The 25 best gifts for book lovers, according to authors and avid readers

More than 30,000 Amazon shoppers have given this clip-on book light a five-star rating — and Jacqueline Kirby Zonkowski, author of DJ the Scratchy Cat, is one of many adoring fans. "I use mine when I read in the bathtub for my Friday night self-care routine, or if I can't sleep in the middle of the night so I don't wake my husband," she tells Yahoo. Choose between three color temperatures, then hold down the dimmer button to adjust the brightness until it's just right.

"I’m way too lazy to get up for a drink every time, so I really want this glass tumbler to keep my iced tea right by my side," Stephy George, bookworm and the blogger behind The Creative Muggle, tells Yahoo. This 16-ounce glass tumbler will do the trick. It even has a bamboo lid with a reusable straw, so they can keep their eyes on the page without worrying about spilling.

If they're often doling out their favorites to loved ones, then a custom stamp — either self-inking or an old-school wooden one with an ink pad — will ensure the borrowers know where their read came from and who to return it to. "As the designated friend/family member who lends out books from my library, personalizing my collection with this stamp adds a unique personal touch," Brooke Miccio, podcaster, content creator and avid reader, tells Yahoo. Go with a self-inking stamp for ease and pick from 25 ink colors — ranging from subtle neutrals to bold brights.

Three iconic reads, one adorable planter. Fill this ceramic stack with a low-maintenance plant that happens to be an air purifier (like a snake plant or ivy) so they can breathe in fresh air while they get lost in a new read. Remove the plug at the bottom, so plants can properly drain — or leave it if you opt for a faux green.

Holding a book open can be a real pain — just ask anyone who reads regularly. This wooden doodad weighs the pages down with just one hand, so they can use the other to jot down notes or hold onto their reading fuel (ahem, coffee). It comes in five sizes — use the size guide to determine the right one.

Instead of telling time the traditional way, this clock cycles through 13,000 classic literary quotes that spell out exactly what time it is. Get a new quote every minute, five minutes, 30 minutes or hourly — it depends how often you check the time. "This was for my mother who is hard to shop for. She immediately got it up and running and has sent screen shots of her favorite quotes for over a month now," one five-star reviewer raved, adding that it's useful, unique and worth every penny.

Ask anyone who loves romance novels and they'll tell you that Emily Henry writes the best of the best. Case in point: Her newest release, Funny Story, made our list of the best romance books of 2024. Becca at Pretty Little Memoirs swears by giving bookmarks to fellow readers — and these beauties inspired by Henry's bestsellers are the ones she treasures most. "They're perfect for romance readers," she adds, noting that you can buy them separately ($5 each) or divide up the pack.

In just two hours, they can build their own mini bookstore, complete with a switch-on light and fully-functional door. "If you have a library shelf of books it looks great tucked in amongst all the books," one happy builder wrote. Keep in mind that this 139-piece kit doesn't come with craft glue or AAA batteries, so pick some up ahead of time to ensure that they can get building pronto.

The best writers are readers — and vice versa. If the bookworm in your life is ready to pen their own story, treat them to some quality writing tools. "The ultimate game-changer for me is these cute eraseable pens," mystery author E.L. Johnson tells Yahoo. "They’re adorable, relatively cheap, have inspiring messages and for the writer on the go who always scribbles away, having an erasable pen is a must-have."

Sure, e-readers are convenient, but physical books still have their place. Whatever the reason — the smell, the feeling, the comfort of holding a book in your hands — some people prefer sticking with paperbacks or hardcovers. In that case, Zonkowski recommends giving these full-grain leather bookmarks, which can be personalized with the reader's name or initials. "I'm planning to gift these to all of my friends and family who are readers this year," she tells Yahoo. 

E-readers revolutionized the reading experience — and this nifty gadget is kicking things into high gear. Just clip it onto your e-reader or tablet and click a button on the remote control to flip the page. "I thought it was crazy that people really wanted an automatic page-turner until… I caved and tried one myself. It’s convenient, especially when you’re snuggled up in bed or on the couch,," one five-star reader raved, adding that it "stays charged and stays in place."

A blanket with arms? Say less. The next time they want to snuggle up with a great book, they can throw on this Sherpa-lined wearable blanket and read in comfort. Pick up this Shark Tank favorite in blush, navy or one of 30-plus other colors.

Comfort is key, especially when you're reading for hours on end. Tons of bookworms swear by this lap pillow since it has a designated slot for e-readers, tablets and books, plus two plastic arms to hold down the pages. "I was getting tired of holding a book or magazine with one hand (my cat demands the other hand for petting ... lol), so this is a saving grace," one five-star fan wrote.

Are they typically reading a few books at any given time? Then pick up a four-pack of these adorable mushroom bookmarks — yep, you read that right — that they can distribute them between them. They don't take up mushroom either — just sandwich a silicone shroom between two pages to hold your place.

If they're firmly against e-books, then skip ahead. But if they're open to giving it a try, the newest Kindle release is your best bet. It's screen is brighter and whiter than its predecessors, but is still featherweight (only 5.5 ounces) with the speed and ample storage space that the Amazon device is known for. Senior Tech Writer Rick Broida gave it a rave review, writing that it's "anything but entry-level" and "a great e-reader, one I highly recommend for anyone who loves books."

Keep all of their reading essentials — their reading glasses, go-to coffee mug, phone, you name it — within arm's reach. When they need to get up (ugh, responsibilities!), they can rest their book on the triangle portion to hold their spot.

I know I promised that there wouldn't be any books on this list, but this is more of an experience than a standard read. Simply pick the genre and this Etsy seller will wrap up a brand-new book in paper and adorn it with stickers. It'll be a surprise for you and the recipient, but you can rest easy knowing that all of their selections have a Goodreads rating of at least 3.5.

Check out these yellow crew socks, which are made to look like an empty library card. "These socks bring back warm and fuzzy memories of going to the library as a kid, where I took out the same Arthur book so many times my name was the only one on the card," Elizabeth Held, the bookworm behind the What to Read If newsletter, tells Yahoo. I'm sure your bookworm has a similar story.

Same concept, but a different design. This zippered canvas tote is big enough to hold their entire TBR stack — or at least most of it. Tell them to stash a pen, bookmark and reading light in the interior pocket so they're always ready to crack open a new read.

Chances are, their coffee won't be able to keep up with their reading pace. With this top-rated heated mug, they'll be able to set their ideal drinking temperature (between 120-145°F) and sip on it for hours (as long as it's on the charging coaster). I use mine religiously when I read — and so do tens of Amazon shoppers. "I read in the morning and my coffee gets cold and I have to get up and down to go the microwave or just pour the coffee out and make a new cup, which also winds up getting cold," one caffeinated reader wrote, adding that now they can "just relax and read."  

There's nothing better than cozying up with a cup of tea and a good read. They've got the book on lock, so it's your job to make sure they have something to sip on. Carrie E. Pierce, author and co-founder of Morgan Pierce Media & Publishing, turns to Harney & Sons time and time again. "They're quite comforting on a cold winter day," she tells us.

Book of the Month is arguably the most unique way to give someone a new read (or in this case, six). Each month, they can choose from up to seven hardcovers and audiobooks, all handpicked by avid readers. I've been a subscriber on and off over the years and in that time, I've read titles from big names like Emily Henry and Kristin Hannah to newcomers like Bonnie Garmus.

Reading is a surefire way to expand one's vocabulary — and Scrabble is a great way to put it to the test. It's the same game we all know and love, but it's made to look like a book from way back when. Since it's on the smaller side, they should be able to squeeze it between other reads on their bookshelf. 

A Christmas tree made of books? Now that's every bookworm's dream. Convince them to put down whatever they're reading (just for a little bit, promise) to piece together this 500-piece puzzle inspired by their favorite hobby. Once they complete it, they can put everything back in the book-shaped box and find a spot for it on their bookshelf.

This crewneck tells it like it is. Encourage your reader to wear their heart on their sleeve — er, sweatshirt — with this all-too-appropriate pullover, available in 11 colors.