The Ultimate Gift Guide For Readers
Well Read #9: gift ideas for bookworms that you probably didn't even know existed.
December is upon us, and so is the stress of hitting that reading goal. On the bright side, I have seen so many unique gifts for bookworms that I either want for myself or would buy for my friends (if they were readers).
I have created (what I think) is the best gift guide for readers that isn’t a cozy blanket or bookmark… While I do love both those things, they lean on reliable instead of outside-of-the-box gifts :) Some of these gifts have been on my radar for a bit, and others have popped up in the book world recently that I think every bookworm would love! Welcome to the ultimate bookish gift guide.
Character Scented Candles
The keyword here is character. We all love Bath & Body Works candles, but did you know some shops make book- or character-themed candles? Briar Wick is probably the best place for these, as they have every book character imaginable on their website. While the majority lean on romantasy books because the characters often have more described scents, more contemporary romance authors can also be found, such as Julie Olivia or Ana Huang.
The best plan of action would be to determine your person’s favourite author from their catalogue and then do some more digging into their top books/characters. In the case of Sarah J. Maas, there are candles for each character, but also ones for the Night Court and Velaris <3
Bookshelf Accessories
I kept this a bit broad, but it is the perfect gift for someone building their home library. Having fun accessories on the shelf elevates it so much, and there are so many options to choose from depending on what someone likes to read. Here’s a bit more of a specific guide on what to get!
Book Ends — If you know someone who is obsessed with Fourth Wing or Game of Thrones, dragon-specific book ends can be found on Etsy and are the perfect addition to highlight a series on their shelf. If they’re a bit more minimal or you don’t know what they read, then a more classic bookend would work too.
Custom Book Tavern Signs — If someone in your life reads a variety of genres, custom genre signs to organize their shelves are perfect. There is a business on Etsy that has signs for every genre, from dark romance to non-fiction, or you can create your own
Book Counter — If you’re a reader who loves having a reading goal (like me), then a physical reading tracker is for you. It has two small dice, and each time you finish a book, you can adjust them accordingly and keep them on your bookshelf.
Book Scratch Poster
If I had more room on my walls, I probably would already own this… Imagine a scratch map, but instead of scratching off places you’ve visited, you can scratch off books. Atlas & Green has created several maps for baseball stadiums and movies, but I recently noticed a book and am pleasantly surprised with some of the books on the list. At first, I worried it would be all classics, but after a glance, I noticed Normal People by Sally Rooney alongside The Lord of the Rings series! Whether you think they would love the challenge of reading all of them or they’ve already read a bunch, I think it’s the perfect addition for any reader.
Audiobook: Project Hail Mary
Now, while there aren’t any physical books on this list, I did ultimately need to include Project Hail Mary as an audiobook because it’s the best book I’ve ever read. I am a romance reader at my core, but this sci-fi novel beat out every one of them in a matter of 16 hours. You can now purchase audiobooks on Audible and send them to someone as long as you have their Audible email address. With that in mind, you could print a photo of the purchased audiobook to include in their card if you don’t have their Audible email address.
I personally feel like this is a step above a gift card and a bit more personalized. It doesn’t matter what kind of books they usually read; this book is for everyone, and I haven’t met a single soul who didn’t love it.
E-Reader
While this leans toward the more classic gift for a reader, I wanted to weigh in on which e-reader you should consider! I have had a few different types of both Kindle & Kobo’s over the years, and my favourite is still the Kindle Colorsoft Paperwhite. Earlier this year, Kindle launched their first coloured Kindle, and I love it. That said, is it necessary to have colour on your Kindle? Here’s the simplest breakdown I can give:
Regular Kindle Paperwhite — Great if they’re down to just read :) This is what I used for 3+ years, and it never failed me — The battery lasted around 3 weeks.
Kindle Colorsoft Paperwhite — Great if they create any content around reading or annotate their books, as the colour allows four different highlighters. The battery doesn’t feel as long as the regular Paperwhite, but no significant difference.
150 Bookstores You Need To Visit
Genuinely, the perfect gift for any reader who likes to travel. I bought this a few years ago and have brought it with me on several trips since then. The book consists of 150 bookstores all around the world, and explains why you should visit them. I’ve been to ones in Berlin to LA, and not a single one has disappointed. Often, a bookstore will have an in-store stamp or embosser that can stamp its page. If they don’t have one, I will ask someone to sign it. It’s mainly just a fun way to show that you’ve visited :)
Book Stamp/Embosser
And speaking of stamps… You can buy personalized stamps and embossers for your personal library of books. My parents bought me one a few years ago, and now and then I will stamp a new batch of books. In the new year, I have a plan to reorganize my bookshelves, and I think I will stamp the rest during that phase. Etsy once again is the winner for this gift, as you can personalize it with any symbol or text you want.
The only kind of reader this gift might not be for is someone who likes to donate their books. While there is no strict rule, some used bookstores won’t take books with certain personalizations, like a stamp. If they’re just lending books to friends and family, then it could be the perfect way to ensure they get their books back.
Tote Bag (with book sleeve)
Now, this could be any tote bag, but if you want to level it up a bit, a tote bag with a book sleeve is the way to go. Readers are often guilty of throwing books into tote bags, but having a book sleeve solves the issues of spills or bent covers. The stores that get it, get it, and the ones that don’t, don’t. I don’t have a specific recommendation, but you should be able to find some at Barnes & Noble or Indigo! Out of Print also has themed totes with the book sleeve
➡️ Which one would you want most? Let us know in the comments!
Love the added book sleeve in a tote bag! Makes them 10x more useful and doesn't ruin my book with everything else getting thrown in there.
These are GREAT ideas Morgann!!! Thanks for sharing.