And while I can’t promise your romance reader will feel exactly the same way, I hope there’s at least something on this list that you know would make them smile.
BOOK SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE
We all love a good subscription box, right? And sure, you could go for flowers every month, or nice socks. But let’s be honest, a subscription service that gives us a carefully curated book selection every month, maybe even with added bookish gifts? That’s always going to be a winner.
Where to buy:
The Willoughby Book Club has boxes for fiction and non-fiction, and offers three month subscriptions from £39.99
https://www.thewilloughbybookclub.co.uk
The Chocolate and Book Club covers two of life’s essentials in one, and has a special Romance box too! £14.99 per month, or £44.00 for three months
https://www.chocolateandbook.com
Mr B’s Emporium Reading Subscriptions involve the recipient filling out a questionnaire about their reading preferences, before the perfect books are selected for them, one a month, by their very own Bibliotherapist! From £45 for three months.
https://mrbsemporium.com/gifts/reading-subscriptions/
Skewing more to the YA fantasy end of the spectrum, Illumicrate boxes also contain all sorts of bookish gifts, and often include special limited edition versions of the books. From £26 per month.
BOOKISH AFTERNOON TEA
Going out for dinner for Valentine’s is a cliche, but afternoon tea? That’s never not a good idea. Make it extra special by choosing one of these brilliant bookish teas.
Where to go:
Check out this Secret London article for all sorts of wonderful afternoon teas in the capital! From Sherlock Holmes to Alice in Wonderland and everything in between.
BOOKISH CANDLES
I don’t know what it is about books and candles, but just take a peek over at #bookstagram to be convinced that it is definitely A Thing. So much a thing, in fact, that there are whole ranges of book themed candles for your Valentine to enjoy while they’re reading this February fourteenth.
Where to buy:
Bookish Burns have beautifully scented and glittery book related candles.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BookishBurns
Reading Room Candle Company have genre specific candles, as well as series based ones.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ReadingRoomCandleCo
Little Bookish Company also have delicious smelling book candles – and some Gilmore Girls ones too!
BOOKISH JEWELLERY
Sure, you could buy them an ordinary necklace. Or you could buy them a Pride and Prejudice necklace…
Where to buy:
The Literary Emporium has bookish pins, necklaces… and the always useful bookmarks!
https://www.literaryemporium.co.uk
The Literary Gift Company stocks endless bookish gifts, as well as jewellery.
https://www.theliterarygiftcompany.com
And the Jane Austen shop has the P&P Necklace (amongst other things!)
https://www.janeausten.co.uk/product/panel-style-pride-and-prejudice-necklace/
BOOK TOKENS
Okay, yes, I know that vouchers are boring, but hear me out here. They love books, right? They probably want more books. But are you one hundred percent sure that the book you’re about to buy them is one they don’t already have? No? Then get a voucher. Choosing the books ourselves is half the fun, anyway.
And vouchers don’t have to be boring – not if you make it an experience. A book buying extravaganza, for example. Make a day of it – a trip to the biggest bookstore in reasonable driving distance, with coffee and cake at the cafe too.
A TRIP TO AN AUTHOR’S HOUSE
Sometimes, the best gift is time together, doing something fun. Like a visit to a beloved author’s house… where there’s probably a gift shop. One that sells books.
Where to go:
Check out this article from House & Garden for some great literary homes to visit:
https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/travel-guide-famous-writers-houses-to-visit-uk
QUOTE PRINTS
How about a snippet of their favourite book for their wall, so they can enjoy it every day?
Where to buy:
The Story Gift sells beautifully designed prints (and mugs, notebooks, candles, and many other things!) – my favourite is the book hoarding dragon…
https://www.thestorygift.co.uk
The Bookworm Prints has some classic black and white quote prints – and the option to customise your own.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheBookwormPrints
BookishlyUK have beautiful, colour prints – as well as framed book pages with quote prints on.
TIME TO READ
The one thing every romance reader wants more than anything, is more time to read. So why not give it to them? Take the kids out for the day, take over some of their chores, send them to bed early with a book while you do the dishes – or, best of all, curl up with them with your own book, and enjoy reading together. (But maybe bring some chocolates too if you pick this option. Just in case…)
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