Is there anything better than a bookish gift? So many of us grew up as bookworms: living in fantasy worlds, escaping reality through the pages of our books, and much of that was because the real world just doesn’t measure up.
But these days, we have thousands of creative bookworms out there bringing to life characters, themes, and ideas from our favourite books for us in the shape of jewellery, clothes, household things — even tea!
Literary Gifts for Bookworms
Today, there’s no shortage of fantastic, creative, beautiful, lovingly-crafted literary gifts that you can get for your bookish loved ones, or your book nerd self!
As with all good gift-shopping prepare to buy three things for yourself per one bookish gift for someone else. We’re only human.
Beautiful Book Sleeves
I’ve been seeing more and more book sleeves about this year and so when I wanted a bookish gift for myself, it was the first thing I asked for. I absolutely love the quality and designs available at Seven Color Daisy, their padded and sealed with a button.
The multiple sizes are handy and they even make Kindle and iPad covers. I got a medium size and can fit a couple of books in or a book and a notepad for writing. We loved it so much that Will bought one too.
They’ve also opened a partner shop Cozy Foxy House where you can buy handmade fabric home gifts and pencil cases.
Literary Tea
Literary Tea offers a tea selection for every kind of book fan and every kind of tea fan, I’m particularly fond of the Beatrix Potter tin myself. I don’t think there are many things that go better with a good book than a cozy cup of tea. For people who prefer tea bags, Novel Teas have you covered.
Handmade Stationery and Writing Sets
Whether it’s for getting organised, some beautiful paper to write letters or story ideas on, or a handmade pencil case to put beautiful pens in it’s no surprise that book lovers and writers love stationary.
One of my favourite shops for all things paper, including bookmarks, and gorgeous pencil cases and tote bags is Elena Illustration.
I’m addicted to her watercolour to-do lists and planners which keep my procrastinating self in check in a colourful way.
Chatty Feet Socks Bookish Gift Set
Wear your favourite literary icon, playwright, artist, or singer on your feet. There’s no end to the cool people that Chatty Feet have decided to put on their socks and all with a cool pun to boot. We love puns.
We’re big fans of William Shakes-Feet from our original set and Virginia Wool from their new bookish socks gift set. These are eye-catching, soft and good quality cotton socks. Perfect for a literary gift!
A Bookish Subscription Box
The surprise of receiving a book subscription box never gets old and the sheer amount of choice on offer now means there really is one for everyone.
A box will typically be themed and include a book plus some bookish gifts and snacks. We’ve slowly be trying them throughout the year and here are some of our favourites:
Books that Matter – A feminist monthly subscription box where you receive some wonderful fiction written by women as well as snacks and some uplifting gifts.
The gifts are always great quality and they team up with publishers and artists to make truly unique items that you can’t get elsewhere.
Secondhand Bookshelf – A seasonal book box that is environmentally minded, you’ll receive a secondhand book and a number of sustainable gifts that are handmade by local sellers in the UK.
They ship internationally and you can tell a lot of love goes into each box. You can also choose to have a blind date with a book and Giv will send you a tailored read anytime. You can read our interview with Giv to learn more about Secondhand Bookshelf.
Queer Book Box – Another wonderful monthly choice that offers a tiered system so you can customise how much you receive and the cost. You can choose to just receive a handpicked queer book a month or their standard box or full All Out Box where you’ll get access to a book club, bookish gifts, queer zines and an all-manner of goodies.
They also source their books from Gays the Word which is one of our favourite London independent bookshops. There are also discreet packaging options which I really admired if you don’t feel comfortable with someone seeing your post.
You can receive five pounds off your order by using our Queer Book Box referral link.
House of Zabadi – A relatively new book box based in Cardiff (much like our favourite luxury Welsh subscription box).
This is a West African inspired book box where you’ll receive a novel plus some handmade goodies such as a fabric bookmark and scrunchie using African textiles as well as African inspired snacks and prints.
I’m so excited to see the future of this box and think it’s incredibly unique and a new way to discover African literature. You can also shop for some of the handmade gifts separately if you prefer.
My Chronicle Bookbox – Another exciting book box that offers monthly and quarterly options, one of the most exciting things here is that they offer the box by genre so you can really pick the right one for you.
Options including the crime box and the sci-fi & fantasy box which come in various sizes. Even more special is the books will arrive with interviews with the author and signed bookplates to place in your books plus an array of bookish and home gifts.
The books come hand wrapped in beautiful paper and so much care and attention is put in making it a special literary gift anytime. You can read all about our experience with My Chronicle Bookbox in our full review.
Handmade Cat Bookends
If your bookshelves are anything like mine then you’re probably in danger of meeting an untimely end under a pile of books making their bid for freedom. Put them in their place with these stylish cat bookends and you get to look at cute cats to boot.
Japanese Writers who Changed the World
This set of prints by Geri Draws Japan are simply incredible and I’m honing in the writers for this list but actually the collection is Japanese Women who Changed the World and there are so many amazing women to choose from. From ancient to modern legends, deciding who to pick is impossible.
Hand Woven Afghan Blanket
You know the image you have of yourself curled up under a blanket, lounging on a Chesterfield sofa, the glow of a roaring fire illuminating the pages of that old copy of Jane Eyre you’re re-reading for the tenth time?
Well, you can make a start on that with this gorgeous Afghan blanket! The Chesterfield can wait; the blanket is key.
Handmade Literary Scarf
Why talk about your favourite books when you can wear them around your neck?
You can even have custom books added to make it truly personal, although as she also has a scarf made of entirely classic horror stories, I think I’m good. Give the literary gift of wearing your books about your person.
Women Poet’s Enamel Pin Collection
If you know us at all then you know we champion women writers from around the world and even though the enamel pin craze has become dangerous to those who love collecting things (ouch).
This is quite possibly the most beautiful set I’ve come across and it’s not just the rose gold finish making me say that.
Created by the Literary Emporium, they’re inspired by – Maya Angelou, Anne Brontë, Sappho, Qiu Jin, and Sylvia Plath, some of the most badass of women around and well-deserving of sitting proudly upon your lapel or rucksack.
If you’re more into your gothic literature then check out this gorgeous collection or their gorgeous Shakespeare’s heroines set.
Read More: 15 Amazing Enamel Pins for Book Lovers
Book Binding Set
If you’re someone who keeps a journal, enjoys scrapbooking, or writes novels for fun – whatever you create when you put pen to paper, you can now bind it with these and create your own books.
This very simple, classy-looking bookbinding set allow you to turn your hobby into something tangible and real.
The Locket Library Jewelry
Quite frankly, The Locket Library could extract every last penny from me if I wasn’t careful. I have very little self-control when it comes to jewelry anyway and these are just the most gorgeous, classic pieces.
If you don’t like any of the jewelry on offer you can request your own classic book cover, like this Edgar Allen Poe pendant which is my new best friend.
Read More: The Best (and Most Tasteful) Literary Jewelry
Handcrafted Fountain Pen
Here’s one for the writers or would-be writers, I recently listened to Neil Gaiman talk for half an hour about different fountain pens for different situations and even found out there’s a fountain pen hospital in New York — a half hour very well spent.
I’ve always been a fan of the fountain pen and a handmade one just demands to be held. It’s a lasting gift and a loving nudge to anyone who’s been meaning to write that novel their whole life.
This handmade pen on Etsy is ideal for any budding writer.
A Literary Tote Bag
No more tote bags I hear you shouting at me. It’s a truth commonly acknowledge that once purchased a tote bag will keep multiplying forever until it takes over whatever space it can find.
Am I still going to suggest you need another tote bag in your life? Of course! Especially when they are as pretty and witty as the ones from Obvious State who make amazing prints and tote bags.
Hand Covered Reclaimed Fabric Notebooks
Imagine having the creative mindset to take old, now-useless fabric from here, there, anywhere, and thinking, ‘This would make the world’s most beautiful notebook!’ Well, now you don’t have to. You can just buy one.
All of the fabric used for these notebooks has been reclaimed and hand-made into something personal, unique, and beautiful. Some are even made from the gorgeous obis used to wrap kimonos!
Indulge in a Literary Print
Those with eagle eyes may have noticed that I’m recommending more products by Obvious State here and it’s genuinely because their literary prints are just so damn lovely and unique.
Their literary prints are by far my favourite style and put a characterful spin on each and every poster, they also include a wide range of authors from around the world instead of the usual favourites.
Let your walls celebrate the words and metaphors that these writers have so lovingly bestowed on us.
Rainy Day Reads Candle
Reading all happens in the brain, right? We build the words we read in our mind’s eye and we live there for a little while.
But, with these candles, you can take that atmosphere one step further by drawing out your favourite bookish scents and filling your living room with them!
Their candles change but their candle selection is always suitably vintage and bookish. Like the scent of old books? There’s a candle for that too.
If you’d prefer your candle to smell like coffee, check out a coffee-scented candle in our list of unique gifts for coffee lovers!
Cashmere Blend Writing Gloves
For the budding writer in all of us, there are certain things we’d prefer to have: fountain pens, parchment, a typewriter, maybe a MacBook? How about gloves!
Typing can cause a lot of aches in strange places, but with these writing gloves you can write for days in complete comfort and warmth.
Metal Bookmark
Bookmarks can get a little boring. They’re usually card. Sometimes, when we’re desperate, they’re whatever flat thing we have lying around. The real daring readers out there don’t even consider them, and just dog-ear every page. The savages!
If you want to mark your page with something so gorgeous you could wear it or frame it, consider one of these metal bookmarks with a Japanese aesthetic.
They also have many more stunning Japanese art-inspired products in their shop.
Read More: The Best Narrative Video Games for Book Lovers
Beautiful Classics & Collector’s Editions
A lot of publishers over the past few years have rebound classic books in new covers: hardback, leather, books with deckled edges (ugh). But Penguin and Chiltern Publishing do it best with their highly collectable classics.
We adore these floral and clothbound editions so much. They’re more pleasant to hold and read, and they look so great as a collection on your shelf. There’s nothing in the world like them.
Get all your great gothic and romantic feminists together by building a clothbound shelf-full of Brontës, Austens, and Shelleys!
Gift a Writing Class
We love Skillshare and with a membership, you’ll suddenly have access to thousands of writing classes with famous and beloved authors at your fingertips. And much more! Everyone gets a 30-day free trial.
Become an English Pen Member
Without the Pen grants many of the wonderful books we get to read and review wouldn’t exist and our world of literature would be a much narrower less representative place.
If you’re looking for a more charitable gift that keeps giving then this is an ideal choice.
Members can look forward to all kinds of benefits, not least getting to enjoy literature from around the world and the money goes toward. Give a literary gift that keeps giving.
Become an English PEN Member | Or a PEN America Member