How to Make the Best Gifts for Book Lovers

*I am not affiliated with any of the products or stores mentioned in this article in any way.*

Finding the best gifts for book lovers is intimidating. Do they really need another bookmark? Do they have too many mugs? Choosing a book for someone else to read can be like taking a shot in the dark. A gift card is always a safe option, but what if you wanted to do something a little more? Enter the "blind date with a book" gift.

A blind date with a book is a cute gift for relaxation and reading books. It includes a book and a collection of things that readers can use to pamper themselves before, during, or after reading.

I got the idea for this Christmas gift for book lovers after looking at so many cute blind date with a book ideas on Etsy. But you can make these gifts yourself! In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to make this gift. I'll also tell you where you can get the best deal on the items to make the best gifts for book lovers! 

Best Gift for Book Lovers: Blind Date with a Book

As mentioned before, a blind date with a book box is a gift that includes a book of your choice to give the reader and a collection of things for the reader to pamper themselves with while they enjoy the book. 

You don’t have to include a book. You can call it a reader’s pamper package or relaxation kit without including a book. 

If you still want to get them the gift of a book but aren’t sure what to choose, you can always pick up a gift card. I included a gift card with one box for a friend because I didn’t trust myself to pick out a book for her. I chose a book for another friend. 

What to Include Inside this Gift for Book Lovers

The sky (and your budget) is the limit for what you include inside these boxes. It’s great to choose a mix of relaxation items and book-themed gifts.

Here’s what I included in my blind date with a book gift for book lovers:

• Lavender steam eye mask

• Hand mask

• Foot mask

• Nail file

• Fuzzy socks

• Reading log bookmark

Best Budget-Friendly Places to Buy The Gifts

Lavender Steam Eye Masks

I found these at Target a couple of years ago, but they cost around $2.99 a mask. You can purchase them individually at other stores, too, such as Five Below- but that will cost around the same price.

I like to get mine from Amazon. This pack of 16 costs $12.99, which means each mask costs around $0.81. 

Hand Masks and Foot Masks

Hand and foot masks cost an average of $3 each. Last year, I opted to get these cute winter-themed ones at Target. Five Below also has mask options for the same price. 

There are similar masks on Walgreens' website for $1.49. But you would have shipping fees.

Nail Files

Nail files are usually affordable at most places. The best value is on Amazon. You can get a 12-pack for $3.99, making each file around $0.33.

If you don’t need/want that many, you can get a 3-count from Five Below for around $2.25 to $2.50. Or a 2-count from Target for $1.29.

Fuzzy Socks

You can find fuzzy socks at many stores this time of year. I prefer to spend less than $2 a pair. I got the socks for these gifts last year at Kohl’s for around $1.50 a pair. 

Five Below sells a three-pack of fuzzy socks for $5. Places like Ross, Burlington, and TJMaxx should have similar deals.

Reading Log Bookmarks

I found these on Etsy and thought they were cool. I chose this set of five bookmarks on Etsy- the total cost was roughly $5.50 with shipping. Shipping will vary depending on where you live. 

These bookmarks aren’t the most budget-friendly option, per se, but I liked that I could support a small business. 

Etsy has other options, including printable downloads- which will make the bookmarks more cost-efficient in the long run.

Book or Giftcard

This option is up to you and what you think the book lover in your life would prefer/enjoy!

You can get gift cards to used bookstores, such as Half Price Books, or stores like Barnes and Noble. 

For a book, you could purchase a new one. Set a limit of around $10 or so for yourself, or get a used copy in great shape from a used bookstore. If you’re friends with the gift recipient on Goodreads, you could check out their "To Be Read" lists for book ideas.

Putting the Gifts for Book Lovers Together

I tried to make all the gifts seem on theme with the blind date with a book idea. So, I wrote a little saying on each item after wrapping them! What I wrote varied depending on the reader receiving the items and what they preferred to read. 

Here are some of the things I wrote on the gifts for a friend of mine who likes to read romance novels:

• “To soothe tired eyes when you stay up late reading… or when your favorite character dies.” (lavender eye masks)

• “For when your hands get dry from turning all those pages… and a little something for your feet for maximum reading relaxation!” (hand and foot masks)

• “To file out aggression because real men aren’t more like men in books.” (nail file)

• “To keep track of all your adventures this year.” (reading log bookmark)

After I got everything wrapped, I put it all inside a box. And voila!

Gifts for book lovers from article wrapped in Christmas paper with written statements as listed above on them beside a cozy pair of fuzzy socks.

Final Thoughts on the Best Gift for Book Lovers

The total cost of this gift using all the items mentioned in this article is under $20 (it's even less if you manage to get the Walgreens items!). 

You can also add teas and chocolate/candy, get a cute mug for cheap somewhere, or opt to switch out different things in this list. It’s completely up to you and what you think your reader would enjoy!

Need more help for Christmas this holiday season? Check out this article on the quickest, tastiest three-ingredient cookies ever!