Gifts for Book Lovers
Here it is! A gorgeous literary gift guide suggesting 32 perfect gifts for book lovers and writers of all ages.
Whether you’re shopping for tots or teens, moms or grandparents, co-workers or friends—or any book lover at all, everyone on your list can experience something to delight the senses.
From the texture of a nubby knit or the fragrance of cherry blossoms to the visual thrill of a gorgeous wall print or the sound of an exciting new read-aloud, there’s something to please all your favorite bookworms!
[Updated 11/2019. links to Amazon are affiliate links]
{1-4} Gifts for the Home
These small reminders of a favorite authoress will brighten your gift recipient’s special reading corner.
1. Wuthering Heights Pillow | Emily Brontë
Snap up one of these cotton Wuthering Heights pillows for a wedding, birthday, or other gift-giving occasion. With its whimsical Penguin Books motif, it will add cheer to any sofa, overstuffed chair, or bookish bedroom!
2. Wuthering Heights Poster | Emily Brontë
I’m a delirious new fan of the glorious poster art from Wisdom Supply Co. Instead of a pillow, your gift recipient might just swoon over a stunning Wuthering Heights print. If so, you’ll find that same quote on this graphic poster, printed on museum-quality matte paper.
Zack at Wisdom Supply Co. has graciously offered free shipping worldwide to our readers! First, add a favorite poster (or two!) to your shopping cart. Then enter WORLDWIDE at checkout.
3. Paddywax Library Collection Candle | inspired by Louisa May Alcott
I confess: Paddywax had me at cherry blossoms and ivy. They’ve paired this scented candle with a lovely quote, evoking the spirit of beloved author Louisa May Alcott. Or you can choose a Jane Austen gardenia fragrance. Either way, your literature lover will thank you for such a lavish and “scent-sational” gift!
4. Emily Dickinson Portrait | Archival Print
Such a gorgeous, artsy portrait! A lovely rendition, it captures poet Emily Dickinson’s beauty and mystery in black and white. I think this limited-quantity digital pigment print is perfect framed as a standalone piece. But wouldn’t it make a stunning addition to an art wall? Whether for yourself or for a literary art lover, grab one now, before they’re gone!
{5-10} Gifts to Wear
Share your love of female authors and their works by gifting a few of these unique accessories.
5. Talk Darcy to Me and 6. Women Authors T-shirt
Get creative with literary T-shirts for your favorite ladies! After all, any Pride and Prejudice fan will love sporting a Jane Austen-themed T-shirt that proclaims her obsession for everyone’s favorite book boyfriend, Mr. Darcy.
Other fans of female fiction won’t want to wear anything else once they own a T-shirt bearing the names of their favorite women authors.
7. Harry Potter Gryffindor scarf | J. K. Rowling
A few Harry Potters and Hermione Grangers in my life will appreciate keeping toasty warm with this colorful striped Gryffindor scarf. This version comes in the classic red and gold of Gryffindor House. But if your Harry Potter enthusiasts aren’t Gryffindor fans, you can also choose from Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, or Hogwarts.
Or don’t do a scarf at all! Instead, warm their heads with a Deathly Hallows beanie.
8. Harry Potter Hand-painted Shoes | based on J. K. Rowling
These shoes! Raise your hand if your heart just did a little flip-flop.
Without a doubt, Harry Potter lovers will definitely be the envy of their friends when they show up wearing a pair of these custom, hand-painted Chucks! Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, the shoes are available in other lit-lover designs, too.
9. A Wrinkle in Time Book Purse | based on Madeleine L’Engle
How clever is this A Wrinkle in Time literary purse? Each one is made from a recycled leather-bound book, and you can personalize them by choosing both purse handle and button closure. They come beautifully gift wrapped with an envelope made from the inside cover.
Other options include a Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice purse and a Louisa May Alcott Little Women clutch, any of which would go nicely in your arsenal of gifts for book lovers!
10. Murder on the Orient Express Pouch | Agatha Christie
Who doesn’t love a cute zippered pouch? Surprise someone special with this canvas pouch inspired by Agatha Christie’s famous Murder on the Orient Express. Its generous 9″ x 6″ size makes it perfect to stash cosmetics or hold pencils and art supplies.
Designs may change from time to time, but other author styles are always available.
{11-15} Gifts For Leisurely Fun
No list of gifts for book lovers would be complete without a few just-for-fun ideas. From paper dolls and jigsaw puzzles to magnetic poetry kits, these thoughtful gifts will provide hours of literary entertainment!
11. Little Women or 12. Jane Austen Paper Dolls
When I was little, I couldn’t wait for my mom’s McCall’s magazine to show up in the mailbox. She may have been all over the recipes and articles, but I went straight for the Betsy McCall paper dolls that appeared in each issue. I loved cutting out Betsy’s newest outfits and playing paper dolls with my BFF for hours.
Brighten the face of your own lit-loving girls with one of these old-fashioned paper-doll sets. In addition to Little Women and Jane Austen for the older girls, you’ll find colorful Anne of Green Gables or Little House on the Prairie paper dolls so younger children can reenact scenes from their own favorite stories!
13. Jane Austen: Wit & Wisdom (A Grownup Coloring Book)
It turns out kids aren’t the only ones who love to color. Grownups who are looking for a way to relax have jumped on the adult coloring books bandwagon too! Why not gift a special female friend with this pretty coloring book? It features Jane Austen quotations and beautiful black-and-white blackline drawings.
Also toss in a set of vibrant colored pencils (and maybe this Pride and Prejudice pencil pouch), and watch the stress of the day melt away as she colors each page.
14. Women Authors 1000-piece Jigsaw Puzzle
What do Margaret Atwood and Daphne du Maurier have in common with Willa Cather, Sue Monk Kidd, and Amy Tan? Their names appear on this panoramic puzzle that features a bevy of titles by well-known women authors. Any jigsaw fan—male or female—will be excited to piece together this challenging puzzle!
15. Emily Dickinson Magnetic Poetry Kit
Who can resist rearranging random words into witty, silly, or melancholy poems? (I certainly can’t.) That’s exactly why poetry lovers will have fun channeling their inner Emily Dickinson by creating refrigerator poems from over 200 “mystically heartfelt words” in this box of word magnets.
And don’t despair if Emily isn’t their girl. There are loads of other magnetic poetry kits to pick from, such as the Haiku, Book Lover, or Shakespeare kits.
{16-28} Gifts to Read … or Watch
In this section, look for something special for the readers on your gift list. We’ve added a few entertaining DVDs as well for those who enjoy a good film.
For Grownups |Books and Book Sets (16-19)
16. Bathed in Prayer | by Jan Karon
Father Tim’s Prayers, Sermons, & Reflections
There isn’t a book written by prolific author Jan Karon that I haven’t loved. If you’re buying gifts for someone like me—that is—a rabid fan of the beloved Mitford Series, you can be sure they’ll rejoice to receive this newest offering.
In these humble pages, Karon has compiled a beautiful collection of Father Tim’s prayers, sermons, and inspirational thoughts. In addition, she has tucked in lovely essays and reflections on faith from her own heart. If you can’t think of anyone on your list to buy this for, I’m sure I could help you think of someone!
17. The Brontë Sisters Box Set
You will definitely judge these books by their covers! Give a beautiful boxed set of hardcover classics by the Brontë sisters, including Wuthering Heights, Villette, Jane Eyre, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. These richly patterned clothbound books will enhance any bookshelf while bringing hours of reading pleasure to their new owner.
18. Pride and Prejudice | Jane Austen
Myriad versions of Pride and Prejudice abound. So what makes this one especially gift-worthy? Not only is it a full-color hardback volume of the Jane Austen classic, but it features a sweet and savory selection of tea-time recipes from baking maven Martha Stewart!
Pair it with a vintage Royal Albert teacup and present it to that special someone who would love to plan a Jane Austen tea party or host a book club luncheon.
19. A Prayer Journal | by Flannery O’Connor
This slim but rich volume will be beloved both by Flannery O’Connor devotees and those who are new to her work. Penned during her years in grad school, her prayers reflect the young woman’s transparent heart and her authentic struggle to fight against secular influence.
For Kids | Books and Book Sets (20-24)
20. Emma and 21. Anne of Green Gables
BabyLit® Primer Board Books
Preschoolers can discover the great classics through the brilliantly creative BabyLit® board-book primers and parodies. Our grandson adores all of his, and we never get tired of reading them with him. To fit with our gift guide theme, I have two to recommend from favorite women authors:
- Emma Based on Jane Austen’s novel, this little board book explores big emotions and feelings, such as happiness, tiredness, and anger.
- Anne of Green Gables This sweet book about places is based L. M. Montgomery’s “Anne” books. In beautiful but simple prose, it introduces little ones to Anne’s favorite pond, wood, field, garden, and the avenue to Avonlea.
Our children’s personal libraries grew each Christmas when they opened their “something to read” present from Mom and Dad. Especially for our girls, nothing made them happier than opening a box set that promised hours and hours of reading for pure fun. That’s why I’m so keen on sharing a few special book sets with you, including this set of classic Puffin in Bloom novels with their exquisite cover art.
Included are four of my favorite girlhood novels that also celebrate female authors: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Heidi by Johanna Spyri, and Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. As they curl up with their treasured books, older girls on your gift list will make lifelong friendships with the heroines from each beloved story.
23. Betsy-Tacy Treasury | by Maud Hart Lovelace
“Betsy-Tacy fans never die. They just reread.” –Anna Quindlen
Here’s another set of books I can’t recommend highly enough. In this heartwarming series, author Maud Hart Lovelace draws us into the innocent but mischievous escapades of three little girls growing up at the turn of the 20th century. I was seven years old when I first met Betsy, Tacy, and Tib. Many years later, I happily introduced these childhood “friends” to my own daughters.
Today, think of all the young bookworms you influence! By sharing this box set with them, they too will be captivated by the sweet stories of friendship, loyalty, and love.
24. Henry & Ribsy Box Set | by Beverly Cleary
Beverly Cleary’s books were favorite read-alouds in our home. The award-winning author knows—I mean, really knows—the hearts and minds of children!
If her stories are new to you, start with this engaging box set. Each laugh-out-loud chapter will draw kids into a simpler place and time through the crazy adventures of Henry and his scrawny mutt, Ribsy. It’s the perfect gift for nieces, nephews, or grandkids. (And check out her Ramona books for even more side-splitting fun.)
DVDs (25-28)
25. Harry Potter: Complete 8-Film Collection | based on J. K. Rowling
It took me 15 years to read a Harry Potter book—but I was hooked from the very first chapter. And the minute I finished reading the series, I ordered—and immediately watched—the entire film collection on DVD. So of course, as I was coming up with a gift guide of gifts for book lovers, I knew this would have to join the list.
Have you seen the films? You just might need to buy a set for yourself!
26. Agatha Christie Mysteries DVD Collection
No one can argue that Agatha Christie is the queen of murder mysteries. I love her books, but I’m embarrassed to say I’ve only seen a couple of the movies. This set includes film adaptations of three favorite Agatha Christie novels, and it’s going on my wish list!
27. Sense and Sensibility | Jane Austen
Sense and Sensibility is a timeless classic, and one of my very favorite Jane Austen adaptations! The beautiful storyline, superb acting, and lush scenery work together to pay perfect homage to the author and her famous novel. I’m sure you know a couple of “Austen-philes” who would swoon to add this period romance to their literary movie library!
28. Jane Eyre | Charlotte Brontë
How I missed this movie when it first aired in 2011 is beyond me, because Jane Eyre is my very favorite Regency Era novel. Honestly, I don’t think I can wait for someone to gift this to me—I may need to get my fix of Gothic darkness and mystery in the next couple of days! (Amazon Prime, anyone?)
Gifts for the Writer {29-32}
Journals and books on writing make welcome gifts for the book lovers on your list who also love to write.
29. Choose Kind Journal | by R. J. Palacio
I was absolutely transformed when I read Wonder, the powerful children’s novel by R. J. Palacio. Based on her book, this inspiring journal invites children to reflect on their actions and to always “Choose Kind.”
Quotes from the book and fun, insightful questions prompt them to reflect on ways they can actively “Do One Wonderful Thing Every Day” for the people in their lives … and for themselves, too!
30. Books to Check Out: A Journal
This spiral-bound journal doesn’t celebrate any particular author, but it’s a great place for keeping track of books to read. It also has sections to copy favorite passages and note which books you’ve lent and borrowed. Any book-lover in your life is sure to appreciate it!
31. Literary Listography: My Reading Life in Lists
Reading buffs and list-makers alike will love keeping track of their literary life. Complete with fun illustrations, this unique journal boasts more than 70 clever and engaging list topics, from the meaningful to the quirky. Add it to your stack of gifts for book lovers. It will become their one-of-a-kind autobiographic reading log!
32. On Writing | by Eudora Welty
The serious writers in your life will love you forever if you gift them with Eudora Welty’s On Writing. This concise and fundamental volume is as authoritative and timeless as the author herself. Welty covers subjects such as place, voice, memory, and language. In addition, she suggests techniques writers can use when creating both novel and short story.
Do you feel inspired to start buying gifts for your favorite book lovers? In the comments, tell us which items in our gift guide have especially caught your eye. We also have many past gift guides to browse from as you plan your shopping.
