Gifts For Book Lovers That AREN’T Books: 2023 Gift Guide

My picks:

For mostly any reader:

Book of the Month club: I love this one because the person gets to choose the books that they want out of the selection for the month. A good option for someone who might buys a lot of books and doesn’t want a surprise duplicate book of something they already own or aren’t into — they have full control over their selection! Plus they can get add-on books for CHEAP. (You can read my review of Book of the Month here)

Literati: I just actually review Literati book club for adults and I think this is a great choice for a reader who loves literature of all sorts. It’s a hybrid book subscription/book club that is led by influential folks who handpick the selections each month — Malala, Steph Curry, Cheryl Strayed & more! (Read my review of Literati)

For The Readers Of Young Adult Books:

Owlcrate : Love this for YA book lover in your life! A surprise book every month plus some fun bookish goodies! Owlcrate has themed boxes each month.

For The Kids In Your Life:

Bookroo: If you are looking for a gift for a kid who likes to read, I can’t rave enough about Bookroo! Riley has a subscription and we LOVE IT! (You can read my review of Bookroo).

Check out this list of the best book subscription boxes for little kids!

Gift Idea #2: An Audiobook Subscription

Another one of those things that I would love as a gift because I never treat myself on stuff like this because I use my library’s free Overdrive and Hoopla programs.

HOWEVER those selections are limited, have long wait times for new releases and I just love being able to have a subscription when I want to listen to something specific or don’t want to wait months for a new release that I NEED NOW (definitely grateful for my library though!!)!

If the book lover in your life loves audiobooks, this is a great gift that isn’t a book that you had to try and pick out for them.

It’s great because they can still CHOOSE some reading material on their own — and give them the gift of more reading time while they commute or workout or do housework or whatever! And I can tell you the gift of more time to read is what we all want.

My two picks that I  have personal experience with and recommend:

You know the bookworm in your life will be DELIGHTED to receive a book as a gift or even a gift card to a bookstore if that’s the route you want to go. But sometimes, as the gift giver, it can be tricky to pick out the perfect book and also sometimes you just want to show them “I APPRECIATE YOUR LOVE FOR BOOKS” without buying them a book!

1. LibroFM is the one I am currently using and I AM IN LOVE. If your bibliophile loves indie bookstores, this is the one to pick because it will be SO special for them. Honestly, even if they DON’T…I bet they will still find the mission of this audiobooks company to be wonderful. You can read my review of LibroFM and see what a wonderful gift it will be. Check LibroFM out here!

2. Audible is the one I used for years and that everyone probably knows of!

Gift Idea #3 — A Literary Candle

Give me a literary candle, some wine, a bubble bath and a book and I’m the happiest book lover ever.

The other fun thing about literary candles is that you can go general book lover candle OR if you know their favorite books sometimes you can find candles devoted to those! Such a nice personal gift!

These are my new favorites! They have such a good selection, smell DIVINE and last a long time.

My other OG favorites are Hearth & Hammer literary candles that I always featured in this gift but they aren’t as convenient for me personally to buy as Etsy is now that they took them off there! I still do buy them and recommend them so check out their website.

Some other great options:

The Forage Books company also has so many cool ones — specific authors, specific fictional places (Winterfell, Avonlea) and great reading vibes.

Gift Idea #4: Literary Tote Bags/Purses

A bookworm can never be without a tote to lug all those books around in whether they are heading off to the library or to book club.

This Rather Be Reading tote is perfect and says I GET THAT YOU’D RATHER BE READING 99% of the time.

 Gift Idea #5 — This amazing book tub stand

Nothing says relaxation more to me than a nice bath and a book — just slip away from the chaos of life and slip into the bath with a good story with a glass of wine or a nice face mask. WITHOUT DESTROYING YOUR BOOK.

A great gift for someone who loves to read in the tub — the ultimate treat yourself (to self care) gift — pair it with a good wine and some bath bombs for a most soothing gift.

Gift Idea #6 – A Bird House Made From Recycled Books

Now what a unique gift for a reader, am I right?? This shop on Etsy makes these upcycled birdhouses made from old books and I AM OBSESSED. They have a few different books available but I’m partial to Charlotte’s Web. What a perfect gift especially for a bookish nature lover!

This shop also does them, too, as well as this shop.

Gift Idea #7 — Personalized Book Stack Print

Know their favorite books? Get them a GORGEOUS watercolor book stack print they can hang on their wall. This shop has a few variations of this — just the stack, with a tea cup on top, etc. A great book lover gift idea!

Gift Idea #8 — A reading journal/notebook

A Reading Journal/notebook is such a fun way for book lovers to record what they are reading. Maybe it has specific questions or maybe it’s a notebook that they can have freedom to use as a reading bullet journal of sorts (ideas for that here!)

These are two of my absolute favorites:

This one has prompted pages for things like reading challenges, monthly wrap-ups of what you read, book reviews, etc.

This one is so thoughtfully put together and it has so many fun prompts plus some book lists for reading inspiration.

Gift Idea #9 – Book Succulent Garden or Planter

As long as your gift recipient is okay with upcycled books I think this book succulent garden is a totally unique gift idea! Perfect bookish gift to display in your home! Would be a perfect item for them to display on a bookshelf or in their home library if they have one.

This one can actually be used as a planter (ie not faux) and you get to choose the four colors!

Gift Idea #10  – Bibliophile themed necklace

Every time I do a book lover Secret Santa I always end up getting some sort of literary jewelry piece and it’s always been my FAVORITE gift to receive.

I’m in LOVE with this beautiful custom book locket! You can write a secret, personalized note to be put into the book locket. What a truly special gift for book lovers!

Other great necklaces for bibliophiles:

Gift Idea #11  – A beautiful book clutch (they do custom orders)

A bit on the pricier side but if you are looking for a truly beautiful and special gift for a book lover — this is it! They even do custom orders so you can put WHATEVER book cover you want on it!

Other options:

Gift Idea #12  – A literary tee

I feel like if you really know the person you are giving the gift  to (aka size and style) that literary t-shirts are  a fun gift for a reader! We like to loudly proclaim our booknerdiness.

Other options:

P.S. I really cannot tell you what a great gift the customized one is (the first one)! This shop is one of my favorites on Etsy!

Gift Idea #13 — a book stash box

I love this idea of a hollowed out book as a little box to stash things! They have these solid color ones or they have the most BEAUTIFUL ones with gorgeous editions of classics like this Little Women one. Highly suggest checking out their selection!

Gift Idea #14 — A book sleeve

Book sleeves are the latest bookish trend these days and what a better way to tell someone you care than wanting to keep their books pristine as they carry it in their purse or bag and here and there.

They make different sizes to accommodate the range in sizes of books so be sure to check the size — they have smaller ones for mass markets and larger ones if they read a lot of hardcover books.

Other great options:

Gift Idea #15 — A unique bookmark

You can never have too many bookmarks! Okay, so maybe YOU CAN but never too many of these unique bookmarks which make great little gifts or stocking stuffers!

I have these great magnetic bookmarks that *I* got as a gift and I LOVE THEM. Here’s a photo displaying some of my collection of them. CraftedVan has SO many options and I love that they have collections of them like the dessert one that I have.

or maybe a bookmark that lets them track what they have read?

These beautiful pressed flower custom bookmarks have been a huge hit every time I’ve gifted them:

Other fun bookmarks to gift:

Gift Idea #16– this AMAZING book lover blanket

I have a couple of things from Emily Cromwell’s shop and I always love her bright designs. This blanket is gorgeous!

If you are looking for a gift idea for a reader that is personalized, this company does ones with your favorite book covers or this one makes a page from a special book into a blanket.

Gift Idea #17– this gorgeous leather bookweight

This is a gorgeous book weight that I can’t recommend enough (you can even get it monogrammed for an extra special touch). It really is so beautiful!

Sure you can get cheaper ones on Amazon but they aren’t the quality of these or special enough for a gift.

Gift Idea #18– Bibliphile notecard set

 

 These beautiful notecards are perfect for the bibliophile who loves stationary or writing love notes to friends and family!

Gift Idea #19– This nifty PERSONALIZED page holder

 I love a good practical gift and this could free up a hand for your resident bookworm so they can have a cuppa tea! Plus I love that it’s personalized for that extra touch.

Gift Idea #20– Book Page Wall Art

Bookishly has so many amazing book page art prints (and other incredible prints) but I love this one — perfect for your home library or to adorn your bookshelf!

Gift Idea #21– Literary Prints

I have a few literary prints around my home — especially in my office/library!

This would look great as a framed print in a home office, library/reading nook or even a bedroom.

Other great options:

Gift Idea #22– Great Mugs For Bookworms

Love this pink marble mug!

Other Great Options:

Gift Idea #23– A PERSONALIZED Christmas Tree Ornament

What an amazingly thoughtful gift for readers in your life — a personalized Christmas ornament. You can put their favorite books in this cute little book stack ornament — any books, you choose the amount on the stack.

Gift Idea #24– A Blind Date With A Book Box

This shop has a few ways to do their Blind Date with A Book gift idea but I love this one! so many different genres to choose from!

Gift Idea #25– A Personalized stamp set

Super cute and personalized book lover gift they probably don’t have yet plus it’s on Amazon so easy to get in a pinch!

Gift Idea #26– A Book Seat

I was side-eying this thing when I saw some people posting about them on Instagram but it is my new favorite reading accessory!

Gift Idea #26– A Book Themed Puzzle

A unique book themed gift perfect for cozy winter nights — especially if they love to puzzle. If you check out my Amazon book lover gift guide I have a couple more awesome bookish options for puzzles.