Looking for the best book basket ideas for adults to include in your book gift baskets? You will surely find something in this gift guide that the adult avid reader in your life would love!

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Whether it’s a birthday, Christmas, or other special occasion, a book gift basket is the perfect gift that combines the joy of reading with essential goodies that every adult reader would love. A personalized book gift basket is like a treasure trove of literary delights, cozy accessories, and fun treats that help to create an enjoyable reading experience. In this guide, we’ll go over creating a book lover gift basket with 15+ book basket ideas for adults enough – bookish goodies to make any bibliophile weak at the knees!

This post is about creating a book lover gift box and finding the best book-themed gifts to include in your book gift baskets!

The Ultimate Guide to A Book Lover’s Gift Basket

Are gift baskets a good idea?

Book gift baskets are unique gifts that offer a wide range of choices tailored to suit the interest of the person you are gifting to. It’s like opening a treasure chest of surprises in one neat package that can be curated to match any personality or interest perfectly. Plus, it’s a thoughtful gift that shows your friend that you considered items that interest them, which adds an extra sentimental touch. 

Gone are the days of gifting boring, single books; now, you can surprise your book-lover friends with a creative gift idea: sending them a unique book gift basket of everything they need to keep their reading marathons going strong. 

How can I make my book gift basket more special?

To make your book gift basket more special, think of the person you are giving this fun gift to. What are their likes and dislikes? What are their favorite book, items, and colors?

Here are some book basket ideas to make your gift basket more special:

• Decorate with paper tissue in their favorite color
• Add filler gifts like their favorite candies to add that extra personal touch
• Add a special touch with a handwritten card telling them all the great things you love about them or simply how grateful you are for them to be in your life
• To go the extra mile, include handwritten notes with quotes from their favorite authors
• Add personalized bookish items with their name on them
• For extra brownie points, get their favorite book autographed by their favorite author

Making a book gift basket more special is easiest when you can personalize their gifts to their interests and include all their favorite things in the basket. 

How to make a book gift basket

1. Start with the essentials

First, list all the main items you want to include in your book-themed gift baskets. Use the book basket ideas from this article to get you started. Gather all the necessary goodies to put together your book lover gift box.

The basics of what you will need:

• A gift box or basket large enough to fit all your items. This basket already comes with the cellophane and bow, ready for you to make your book lover gift basket.
• Craft crinkle paper and colored tissue paper to use as a basket filler
• Book basket ideas for adults from the list below
• Smaller filler gifts like their favorite treats

Optional items that you don’t need but are nice to add:

You don’t have to wrap your gift basket, but it adds a finished touch to your present and keeps all your items together in the basket

• Clear cellophane (at least 2 yards or large enough to cover your whole basket) or colored tulle large enough to wrap your basket
• A wired bow
• A gift tag

2. Show some love with personal touches

Next, add to your list all the smaller filler gifts, such as your reader friend’s favorite candy, drinks, or treats. Reading definitely works up an appetite! Find items in a variety of sizes and textures to create interest. 

If your reader loves a specific genre, series of books, or author, you can create a reading gift basket around that theme. For example, if they love the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas (like I do!), create your bookish gift with only items inspired by that specific series, such as including an ACOTAR shirt, Valkyrie bookmarks, and stickers with Rhysand’s face on it (definitely swoon-worthy!). 

As mentioned above, add personalized handwritten notes or funny anecdotes about each item. Consider favorite book genres or authors. Write small quotes from their favorite book on notecards or handmade bookmarks. 

3. Presentation is everything 

Once you have all your items, it is time to assemble them!

MOM TIP: Building up your base is an important tip when putting together your book gift basket. If your basket is shallow, use basket filler or other items to help elevate the rest of your items when you arrange them together. 

Instead of just placing the books haphazardly in the basket, arrange them in an aesthetically pleasing and organized way. Build up different heights when arranging your items to give your gift basket some depth. Put the taller items in the back and the smaller items in the front so that everything is seen. Add crumpled tissue paper around the books while exposing their covers to enhance visual appeal. 

If you are wrapping your gift (which I highly recommend, especially if your basket has low sides), place your basket with all the items in the middle of the cellophane or tulle, secure it as a gift wrap at the top, and tie the top with the wired ribbon and gift tag. 

What can I use instead of a gift basket?

Think outside of the basket! Just because we are talking about book gift baskets does not mean you must use a traditional basket! You may even need a bigger basket or box. Try to put all your items in something large enough to keep everything in one place.

Instead of a gift basket, other options you can use are: 

• plastic container
• galvanized metal container
• large bowl
• decorative box
• a wooden crate
• plastic tub
• metal tub
• large purse/bag

Places like Hobby Lobby, Walmart, and Dollar Tree have inexpensive items to assemble your gift. 

What To Put In A Book Gift Basket

You can always go the safe route and get your loved ones gift cards to their favorite bookstore to buy a good book. But these book basket ideas will definitely wow your favorite bookworm when you hand them their DIY book lover gift box filled with all the fun things every reader needs on their reading journey. 

1. Kindle Paperwhite

Past me would say I prefer a physical book over an e-reader. Never in a million years would I have thought of purchasing an e-reader because there is something cathartic about holding a book in my hand.

I still love having physical books, but I finally made the switch to a Kindle Paperwhite, and it is my FAVORITE device as a book lover. I’m so glad I did it, and now I prefer to read on my e-reader.

A few advantages of having an e-reader over a book are:

• You can literally have an entire library all on one device
• Kindles are more durable than physical books
• E-readers are so convenient that you can bring them anywhere
• Having a Kindle can also help save money because e-books are generally cheaper than physical books

Also, there is this wonderful thing called Kindle Unlimited, where you can get many free books for a small monthly price. What a wonderful present to give! Make sure to let your friend know that Libby also lets them get free books from the library downloaded straight to their Kindle.

2. Tablet Holder With Remote Control Page Turner

3. TBR Books or Special Edition Books

Buying your friend’s favorite book for their book gift basket is a no-brainer, but since it is their favorite book, they may already have a physical copy on their bookshelves! A better gift would be to buy them their favorite book in a special edition they may not have or books with an illustration overlay. Think Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros with the frayed edges – I would give up a limb for this edition!

Another option you can do is to buy a book on your friend’s TBR list! What does TBR stand for? TBR is a book lover’s acronym for “To Be Read” – which is a never-ending list of books that they would want to read but haven’t gotten to yet. Help them out and surprise them with a physical copy of a few books on their TBR list!

Still not sure what books to get them? Check out goodreads.com and barnesandnoble.com for some great suggestions within specific genres. Both sites usually have something like a list of “The Best Books of the Year So Far” to help you choose.

I’m a fantasy romance girlie through and through. So, if your reader also loves being lost in different worlds and being in wild book adventures, here are my top 3 reads that were all recently released this past year:

READ NEXT → The 10 Best Books For Fall You NEED To Add To Your TBR!

4. Journals

Having a book journal is a great way to keep track of all your thoughts while reading and helps the reader reflect on their favorite book.

5. Coffee Mug

Coffee mugs are essential for enjoying coffee, tea, or hot chocolate while enjoying their favorite books and would be a perfect gift to include in the book gift basket. A cozy reading session is incomplete without a cup of my favorite beverage. Keep those hot drinks warm with an insulated mug like those from Hydro Flask.

6. Specialty Coffee, Tea, and Hot Chocolate

My go-to reading drink will always be Celestial Seasonings Honey Vanilla Chamomile Herbal Tea. I’ve tried other teas before, and I always go back to this one because it tastes so good, has the right amount of sweetness, and has chamomile to help me relax since I read right before bed.

However, I’ve recently come across this brand of tea that I definitely would love to try just because the tea names are just so darn clever. They have teas called “Pride and Peppermint” and “Wizard of 2 Oz” and “The Picture of Earl Grey” – a fun twist to classical novels. The company, NovelTeaTins.com, also has great reviews, and you can order the teas in book-shaped tins. Let me know if you end up trying this tea brand, and which one is your favorite!

7. Emotional Support Water Bottle

Stay hydrated with an emotional support water bottle by sipping water throughout the reading session. I always carry a Stanley Travel Tumbler with me at all times as it keeps my liquid cold, fits in the cup area of my car, and carries 40 ounces.

8. Magnetic Bookmarks

Keep track of where you left off in your reading with a cute magnetic bookmark. Etsy has so many designs ranging from cute to spicy.

And the picture above is for my spicy bookish girlies – if you know, you know!

9. Annotation Supplies

I personally have all of these, and I absolutely love them. They are each under $10, very affordable, and are a must-have for any reader who annotates their books.

10. Series Merchandise

Honestly, these would be the best addition to your book gift box. Any merchandise that is inspired by their favorite fandoms featuring their beloved book characters is sure to leave a mark on their hearts.

I mean, look how adorable the chibi Fourth Wing characters are on that mug! The mug is available on Narrative Threads. They offer super adorable products that are licensed. The Throne of Glass sweatshirt is from the shop Dark Academias. Lastly, Etsy has a lot of bookish gifts to check out; just make sure that the product you are buying is licensed merchandise.

Other items that can be purchased with their favorite book characters on it are:

• Bookmarks
• Shirts
• Bookish Stickers
• Beanies
• Tote bags
• Patches

11. Scented Candles

Reading with a candle burning brings an extra layer of magic to the act of getting lost in a book. Create an intimate reading atmosphere to unwind and detach from the day’s stresses with a book-themed candle.

12. Reading Light

This one has over 30,000 positive reviews! This light is a must-have for when you’re staying up reading that cliffhanger!

13. Bookends or Flower Vases

A reader is always running out of room to store their books. You can never go wrong with a type of shelf, bookend, or even a cute bookend flower vase.

For my fantasy girls or readers who love books like Fourth Wing and Throne of Glass, this 3D dragon bookend is the coolest to give as a gift! It can be sandwiched between books for the perfect decoration for the bookshelves! This dragon reminds me of Tairn from Fourth Wing!

14. Self Care Items

15. A Custom Embosser

An embosser is a gift every book lover needs to build their own library. It is so much easier than a stamp since you won’t have to worry about ink or smudging anything. There are different designs you can choose from and personalize it with.

16. Bonus Idea: Book Lover Gift Box

This 11-Piece Book Lover Gift Box already comes with everything you need to make your book gift basket. The items range from bookmarks to a tote bag to cozy reading socks, and many more, all packaged and ready for gift giving.

Book gift baskets are an enchanting and fun way to celebrate the joy of reading, packaged as a delightful present to your beloved bookworms. Creating a book lover gift box offers a thoughtful selection of literary treasures that will leave the readers in your life feeling cozy, inspired, and ready to dive into their favorite adventures. 

What will you put in your book gift basket?

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