Generally speaking, avid readers and bookworms are not an easy group of people to shop for. I know this because I am one of them. You hesitate to gift books for fear of giving one that is already in their collection or which they won’t like. Gift cards and cash, while appreciated (can be used to buy books), are impersonal. With that in mind, here is a curated list of exceptional book related gifts that the reader in your life is sure to love.

 

Forage Candle Co – Book Lovers’ Candles

Old books, used book stores, libraries…these are just a few of my favorite scents, and I believe most bookworms tend to agree. These small batch candles from Forage Candle Co are hand-poured, vegan, cruelty-free, and have a long burn time. Best of all, they come in scents ranging from Lost in the Stacks and Reading by the Fire, to those created with specific books in mind like The Shire and Gatsby, a scent with notes of gin, jazz, and jealousy.

 

Knock Knock Personal Library Kit

Does the bookworm in your life have a problem with compulsively buying more books than they can read? Is their biggest fear lending out a book only to have it returned damaged (gasp!) or not returned at all? If you answered yes, then the Knock Knock Personal Library Kit might be just the gift you are looking for. It includes checkout cards and pockets, bookplates, and a date stamp to ensure that any borrowers know who lent the book and when they expect it returned. Plus, this is just good, old-fashioned, nostalgic fun. Late fees may apply!

 

 

Bookplates

So, the bookworm in your life wants to lend out books and proclaim to the world the contents of their personal library, but they don’t want to play pretend librarian assigning due dates with the kit above? Then bookplates are the answer you seek. Timeless, classic, and the borrower’s guilt of constantly seeing the name in the front of the book will ensure that they always get returned.

 

 

The Book Lovers’ Journal

I may be a slightly unique case, as someone who consumes cannabis and books with equal voracity. But surely I am not the only person who has trouble remembering which books they have read and what they thought of them. The problem is only exacerbated when it comes to long series. If there are a couple years between releases, I could read a couple hundred other books in the interim. The obvious answer? Write it down! The Book Lovers’ Journal includes everything the reader in your life needs to keep track of their past, current, and upcoming reads, including dedicated pages for books lent out and reading group info.

  

 

 

Shelving

It is not uncommon for book lovers to have more books than they have shelves for, with books stacked on tables, the floor, and any available surface. Even readers with a minimalistic design aesthetic can tend to drift into hoarder territory when it comes to their books. Gifting furniture may seem lame, but trust me when I say that the cluttered bookworm in your life will be thankful. I am partial to bookshelves that take up minimal floor space or fit nicely in a corner as those seen below.

 

 

“F*ck Off, I’m Reading” Mug

Most bookworms hate to be interrupted while reading. One of the many pleasures involved is that of sinking into a good book and being so engrossed that it is as if you are existing within the world of the book. In these instances, the reader likely has no clue what is actually going on around them. If you have had the experience of interrupting an engrossed reader, you know that they often become confused or scared and may not know where or who they are. Some might even lash out in a violent manner. This “F*ck Off, I’m Reading” mug is the perfect gift to let people know to approach the booklover in your life with caution while they are reading.

 

 

 

Coffee

What’s the point of gifting the mug above without something to fill it with. Good coffee and good books are a classic pairing and one of my personal favorites. I prefer to buy my beans from a local roaster, but if that is not feasible for you, I recommend the dark roasts from Koffee Kult and Kauai Coffee. If tea is more of the style for the book lover in question, then try out this variety box from Taylors of Harrogate.

 

Lap Stand

Bookworms who enjoy reading in bed know the struggle of tired arms and trying to find a comfortable position. Enter the Flippy Lap Stand. Soft, pillow-like, and with 3 different angles for finding that optimum reading position, Flippy is the choice for your lap stand needs. Pair it with the amber reading light listed below and the avid reader in your life may never get out of bed.

 

 

 

Book Mask

There is no denying that these are strange times. The necessity of wearing a mask doesn’t appear as if it will be going away anytime soon. Even once we have a vaccine, how long before the next pandemic? Pardon me for being pessimistic, I read a lot of post-apocalyptic fiction. So if we will need to all wear masks anyway, you might as well gift one to your bookworm that proclaims their love.

 

 

For Non-traditional Readers

For me, a physical book is still the best way to read. Nothing can beat the look, the smell, and the feel of it in your hands when it comes to the overall experience. But even a traditionalist like me can acknowledge the benefits of a good e-reader. Being able to carry around hundreds of books makes one a must-have device for the travelling bookworm. While any modern tablet can also act as an e-reader, the Kindle Paperwhite is still the best out there because of the lack of eye-strain and weeks of battery life.

 

 

I’ve personally never been able to get into audiobooks, but I know plenty of people who swear by them. Whether they listen while driving, working, or exercising, audiobooks certainly have an appeal. And what better way for them to enjoy their book than by tuning out everything going on around them with a nice pair of noise-cancelling headphones.

 

 

Amber Reading Light

I personally discovered this next item because I hated climbing out of bed and turning off the light when I was finally done reading and ready to crash at 3 AM. Maybe the bookworm in your life is lazy like me. Or maybe you are just tired of your partner interrupting your own sleep with their late night reading binges. This is the gift you are looking for. The Hooga clip-on reading light is rechargeable, has adjustable brightness, and has a warm amber light that doesn’t affect the brain’s melatonin production like harsh blue lights. It also works with Kindles for all those weird non-traditional readers I talked about above

 

 

Juniper Collectible Books

Okay, look, I know I told you not to gift books to readers, but these books are different. Juniper collectible books are truly works of art and would surely be the centerpiece of any library. Available as individual books, themed sets, and series, such as Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter,  Juniper collectible books are the choice for a unique and personalized gift that the book lover in your life is guaranteed to treasure.

https://www.juniperbooks.com/

 

But go ahead, don’t take any of my suggestions. I’m sure the bookworm you’re buying for will at least pretend to love the gift, as long as they’re not an asshole.