The Ultimate Luxury Gift Guide: The Best for Book Lovers

Is someone on your gift list a bookworm? Or perhaps you, yourself, are devoted to all things literary? If books, libraries, and bookstores are a big part of the life of your gift recipient – or if you’re looking for a treat for yourself – we’ve got some ideas for you. In our luxury gift guide, our correspondent Julie Chang Murphy has rounded up the best luxury gifts for someone who loves books – aka bibliophiles, book lovers, and bookworms. Read on!

What are the Best Gifts for Book Lovers this holiday?

Conventional wisdom would dictate that the perfect gift for a bibliophile is what else, but… a book. Although that’s hardly a no-brainer, unless you know the gift recipient’s favorite authors and genres. And even then, there’s no guarantee that your gift isn’t already on their bookshelf or nightstand.

Instead, we’ve come up with some book-adjacent gifts for that special bookworm in your life that will demonstrate your thoughtfulness and creativity. And for the bookworms themselves, these gifts will add a new luxurious dimension to their reading experience, whether at home in a cozy chair or on the go.

As any busy, modern person these days can attest, reading a good book uninterrupted is one of life’s greatest luxuries. And you can hardly do better than encouraging such a respectable pastime with this list of the best gifts for your beloved bibliophile.

The Luxury Gift Guide: Best for Bibliophiles

Furnishings for the Home Library

Having the right accouterments and setting can turn the simple act of reading into an immersive event, much like a movie night. We’ve previously shared our top picks for luxury candles with book-themed fragrances. Here are a few more ideas to set the optimal  conditions for a marathon read.

Books will look even more enticing on this modern, geometric bookcase from Italian designer, Officine Tamborrino ($3,340). If they already have a complete shelving system, consider a pair of these stunning geode bookends ($295) to bring the outdoors in.

We also love the visual interest provided by these House of Hackney cobra bookends ($632). These brass figures reference the serpent as the guardian of sacred spaces. Another arresting pair of bookends is this woven accent flat iron pair ($747), designed by the Austrian design house Carl Auböck.

These jade stone bookends (£2, 700) are from British company Bethan Gray.

This sleek and elegant museum-inspired Allure Bookstand adds sophistication to any study or library. It’s available in 7 gorgeous different wood veneers and bright lacquer finishes. ($3,200). A chair-side basket always comes in handy and this one from Rabitti 1969, is made from water-resistant genuine leather in a standout bright mustard yellow ($1,450).

Comfy Reading Spots

Any chair can be turned into the “reading chair” with Ronel Jordan’s hand felted rock cushions, which can be used as an ottoman. Made in South Africa from merino wool and filled with recycled plastic bottles (PET), production supports women in the community with HIV and AIDS. ($476 for large size). Consider gifting it with this soft and sumptuous pleated knit throw ($258).

Book Lights and Beverages

For a touch of whimsy, we love this Book Rest Lamp ($60) that acts as both a light and a bookmark. And no read is complete without a mug of comforting tea or morning coffee. This set of 6 Grammar Grumbles mugs ($55) will bring a smile of recognition to your book-loving friend, particularly if he or she is a card-carrying member of the grammar police.

Reading Railroad

Although not as cozy and indulgent as reading whilst curled up in a blanket, reading on the go has saved us all through many commutes – on planes, trains, and automobiles. Here are our gift ideas for the person who is reading while traveling.

It may be a little old-fashioned, but this personalized library embosser ($26) is perfect for the person who is always lending their books to friends and acquaintances because they’re a “must read.”

A keepsake bookmark is a lovely way to remind your traveling reader of home. We love this limited-edition Anya Hindmarch “The story goes on” black grained leather bookmark (£171) from the Oeteker Collection of luxury hotels, owner of the Eden Rock St. Barth’s. If you prefer a cheekier statement, there’s also a red grained leather version that reads “Read, beach, chill, repeat.”

A travel light is a must-have for engrossing page-turners on planes. This attractive and versatile LED travel light from Moleskine comes with 5 adjustable settings and a sturdy clip that rotates 360 degrees ($29.95)

For travelers who need to carry a light load, check out the latest Amazon Kindle Paperwhite ($129.99). It’s thinner, lighter and can contain up to 32GB of storage. It’s also waterproof – reading while soaking in the hotel bath tub, anyone? For audiobook fans, Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Headphones ($253.98) are highly recommended for their compatibility to hear speech while blocking out noisy environments.

Beach Reading

Escaping to the beach? Of course, your gift recipient will need a supply of great beach books. To carry them, a regular tote won’t do. Instead, consider this vibrant neoprene tote ($320), which will keep beach reads sand and water free.

We love Copa’s beach chair ($109.95), perfect for reading once you’re tired of laying out flat. It features a padded head rest, built-in cup holder and even a mesh folder to keep your reading materials in. For a tongue-in-cheek beach cover-up, this “I like big books and I cannot lie” t-shirt ($19.99) gave us a giggle and will be sure to turn a few heads.

Those are our top gifts for book lovers everywhere. Be sure to check out our monthly book recommendations and other book-related coverage, too! Enjoy.

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Crediting her training as a cultural anthropologist at Wellesley College, Julie has immersed herself in various industries in the last 15 years including fashion design, event planning, fitness and even investigating police misconduct. Julie lives in NYC where she loves trying every ramen and dumpling restaurant with her husband and three children. She finds joy in bold prints, biographies of fierce women, kickboxing and spending way too long finding the perfect polish color to express her mood.

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