A reader’s guide to bookish gifts

With Christmas fast approaching, we are beginning to start the process that happens every winter: buying presents, wrapping them, sending them to loved ones, or perhaps placing them under the tree. First order of business: deciding what to buy. If you are a reader and want to spread that joy, or are buying for someone obsessed with books, then this is a short guide on the best bookish gifts to give for Christmas. 

The first one may perhaps seem a little too obvious but books are always a good shout for readers! However, this must be approached with caution. Unless you feel confident in your knowledge of the recipient’s bookshelf, then it may be difficult to pick out specific books. You may end up getting them something they’ve read before. I quite often ask a friend for their ‘books to buy’ list (if they keep one) and choose from that range. If you are looking for something that’s more of a surprise then mystery books are often a good idea. Some book shops have started selling these or you can get them online. You can pick the genre and a wrapped book will arrive, often with some other accompanying goodies. If neither of these options appeal to you, then a voucher for a book shop such as Waterstones can be a safe bet! 

For readers, like me, who are always losing their page, bookmarks can be a great gift. These are particularly great as stocking stuffers as they tend to be relatively inexpensive. There is also plenty of variety! You can get bookmarks made of materials such as resin, plastic, wood or card and with a huge range of designs. If you are particularly creative then you could always try making your own as a handmade gift. 

We all know that reader who is obsessed with that one book or series. And if you are buying with certain books in mind, then specific bookish merch may be the best gift. On sites such as Etsy, you can get a whole range of gifts that may have favourite quotes or book titles on. Items range from stickers, to jumpers, to notebooks, and water bottles. You may have to search, but these can be great for when you have specific books in mind. 

Reading is about so much more than picking up a book and looking at the words on the page. It’s about immersing yourself in a story that the author has crafted word by word. And sometimes to fully appreciate this, reading accessories are in order. A lot of this is up to individual preference. If the person you are giving this gift to loves annotating their books or book journaling, then supplies for their hobby could be a great idea. Sticky tabs and highlighters are always winners for annotators. Stationery also rarely comes in wrong for a book journaller: notebooks, pens, or stickers could be helpful and thoughtful. Another super cute reading accessory is a personalised book stamp or embosser. Just so everyone knows who the book belongs to! 

One of my favourite gifts has to be a DIY bookend. You spend time putting each part together and the completed bookend sits on your bookshelf. Whilst these do require a little patience and some time, the attention to detail is amazing and they can be brilliant decor to add to your home library. You can get a variety of designs, depending on what sort of vibe you are looking for. Some even light up! 

Hopefully this article has given you a few ideas for what you could gift to your favourite readers this Christmas.