Guide
Gifts for book lovers, and how to choose an e-reader
Ad: this page contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you buy through them, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Our links lead only to Amazon, so we cannot send you to other shops.
In brief
The best gift for a book lover depends less on a product than on how they read: paper, e-book or audio, and whether they already own the thing you are about to buy. For most readers, a small, well-chosen item (a bookmark, a book light, a subscription in their genre) lands better than a gadget. If you are considering an e-reader, the choice that matters most in the UK is Kindle or Kobo: Libby's help page shows that library e-books work on newer Kobo e-readers, a UK council library page says they do not work on Kindle e-readers, and Kobo reads open EPUB files directly. We name no product and rank nothing.
Who it suits: anyone buying for a reader and unsure where to start. Who it doesn't suit: someone who wants a ranked top ten of books or gadgets; we publish none.
What are good gifts for book lovers?
Three UK shops that sell to readers show what the market considers a "book lover gift". Their sites (October 2026) suggest the following categories; we leave their products and prices to them:
- The Willoughby Book Club lists adult subscriptions in themes such as fiction, crime, non-fiction, bespoke, food and drink, homes and gardens, natural history and wellbeing, plus gift tins where the recipient picks the genre and length. It also lists gift boxes, stationery, book lights, book-shaped candles, book vases, audiobooks and gift cards.
- Bookishly has a gifts collection, a book subscription section (classics boxes, poetry, crime and thriller), personalised books, framed book page prints, literary candles, tote bags, cushions, mugs, stationery and gift vouchers. Its site does not list book lights or bookends.
- The Gifted Bookworm sells small gifts meant to make reading more enjoyable, including a book club tote bag and a mug, offers printable packs (a reading challenge, bingo sheets, make-your-own bookmarks), and runs gift guides on hampers and book lovers in general.
That gives you a practical menu: something to read (a subscription, a voucher, an audiobook), something to read with (a light, a bookmark, a stand), something bookish for the home (a candle, a print, a cushion) and something to share (a hamper, a reading challenge).
| The reader you are buying for | A safe choice | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Reads paperbacks and loves the feel of paper | A bookmark, a book light, a subscription in their genre | A screen gadget they did not ask for |
| Already owns an e-reader | A case, a light or a voucher for the shop they use | A second e-reader |
| Travels often or reads in bed | An e-reader, if you have checked how they get their books | Guessing between Kindle and Kobo |
| Has a full bookshelf | An e-book voucher, an audiobook credit or a small item | Another big hardback |
| Reads one genre only | A subscription or voucher in that genre | A box in the wrong genre |
| Is hard to buy for | A gift voucher from a shop they use | Choosing a title for them |
book light book stand Amazon affiliate links
What should you ask before you buy?
A few questions beat any list:
- How do they read? Paper, e-reader, phone or audio? A paperback lover may dislike a screen gift; an e-reader fan may already own two.
- What are they reading now? A subscription box in the wrong genre is wasted.
- How much shelf space do they have? A book lover with a full shelf may prefer an e-book voucher or a small item.
- Do they already own it? Check with a friend or family member, or buy a gift receipt.
- Any scent or allergy issue? Candles are popular, but not for everyone.
- When do you need it by? Check the seller's last order date for the occasion rather than assuming.
What are the best small gifts for book lovers?
Small gifts work because they are low risk and personal. From the shops above, the small categories are bookmarks, stationery, mugs, tote bags and printable packs, plus book lights. A book light is a good test case: the point is to read in the dark without disturbing someone, so check that it clips securely, that the light is adjustable and that it is rechargeable or has easy-to-replace batteries.
If your reader also likes to unwind with a stretch after a long evening on the sofa, a small wellbeing gift can sit alongside the book; our guide to yoga blocks → explains what a beginner needs, and our page on resistance bands → covers a compact option for gentle strength work.
If you cannot choose, a gift voucher from a shop the person uses is a legitimate present, not a failure of imagination.
What are some good personalised gifts, and what about returns?
Personalised books, prints and sleeves are popular, and the shop categories above show they are widely offered. The catch is returns. GOV.UK's guidance for sellers on returns and refunds (October 2026) says that for online orders a customer can normally cancel within 14 days of receiving the goods, but it lists exceptions where a refund is due only if the item is faulty. Those exceptions include personalised or custom-made items, perishable items such as flowers, newspapers and magazines, unwrapped CDs, DVDs and computer software, and sealed items that cannot be returned for hygiene reasons once opened. So if you buy a personalised present, check the spelling twice before you order, because you may not be able to send it back if you simply change your mind.
Is an e-reader a good gift?
It can be, for a reader who travels, reads in bed, or has run out of shelf space. It is a poor gift for someone who loves the feel of paper, or who reads mostly illustrated books and large documents. An e-reader is also a commitment to a shop and a way of buying books, which is why the Kindle or Kobo question is not a minor detail.
If you are buying for someone who already owns an e-reader, do not buy another. A case, a light or a voucher for the same book shop is safer.
Is it better to get a Kobo or a Kindle?
Neither is better in general; the right one depends on how the person gets their books. Here is what the published help pages say.
| Question | Kindle e-readers | Kobo e-readers |
|---|---|---|
| Borrowing library e-books through Libby or OverDrive in the UK | Cambridgeshire County Council's library page says OverDrive and Libby do not work with Kindle e-readers | Libby's help page says many newer models have built-in OverDrive support |
| Formats you can load yourself | Amazon's Send to Kindle help lists HTML, RTF, TXT, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PDF and EPUB | Kobo's help centre lists EPUB, EPUB2, EPUB3, PDF, FlePub and MOBI for books, with Adobe DRM and Social DRM support |
| Where the books come from | Built around Amazon's Kindle Store | Kobo's own books service; Kobo's format page does not mention Kindle |
Library books. The Libby help page on reading library e-books on a Kobo (October 2026) says many newer Kobo models include built-in OverDrive support, and calls borrowing directly on the Kobo "the best way to borrow books from your library". Not all Libby e-books are compatible, and audiobooks and magazines from Libby are not supported on Kobo devices. A UK council library page (Cambridgeshire County Council, undated) is blunt about Kindle: "Please note OverDrive and Libby do not work with Kindle eReaders". It lists Kobo, Nook, PocketBook and Tolino as compatible.
File formats. Amazon's Send to Kindle help page (October 2026) says the service lets you send documents to your Kindle library at no extra cost, by uploading on the web (up to 200 MB), from an authorised email address, from the Kindle app on iOS or Android, from desktop apps for Mac and Windows or from a Chrome extension. It lists HTML, RTF, TXT, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PDF and EPUB as compatible formats, and says all documents sent are encrypted end to end. Kobo's help centre says its e-readers handle EPUB, EPUB2, EPUB3, PDF, FlePub and MOBI for books, plus formats for comics and text, and supports Adobe DRM and Social DRM.
Where the books come from. A Kindle is built around Amazon's book store. Amazon's Kindle Store terms describe Kindle content as licensed for reading through Kindle software or other means Amazon authorises, not for passing on to others, and no page we have seen says that Kindle-store purchases open on a Kobo, so do not promise that. If the recipient has a large Kindle library, buying a Kobo means starting a new library elsewhere.
Because our links lead only to Amazon, we cannot point you to a Kobo. We mention it because it would be dishonest to leave it out.
ereader Amazon affiliate links
Can you read library books on a Kindle in the UK?
Not through Libby or OverDrive, according to the Cambridgeshire County Council page above, which says those services do not work with Kindle e-readers. A different local library may describe its own arrangements, so check yours. If borrowing from the library matters to the recipient, that single fact points to a Kobo or another compatible e-reader.
How do you borrow a library book on a Kobo?
- Join your local library if you have not already, and keep your library card number to hand.
- Install the Libby app, or use the built-in OverDrive support on a newer Kobo.
- Sign in with the same library card on both, because Libby's help page says you must use the same card on the Kobo as in Libby.
- Borrow the title. Libby says borrowed e-books sync to the Kobo over Wi-Fi, though some are not compatible and will not sync.
- For an older Kobo, Libby's help page says to transfer books with Adobe Digital Editions.
- Do not expect audiobooks or magazines from Libby on a Kobo; the help page says they are not supported.
Why are people switching from Kindle to Kobo?
We make no claim about how many people are switching or why. Two documented differences could explain some of it: library borrowing through Libby works on newer Kobo e-readers and, according to the council page, not on Kindle e-readers, and Kobo reads open EPUB files directly. If you hear someone say they switched, ask them which of these mattered.
What features should you check on any e-reader?
| Feature | What to look at |
|---|---|
| Screen and light | An adjustable front light, and a screen size that is comfortable for the reader |
| Storage and battery | The figures on the listing, compared against how many books they carry |
| Formats | EPUB support, if they borrow library books |
| Water resistance | Only if they read in the bath or by the pool |
| Where the books come from | The Kindle or Kobo question above |
| Warranty and returns | An e-reader is an expensive item to get wrong |
What are good gifts to go with an e-reader?
A case, a light and a stand are the usual extras. A stand holds the device for hands-free reading, and it is one of our three searches. Check the stand fits the size of the e-reader and that it holds it stably. A voucher for an e-book shop or a library membership is a gift that costs little and makes the device useful on the first day.
If you set up the device for the recipient, create the shop account in their name and give it a strong password; our guide to the best password manager → explains how a manager and two-step verification protect an account that holds a card and a library login.
What are your rights if a gift is faulty or arrives wrong?
For a physical item bought online, GOV.UK's guidance (October 2026) says a customer can cancel within 14 days of receiving it, and that a seller must offer a full refund for a faulty item and repair or replace one returned within six months unless the seller can prove it was not faulty when sold. Amazon.co.uk's returns policy adds that most items can be returned within 30 days of delivery if they are new, unused and undamaged.
An e-book is digital content, and the rules differ. Citizens Advice (October 2026) says the law requires digital content to be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described; if it is faulty you can ask for a repair or replacement, then a refund, but not necessarily a full one, and if you paid by card you can ask your card provider for a chargeback.
Not sure? Tell us who you are buying for and how they read
Frequently asked questions
What is a good gift for a romance book lover?
Ask which kind of romance they read before you buy. A subscription in a genre they love, a gift voucher or a book light is safer than choosing a title for them.
What are some cool gifts for book lovers?
From the three UK shops above: bookmarks, book subscriptions, gift boxes, literary candles, book-shaped vases, framed book page prints, tote bags and mugs. Pick something that fits how and what they read.
Is it better to get a Kobo or a Kindle?
It depends on how they get their books. Libby's help page and a UK council library page say library e-books through Libby work on newer Kobo e-readers but not on Kindle e-readers, and Kobo reads EPUB files directly.
Can you read Kindle books on a Kobo?
We cannot promise it. A Kindle library is tied to Amazon's store, and no page we have seen says Kindle-store purchases open on a Kobo.
What are some good bookish gifts to buy in the UK?
The UK shops above sell subscriptions, personalised books, prints, candles, stationery, book lights and vouchers. Check the last order date for the occasion.
What are the top 10 books to gift?
We do not publish a ranking. A better gift is a book chosen for one person, or a voucher that lets them choose.
See also
ComparisonBest massage gun: what to check and who should avoid oneHow to choose a massage gun: stall force, amplitude, noise, battery, heads, who should avoid one, when to see a doctor and your UK return rights.
GuideBest adjustable dumbbells: how to choose in kilograms, for UK buyersAdjustable dumbbells for UK buyers: dial or pin, kg range and steps, per dumbbell or per pair, durability, recalls, heavy-parcel returns and NHS guidance.