a lifestyle blog for book lovers

20 favorite gifts to give and receive

Gift ideas to help you finish your holiday shopping

After I share the bookish holiday gift guide each year, someone inevitably asks what I’m giving or hoping to receive this year. Today I’m sharing a round-up of gifts I have loved to receive over the years, some of my go-to gifts, and a few things on my own wish list. I hope this helps you finish your holiday shopping.

(For more ideas, check out the 20192020, and 2021 editions.)

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This Must Be the Place Doormat

You don’t have to be a fan of Maggie O’Farrell to appreciate this doormat but it sure doesn’t hurt. (This is my actual doormat.) Or maybe you’d rather let everyone know you’re probably at the library?

Plants

Poinsettias are a common holiday gift but there’s no reason not to branch out. Plants, flowers, succulents…there are so many possibilities, depending on what your loved one enjoys and is capable of caring for. I ordered my purple oxalis on Etsy in 2019 and she’s doing so great. You can buy individual plants or a subscription from Succulents Box.

Homemade goods + a cookbook

I’ve gifted many homemade goods over the years. This year I’m thinking about pairing the good with a cookbook. I like the idea of giving someone Snacking Cakes: Simple Treats for Anytime Cravings with an already made snacking cake. Or preserved lemons with This Will Make It Taste Good by Vivian Howard. More cookbook suggestions: 8 beautiful, practical cookbooks you’ll turn to again and again.

Wine glasses

I gave these really great Gabriel-Glas Austrian crystal wine glasses to Will last year after much research. It is trippy how much better wine tastes in these than in our $1 IKEA glasses.

Food Gift Box

There’s a food gift box for just about every whim and craving. My inner Anglophile is eyeing this British Snacks Gift Box. Talk about fun for the whole family!

Marble coasters

I love the look of these Louisville, Kentucky retro skyline marble coasters. They have many cities available; I’m thinking about giving them to friends who now live far from home.

Coffee

We love coffee around here. We have a Trade Coffee subscription to supplement our orders from our favorite roaster—but we just found out they’re going out of business (sniff), so we may be relying on Trade a lot more.

Wooden Folding LED Book Lamp

I’ve been eying these Wooden Folding LED Book Lamps for years. Etsy has tons of options where you can even personalize the book!

Pajamas

Pajamas can be a cozy luxury, making them a thoughtful gift option. All the women in my family love their Soma pjs, and these Rifle Paper Co.-printed pajamas from Summersalt are in the running for the cutest I’ve ever seen.

Make Your Own Chocolate Truffles kit

Do I have to even explain this one? Chocolate lovers will enjoy customizing their truffles with this kit.

Bombas Socks

We have given and received lots of socks over the years. For every item sold, Bombas donates one item to those experiencing homelessness. We first connected with Bombas because they sponsor What Should I Read Next and have since given them piles of cash money to buy socks for every family member plus lots of friends: get 20% off your first order by using this link and the code READNEXT. (Psst—I especially like their sweater socks and snowflake socks for right now.)

Shower Steamers

Bring aromatherapy to your shower routine with A&G Simplicity Shower Steamer in Eucalyptus Mint or Lavender & Sage. Your bathroom will become the best-smelling room in the whole house. If you’re lucky enough to have a local homemade soap store, see what scents they have there!

Beauty Boxes

Beauty boxes make a great gift for the person who seemingly has everything, beginning with tweens, because the fun is in using them up! These boxes make it easy and enjoyable to experiment with new products and discover new favorites. My girls love their Ipsy Glam Bag subscription. Another great option is Birchbox: I was delighted when I once received this subscription as a gift!

If you’re not sure about a subscription,  Sephora always has tons of fantastic gift sets to choose from.

Throw blanket

I’m not sure it’s possible to have enough throw blankets, especially as it gets colder. This Soft Sherpa Throw Blanket makes me want to grab my current read and go get cozy on the couch. The L.L.Bean throws are beloved for good reason, like this Fisherman Cabled Fleece Throw.

Dainty necklaces

I’m still on a dainty gold necklace kick, like this I heart Kentucky gold necklace. Other states are available (if you insist), with more options in silver.

Apostrophe Puzzles

We all know I can’t resist a good puzzle! I especially love the designs at Apostrophe Puzzles. For new puzzlers, I recommend adding a puzzle mat, although my family uses a plain bulletin board. Whatever keeps those small pieces off the floor and away from pets! (More puzzles here.)

Tea

I love to give and receive tea from my favorites, Rishi Tea (turmeric ginger, please) and Harney and Sons (hot cinnamon spice), accompanied by a striking or cute mug. More tea recommendations here.

Parks & Rec poster

There are so many ways to pay homage your loved one’s favorite TV show, movie, or book. Last year I gave my daughter this Pawnee National Parks vintage poster for her birthday and it was a massive hit.

Brooklinen Towels

We gave my youngest son Brooklinen towels as a gift so he would feel special and also so he’d stop stealing mine! Their towels are that good. (Brooklinen sponsors WSIRN: get $20 off your first order with the code READNEXT.)

Ornaments

Decorating the Christmas tree can be like a walk down memory lane, as you reflect on who gave you which ornament or how old a child was when they made one. There are plenty of great ones to choose from, like this Quotes by Iconic Women Holiday Ornament.

What’s on your wish list this year? What are your favorite gifts to give? We’d love to hear more ideas in comments!

P.S. Need more gift ideas? Check out these posts:

20 favorite gifts to give and receive

12 comments

Leave A Comment
  1. Sunny says:

    Great list indeed! Would love some ideas about interesting homemade goodies to give, mail, enjoy. I make your Not Too Sweet Nuts every year for friends who look forward to them.

  2. Vanessa says:

    Great list! Another beauty box that I’ve personally loved is the Petit Vour box which sends natural, ethical beauty brands to you! Love your lists. Thanks for the ideas!

  3. Peggy says:

    Great list! I love houseplants, but beware of what type of plants you are giving to anyone with pets. A little research before gifting will go along way. A lot of popular houseplants are toxic, but there’s plenty of great ones to choose from that won’t hurt the pets if they nibble on them.

  4. Susan says:

    Rishi Tea is local here (MN) and I love the masala chai. It’s the only chai blend that I’ve found without some type of licorice flavor, which I despise in my tea. Give me a black licorice gum drop any day, but not in my tea or baked goods. 😱

  5. Catherine says:

    Many of my favorite gifts fall in your same categories: Eberjey pjs (they’re like butter!); mugs from Emma Bridgewater or local makers with tea or hot cocoa; nice glasswear. I also like gifting “zero proof” mocktail spirits/sets (esp Monday whiskey alternative and Naughty champagne alternative) to people I suspect might enjoy them. I love the idea of a cake + the Snacking Cakes book — will definitely steal that! I also want to get that doormat for myself. Thanks for the great ideas!

  6. Karen Kelly says:

    My new go to gift is a Baggu reusable shopping bag. They have the CUTEST designs and they fold flat and thin so it is easy to keep one in your purse or pocket when out and about. I especially love their zodiac designs. They make a inexpensive but thoughtful birthday gift. https://www.baggu.com

  7. Ruth says:

    As a Brit, I laughed at the snack gift box … the only brand in there that I have heard of is Burts (the crisps/potato chips) and I do not know anyone who would be willing to consume anything Guinness-flavoured, unless it was in a pint glass.

    Try Myers of Keswick … https://myersofkeswick.com/ … for the brands that we British love and actually buy.

  8. Alice says:

    I’m very happy with Yossy Arefi’s Snacking Cakes book, which I bought a few weeks ago. I’ve been on a single-layer cake quest…that’s the right size of cake for us with some to share. The Snacking Cakes book has been a fun cooking project so far. The espresso chocolate chip cake turned out great, even with GF flour blend I used. There are so many interesting recipes to work through, maybe the sparkling gingerbread or the morning glory cake next.

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