So we are fast approaching that time of year when the halls are decked with holly, the mince pies have been in the shops since August and it’s getting close to the time when the big man comes to visit. If you have a book lover in your life, but they seem to own all the books (we don’t, there’s always room for one more), then you may be worrying what to get. Worry no longer. They are many literary themed goods available to delight any book worm.
First up book subscriptions. Now you may worry that you would be buying a duplicate but there are lots of options to choose from, some which virtually guarantee there won’t be any second, or third, copies of books, except by design.
The Locked Library is a book only subscription that offers 1 month or 3 months subscriptions. For that you receive a special edition fantasy, sci-fi , a letter from the author and extra content and a monthly Locked Library event with the author and the Locked Library Team. Prices are £22 for one month and £60 for three months. Find out more here.
The British Library Crime Classics subscription delivers the latest in the Crime Classics series to your door each month. Each book will be a re-discovered Golden Age crime novel from the early part of the 20th Century, featuring authors such as John Dickson Carr, E C R Lorac and Christianna Brand. Great for lovers of Agatha Christie novels, the series brings her contemporary writers into the 21st Century. The subscription is £9.99 per month and you can see which upcoming titles can be expected. You can read my review for the subscription here.
Books That Matter describe themselves as the feminist book subscription. Each month includes a book by a female author, gifts from female companies and creators and include other items such as socks, tote bags and much more. Book only subscriptions start at £10 for one month. Book box subscriptions start at £18.50 for one month. You can find out more here and read my review of a box I bought here.
Rare Birds Books. Their tag line is “We find the best books by women and give you fresh and exciting ways to discover them”. They shortlist new fiction and the subscriber chooses based on two secret blurbs. The books arrive and then there’s an online book group to discuss the choices. Prices start at £15 for one month, £45 for three months, £87 for six months and £168 for 12 months. You can find out more here.
Coffee and Crime is a vintage crime subscription box, curated by Kate over on Etsy. Each month you will receive two vintage crime novels along with a choice of drink, a sweet treat and other book related items. There’s even a sale on until 27th December and Kate sends boxes around the world. Subscriptions usually cost £19.99 plus postage for the UK for one month but is currently £17.99. Three months is currently £54.38 and and 6 months £111.60. Prices vary for overseas depending on the country. You can find out more about the subscription here and read my review of a box I purchased here.
LoveMyRead has subscriptions for children and adults. You can either choose a book for the recipient or allow them to choose their own. Each month has a carefully curated selection of books published that month, or there is the choice to pick from previous months. The book arrives with further information about the book and author, confectionary, drinks, for example tea bags, and an additional item. In my first box I received a candle. Prices start at £9.99 for one book on the standard plan, £16,99 for a one month premium plan, or three months at £45.00. They can ship worldwide and shipping costs are worked out at the till. Children’s subscriptions are £11.99 for one month, £33.00 for three months, £62.00 for six months and £124 for 12 months. You can find out more here. My review for my first box will be live soon (I did receive a free 3 month subscription but I don’t receive any other payment).
My Chronicle Box have different themed book subscriptions and one off boxes. From a feel good box, at £17 per month to crime (£27.50) or fantasy themed boxes (£48 every three months for a quarterly book box), which start at £ for one month there should be something to suit everyone. The boxes include a book, author content and a bookish gift. You can read more about their boxes here and read my review here. (I received one free box for review purposes. I did not receive any payment for my review).
Bookshops also offer subscription services.
Bookish Crick offer a variety of books, by theme or age. You can choose from crime book subscriptions, romance, poetry or sci-fi. Prices vary depending on which type you choose and whether you go for a book and gift or a book and coffee but start at £11 per month for a children’s book or £13 a month for a paperback. You can find out more here.
Berts Books have a huge selection of book bundles on offer. These vary from clothbound classics starting at £15.99 a month, include author, publisher or series themed bundles, such as Agatha Christie, from £8.99 a month or Orenda Books selection starting at £9.99 every two months or prize collections such as The Booker Prize selection from £9.99 a month. You can find out more here.
Fox lane Books subscribers will be sent a questionnaire to help create their own bespoke package. Depending on the subscription level, contents include a book, tea, coffee or hot chocolate, confectionary, a bookmark and a post card. Six month subscriptions include a £5 voucher for money off a book and 12 month subscriptions include a £10 voucher or a book pin. Prices vary depending on the subscription but typically a reader’s choice three month subscription is £46, a non-fiction three month subscription is £48 and a picture book three month subscription is £38. You can find out more here.
Mr B’s Emporium offer both subscriptions and a reading spa. If you can attend their shop in Bath, for £95 one of Mr B’s book experts will discuss your reading tastes over coffee and cake. They will then hand pick a pile of suggestions and leave you to choose. The price includes refreshments and £60 to spend on books. You can find out more here. For those who can’t get to the shop they have subscriptions too. They deliver worldwide and you can choose between hardback and paperback. Prices vary but as an example, a three month subscription in the UK for paperback choices is £50. Find out more here.
Clothes and accessories
Bags, jewellery and clothes. Along with reading books, there’s also something alluring about wearing them too. Here are a few suggestions of literary inspired accessories and clothes.
Personalised book stack T Shirt
Alice in Wonderland teapot necklace
Jane Austen fans will no doubt already be aware of the Jane Austen gift shop. There you can by a myriad of Austen related goods, from place mats to mystery boxes. Here are a few things that caught my eye.
Obstinate Headstrong Girl Jumper
Yoshi are famous for their book themed bags. From gardening to gothic, pencil cases to handbags there should be something for everyone. You can find out more here.
The Cambridge Satchel Company have already done a collaboration with publisher Vintage. They have now just released a Matilda theme with items from satchels to notebooks. You can find out more here.
Homeware and furnishings
Much like a house isn’t a home without books, home furnishings with book themes can set a room off just so. Here are a few ideas to help that home library (aka the teetering pile of books in the corner of the bedroom) pop.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz novel poster
Bronte Parsonage cushion cover
Wizard of Oz Ruby Slippers Vase
Literary Map of the UK Tea Towel
Puzzles, games and crafts
When you can’t move after Christmas dinner, the King’s speech is over and things are getting fractious, then it’s time to dig out the games. Or if you are creative, it can be time to get a little crafty.
Notebooks, calendars and diaries
Every bookworm needs somewhere to mark when new releases are due to be published, and other less important dates of course.
Bibliophile Diverse Spines Calendar
Gifts under £15
Mugs, socks, soaps and totes. All of the usual Christmas presents but levelled up when they are book related.
Women who changed the World mug
Female British Literary Geniuses zipper pouch
Rainbow Penguin book covers mug
In fact The Literary Gift Company have a drawer full of great socks
The Taming of the Shrew tote bag
Charlotte Bronte pocket notebook
“Though She Be But Little She is Fierce” keyring
Dangerous Women Read pencil case
And what should you wrap them in? Bookish wrapping paper of course.
I’ve only linked to selected products to give you an idea of what’s out there. There are lots of other websites and products available. I hope you find something that will be just the right present for someone in your life.
Happy shopping.
*Please note, none of these links are affiliate links. I do not receive any payment for including any company, I have no affiliation with any of them and I will receive no money from any sales.*
From First Page to Last 
Brilliant post, Janet! I’ve listened in on Mr B’s Reading Spas a few times when browsing and they’re great.
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Thanks for sharing this! I found lots of things I like 😅
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That’s a wonderful post, Janet – brim full of great ideas, thank you for doing this. Particularly interested to read about all the book subs and also the bookshops which do subs. Always great to support smaller businesses!!
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This is a fabulous resource. I subscribed to Books that Matter when it first started but I did get a couple of books that I had already read.
I have a love of literary jigsaws, I have already done that Agatha Christie one . A lovely one to do. The Literary gift company have loads of literary jigsaws so I am hoping to get a voucher to buy some after Christmas.
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Brilliant! I have the vase and socks already!
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What a fabulous selection of gift ideas, Janet. I’m sure I’ll be trawling through some of these websites in the future for various gifts. A friend gave me some lovely Bibliophile notelets last year. They’re also on the Literary Gift Company Website, so many thanks for the tip!
https://www.theliterarygiftcompany.com/products/bibliophile-notes
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