My family holds the world’s most unpopular opinion – Valentine’s Day is the best holiday of the year. My mother, self-proclaimed lover of all things cute, would go to the ends of the earth to make our Valentine’s Days as awesome as she possibly could for my siblings and me. What started as my mother’s excuse to spoil us with heart-shaped baked goods, dress us in fuzzy pink pajamas, and challenge us to craft the most intricate Valentine’s Day card boxes our classmates had ever seen, eventually grew into a genuine desire to spoil our friends and family with love.
If you are one of the many people that see Valentine’s Day as nothing more than a greeting card holiday but have to play along anyway for your loved one’s sake, don’t worry. I’ve put together a collection of great gift ideas that will be sure to spark joy for your book-loving valentine.
Bibliophiles can never have too many bookmarks, and what makes a bookmark such a great gift for Valentine’s Day is that every time your valentine opens their current read, they will be reminded of you. These Pressed Floral Bookmarks (Kayliereads Etsy Shop, $8) are absolutely beautiful, and the flowers last forever, unlike the dozen roses you could pick up at your local grocery store.
If you want to really impress, you could also spice up their bookshelf with a set of book jacket covers like these A Court of Thorns and Roses Jackets Only Set (Juniper Books, $45). Book Jacket sets can be pricey for what really just amounts to a few sheets of paper, but a lot of book lovers couldn’t put a price on a beautifully displayed book collection.
For the valentine that loves the convenience of ebooks and audiobooks, consider gifting them something to protect their device. This Walt Whitman Quote Phone Case (Society6, $33) is both practical and heartfelt, but just because it’s Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean your gift has to be romantic or sappy. An ereader sleeve like this Magical Characters Device Sleeve (aHumForHope Etsy Shop, $24+) is a practical gift that also shows you pay attention to the things they enjoy most.
Keep your Libby loving valentine cozy with this Libby Hoodie (The OverDrive Shop, $30), which is just one of many items you can purchase from our shop that support the ALA Literacy Clearinghouse. Other fun apparel you can gift include this Book Lover Shirt (QualityAppearance Etsy Shop, $14+) or these Library Card Pride Socks (Out of Print, $12).
Finally, if you want to stay more traditional with your Valentine’s Day gifts, literary-inspired accessories can be an excellent choice. For your valentine that considers her bag her best friend, browse Etsy for a unique book inspired bag like this Pride and Prejudice Book Purse (WellReadCompany Etsy Shop, $50+). If jewelry is more there thing, Canadian maker Cara Ginter creates one-of-a-kind Custom Bracelet (Book’d Creations, $18) out of books. You can choose from a list of pre-selected titles or you can make an off-list request for a personal touch. If you are looking for a gender-neutral accessory, check out this Leather Apple Watch Band (miragewatchband Etsy Shop, $33+) which you can personalize with a favorite literary quote or reference.
Whether you go all out on the perfect gift or simply just write your valentine a card, the only thing that really matters is that your loved ones know how much you care about them. So, don’t stress too hard and simply give from the heart.
*Pricing reflects the listing on 02/05/2021 and does not include shipping or tax.