10 Essential Things Every Bookworm Needs

As readers, there are a few things we really need. A single book is good enough to keep us occupied for a few hours, no matter where we are.

However, there are a number of items that every avid reader should have if they’re always reading. These accessories for book lovers are perfect for bookworms at home or on the go and make for great gifts too!

If you’re wondering what to buy a bookworm then check out these gifts ideas for avid readers too:

READ MORE: 24 Unique Gifts for Avid Readers

Here are what I see as the things every book lover needs:

Book Journal

If you’re reading several books a week it can be difficult to keep track of all the books you get through.

Years down the line you’ll probably have forgotten the details of the books you’ve read so when someone asks you what you thought you may not be able to offer more than a “good” or “meh”. That’s where book journals come in.

After each book you finish, just jot down a few lines about what it was about and what you felt, maybe a star rating too if that’s your thing. Just think how lovely it will be to flick back through at the end of the year to see all the different stories you’ve read.

You can buy a special book journal or just grab any old plain notebook. If you’re a particularly creative person you could create your own bullet-journal style notebook too!

If you’re not a fan of physically writing things down anymore, you can keep track via Goodreads. You can set up virtual bookshelves, write reviews, give ratings, join online discussions, add friends and more. If you want to stay up to date with my mini-reviews, follow me on Goodreads here.

A Huge Mug

Every reader likes to have a drink of tea or coffee by their side when they’re delving into a new novel. Ok, I don’t.

But I’m constantly berated by other bookworms for not being a big tea or coffee drinker! That doesn’t mean I don’t still have a rather large collection of bookish mugs though.

If you don’t have a huge mug to keep you company while you read, then you can invest in some really cool literary-inspired ones. Don’t just go for something cheap and boring!

My favourites are the Penguin Books inspired mugs. They take the classic orange paperback cover design and use it on the mug. You can choose between Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, or pretty much any title you like.

An LED Book Light

If you want to read at night, which you inevitably will if you’re an avid bookworm, you’ll be needing a little reading light or torch. It’s one of the best gadgets for book lovers!

They’re really cheap to buy, but they can be really handy if you need a bit of extra light focused on the page. If you’re a keen traveller then these can be useful for those long coach and plane journeys too.

Choose one to clip onto the bed or onto the page, whatever suits you. It’s one of the best gadgets for bookworms!

RELATED: 10 Best Book Lights for Reading

Beautiful Bookmarks

Often I’m lazy and I’ll just use an old receipt or ticket stub as a bookmark. I’m sure I’m not alone there!

However, I’ve also got a drawer stuffed with beautiful bookmarks made of different materials with different bookish quotes on them, which are just a bit more special.

Think leather bookmarks, origami bookmarks, Harry Potter bookmarks, magnetic bookmarks and more. The possibilities are endless!

A Bookish Tote Bag

I’ve always got a tote bag stashed away in the bottom of my rucksack or handbag because you never know when you’re going to walk past a good bookstore and, yknow, buy everything.

This is also essential for anyone looking to lead a more sustainable existence as you won’t need to rely on plastic bags for any random purchases.

Iconic bookshops such as Daunt Books and Shakespeare & Co in Paris are known for their gorgeous literary tote bags and I see loads of people sporting these on my morning commute.

There are also lots of great options from literary brands such as Obvious State with quotes from classics. Some are beautiful, some are punny (I Kant Even!).

I’ve also got some Harry Potter tote bags with quotes like “I’d rather be at Hogwarts”. There are loads online and one I’ve got my eye on is this one below that says “When in doubt, go to the library”.

Good Shelves

If you’re anything like me, you’ll have more books than you know what to do with! They seem to be spilling over into every corner of my house.

No matter how many shelves I put up for them, they always fill up far too quickly.

So for now, I just have to keep buying strong and sturdy shelves. Don’t buy the cheap, flimsy ones though. These break really easily if you pile on too many hardbacks!

RELATED: How to arrange your bookshelves

Ikea Billy bookcases are universally agreed to be some of the best cheap bookshelves out there.

They’ve got a huge range of tall, short, wide & thin bookcases that you can stand together to create a big or small library. I’ve got 4 different types of Billy bookcases in my home and 6 in my bedroom!

READ MORE: The Best Bookshelves for a Home Library

A Case for Your Kindle

Kindles don’t come cheap. They are great because you can fit so many novels into one tiny package, but you’re left in a tricky situation if it breaks. Luckily, these days they are pretty resilient, and they don’t stop working easily.

But they don’t have the advantage of ordinary books that can be read no matter how many times you drop them on the ground or in water!

I’d recommend investing in a decent case if you’re planning on taking your Kindle out and about with you and on your travels. You won’t regret it next time your Kindle slips out of your hand and onto the floor.

A Book Stamp

A book stamp probably isn’t what you were expecting to find on this list but it’s a really great gift idea for the bookworm in your life.

If you’re an avid reader, presumably your friends are always asking for your recommendations and borrowing your books.

In that case, you’ll want to make sure that all those books make their way back to you in the end. I’m always losing track of who I’ve lent what book to!

An easy way to make sure you know which books are yours, get a book stamp. This is a personalised book stamp with your name on it and it will stamp a phrase like: “This book belongs to Laura’s library” on it.

RELATED: Ladd Designs Personalised Book Stamps

This is one of the best book accessories for book lovers for two reasons. Firstly, it’s super fun to stamp all your books with this.

This is something that the famous Paris bookshop Shakespeare & Co does with each purchase and it’s a really lovely touch.

Secondly, with your name stamped in the front, there’s no way your friend will forget who to return the book to when they’re done!

Lots of small businesses create beautiful book stamps on Etsy and I’d recommend checking out these ones:
StampByMeStudio
BuleriaStamps
FernbankStudioUK
DoodleStampUK

Book Darts

Book darts are one of the best reading accessories for bookworms. They are only a recent discovery of mine and I’m not sure how I’ve gone this far in my bookish life without them.

I’m the kind of person who hates dog-eared pages and has pristine books. I hate the thought of bending the spine or writing and highlighting books unless they’re for study.

When I come across a quote I particularly like, I usually take a photo on my phone where it remains forevermore, a screenshot that is never to be seen again.

That’s where book darts come in. They are wonderful metal markers that easily slide onto the page, drawing attention to your favourite passages. They are shaped like darts so it is easy to see which quotes you meant to pick out.

Since they are made from metal, I was worried that they would rip the page but they actually slide seamlessly on and off but also don’t fall out when you shake your book around!

It’s a pretty unique bookish gift and perfect for book lovers. They’ve even been featured in Red Magazine!

Buy Book Darts online here now.

A Book Sleeve

Book sleeves are one of the top things all book lovers need. They’re all the rage on Instagram right now and it was Benita from Book Beau who kickstarted this revolution.

Now I’ve got 4 book sleeves from a variety of different brands and I don’t know what I’d do without them! For me, this is one of the top things book lovers need.

It’s essentially a cover for your book so it doesn’t get knocked or bent whilst in your bag on the move.

I don’t know why these weren’t invented years ago because I am one of those super anal people who hates to even bend the spine of the book.

Some great online book sleeve companies are Book Beau, MelvisMakes and BookBestiesUK.

Get 10% off Book Beau with this link!

Somewhere Comfortable to Read

We all need to be comfortable when we sit down and get stuck into a novel. I’m lucky to have a cosy reading corner in my bedroom but yours can be as simple as a pile of cushions in a quiet corner of the house or your bed.

There’s nothing worse than feeling uncomfortable and restless when you’re trying to read. It becomes impossible to concentrate!

Gather fluffy cushions, woollen throws, soft lighting – whatever you need to feel cosy and relaxed. Then block out the world and snuggle down with a good book.

You could also consider getting a hammock or swinging bench for your garden so you can read outside in the summer months! Check out my detailed post on how to create a cosy reading nook for all my top tips for every budget and every space.

If you loved this post, check these out:
5 Ideas to Help You Expand Your Reading Collection
24 Bookstagram Prop Ideas
7 Reasons to Always Carry a Book With You
How to Cut Down Your TBR Once and For All
How To Create a Cosy Reading Corner
How to Declutter Your Bookshelves

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Laura

Founder & Editor of What’s Hot?

Laura is an award-winning travel and book blogger based in the UK. She studied French literature at Oxford University and is now an IP lawyer at a top law firm in London. She was named UK Book Blogger of the Year in 2019 and loves to combine her passion for books and travel with literary travel.

[ This post was updated in May 2019 ]