I’m not much of a shopper—but shopping for book lovers is something else entirely! I hope you enjoy browsing this gift guide for readers as much as I enjoyed putting it together.
These gifts are sure to delight the book lover in your life. Take note: we’ve included lots of independent shops and creators on this list, so watch those shipping deadlines and do them a favor by getting your orders in early! In fact, that’s why we’re sharing our gift guide earlier than usual this year. Many small businesses anticipate supply chain disruptions and delayed inventory shipments during the upcoming holiday season. For these reasons, the American Booksellers Association rolled out a new slogan for this year: October is the new December.
If you shop early, that goes a long way towards easing the pressure on small businesses later, during the traditionally brisk period between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Not to mention the delays in shipping. And it will lessen your stress in the process!
If you’re shopping for younger readers, check out last year’s gift guide featuring 15 books for kids who love to read.
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25 gifts to delight the readers in your life
Greatest Bookstore in the World Puzzle
The next best thing to going to a bookstore? Working on this 1000 piece puzzle from Eurographics. It looks so charming!
Grammar Pencils
These five grammar pencils are sure to please the word nerds in your life!
Libro.fm Audiobook Subscription
Libro.fm is the independent audiobook app that allows you to choose a local bookstore to receive purchase credit every time you buy an audiobook. Indie bookstores need our support more than ever this year! Libro.fm has 1, 3, 6, and 12 month gift membership options.
Stay Home & Read Tee
The perfect t-shirt for these times, whether or not someone is a bookworm.
I’d Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life
‘Tis the season! My essay collection will delight the book lovers on your list, and it’s size and price point make it a perfect gift for friends, teachers, or your book club pals. Buy online or at your local indie, or get signed copies from my local independent bookstore Carmichael’s Bookstore. Order online or call them at 502-896-6950. Just tell them you’d like a signed copy, or put “signed copy” in the order comments, along with the name you’d like it inscribed to, and any other personal message you’d like.
STAK Editor Planter bookend
Books + plants? This was tailor made for me and fellow folks with green thumbs. I’m already dreaming about where this planter bookend might go in my house and what books I’d put there. It comes in a few different colors; this is earl grey.
So Many Books So Little Time socks
Ah, the plight of readers everywhere! How do you prioritize your ever growing TBR? Well, at least you can wear these cute socks while you figure it out.
Homesick Book Club candle
Homesick candles have long been a favorite of mine. I was excited to see they added this Book Club candle to their lineup. It has scents of nutmeg, amber, and sandalwood, which sounds perfect as winter gets near.
Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club gift memberships
The MMD Book Club is the place where we’re learning to read better, together. 3 month, 6 month, and 1 year gift memberships are available. Give your loved one the gift of a better reading life through bookish community, classes, and conversation, or add a gift membership to your own wish list. Click here for more info on events and what we’re reading in the coming months.
Galison Vintage Library 1000 piece puzzle
This puzzle is a book-lover’s dream to put together. It might even be a puzzle worth framing once they’re done. Galison also has other great bookish puzzles, like Ideal Bookshelf and Book Club.
Monstera Plant Wood Bookmark
This bookmark features a unique hand drawn design on birch wood. Wood bookmarks are sturdy and likely have uses beyond books. But imagine how cute this will look sticking out the top of the pages!
Currently Reading candle
Nothing says ambiance like lighting a candle before you settle in with a blanket and a good book. Currently Reading includes scents of coffee, book pages, and clean cotton. It’s a popular choice for featuring one’s current read on bookstagram. Novelly Yours has a great line of bookish candles.
Obvious State notebooks
Obvious State put their distinctive literary-inspired prints on the cover of 3.5 x 5 inch notebooks. There are plenty of authors to choose from; featured here are Dickinson, Eliot, and Frost.
As You Wish mug
Whether you’ve read the book or watched the movie, Westley’s words to Buttercup from The Princess Bride deserve to be immortalized via this cute mug from Jordandené.
Library Stamp women’s sweatshirt
I can’t resist anything with a library stamp design! It brings back such good memories of checking piles of books out and watching the librarian do their thing.
Commit To Lit tea towel
Kitchens can be bookish too! StoriArts combined this original image with quotes from writers about reading. The perfect gift for book nerds who enjoy cooking and baking.
Ampersand Pillow
Ah, the ampersand. The favorite symbol of bookworms everywhere. I have a different ampersand pillow in my house and it always makes me happy. This version is available in multiple colors.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Quote
This quote from Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg celebrates the joy of reading. The print is a digital download, FYI, so you’ll likely want to pick up a frame as well, like this pretty brass one from Target.
Little Women Rainbow Mug
I’ve long been a fan of Carrot Top Paper Shop’s designs. Wouldn’t a hot drink in this cheerful Little Women mug be a delightful start to your day?
Probably Reading Door Mat
Honest door mats like this one make me laugh! Now you won’t have to feel guilty about finishing that page once someone rings the doorbell.
Booktrovert Mask
Proclaim your booktroversion on the rare occasion you leave the house. The full caption says: Booktrovert: A person who prefers to stay in (isolate) and read.
Reading People: How Seeing the World Through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything
I keep hearing from readers that this is the perfect book to read right now—whether again or for the first time—before we enter family holiday dinner season or even begin to negotiate holiday plans for this unusual year. One reviewer called this a “tour de force summary of the major personality sorting systems…. I’ve been surprised at how very helpful she has been at explaining each system, and am appreciating her insight as to WHY these classifications are helpful—because it can help us in our relationships (I’m already thinking of how insights can help my parenting, marriage, and specific friendships) and in our own growth.”
Buy online or at your local indie, or get signed copies from my local independent bookstore Carmichael’s Bookstore. Order online or call them at 502-896-6950. Just tell them you’d like a signed copy, or put “signed copy” in the order comments, along with the name you’d like it inscribed to, and any other personal message you’d like.
Indoorsy Flour Sack Towel
I would have loved this dish towel before 2020 but it has extra meaning now.
If You Can Read This, Bring Me My Book Socks
These socks make me laugh!
Talk Darcy To Me Mug
What Jane Austen lover could resist this mug? Darcy’s silhouette is overlaid on quotes from Pride & Prejudice.
Happy shopping, and happy reading!
P.S. Want more great bookish ideas? Check out the 2019 gift guide, 2018 guide, 2017 guide, and 2016 gift guide for book lovers. Plus 15 bookish gifts for kids who love to read.
42 comments
I was hoping for actual book recs! I am planning on Ready Player Two for my teen obsessed by the first book, and the next Outlander book releases Nov 3 for my sweet auntie.
Following! I’d love some quality (not YA fluff) teen recommendations, too! I give my kids a book box every year, but as they are avid readers it gets more difficult each passing year to find a variety of quality and appropriate books they have not yet read! Mrs. Darcy – perhaps a blog post?! Please!
Yes, please! I have two teens who I want to give books to for Christmas (one eager reader and one not-so-eager reader). I’d love a list of recommendations.
I second this! Quality teen recommendations would be greatly appreciated! 🙂
Also enjoyed this post of gift recommendations…
I have two teens, 15 and 18, and here are some books they’ve recommended to me:
-Here Lies Daniel Tate by Cristin Terrill, fiction about a runaway kid who pretends to be a famous missing child and uncovers a family secret (I was disappointed that the secret was an incestuous relationship but to my teen this was dismissable and the mystery was good otherwise).
-The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, non-fiction about this unsung medical heroine and her family/legacy.
-Last Message Received by Emily Trunko, non-fiction quick read containing the last messages received from people before they die or leave. My reading journal notes say, “dark, sad” but the themes resonated with my teen and possibly showed her that her own life wasn’t so bad after all.
-Scythe, Arc of a Scythe Series, by Neil Schusterman, fiction dystopia where technology has advanced to heal age and injury so death now comes only through a league of reapers. Recommended by both of them.
Books marketed for adults that I have been telling my teens they would love:
-The Lies of Locke Lamora, Gentleman Bastards series by Scott Lynch, fiction story of an orphan trained by a master to pull off large thievery schemes and escaping from resulting scrapes. The author did some great world-building including some magical/alchemy elements. Very fun, lots of swearing, no sex for sure in the first book, closed-door references in the second & third books.
-The Name of the Wind, Kingkiller Chronicles series by Patrick Rothfuss, fiction story of a orphan training to become an alchemist and search out his parent’s killer(s). Wonderfully adventurous, magical, and musical. Lin Manuel Miranda is writing the music for the forthcoming movie release. Less swearing, no sex in the first book, but the second book has a huge section dedicated to the character’s dalliance with a demi-god/deity figure. The third book is not yet released with no date set.
For those looking for teen recommendations, have you tried the read aloud revival? In addition to Modern Mrs. Darcy, of course!
Hi! YA is one of my favorite genres, so here are my recs: The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (mystery), The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E Pearson (fantasy), Heist Society by Ally Carter (spy/heist), Delirium by Lauren Oliver (dystopian). All of these authors have other books/series that are GREAT too!
I highly recommend Avians by Timothy Gwyn. It is an adventure story with amazing female protagonists who are obsessed with flying instead of boys. A refreshing change.
I’m pretty sure Anne will have a podcast coming up with book recs for gifts! She does this every year 🙂
Oh, you know we’ll bring some book recs for gifting! We’ll have a dedicated post here on the blog and our annual book recommendation What Should I Read Next podcast episode airs November 3.
Great Ideas!
The “bring me my book” socks! 😍
I spy a gift for my mom, a gift for my MIL, and a few gifts for me!
Just bought 4 gifts from this list. So useful every year!
Am planning on one of the great book 1000 piece puzzles as the perfect gift for my bookish friend. Thanks!
It would be nice to see some actusl book recs, too! You always push your own books.
Seriously? There are FREE emails every week with new book lists, you can give any of them as gifts. And of course she’s going to try to sell her own books, that’s how she makes a living. Very rude comment.
Agree. Her book reccs are all over the blog, one. Two, the books she’s written are great- I’ve loved all 3.
They make GREAT gifts!
Love this list!
Perfect timing for my bookish mother’s late October birthday … it gets harder every year to find her the perfect gift (ie. something she doesn’t already have), but your list just gave me several new ideas. Phew!
Love this list every year! I kind of want to buy all of these things for myself 🙂
Adds to cart…times 3. Thank you for this list!
Just wondering, what is the association between bookworms and the ampersand sign? I’ve never heard of that before.
Me, too!
It’s just word nerdery. 🙂
The Louisa May Alcott quote mug is already sold out. (So fast! 🙂 Love the bookish items here.
Love these ideas! I definitely can use them for my bookish son and DIL, as well as forward to my DH as “suggestions” for…ahem…his lovely wife!
Very cute things on this list – thank you!
The Eurographics bookstore puzzle is SUCH a good puzzle. And the pieces are really high quality! I also loved doing the Galison Ideal Bookshelf puzzle- it’s really pretty.
when I scrolled down to the puzzles I glanced over the top of my iPad to see the completed herringbone books one my daughter finished yesterday.
Thank you for all of these great gift ideas! I’m just going to forward this to my hubby… 🙂
My sister just sent me a text: “Thanks, Anne, now I want everything on the list. Do you think she’d arrange a giveaway?” My sister is brilliant.
How can I resist the Date Stamp Sweatshirt? The top date is my birthday! (OK, not my birth year, but that’s our little secret.)
Here’s another fun idea, this website has a ton of cute book-inspired pins, I got this “reader, I married him” one for my bookish friend!
https://www.thecleverclove.com/products/reader-i-married-him-pin?_pos=1&_sid=e520028c5&_ss=r
Thank You for this interesting and varied list. They all sound and look tempting.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
Great list! The RBG quote would also make an awesome graduation gift!
I love this list—I loved Anne’s book “I’d rather be reading,” and can say that it would be a great gift for a book lover in your life. The puzzles are great, too!
If you are shopping for a Jane Austen fan, I can also recommend the Austen-themed soaps from Northanger Soapworks (https://northangersoapworks.com/). I have given them as gifts and everyone has been delighted with the soaps and raved about the wonderful packaging, too.
Another bookish gift I sometimes give is homemade bookmarks. An easy activity for kids to help with and book lovers always need more, am I right?
I forgot to mention that Jane Mount, the designer of the ideal bookshelf graphics, has an online shop with some gorgeous products.(https://www.idealbookshelf.com/) I got the wrapping paper and it’s so cute!
What a great list!!!
Such great gift ideas! I have had many of these gifts given to me in the past, and I would love to pass the same sentiment along to others, especially the puzzles, candles, and mugs! Thanks for sharing these recommendations!
I look forward to this list every year! I already ordered the pencils…