10 Great Last Minute Gifts for Book Lovers
With Christmas right around the corner, some of us – but definitely not me – are scrambling to grab a few more gifts for friends and family. It’s so hard to shop when some people just refuse to submit a wishlist. (Looking at you, Mom.)
While I still don’t know what to get for my mom, I do know some great last minute gifts for book lovers – because I’m one of them! If you’re shopping for a special bookworm in your life, you can cross them off your list and quit stressing. I’ll give you the wishlist they were too bashful to give you themselves.
Without further ado, here’s what every book lover secretly wants from Santa this year.
Unique Last Minute Gifts for Book Lovers
It is a truth universally acknowledged that book lovers always want more books.
But what books do they already have? And what if you buy a book that doesn’t even interest them? Well, that’s what Barnes & Noble gift cards are for, my friend. Take it from me – unless you know your bookworm very well, it’s usually best to let them browse for themselves.
But a B&N gift card, while great, can feel kind of impersonal. (Although, I promise no bibliophile will complain. Seriously. Please give them to us.)
That’s why I’m going to share my ultimate wishlist of bookish gifts that aren’t books! Whether it’s for a friend or yourself, I think you’ll agree these items should really be considered necessities.
1. Frostbeard Book Lovers’ Soy Candles
Like gift cards, candles can seem like a cop-out. It’s what you get when you don’t really know someone. Well, not so with these candles. For three years running, a monthly subscription of Frostbeard book lovers’ soy candles has been the BEST gift from my sweet mother-in-law!
Each candle has a lovely and literary scent that evokes a favorite story or character, like “Sherlock’s Study” or “Darcy’s Parlour.” There are even candles that deliver that ideal reading ambiance, like “Rainy Day Reads,” “Reading At The Cafe,” or “Oxford Library.”
Cleverly titled and beautifully scented, these candles are sure to bring a smile to the face of your resident bibliophile. Get them individually or as a 3, 6, or 12-month subscription!
2. Book Sleeves
Perfect book gifts for him and her? Got it right here – book sleeves! (Although, for the record, my husband likes the Frostbeard candles, too!)
These protective babies come in every pattern and color imaginable and can be found on Amazon, Etsy, or from independent sellers. For folks who never leave the house without a book in tow (books are comfort objects, ok?), then a book sleeve is a must. They also work for keeping Kindles and Nooks stylishly scratch-free too!
3. Noveltea
While not every blue-stocking is a tea drinker, there is a strong correlation. A bit of English Breakfast is what many book lovers drink to start their morning! And if that’s true of your BBF (Best Bibliophile Friend), then they’ll love some noveltea!
“Noveltea” can be found on Amazon, Etsy, or from independent sellers. Some novelteas are simply delicious English Breakfast with clever packaging, while other novelteas are special blends, like this set of Austenite tea on Etsy.
4. Traveling Totes
When it comes to gift ideas for book lovers, it’s important to think off the shelf.
We like to take our books with us (hence the sleeves), but it’s not like we can slip them into our pockets with our phones. That’s why totes – especially cute, book-themed totes – are a great gift! And even if we aren’t carrying books (*gasp*), we still want to lug around our other stuff in a sophisticated style.
Simply search for “bookish totes” on Amazon, Etsy, or Barnes & Noble, and you’ll find so many to choose from!
5. Bookmarks
When it comes to unique gifts for book lovers, a bookmark might seem a little too on the nose to actually stand out. However, there are so many beautiful, zany, and fandom-referencing bookmarks out there, it’s honestly as unique as it gets!
There are little sprouting plant bookmarks, magnetic cat bookmarks, pressed flower bookmarks, wooden lightsaber bookmarks… Seriously. The possibilities are ENDLESS. You could even make your BBF a bookmark yourself! How personal is that??
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And trust me. We always need bookmarks. Usually, our place is getting marked with a crumpled receipt or candy wrapper.
6. Journal
I know I said these were gifts for book lovers that aren’t books…but a journal is different.
It’s a book your BBF gets to write themselves! Whether they’re recording their thoughts or penning the next great American novel, they will obviously need a super cute journal. Some journals are specifically reading log journals and are designed to hold book reviews!
7. Book Light
When you’re in the throes of a great yarn, you don’t want to drop the thread and go to bed. You want to read all night!
Clip-on book lights make this nocturnal habit less intrusive to those around you. Switch off the bedside lamp and click on your clip, and you can keep reading while your partner catches some Z’s.
8. Bookish Sweater
The best gift ideas for book lovers encompass the warm and cozy – like a sweater! From Amazon to Etsy, there’s a bundle of bookish designs to choose from! I love sweaters with affirming phrases like “one more chapter” or “read more books!”
9. Bookish Pins
Help your BBF flaunt their love of reading with a super cute pin! Perfect for backpacks, tote bags, or displaying on a pin pennant, there’s a wide array of book-related pins on Amazon, Etsy, and from independent sellers. If you know your BBF’s favorite book or character, chances are you can find a matching pin. (There’s also great just-in-general bookworm pins!)
10. Personal Library Kit & Custom Library Stamp
The grand finale of gift ideas for book lovers has got to be a personal library kit and/or a custom library stamp. *swoon*
Not that we book dragons necessarily want to lend the paperback treasures from our hoard… but if we did, wouldn’t it be nice to have a check-out system? And oh-so-fun??
If you’re pretty sure your BBF would rather die than let someone borrow a book, they’ll still love a custom library stamp (ink or embossed) that marks a book as their own. It’s like a collar and tag – for a book!
So, there you have it! Our top 10 last minute book gifts for the bibliophile in your life. These gifts are thoughtful, useful, and cute – the ultimate combo! But don’t forget – if all else fails, Barnes & Noble gift cards are always more than acceptable.
Happy shopping!
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