10 of the Best Gifts for Book Enthusiasts (That Aren't Books)

An obvious gift choice for the book enthusiast in your life is, well, a book. But unless they’ve sent you a list, selecting something they’ll like and haven’t read may seem like a monumental task. Instead, consider this list of book-themed gifts for bibliophiles.

Gift your reader a subscription to the Banned Books Book Club, a monthly virtual book club and library resource that also funds the purchase of banned books for schools and communities. Membership comes with access to materials and a monthly discussion on a banned book (recent picks include Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eyes and Tiffany D. Jackson’s Monday’s Not Coming).

Every Patreon tier opens access to the club’s discussions and events, but there are recommended membership levels ranging from $7 to $250 per month. The $12 “Binge-Reader” tier may be a good place to start. You can also purchase club swag.

Assist your reader in recreating the feel of a library corner or used bookstore in the comfort of their own home with a book-themed scented candle. Reviewers say Homesick’s Book Club candle—with notes of orange, nutmeg, cinnamon, and sandalwood, to name a few—is reminiscent of an old library and parchment. Other options include the Oxford Library candle inspired by wood, leather, and old books; or the woody (and pricier) Bibliotheque candle.

Collectors (or appreciators) of rare books may especially appreciate these shadow-boxed prints of first-edition book covers made from scans of the originals. Titles include Black Beauty, The Great Gatsby, Little Women, Pride and Prejudice, and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, among others.

Book darts are bookmarks that hold your place in addition to your page. Use them to indicate the line where you left off—good for borrowed books because you don’t have to dog-ear pages, and good for ideas you want to come back to later even as you continue reading. Select from bronze, stainless steel, and brass.

For the intellectual reader in your life, consider an annual subscription to the New York Review of Books, a semi-monthly magazine that covers politics, culture, science—and books.

A subscription comes with 20 issues and full archive access as well as a handful of other perks. You can gift a digital-only subscription, though a print + digital subscription may be especially appreciated by readers who prefer the experience of a real book.

Gift your favorite bibliophile a book-themed puzzle to do when they aren’t reading. Bookshop.org sells a 1000-piece puzzle with covers of classic paperbacks ranging from Goodnight Moon to Ellison’s Invisible Man, or there’s this one with great American novels, these bookshop interiors that allow you to select your piece count or a customizable New York Times front page.

Not into puzzles? Try Literary Charades or Agatha Christie bingo.

Build your reader’s bar collection with a set of classic literature rocks glasses printed with passages from Moby Dick, Don Quixote, The War of the Worlds, and Ulysses. Pair with a copy of Tequila Mockingbird, a recipe book for literary-inspired cocktails.

In the event your reader doesn’t have enough mugs in their collection, consider a literary-themed coffee cup, like this Jane Austen characters mug or one of several book quote mugs from the Unemployed Philosopher’s Guild, plus a book-inspired tea tin.

This is the gift of a book, technically, but it comes with a lot of extra goodies, and it’s more exciting than simply picking a title off a wishlist. You select the genre, and the Etsy shop puts together a package with a new or lightly used book plus a bookmark, pen, and edible treats. You can even send over the recipient’s Goodreads profile so the seller can select something that they (hopefully) haven’t read.

If you want to gift actual books but don’t want to choose which ones, consider a Libro.fm credit bundle (for audiobook lovers) or a Bookshop.org gift card (for everyone), which allows your reader to select books from their list and support their favorite local bookstore, which gets a portion of each sale through these platforms.

For those who don’t have a specific store in mind, Bookshop.org has curated a list of Black-owned bookstores to shop. Or check out this directory of LGBTQ-owned shops.