Gifts for Book Lovers: Ideas Beyond the Next Book

The best gifts for book lovers match the way they read. Some people need time, some need a good place to sit, and some would love a personal touch more than a new object. A book is only one option. This guide was updated for 2026 and is sorted by kind of gift, not by price, so you can pick something that fits the person and the time you have.

Five ideas by effort

• A protected reading afternoon, or a library or bookshop trip together. Costs time.
• A reading comfort such as a bookmark, light, stand or blanket. Needs a quick check of how they read.
• A handwritten reading list or an inscription. An evening of work.
• A place in a book club or a local event. Needs a look at local listings.
• A made book of their own story. Needs the most planning.

How to choose a gift for a book lover

Book gifts do not all have to be books. Start with three questions.

• How do they read? Print, ebook or audiobook. A page holder is no use to someone who listens, and a case only fits a certain device.
• Where do they read? On a commute, in bed, in a garden or in a waiting room. That decides whether a light, a sleeve or a stand makes sense.
• Do they keep books or pass them on? A keeper may like a bookplate or an inscription. Someone who lends everything out may prefer time or a library trip.

If you do buy a book, avoid duplicates. Ask a friend what they own, or look at their shelves, and tuck in a note so they can swap it. For anything you buy, check the seller's price and returns before you pay.

Gifts of time and place

These cost little and suit the person who has no space left on the shelf.

A protected reading afternoon

Promise an afternoon with no jobs, no calls and no chores for them to pick up. Take the children out, cook the meal and keep the house quiet. Write it on a card so they know it is real.

Good for: a parent, a carer or anyone who never gets to finish a chapter.

A trip to a library or bookshop together

Pick a date, go together and let them choose. If you plan to buy something, agree a limit beforehand. Libraries also run programs for readers. The American Library Association lists book clubs, movie nights, crafting classes and lectures among the things a library card opens up, so ask what your local branch has on.

Good for: someone who loves to browse, or who borrows from the library.

Help setting up library borrowing

Many US public libraries lend ebooks and audiobooks to people with a library card, often through an app. Rules on who can join, how many items you can borrow and how long you keep them differ, so check your local library's website. If the person does not have a card, offer to go with them and set the account up on their phone or ereader.

Good for: a commuter, an audiobook listener or someone who reads on a screen.

Reading comforts and other book gifts

Small objects and home comforts can be a good fit if you know how the person reads. We describe each by what it is and what to check, not by brand.

Bookmarks

A bookmark is easy to wrap, so it works as an extra alongside something else. Check the size against the books they read. A thin one suits a paperback, and a wide one may suit a hardback better. Metal, leather, paper and ribbon styles all exist, so think about whether they use one often or leave books lying open.

Good for: a collector who likes to keep their copies tidy.

A reading light

Lights for reading come as clip-on, stand-alone and book-attached styles. Check how it is powered, whether it needs batteries or charging, and whether it suits where they read, such as in bed or on a train. Look at the maker's own description for what it does and how it is powered.

Good for: a night reader, or someone who shares a room.

A page holder or reading stand

Stands and page holders hold a book open or prop up a device. Check the size of the books they read, whether they are heavy hardbacks, and whether the stand takes an ereader or tablet. Look at the weight too if they travel.

Good for: someone who reads at a table or while eating.

A case or sleeve

A sleeve or pouch can protect a book in a bag. A case is made for a particular ereader or tablet, so check the exact model before you buy. Ask a friend if you are unsure, because sizes vary.

Good for: a commuter who carries their book everywhere.

Bookends or a shelf accessory

Bookends keep a row of books upright, and a small shelf accessory can mark a favorite spot. Check the weight and the width of the shelf, and whether the books are heavy hardbacks or light paperbacks. Pick a plain style if you do not know their taste.

Good for: a keeper with a growing shelf.

A blanket or cushion for the reading spot

If they have a favorite chair or window seat, a blanket or cushion makes it theirs. Check the size of the chair, the material and the washing instructions on the label. Ask someone who knows their home if you are unsure.

Good for: someone who reads at home in one regular spot.

Personal and handmade gifts

These take thought rather than money, and they are hard to duplicate.

A reading list built for them

Write twelve titles, one for each month, with one or two lines on why you chose each. Put it in a card, a folder or a folded sheet they can pin up. You do not need to buy any of the books, since they can borrow or buy as they go. Need ideas? Browse our books hub or our all-time list.

Good for: someone who always asks what to read next.

A bookplate or inscription

A bookplate is a label that goes inside the front cover with the owner's name. An inscription is a few handwritten lines on the first page. Use it on a book you are giving, or, with their permission, on one they already own. Write in pen that will not bleed through the page.

Good for: a keeper who builds a shelf over years.

A reading journal started for them

Buy a plain notebook and set up the first page: a title, a date and a few headings such as what they read and what they thought. It gives them a place to log what they finish. They can also use our free reading challenge tracker if they would rather log books on a screen.

Good for: someone who sets reading goals each year.

A quote card

Pick a line the person loves, or write one for them, and set it as an image with our free book quote image maker, which saves a PNG. It was built for authors sharing a quote from their own book, so it works best with your own words or a public domain line. Check copyright before you use a line from a book. The US Copyright Office says there are no legal rules permitting the use of a specific number of words, and copyright for works created after 1 January 1978 lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years.

Good for: a friend who quotes the same line all the time, or a writer in your life.

A handmade booklet

Collect family recipes, poems, letters or photos, print them and bind them yourself with a stitch, a clip or a folder. Handmade bookbinding is a craft you can learn, but a simple stapled booklet is a fine start. Spell-check everything and ask relatives to confirm names and dates.

Good for: a grandparent, or a person with a big family.

A made book

Many book lovers have a story of their own: a family history, a set of poems or a memoir. A book made for them, with the writing, editing and cover done by professionals, is a gift that lasts. It needs lead time. Our studio offers ghostwriting, book editing and book cover design. A book made to order takes planning, so raise holiday timing with the studio early. We make no promise of a delivery date here. To ask about a project, start with the studio services page and the quote form. Read our guides on how to write a memoir and how to write a book first.

Good for: a book lover who writes, or who has a story the family should keep.

Experiences and memberships

An experience can be the whole gift, or a way to pair a gift with a day out.

Bookshop and library events

Libraries and bookshops may host readings, talks and workshops. Check local listings for dates, and check whether an event needs a ticket or a sign-up. Some library programs are drop-in with no registration, but rules differ between places.

Good for: a reader who likes to meet other readers.

A reading group

Give a place in a book club, or start one together. Many public libraries run book clubs, and a monthly group can suit a person who wants a reason to read. For a seasonal pick, see our Christmas books for book clubs.

Good for: someone new to town, or who finishes books slowly alone.

A literary or author event

Look in your local listings for author talks, signings and literary festivals near you. Check whether tickets are needed and whether they sell out. We do not name any events here.

Good for: a fan of a particular author.

A note on subscriptions

A subscription delivers or unlocks a book or audiobook on a schedule. Billing may repeat until the subscription is cancelled, so check the cancellation terms, whether the recipient picks the title and what happens when the gift ends. We do not recommend a company.

If you want to give a book

This page is about gifts that are not the next book. If you want to give a book, our guide to picking the right book as a gift sorts ideas by reader and taste. For festive reads, see our Christmas book list. For classics and a wide spread of genres, try our list of classics and big names across genres, and the whole set lives on the books hub. A book plus a note, a bookmark or a reading list is a stronger gift than the book alone. We refresh this page each October.