Gifts for Book Lovers That Aren't Books

A header image that says AS holigays 2021 in pink and green — See All Holigays 2021 Content

It should be easy to buy gifts for book lovers, right? Wrong!!!!! Every time I try to buy my girlfriend a book, it turns into an arduous process of 1. Trying to figure out if she already has read said book 2. Trying to figure out if she already owns said book (though this has gotten easier ever since we pared down and organized our bookshelves) and 3. Trying to figure out if she would even like said book. In theory, that last one should be easy! I have tons of data to work with. I know what books she has read recently and loved. I know her all-time favorites. We are both writers, so we talk about books…almost every day? And yet, because she has read so many books, I try to branch out to writers she has never read before, and that is sometimes a risk! I know it’s not my fault if I get her a book that ends up just being okay or not totally her thing, and yet I DON’T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN! Simply love to put unnecessary pressure on myself during the holiday season.

All that aside, the holidays are an incredibly stressful year for independent bookstores and booksellers. This year, that stress is magnified by the looming supply chain issues. Frankly, if you’re planning on buying books for your holiday shopping, you should have gotten that done months ago! There’s still time, of course, to visit your local indie bookstore in person. And please (I hope this goes without saying?) don’t throw a fit if they don’t have the exact book you want in stock! There is a very serious book shortage impacting all sides of the book industry right now. Take that into consideration when buying bookish gifts this year — especially now that we’re in December.

Also, consider this: You don’t have to buy a book for the reader in your life. You can celebrate their passion in other ways, like with some of the products below! You can also support indie bookstores by buying gift cards! It makes for a great stocking stuffer, and it lets the receiver pick out their own books, taking off some of the pressure on you to figure out what they haven’t read yet. Check out this list of Black owned bookstores by state, this list of Indigenous owned bookstores, and this list of queer indie merchants (command+F “book” to find the bookstores). Also check to see if your local bookstore sells merch like mugs, totes, and shirts.

Here are some gifts for book lovers (most are $35 and under!) other than books.

Shelf Control

Gifts for book lovers collage: a photo of a hanging book shelf, a photo of book dividers, a photo of a bookend that is also a vase filled with dried flowers, and a photo of a tabletop book display — 1. Wooden Book Rack With Built In Bookmarks ($250) // 2. Book Shelf Dividers ($26) // 3. Vase Bookends ($39) // 4. Tabletop Book Display ($35)

Listen, you don’t want to go messing around with another person’s book organization system, but here are some noninvasive shelf-related gift ideas. Etsy is full of fancy display shelves, like this hanging one that also serves as a bookmarker for the titles on display. It would look great in a bedroom for someone who reads multiple books at once! Shelf dividers give any space a libraryesque feel, and bookends can be multifunctional, like this vase one or this hybrid pencil cup/book end set. And chances are, if they love to read, they’ve got a to-be-read pile through the roof. Maybe instead of just leaving a stack of books haphazardly on their nightstand or coffee table (guilty!), they could use a wooden tabletop book display to add a little style and panache to the chaos. Make them feel special with a vintage version like this one or this one.

Bookworm Decor

Gifts for book lovers collage: A photo of a literary insults poster, a photo of a customizable planter shaped like a stack of books holding a succulent, a photo of an ornament made from vintage books, a mug with book cover of I Prefer Girls on it, a poster that reads Lesbian Hell, and a photo of a green reading pillow with arms — 1. Literary Insults Poster ($25) // 2. Customizable Book Planter ($15) // 3. Vintage Book Ornament ($15) // 4. Lesbian Pulp Fiction Mug ($23) // 5. Lesbian Hell Print ($13) // 6. Reading Pillow ($18)

Every bookworm’s home could use some lit decor, whether it’s something in-your-face like this literary insults poster or something a little more personal and subtle, like this little planter you can customize with someone’s favorite book titles. For a gift exchange or stocking stuffer, consider a bookish ornament, like this one made from vintage books or these actually vintage options. For a lover of some lesbian pulp: this multi-cover mug or this Lesbian Hell print. And every reading nook could use some plush pillows. There are fancy options, like these velvet ones, but I also love a good old-fashioned reading pillow with arms.

Don’t want to see ads? Join AF+

Having Fun Isn’t Hard When You Have A Library Card

Gifts for book lovers collage: A photo of coasters with library due date forms printed on them, a photo of library due date socks, and a photo of a necklace with a home library printed on it — 1. Library Due Date Card Coasters ($13) // 2. Library Card Socks ($12) // 3. Library Necklace ($13)

Is one of my personality traits “dates a librarian”? MAYBE SO. In addition to the above, you can’t go wrong with a Buffy-inspired Kiss the Librarian mug or enamel pin.

Reading Power Tools

Gifts for book lovers collage: A photo of pressed flower bookmarks, a photo of a book with a reading light, a photo of a set of pastel shade highlighters, and a photo of a Book Journal that looks like library files — 1. Pressed Flower Bookmarks ($14) // 2. Rechargeable Book Light ($20) // 3. Highlighter Set ($8) // 4. The Book Lover’s Journal ($34)

I have been obsessed with pressed flowers lately, and Etsy is chock-full of pressed flower shit, including bookmarks! An underrated piece of technology: clip-on book lights! My parents got me a book light for Christmas when I was in middle school, and it was a perfect gift, because it meant I could secretly stay up past bedtime reading. If you’ve got an academic reader or a writer to buy for, highlighters are always useful. On that note, I don’t think I’ve ever met a reader (or writer!) who doesn’t appreciate post-its/sticky tabs! They make a fun stocking stuffer, especially some of the ~aesthetic~ ones sold on Etsy. The idea of a “book journal” always seemed kind of corny to me, but this year I started tracking every book I read on Instagram, and I loved it? It might be nice to have a more physical record.

Word Games

collage: A photo of the game Ex Libris, a photo of a Jane Austen jigsaw puzzle, a photo of New Yorker playing cards, and a photo of Scrabble Deluxe — 1. Ex Libris ($29) // 2. The World Of Jane Austen Puzzle ($20) // 3. New Yorker Playing Cards ($10) // 4. Scrabble Deluxe ($120)

I know I already said what I want for Christmas in our Ultimate Team Gift Guide, but I take it back! All I want for Christmas is fancy Scrabble or fancy Boggle or plain ol’ Bananagrams! Also, Ex Libris is one of the most underrated games of all time, and if there are any writers/bookworms in your life, you should absolutely get it for them.