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We are officially in the holiday season, which means it is time to start thinking about shopping for gifts! Today I will be sharing my top gift ideas for book lovers that don’t include books. Basically, this is my personal wishlist because-HELLO-I’m a book lover!
Holiday shopping can be so stressful and I’m afraid the 2020 holiday season is going to be even worse than usual because of COVID-19. Some of your favorite stores may not be open still or there may be limited in-person shopping opportunities. Shipping times have already been a nightmare this year, and I expect the increase in online shopping during the holidays to make things even worse.
COVID-19 has also caused major financial strains for people. By no means am I encouraging you to spend money you don’t have just because you feel obligated to buy a gift! But I included items for every price point on this list, so get your shopping list and get ready to make some notes!
Table of Contents
Gift Idea #1: Book Subscription
So this one is kind of cheating, but you aren’t really buying a book as a gift. You are gifting a subscription service which is a totally different thing!
Personally, I don’t buy many books for myself, so a book subscription would be a wonderful gift! My favorite book subscription is Book of the Month (BOTM). I like BOTM because you get to choose the book you receive in your box. If you aren’t interested in one of the books, you can skip the month and save your credit for the next month. I have an entire post dedicated to my review of this book subscription service.
Related: Is a Book of the Month Subscription Worth It?
Gift Idea #2: Audiobook Subscription
Again, this is almost cheating but not really because you aren’t giving a book as a gift!
Personally, I am a fan of Scribd, which is an ebook and audiobook service. For $9.99 a month, you get unlimited access to their huge library of titles! As a bonus (and I just realized this!), you have other bonus offers within your Scribd subscription through the Perks Program, including Pandora Plus and TuneIn Premium radio.
I have a link so you can try or gift 60 days of Scribd for free! Just click here to redeem this offer.
Another option for audiobooks is Audible. Audible has recently updated their service to include more books in their subscription.
There are three price levels for Audible subscriptions now:
- Audible Plus: $7.95/month for unlimited access to titles in the Plus Catalog
- Audible Premium Plus: $14.95/month for access to Audible Plus titles and one credit for a premium title
- Audible Premium Plus Annual: $149.50/year for 12 months access to the Plus Catalog and 12 credits for premium titles
Certain audiobooks are often exclusively offered on Audible. They also have their own selection of Audible Originals that you can’t find anywhere else.
Gift Idea #3: eReader
This gift idea is definitely the most expensive option on the list, but if you are buying a gift for someone special who love to read, you can’t go wrong with an eReader. My husband bought me a blue Kindle Paperwhite last year as my “big” Christmas gift, and I am absolutely obsessed with it! There are several versions of the Kindle now, but the Paperwhite is by far the most popular.
Amazon Prime Day is a special event with deals on top-selling products. You must be an Amazon Prime subscriber to take advantage of these amazing savings.
If you are not an Amazon Prime member, you can sign up for the 30 day FREE trial and still get access to the Prime Day deals.
Other Ideas:
Gift Idea #4: Bookish Socks
There is nothing cozier than snuggling under a blanket with some cozy socks! You seriously can’t go wrong gifting bookish socks. They make a great stocking stuffer or gift basket addition. I absolutely love these pink socks on Amazon. They come in the cutest packaging, which is such a nice bonus!
Other Ideas:
Gift Idea #5: Coffee or Tea Mugs
I think every book lover is a coffee or tea fan. It has to be part of our DNA! I personally can never have enough mugs, so I’m always thrilled when I receive them as a gift. I love big mugs with a large handle, so I love this colorful book spine mug.
Other Ideas:
Gift Idea #6: Tote Bag
I love a good tote bag, and bonus if it is bookish theme! My tote bag goes with me to the library every trip (when I was once upon a time allowed to peruse the library pre-COVID), but I also take it to bookstores and on vacation. This tote bag from Kate Spade is a trendy book-themed tote bag that I can’t get enough of!
Other Ideas:
Gift Idea #7: Bookish Shirt
A bookish shirt can be slightly trickier because you have to know the book lover’s size and style, but I know personally I’m not super picky when it comes to t-shirts, especially when they are bookish themed!
Other Ideas:
Gift Idea #8: Book Ends
Book ends have gotten fancy! I found some really great options that are a step up from your typical book ends. I love that even book ends can be considered home decor now with these options!
Other Ideas:
Gift Idea #9: Bookmarks
I have a terrible habit of never having a bookmark handy. I just grab whatever is close, usually a pen or receipt, and use that to keep my place. To me, bookmarks are an item I don’t buy for myself but always enjoy when I receive as a gift. Sometimes there will be a bookmark in a book I’ve won or swapped for, and it always makes my day!
Personally, I am crazy about the new(?) book triangle trend. You get to use it to keep your place and it puts your book on display as decor. Win-win!
Other Ideas
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Gift Idea #10: Bookish Candles
My idea of a perfect night is a relaxing bubble bath with a cozy candle going while I read a book. Heavenly perfection! And yes, bookish candles are a thing! You can find general bookish candles or sometimes you can find candles for specific books or fandoms.
Other Ideas:
Gift Idea #11: Book Journal
Readers generally like to keep track of what they read and how they felt about what they read. I love this reading journal because the pages are similar to bullet journal spreads I see on Pinterest but never have time to create! A bookish themed journal or notebook could also be used for a book journal.
Other Ideas:
Gift Idea #12: Bookish Decor
I love to have fun quotes around the house, especially on my desk or in the living room. If you are gifting home decor to a book lover, why not make it bookish?
Other Ideas:
Gift Idea #13: Bookish Throw Pillows
Not only are throw pillows decorative, they also supply readers with comfort while they sit and read for hours and hours! I love this pillow cover featuring one of my favorite bookish quotes: “Just one more chapter.” You can easily buy a pillow to fit the cover if you want to complete the gift!
Other Ideas:
Gift Idea #14: Book Holders
Books can be cumbersome to hold. Okay, maybe that’s not always true, but sometimes I don’t want to hold a book, like when I’m reading in the tub. There are a variety of book holders to choose from, but I really like a book/tablet couch. I like to lay in bed and read, so having this book couch makes it easier to prop up the book so my arms don’t get tired holding the book. Bonus: you can use a tablet with it too!
Other Ideas:
Gift Idea #15: Bookish Accessories
Bookish accessories can be a quirky way to show off your love for books! These quotation mark earrings are super cute and match my personality perfectly!
Other Ideas:
Gift Idea #16: Bookish/Cozy Blanket
I am the type of person who wraps up in a blanket year round, so a blanket is always a perfect gift idea IMO! My favorite type of blanket to use in the winter while I’m reading is a blanket with sleeves. Obviously this blanket keeps my arms warm and helps me feel cozy when I’m trying to use my arms to hold a book.
This is another bookish item that can get super customized based on the reader’s preference in books or fandoms. But if you aren’t sure, a general book theme blanket is still a great gift!
Other Ideas:
Gift Idea #17: Personal Library Kit
Some people loan their books out (I’m not one of them ha!), so a personal library kit would be an excellent gift for someone to keep track of their books. This library kit is such a throwback because it includes actual library cards that can be applied to the inside cover of books.
Other Ideas:
Gift Idea #18: Book Cart
This is another gift I received last year and I love having it. A book cart (or TBR cart) can be used to store books you are currently reading or hope to read soon. I like to keep mine downstairs in the living room since my shelves are upstairs. All of these book carts come in multiple colors!
Other Ideas:
Hopefully this guide guide for book lovers has helped and will make your holiday shopping less stressful! I would love to know what your favorite item(s) on the list are in the comments!
Talk Bookish To Me