The Best Gifts for Bookworms (That Aren’t Books)

I’ve turned a dozen friends on to this book light, which has a range of light levels and color temperatures and lights up the entire page.

The Ikea Fado is a classic shape, affordable, and emits a soft glow of light.

For their nighttime routine, a bedside carafe could make a nice addition to their bedside table.

For your friend who has to work a little harder to maintain a reading vibe (new baby, perhaps): These AirPods Pros noise-cancel and stop playing audiobooks when an earpiece is removed, so they’ll never lose their place.

We recently doubled down the Bose headphones as our Best in Class pick. They’re truly noise-canceling, nice if you want to read in a noisy room, and have a cinematic mode that would work well for listening to audiobooks.

An e-reader is great for someone who wants to carry any and every book on the go. Strategist writer Jordan McMahon likes the Kindle Paperwhite, which he says is the “gold standard of e-readers.” It’s lit on the sides instead of the back like your phone or laptop, which reduces eye strain and makes for a smoother reading experience.

A comfy blanket is essential for a cozy reading experience. This one from Schoolhouse, created in collaboration with heritage brand Pendleton, is made of cotton and wool and comes in a nice-looking checkered pattern.

We’ve long-loved this cotton knit blanket from West Elm, which is cozy but lightweight and feels nice all-year round. It’s also machine washable and, according to newsletter writer Ashley Wolfgang, stands up well to pets.

I first spotted this oversize reading pillow on Bookstagrammer and therapistWale Okerayi’sInstagram. It can be folded a few different ways and is ideal for anyone (me) who struggles to get into a comfortable position.

And for a premium reading experience, an oversize velvet lounge chair in a striking yellow gold.

A bookish print that’s design-forward too.

This clock uses book quotes to tell time. There are thousands of quotes so it doesn’t get too repetitive, and new ones are added daily.

For pickycoffeeand tea drinkers, this high-tech mug can keep their beverage at an exact temperature (between 120°F and 145°F). The mug stays warm up to an hour if unplugged or all day if docked in its charging saucer.

For a more analog option, this Ban.do mug features a cute design and holds up to 12 ounces of their drink of choice.

Your bookworm can set the mood with this statusy candle that actually nails the smell of books. It has that mellow sweetness and a slight, beautiful mustiness.

Janicza Bravoswears by this fireplace-scented candle from D.S. and Durga, which cozies up any room.

These near-invisible wall shelves are the answer to literary overcrowding. And because they’re tiny, they fit nicely into even the most awkward reading corners.

Most bookworms (including myself) have a book-buying problem, so a bookshelf is ideal if they have space and won’t buy a nice one for themselves. You can’t go wrong with the ubiquitous Ikea Billy, which stores lots of books and comes in a range of finishes.

And for displaying their heavier books, there’s the Story Bookcase from Design Within Reach (it came up five times in different colors and heights in ourSteal My Bookcasestory).

And for the bibliophile who’s already utilized every inch of vertical space (but won’t stop buying books), a utility cart will help to get some of the overflow off the floor.

This cheeky bookmark from Etsy shop Lustcraft features an image of Jesus peering at you and asking a crucial question: “Is that smut?”

One of my friends collects these Humdrum bookmarks by the handful. I like this pickle one, but there are lots to pick from. Other options include an extra-long boba tea, slices of bacon, and a raccoon in a trash bin.

These little metal markers are a revelation for readers who want to make note, but not dog ears.

Instead of a bookmark, Nicole Lamy, the New YorkTimes“Match Book” columnist, likes to use one of these vintage-book-cover postcards. The 100-pack includes classic titles likeA Clockwork OrangeandA Room of One’s Own.

I like these for annotating. They’re perfect for keeping track of the lines and passages I like, and to make things a bit more aesthetic, I coordinate flag colors with the cover of the book.

I’m allergic to writing directly in books so I’ve found 2x2 Post-it notes to be an incredibly useful alternative for jotting down my thoughts. They’re tinier than the normal Post-its but have enough space for a few sentences and a doodle.

A statusy highlighter from celebrity book clubber Kaia Gerber’s Library Science.

On the pen front, theLamy Safari penfeels very fancy but works great for beginners who’ve been using a ballpoint their whole lives.

Another option:Beverly Nguyen’s uniform pen.

You can order this book stamp with your giftee’s name and initials so they can leave a scholarly mark on their book collection.

For the friend who always sends perfectly punctuated text messages and emails: a card game that includes 100 sentences waiting to be corrected (the first person who corrects the error or calls out “Stet!” gets a point).

And if they like something design-y, I’m a fan of Le Puzz’s nice-looking puzzles. There’s lots to choose from, and the brand collaborates with artists and brands often. This one, for example, was created with 69-Tearz, a clothing brand that makes hand-drawn garments.

Another book gift without the pressure of picking a book: A subscription to the First Editions Club from Brooklyn’s Greenlight Bookstore, which comes with a signed copy of a newly published book each month.

This subscription service selects books based upon three profiles: the Realist, the Escape Artist, and the Decadent. For $30, the store will send two books every season based on the chosen profile. And because McNally Editions are a bit under the radar, they won’t have read them already.

If you’re shopping for an audiobook fan like Winchester, she recommends a monthly membership to Libro.fm, an audiobook service that lets customers select a local bookstore to support with each purchase.

For the library enthusiast (for the record, we all should be), this shirt supports local programming at the Mt. Pleasant library in Washington, D.C. In addition to being 100 percent cotton, it’s also size inclusive, going up to a 5XL.

Climax Books sells rare ephemera, periodicals and erotica and has become a favorite of fashion people that read. They also make good merch.

A pair of socks that tells passersby where your giftee is going.

Another cozy cardigan option — this chunky knit from Alex Mill is a favorite ofBathenco-founder Hannah Zisman, who says it goes with everything.

Riffing on the now-iconic “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports” T-shirt, this one from imprint 831 Stories is a good option for your friend who has a thesis about the impact of romance novels on the publishing industry.

Give a gift from their favorite bookstore, like this Bookstore at the End of the World shirt. If you don’t know their preferred indie bookstore, you can find plenty ofliterary merch here, where all proceeds go to the bookstores.

Only book people know the struggle of being unable to bring just one book. My L.L.Bean Boat and Tote — a time-tested Strategist favorite — is the giftable bag of choice to lug around five titles.

I’ve also become partial to the small Lands’ End tote, which has more pockets and can fit a couple of hardcovers but not a laptop.

There’s also this tote from Black-owned bookstore Reparations Club, which comes in a classic black and the brand’s signature neon-green hue.