s having too many books to read in too little time. Almost 130 million books have been published in history, and an avid reader will only get through about 6000 throughout their whole lives.
With a Shortform subscription, you can get the essential ideas from 1000+ non-fiction books in a fraction of the time it would take to read the whole book. Or, our comprehensive book guides can give you a taste of whether you’d like to read the whole book afterward or if you’ve gotten everything you need already. This way, you get all the key information and ideas from more books in less time.
This makes the perfect gift for the book lover in your life because it will help them get through their “to-do” shelf much quicker.
For a 5-day free trial, click here.
Subscription Boxes
Subscription boxes are a great gift for bookworms this Christmas, as they’re full of exciting, extra surprises you just don’t get from a book alone:
- Try this Vintage Book, Tea, and Stationery Subscription Box which contains a surprise vintage paperback, pretty stationery, and some tea.
- If they have a sweet tooth, we’d recommend the Chocolate and Books Subscription which includes a modern book that has taken inspiration from well-loved classics like Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice, as well as a bar of artisan handmade chocolate.
- If the book lover in your life also happens to be an introvert, this Read and Relax Subscription is the perfect gift, coming with a book from your chosen genre, as well as a selection of introvert-themed bath products and candles.
- Another gift for bookworms who enjoy a cozy night in is the Classic Book and Hot Drink Letterbox Gift. This ultimate bookish bundle arrives with your choice of beautiful literary classics as well as a choice of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate.
Hot Drinks
A good cup of tea (or coffee!) is an essential reading companion. Without it, reading just doesn’t feel as cozy. As Anthony Trollope quite rightly said, “what on earth could be more luxurious than a sofa, a book, and a cup of coffee?”
Here is everything your bookworm needs to make the perfect hot drink to complement their reading. You could make them a hot-drink gift basket, or could alternatively buy the gifts separately:
- Of course, a great mug is essential. For a lover of books, we’d suggest an Ideal Bookshelf Mug (there’s one for every genre) or this Blue Library Card Mug. Both will get your book lover in the right mood for reading.
- While reading it’s so easy to get distracted, leaving your hot drink to go cold. Help your bookworm avoid cold coffees with this Mug Warmer.
- Now for the main ingredient—the drink itself. We love these Novel Tea Book Tins, each inspired by a work of classic literature. From War and Peach to Pride and Peppermint, there’s a tea to suit everybody’s tastes.
For hungry readers, we have a selection of literary snacks that will perfectly accompany a hot drink. Try these Literary Fortune Cookies—or alternatively, The Little Library Cookbook, with over 100 literary-themed recipes to choose from.
For something a little stronger, this Tequila Mockingbird Cocktail Recipe Book has everything you need to make drinks with a literary twist. Your book lover can pour themselves a Romeo and Julep, or A Rum of One’s Own to accompany their favorite book.
Reading Accessories
Make reading easier by gifting your book lover one of the following reading accessories. From getting books wet in the bath, to constantly losing their reading glasses, these gifts will solve some of your bookworm’s biggest problems:
- For those who like to read in the bath without getting their book wet, try this Bamboo Book Holder.
- For pesky pages that just won’t stay open, this Little Book Holder is a great, practical gift.
- If the book lover in your life can never seem to find their reading glasses, this Bookaroo Glasses Pouch attaches to a book for convenience.
- A reading light is essential for reading in the dark—we recommend the Really Tiny Book Light.
- This Book Holder and Pillow is perfect for reading in bed comfortably.
Personalized Gifts
Nothing quite shows someone they’re special like a gift made just for them, so the more personalized the better! Your book-loving loved one will appreciate the time and effort you put into giving them a truly unique gift. The following gifts are all from Etsy:
- One idea is this Personalized Photo Bookmark—you can add three photos and a message of your choice.
- Another one-of-a-kind gift is this elegant Personalized Book End, handmade from solid oak, with the option for a hidden, personalized message.
- In this handmade Personalized Book Bag, your book lover can store and organize their books easily.
- Or, if you know their favorite book, you could buy them a Personalized Miniature Book Keychain, which can be personalized with any book cover you wish.
- This Custom Book Embosser is another great gift for bookworms. You can choose from many different patterns and illustrations.
A final personalized gift idea is a Keepsake Book, which allows you to record meaningful moments and memories in a personalized book. It’s the perfect book to add to the shelves of a sentimental bookworm.
Bookmarks
Is the bookworm in your life always folding pages or using old receipts to mark where they are in a book? Make sure they never lose their place again by buying them one of these beautiful bookmarks:
- The Bookshelf Tracker Bookmark can be used to track your reading process.
- This beautiful Signature Gold Page Anchor keeps your place while also keeping the page open. Not only does it look great, but it’s also super practical!
- This cute Loch Ness Bookmark is so fun and comes in three different colors.
- The Book of Bookmarks made by The School of Life is a unique option, with tons of inspiring and humorous messages inside.
- Another option is to use bookish postcards as bookmarks. We’d suggest this Box of Penguin Postcards, which contains one hundred classic book covers in one box.
Bookish Candles
Candles always make Christmas seem that much more magical and cozy. Help your book lover set the mood this year with our selection of bookish candles:
- This Bookish Candle smells just like an old bookshop (trust us, they’ll love it!).
- Transport your loved one to Narnia with the enchanting scent of fresh pine needles and crisp apple from this Narnia Candle.
- Uncommon Goods have a great selection of Literary Candles, each based on a classic tale. Recreate the floral scents of the Pemberley Garden with their Pride and Prejudice Candle, or the smell of crackling fires and wildflowers with their candle inspired by Jane Eyre.
- Wick and Fable also have a great selection of candles that make perfect gifts for bookworms. Whether they’re fans of Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, or Outlander, there’s something they’ll love!
Pens, Pencils, and Highlighters
For the bookworm who likes to annotate and make notes, these pens, pencils, and highlighters are must-haves:
- These pretty Pastel Highlighters are perfect for someone who likes to mark their favorite quotes.
- These adorable Storyteller Pencils feature classic lines from stories and fairytales, like “once upon a time…” and “it was a dark and stormy night…”
- Uncommon goods have a fantastic Bookworm Pencil Set, embellished with bookish sayings.
- For annotations, try these great Pastel Gel Pens.
- An essential for good notetaking, this Spiral Notebook (ships from the UK) is the perfect gift for bookworms.
Jewelry
For beautiful, literary-themed jewelry, look no further. Here are the bookish rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets we recommend as gifts for bookworms:
- This ‘Not All Who Wander’ Silver Compass Ring is the perfect, subtle gift for fans of fantasy.
- For a lover of books, these Book Stud Earrings are a great choice. Alternatively, try these Book Stack Earrings for a pop of color.
- A fun (and relatable!) choice is this ‘Go Away I’m Reading’ Enamel Pin.
- This elegant Jane Eyre Necklace includes an inspiring quote from the book.
- Get this beautiful Writer’s Bracelet, which comes with delicate, book-related charms.
Games and Entertainment
For the bookworm who likes a bit of fun, these book-related games and gimmicks are great gift ideas:
- For a bookworm who also likes a bit of blackjack or go fish, try these Writer Playing Cards. Rather than Kings, Queens, and Aces, these cards feature the faces of famous literary icons, like George Orwell, Toni Morrison, and Margaret Atwood.
- This unique 100 Books Scratch Off Poster features 100 iconic books to scratch off. As you read your way through, you can scratch off each one.
- This Personal Library Kit is a great way to personalize your books and to ensure borrowed books are always returned.
- Lit Chat contains 100 book-related conversation starters to get people chatting about books.
- This special version of Scrabble made with book lovers in mind is a must-have.
Reading Journals and Diaries
Chances are your book lover is also a stationery lover—the two tend to go hand in hand. Here are the very best journals and diaries that make great gifts for bookworms:
- This Bibliophile Reading Journal allows you to review books you’ve read and document books you want to check out.
- A popular choice for many book lovers, this Faber Poetry Diary for 2022, this week to a view diary contains a new selection of 40 poems each year.
- This pretty Reading Journal includes reading challenges, reading wishlists, reviews, and more.
- For a more sustainable option, try a journal from Attic Journals, who make one-of-a-kind upcycled journals from vintage books that were originally destined for dumpsters.
Home Decor
A book lover loves nothing more than a cozy night in with their books for company. For the perfect surroundings, we’ve found the best home decor gifts for bookworms:
- This F. Scott Fitzgerald Art Print is perfect for some daily inspiration.
- Your book lover can showcase their love for literature with this subtle One More Chapter Pillow Case Cover.
- Say goodbye to boring bookshelves with this iconic Floating Bookshelf which makes it seem as though your books are floating in the air. The perfect way to enchant guests!
- Try this Book Rest Lamp, which looks pretty while also functioning as a reading lamp and even a bookmark.
- Fans of Pride and Prejudice will love this Jane Austen Doormat, featuring the quote “there is nothing like staying home for real comfort.”
- Check out this informative Literature of the World Map, which shows where all your favorite books have come from.
Wearable Gifts
Here are some great literary clothing ideas to give as gifts, including bookish dresses, scarves, bags, and more:
- If you know the recipient’s favorite book, check out Litographs for some incredible scarves, customized with the text of your chosen literary classic.
- A book lover’s wardrobe isn’t complete without a tote bag. We love this Penguin Tote Bag and the selection of literary tote bags available at The Literary Gift Company inspired by favorites like Pride and Prejudice and Alice in Wonderland.
- This Abibliophobia Hoodie is a must-have for any bookworm, as well as this Drink Tea, Read Books, Be Happy Sweatshirt. These Banned Book Socks would make a great stocking filler for any bookworm.
- Out of Print also have some lovely literary t-shirts, including this Anne of Green Gables T-Shirt.
- For something a little different, this popular Pepper Book Print Dress is a great choice.
Conclusion
We hope our holiday gift guide has helped you to find the perfect gift for the book lover in your life. From a Shortform Subscription to quirky bookmarks and bookish candles, there are plenty of unique gifts for bookworms that aren’t just more books.
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