11 Best Gifts for Book Lovers & Audiobook Fans—Reviews, Photos

It’s the first-ever Kindle with color display, which is A Big Deal for fans of the original black-and-white tech. The 7-inch screen will finally be able to project book covers in all their vibrancy, highlighted sections in yellow, orange, blue, and pink hues. The Colorsoft is at the top of my list, not only for its cool color but also for its wireless charging abilities and larger storage bank (32 GB of memory compared to the original’s 16 GB). With as much traveling as I do and the number of books I read a month (usually around 20!), the new additions to the classic e-reader will certainly come in clutch.

For the Cozy Reader: Viozon Tablet Stand Pillow

If you’ve ever accidentally dropped your phone, Kindle, or tablet onto your face mid-scroll while supine, may I introduce you to this hands-free and incredibly cozy pillow stand? It’ll hold your electronics in place with its rotating arm, while the middle cubby console will keep your emotional support water bottle and snacks steady—leaving you empty-handed to do…anything!

For the Audiobook Lover: Audible Subscription

As someone who has listened to up to 25 audiobooks in a month, having a monthly membership to a subscription service, like Audible, is a must. Not only will a membership keep you from spending extra on piecemeal audiobooks—which can get costly real fast at $20 a pop—but it’ll also keep you in the loop on all of the new audiobook releases ahead of launch. Audible, specifically, often has deals with deep discounts on trending books, so if and when you run out of monthly credits, you can always scour the sales.

For the Spicy Audiobook Lover: Apple AirPods Max

Listen….no, literally listen. I don’t want to be That Girl who hypes up every single Apple product, but the rumor is that the sound quality of AirPods Max headphones is truly elite. If your book-loving giftee is as into audiobooks as much as I am, they’re going to want the best noise-canceling option on the market, to not only drown out ambient sound but to ensure no one would ever be able to audibly catch them listening to spicy audiobooks in the wild. Or….is that just me?

For the On-Trend Reader: Book of the Month Subscription

If your reader was one of the first to get their hands on Sally Rooney’s new novel, Intermezzo, last month, or if they’re already talking about next year’s most anticipated releases, a subscription to Book of the Month is just the gift for them. Every month, your giftee will choose a just-launched hardcover from a pool of new releases, so they’ll always be in the know of what’s new and cool in the book world. (Ed note: I also want to be in the know, so… Family, if you’re reading this, I’d love this too, please!)

For the Late-Night Reader: Glocusent Rechargeable Book Light

Glocusent

Rechargeable Book Light

Associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen reading Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo with a book light.

Courtesy of Sarah Kinonen

For the night owls, insomniacs, and readers who can’t bear to go to bed until the enemies-to-lovers book finally gets to the lovers part of the story, this dimmable, rechargeable book light will keep your book (or Kindle!) illuminated without disturbing others. I’m partial to the green light, but if Brat Summer isn’t your vibe, you can choose from pink, purple, blue, or white colorways.

For the Indecisive Reader: “Blind Date with a Book”

Feeling uninspired by your towering TBR? Let fate decide your next read with “Blind Date with a Book.” I love this gift’s concept because not only does it take the guesswork out of searching stacks and stacks of shelves for a great book, but the surprise element makes it fun for both the gifter and the giftee—no one knows what’s been wrapped up until it’s opened! If you know your giftee’s preferred genre, you can select from a variety of options (romance, fantasy, thriller, etc.), share their Goodreads account, and…voilà! A neatly packaged book, along with some cute extras, like stickers and bookmarks, will be sent straight to the reader recipient—how fun!

For the Corporate Reader: Born to Read, Forced to Work T-Shirt

Presented without comment. This tee, which comes in a variety of colors, textures, and sizes (Comfort Fit all the way), speaks my language. I’ll be honest: If I could, I’d be reading right now. Or listening to an audiobook. (Okay, fine, maybe I am currently listening to an audiobook, but that’s neither here nor there.) Since I can’t read and work at the same time, I’ll just wear this T-shirt in protest. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job. I just happen to love reading a little bit more. Gift this graphic tee to the book-loving friend who feels the same.

For the Bed Rot-Loving Reader: Hantuswus Lazy Glasses

Associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen wears the “lazy glasses” while laying flat in bed reading.

Courtesy of Sarah Kinonen

Are these quite possibly the most ridiculous things you’ve ever seen? Yes. Do I still want them? Double yes. As a cozy bed reader, I often jump into my books while I’m horizontal, which one, probably isn’t great for my neck and lower back, and two, means I have to hold my Kindle up or MacGyver a makeshift pillow prop to keep my e-reader upright (see above request for a tablet pillow). With these goofy glasses, I can lay completely flat while still being able to read and maintain supreme comfort, thanks to the geniusness of their prism lenses.

For the Physical Book Reader: Sprout Bookmarks

Polaroids, receipts, scraps of paper—you name it, and I’ve probably used it as a makeshift bookmark at some point. And while random objects around my house certainly work great as page-holders in a pinch, nothing compares to the convenience and cuteness of these sprout- and mushroom-shaped bookmarks. Join me in stocking up on these teeny-tiny fawn and fungi friends, which make for the most adorable gift for the reader in your life.