25 Novel Gifts for the Bookworm in Your Life

By Taylor Eisenhauer
Updated January 25, 2021
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Credit: Getty Images

Buying gifts for readers that aren’t books may feel contrarian, but consider this quote from the Dutch philosopher Erasmus: “When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes.” Meaning? The avid reader in your life likely already owns a lot of the thing they love the most.

So instead of guessing what your favorite bibliophile's next page-turner might be (though if you want a good bet, check out our favorite books of 2021), opt for one of Erasmus’ other necessities, like a mug that keeps tea piping hot on the coldest day or a super plush robe made for curling up with a good book. A thoughtful, more personal reader gift will delight any of the book lovers in your life.

RELATED: Creative (and Inexpensive) Stocking Stuffers for Everyone on Your List

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Cozy Pom Sherpa Throws

$49, potterybarn.com

Oversized poms give this supersoft, cozy throw a little extra whimsy. It's the perfect companion for a reading session.

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Gold Foil Pocket Journal

$10, riflepaperco.com

This set of tiny journals are perfect for noting favorite passages and thoughts on their reads—or for putting down thoughts for their own future novel.

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Female Literary Rocks Glasses

$30, uncommongoods.com

If your gift recipient enjoys something a little stronger than tea when she's reading, these rocks glasses adorned with the opening lines of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre are a perfect choice.

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Kindle Paperwhite

Credit: Courtesy of manufacturer
From $130, amazon.com

Even the staunchest pro-paper bookworm can’t deny the portability of a Kindle. Thin, lightweight, and waterproof with plenty of storage (choose between 8 GB and 32 GB—totaling thousands of books), the Paperwhite makes an excellent gift for the on-the-go reader, whether they’re journeying between countries or just between bed and couch.

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Audible Membership

Credit: Courtesy of manufacturer
$45 for 3 months, amazon.com

Sure, podcasts are cool, but why not get some extra pages in while working out, running errands, or cleaning the house? Readers of all kinds can listen to thousands of audiobooks via the Audible on desktop or mobile, and every membership includes one credit a month to spend on any title that will never go away, even after the membership ends. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving.

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Book of the Month Club

Credit: Courtesy of manufacturer
$50 for 3 months, bookofthemonth.com

Fans of new releases will love that a new title comes to their door every month with a Book of the Month Club membership. They’ll get to choose from five fresh reads (sometimes even early releases!), and their selection will arrive at their doorstep—no leaving the house required.

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Kopi Mug and Warmer Set

Credit: Courtesy of manufacturer
$75, nordstrom.com

Hot beverages pair with books like peanut butter pairs with jelly. This mug and warmer set will keep your favorite bibliophile’s coffee or tea piping hot, so every sip tastes like the first one. It’s dishwasher safe, and the base doubles as a wireless charger for your phone—have your tea and drink it, too.

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Cashmere Bed Socks

Credit: Courtesy of manufacturer
$49, thewhitecompany.com

Give the book lover in your life the gift of toasty toes. These bed socks are woven with soft cashmere and stave off frozen toes when curling up under a blanket while flipping pages just isn’t enough.

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Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails With a Literary Twist

Credit: Courtesy of manufacturer
$14, bookshop.org

When it’s time to switch out the coffee for something stronger, this petite tome has 65 recipes for libations inspired by classic literature: think Love in the Time of Kahlua, Romeo and Julep, and A Rum of One’s Own. Drinking games and food pairings included.

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Personalized Premium Leather Bookmark

Credit: Courtesy of manufacturer
From $8, etsy.com

Help your bookish recipient ditch dog-earing for good with this customizable bookmark made from full-grain leather and handcrafted to order.

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The Starling Slippers in Black Velvet

$120, birdies.com

Picture this: a library with shelves lining the walls up to the ceiling, a cozy armchair in front of a roaring fireplace, and the most sumptuous dressing robe you’ve ever seen. Maybe you can’t give all that, but these cozy velvet slippers can be the first step—pun fully intended—in helping your favorite reader acquire their dream room.

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Bibliophile’s Reader Journal

Credit: Courtesy of manufacturer
$14, amazon.com

This reader’s companion to Bibliophile: An Illustrated Miscellany features space to jot down notes and ratings about finished books and themed lists of recommendations—the perfect log to track readings habits and tastes as they change (or stay the same).

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Library Soy Candle

Credit: Courtesy of manufacturer
$23, etsy.com

Most readers are comforted by the scents of aged paper or a well-loved library. These candles will fill their preferred reading nook with the smell of a fresh cappuccino or transport them to their favorite books with fragrances inspired by Pride & Prejudice, The Great Gatsby, and Wuthering Heights.

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Bibliophile Book Club Puzzle

Credit: Courtesy of manufacturer
$27, amazon.com

Puzzles made a comeback this year, and what better gift for the jigsaw-inclined reader than one that shows off their literary side? This 1,000-piece puzzle features colorful renditions of contemporary titles that can double as a what-to-read-next list.

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Bibliostyle: How We Live at Home With Books

Credit: Courtesy of manufacturer
$25, amazon.com

A coffee table book about, well, books? That’s what we’d call a holy grail reader gift. Nina Freudenberger shows how bibliophiles the world over live, work, and play with their books. From delicately wobbling towers to creative fireplace storage, your giftee will be inspired to rearrange their own collection.

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Book Nerd Tote Bag

$20, strandbooks.com

The reader who never leaves home without a book will appreciate this illustrated tote, ready to be filled with memoirs, poetry collections, and graphic novels.

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Banned Books Adjustable Face Mask

$12, outofprint.com

Help the book-lover in your life keep their face covered while letting the world know what they’d rather be doing. Sales of this double-layered face mask help support bookstores affected by COVID-19 through the Book Industry Charitable Foundation.

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Trivial Pursuit Book Lover's Edition

$49, amazon.com

Let your favorite reader test her literary knowledge with this books-only version of the trivia classic. 

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Cafe con Libros Feminist & Bookish Monthly Subscription

Credit: Courtesy of manufacturer
$20 per month, cafeconlibrosbk.com

For the socially conscious page-turner, this monthly subscription from Cafe con Libros, an indie bookstore in Brooklyn, N.Y., is just the ticket. Each month, the shop sends out its feminist book club pick of the month, along with a selection of children’s books and Irving Farm coffee, promoting intersectionality and shopping local.

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Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, 75th Anniversary Illustrated Edition

Credit: Courtesy of manufacturer
$23, amazon.com

Greek, Roman, Norse mythology stories come beautifully packaged in this special illustrated edition of the classic bestseller. Begging to be displayed on the coffee table or a prominent place on a shelf, this keepsake book will delight a classics enthusiast—or the reader who wants to be one!

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Super-Plush Robe

Credit: Courtesy of manufacturer
$98, brooklinen.com

On a rainy or snowy day, it can be a chore to get dressed—so encourage your giftee not to. Instead, they can cozy up in this ultra-plush robe made with pure Turkish cotton, and get lost in their latest read.

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Personalized Bookplate Stamp

Credit: Courtesy of manufacturer
From $18, etsy.com

Whether the bookworm in question has a vast book collection already or is slowly building one, this stamp will give all of their volumes a personalized touch (and will remind forgetful borrowers who the rightful owner is).

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1,000 Books to Read Before You Die Page-A-Day Calendar

Credit: Courtesy of manufacturer
$15, bookshop.org

Even with teetering piles of books surrounding them, bookworms are always looking for their next read. Enter: this desk calendar. Based on the popular book of the same name, this page-a-day calendar starts each morning (or afternoon—we’re not here to judge) with a fresh recommendation, ranging from essential classics to obscure titles.

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Book of Chocolates

$25, swmsweets.com

Chocolatier Susanna Yoon of Stick With Me Sweets packs jewel-like chocolates with intriguing flavors (yuzu, PB&J and Bananas Foster) into a cute book box ready to be savored during their next reading session.

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