Buying for a reader sounds like the easiest job in the world. They like books. Buy them a book. Then you get to the shop and realise you have no idea what they've already read, what they've already been given, or whether the one you're holding is the exact book they returned last year.
So here are gift ideas grouped by the kind of reader you're buying for, because "book lover" covers about six completely different people. Plenty of these aren't books at all.
Why is it so hard to buy a gift for a book lover?
Because the obvious gift is the risky one.
Committed readers usually have a to-be-read pile they're already slightly ashamed of, a mental list of what's coming out next, and strong feelings about editions. Buying them a book means guessing your way past all three. Get it wrong and they'll be lovely about it, and it'll sit on a shelf forever.
The things they almost never buy for themselves are the ones that make reading nicer. Nobody treats themselves to a better reading light. That's the gap a good gift fills.
What do you buy a book lover who already owns every book?
Buy something that improves the experience of reading rather than adding to the pile.
The categories worth thinking about:
- Things that protect books, for people who carry them around
- Things that make reading more comfortable, like lights, blankets and cushions
- Things that make it prettier, from bookmarks to e-reader cases
- Time and permission, which sounds abstract but is often the real gift
- Vouchers and subscriptions, so they choose the book and you don't have to
The sections below break these down by the kind of reader you've got.
For the reader who takes a book everywhere
You know the one. There's a paperback in every bag, and all of them have bent corners.
Good options:
- A padded book sleeve. Keeps a paperback from getting battered by keys and water bottles. It's the classic example of something people love once they have one and would never have bought themselves. We've written a full guide to how book sleeves work and what size to get if you want to check it'll fit their books.
- A tote or crossbody bag that actually fits a paperback. Plenty don't.
- Nice bookmarks. Anyone still using a receipt is quietly hoping someone fixes this for them.
- A small reading light for trains, planes and not waking anyone up.
For the Kindle or Kobo reader
E-reader people are easier to buy for than they look, because the accessories market mostly ignores them.
- A case that isn't black. Genuinely the biggest upgrade available to an e-reader owner, and almost every case sold is a dark grey rectangle. Ours come in Kindle and Kobo Clara versions. Check their model first, and our guide to choosing an e-reader case explains how to work that out without asking them and ruining the surprise.
- An audiobook or e-book subscription. They pick the books, you get the credit.
- A sleeve or pouch so it survives being in a bag with everything else.
For the reader who wants to read more but never finds the time
This is the person who buys books faster than they read them and feels a bit guilty about it.
The gift here isn't an object. It's making the reading easier to start:
- An hour of childcare, or a Saturday morning off. Free, and worth more than anything on this list.
- A really good blanket and a spot to sit in. Comfort is underrated as a reading tool.
- An audiobook subscription, so reading can happen during the commute, the washing up and the dog walk.
- A reading journal or a nice notebook, for the sort of person who enjoys tracking things.
For someone you don't know that well
Colleagues, Secret Santa, your sister's new partner who mentioned once that they like reading.
Go for things that don't depend on taste:
- A bookshop gift card, ideally for an independent one near them
- Book tokens, which work in most UK bookshops
- Bookmarks, pins or stickers, small and low-risk
- Nice coffee or tea, because reading and a hot drink are a package deal
Our bookish bits collection is mostly built around this problem, if you want somewhere to start.
What not to buy a book lover
Said with love, because these all come from a good place:
- Books they've already read. The main hazard, and the reason for this whole post.
- Anything with a slogan about wine and books. There's a lot of it about.
- A bookshelf ornament that takes up shelf space they don't have.
- A subscription they'll have to cancel. Check it isn't set to auto-renew before you hand it over.
- Scented candles named after fictional characters, unless you're confident. Very much a specific taste.
What if you really do want to buy them a book?
Then do it properly, and check first.
- Look at their StoryGraph or Goodreads. Most keen readers have one, and it's a public wish list they've built themselves.
- Buy a beautiful edition of something they already love rather than gambling on something new. A hardback of their favourite book is a much safer bet than a new author.
- Ask their local bookshop. Tell a bookseller three books the person loved and they'll do the work for you. It's the best free service on the high street.
- Include the receipt. Not unromantic. Practical.
Don't forget how it looks
A small gift wrapped properly beats a bigger one in a crumpled bag, and for once that's not just something people say.
Good wrapping paper does a lot of work here, especially if you're giving something small like a bookmark or a set of pins. It's also the cheapest way to make a modest budget look considered.
One last thought
If you're stuck, the safest gift for a reader is almost never a book. It's something that makes the reading itself better, and then a gift card so they can choose the book themselves.