21 Insanely cute gifts for book lovers that aren’t books

Looking for gifts for book lovers that aren't books? These gifts are sure to be loved by any book lover

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Deciding on Christmas gifts for book lovers it's not an easy feat. Firstly, it's hard to know what book genres they're into exactly. And then it's difficult to know what books they've already read or own. 

Let's be real, books always make a great gift. But sometimes it can get a little repetitive and it's nice to change it up a little bit. 

As a huge bookworm, I know these are popular Christmas gift ideas for book lovers that aren't books. If you buy one of these, it is almost guaranteed that they will love it! 

This post is all about gifts for book lovers that aren't books

The best gifts for book lovers that aren't books

I asked book lovers on social media what gifts they like to receive. I also have included gifts I’ve loved in the past and items I really like as a book lover. I’ve compiled the results and here are the best gift ideas for book lovers!

Keep reading for all the best gifts for book lovers that aren't books

Gifts for book lovers that aren't books

1. Gift cards

If you want a gift that you can guarantee a bookworm will love - then stick with a gift card.   Especially if you know they love books but aren't sure what genres they like. Everyone loves a gift card.

A gift card will allow them to choose what books they want to get.  If you don't know them super well, this is probably your best bet. 

If you want to give them something to unwrap, then you could pair it with another item on this list. For example, a tote bag or bookmarks and a gift card.

Gift cards also make a great last minute  gift. But if you're looking for a last minute gift they can unwrap then I have a whole blog post you can check out on gifts for book lovers on Amazon.

Here are some book gift cards: 

2. Bookmarks

Bookmarks are quite obvious gifts for book lovers. They are also a great budget gift idea or an excellent stocking filler. There are lots of cute bookmarks online.

I always love getting cute bookmarks. Especially as I tend to lose mine! There are lots of really unique bookmarks online. Including metal, magnetic and wood designs. And you can even get bookmarks for their favourite books. There are some great options from small businesses on Etsy and they tend to be under £5.

Other bookmarks:

3. Book Sleeves

A booksleeve is a fabric pouch to slide a book into. Its purpose is to prevent damage to books while on the go such as creasing, marking or spillages.

Booksleeves make excellent gifts for book lovers. Particularly if they like to read on the go or on their morning commute. They have cute designs and some even have padding inside. I tend to get these from Etsy as they’re homemade and excellent quality

Other booksleeves:

4. Bookish Mugs

Most bookworms love to cosy up with a good book and a hot drink (myself included! So a mug is a great choice for any book lover. In fact, mugs always make good presents.

I love to gift these with different drink sachets such a hot chocolate or coffee. You can get them very cheaply at the supermarket. But on a cold day, they will love curling up with a hot drink.

Other bookish mugs:

 5. Bookish candles

Who doesn’t love a scented candle? Etsy is full of candles inspired by books. Whether that’s a generic book candle or a candle inspired by a particular book series.

They’re another really good value gift as they’re often very reasonably priced. Plus, it’s an excellent way to combine a love of books with a cosy night in. The ‘shh! I’m reading’ candle is available in over 10 different fragrances including blueberry & vanilla. And you can get it on Etsy.

There are so many beautiful bookish candles on Etsy. If you're interested in getting a bookish candle then you're in luck. I have a whole post full of bookish candles. You can check out my article on bookish candles here.

Other bookish candles:

6. Cozy blankets

On a cold winter’s day, there’s something really comforting about curling up under a blanket with a good book. You can get some incredibly cosy blanket’s online now – weighted and sherpa lined.

There are lots of options to choose from whether you want to splash out on a luxurious blanket. Or if you’re on more of a budget. The blanket pictured is a sherpa blanket on Etsy which I think it’s incredible value compared to £100+ options from other brands. You can get it here in 4 different colour options.

7. Tote Bags

Tote bags are super practical. They’re a great way to carry around books, shopping or other items. They can be used as a main handbag or folded up into a bag for your shopping.

There are some really great options online. And it can also be a great way to share your support for bookshops or different causes. I’m not surprised to see that they’ve been gaining popularity recently. This European Moths bag is handmade using recycled fabric. It’s available on Etsy and the seller also sells beautiful postcards, bookmarks and prints.

Other tote bags:

8. Custom stamps

These bookstamps can be personalised to add your name underneath. You can use ink to place this stamp on your books. This would look so insanely cute on any of your books!  

Other custom stamps

9. Bath tray

A bath board or tray sits directly on top of the bathtub. They give you a place to put a drink and a book or tablet without worrying about getting it water damaged.

A nice long bath is a great way to relax in the evening. And a bath tray means that they can continue reading their favourite books in the bathtub. You can get options with slots to easily fit a book or a tablet standing up. This bath tray is handmade with bamboo and is available on Etsy.

10. Book ends

This is another idea that should be fairly self-explanatory. If they have lots of books, bookends are a great way to organise books and keep them standing on a shelf.

You can get lots of different designs online. And they can make bookshelves look really pretty and aesthetically pleasing. Agate or geode bookends are beautiful and make a wonderful addition to any bookcase.

Other book ends:

11. Kindle paperwhite

Kindles make an excellent gift. They make it really practical to read on the go as you can slip them easily into a bag. You can also carry many more books on a kindle. Especially convenient on a morning commute or holiday.

You can get many books for free or really cheap on a Kindle. This is because older books have the copyright finished. And they can be downloaded for free. it’s a really convenient way to read lots of books. Especially if you know someone who is on the move a lot.

12. Miniature book nook

I'm convinced book nooks are the future. I seriously think everyone should have one on their bookshelves.

I haven't been able to get this shelf insert out of my head since I first saw it. As I said earlier - I'm a huge Lord of the Rings fan. And this Elven valley is insanely beautiful. 

It's made from wood and crafted using lazor cutting. They also offer a bookend version. And an option for personalisation - something I don't see offered very often with book nooks.

If you're interested in miniature book nooks then I have a whole blog post about miniature book nooks. It covers how to make them, different types of book nooks and different ones you can buy. You can read my blog post on miniature book nooks here.

Other book nooks:

13. Framed map

There is something so magical about a fantasy map. Honestly, I always look to see if there is a map in the front of my fantasy books. The artwork that goes into them is so incredibly beautiful. 

A fantasy map prints make great gifts for fantasy lovers. They come in all different sizes. Plus you can get download options online. 

I'm obsessed with this Middle Earth map print.  It's a cotton canvas that's hand stretched and stapled on wood frames. It is ready to hang, so only one nail is needed for hanging.

This is a great gift for fantasy lovers. If you know someone who is a fan of fantasy books then they're sure to love a framed map print. If you're looking for gift ideas for a fantasy lover then I have a whole blog post with recommendations. You can check out my article on gifts for fantasy lovers here.

Other fantasy maps

14. Clip on reading light

This is the perfect gift for a late night reader. There have been so many times I've stayed up until the early morning  reading a good book. But, I don't want to bother my partner with the bright light. 

A clip on reading light is the perfect solution. They're designed to clip on to the pages of a book and light up the pages. So you can keep reading.

If you're not sure what reading light to get then I highly recommend checking out this post from Hooked to Books on Book lights. It goes through the pros and cons of popular book lights and the detail is amazing. You can check out Hooked to Book's post on book lights here.

Other reading lights: 

15. Bookish t-shirts

A lot of bookworms want to show their love of books in other ways. T-Shirts are a great way to share their love for books.

Whether this is worn out and about or as a cute PJ top. There are some seriously adorable bookish t-shirt options. There are thousands of different options online. So there is something for every bookworm out there. The t-shirt pictured is from Caffeine and Curses on Etsy.

You can also get t-shirts for different books. So if there is a book series they love then you could get a t-shirt based on that book.  

Other t-shirts

16. Enamel Pins

Enamel pins are very popular among many bookworms. Many bookworms love to share their love of books. Enamel pins can be worn on denim jackets, backpacks or even displayed on a pin banner.

Many book lovers also collect these. There are thousands of different designs online. So there is an option for everyone. Again, they’re also relatively inexpensive. This Pride and Prejudice pin is a bestseller on Etsy. And you can get it here for under £10.

Other enamel pins:

17. Jewellery

You can find a lot of seriously cute bookish jewellery online. This can either be generic book-themed jewellery. Or it can be directly inspired by a book.

Novelty jewellery has soared in popularity recently. And they are lots of different style options. So there is something for everyone.

Other jewellery:

18. Cosy sweater

You can never have enough cosy sweaters! Jumpers are a great way to share your love for books, art or knowledge And it’s a great gift option.

Whether this is worn out and about or to keep warm at home. There are some seriously adorable dark academia jumper options. And there are thousands of different options online. This jumper has ‘in books freedom’ written in Latin. 

The style of this jumper reminds me of dark academia. If this person you're buying for is specifically a dark academia fan then I have a whole blog post about dark academia gifts. You can check out my post on the best dark academia gifts here

Other sweaters:

19. Prints

Art prints are a great way to decorate a space and add a touch of personality. There are some beautiful prints online. And they’re a great way to decorate bookshelves, fill an empty wall or even add personality in a college dorm room.

There are many different options online and consequently there is an option for every budget available.

Other prints:

20. Custom dust jackets

If they're an avid book collector then you could consider getting them some dust jackets for their books. Juniper Books designs beautiful dust jackets for popular series of books. 

If they have a particular series they love, these dust jackets make a book series look absolutely stunning. And they make a real statement.

21. Book subscription service

A subscription box is a recurring subscription of books and book-related items delivered to your door every month. Often you get special editions of books (sometimes signed) and more unique merch. I know this does technically contain books. But it's a really thoughtful gift and I had to include it.

It’s a really nice recurring gift. I’ve had book boxes in the past and coming home to find a book box ready to open honestly makes your day. Consequently, they make really thoughtful gifts for book lovers. I’ve received Fairyloot crate and Rainbow crate in the past. I can highly recommend both of them.

Here are some book subscription boxes:

Gift ideas for specific books

If there is a specific book series they love then you should check out gifts for that book series. There is so much amazing book merch online.

 I've written several blog posts full of merch based on specific popular books. You can check them out below.

This post was all about gifts for book lovers that aren't books