20 Brilliant Items Every Book Lover Will Want

For true bibliophiles, every day is book lover's day. But once a year, on August 9th, Book Lovers Day (capitalized) encourages readers of every level of voraciousness to unplug their smartphones and relax with a good book. If you want to show your undying dedication to the written word, you can take your celebration one step further by filling your favorite reading nook with the scent of an old book, a cup of book-themed tea, and dozens of other amazing products that every book fiend will love.

1. 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List; $22

Think you've read every great book there is to read? James Mustich, a veteran bookseller and author of 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List, might disagree. While his long, long list includes children's classics like Goodnight Moon and sci-fi comedies like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, there are also some unexpected gems in there. And if you endeavor to read just one suggested title per month, you've got your next 83-plus years of reading all planned out. (If you'd rather digest the book in bite-sized segments, there's also a page-a-day calendar version.)

Buy it: Amazon

2. 100 Essential Novels Scratch-off Chart; $35 to $130

Once you've started to make a dent in James Mustich's list of books, you'll want to show off your progress—whether people ask about it or not. Pop Chart's scratch-off poster lets your keep track of which classic novels you've read, with a total of 100 titles featured.

Buy it: Pop Chart

3. Old Books Candle; $22

Want to set the mood for a totally old-school reading experience? Minneapolis-based candlemaker Frostbeard Studio uses soy wax to re-create the delicious smell of old books (“the sweet, papery sort,” according to the company, not the mildewy ones). With scents of paper, dust, newsprint, and vanilla, the handmade candle is all the things we love about aging books—minus the allergens.

Buy it: Amazon

4. Charles Dickens Library Candles; $12

Not a fan of the smell of old books? Take a big whiff of Charles Dicken, the bard of the dark and gloomy streets of foggy, 19th-century London, who gave us such dreary high school English class staples as Great Expectations and Oliver Twist. But like the scrappy street urchin protagonist of the latter, you’ll be asking for some more, please, when you experience the scent of this Dickens-inspired candle. Made of fragrant notes of tangerine, juniper, and clove, the only thing that could make this more authentic would be some chimney sweep soot under your nose.

Buy it: Paddywax

5. Literary Book Bags; $105 to $165

KrukruStudioBooks's totes give the phrase book bag an entirely new meaning. Each purse is designed to look like a classic novel, complete with the author's name and illustrated cover art. Choose whether you'd prefer your bag to be crafted from faux or authentic leather, and then just pick your favorite book: Pride and Prejudice, Madame Bovary, Hamlet, The Little Prince, and Lolita are among the many titles they offer. And since each bag is produced by hand, you can custom order them in a variety of sizes, colors, and styles.

Buy it: Etsy

6. Bookmark Necklace; $100

Is it a necklace? Is it a bookmark? Why can't it be both? Uncommon Goods' intricately patterned sterling silver necklace works with almost any outfit as a piece of jewelry; take it off and it becomes a charming bookmark to help save your place.

Buy it: Uncommon Goods

7. Foldable Book Lamp; $28

When it's closed, BOSQUEEN's book lamp looks like your average book. But open it up and it becomes a book-style lantern with a gentle LED glow and its own USB port. It's foldable and portable, too, which makes it easy to place it wherever you want.

Buy it: Amazon

8. Novel Teas; $14

There are few things cozier than grabbing a hot cup of tea and curling up on the couch with a great book. You can keep the literary theme going with Novel Teas, boxes of English breakfast tea that feature quotes from famous authors on each tea bag.

Buy it: Amazon

9. Library Card Mug; $12

While, for the most part, printed library cards have gone the way of the card catalog, Out of Print remembers the days of learning the Dewey Decimal system with this nostalgia-driven library card mug.

Buy it: Amazon

10. Edgar Allan Poe Scarf; $32

Edgar Allan Poe's mug is unmistakable, so why not stun—and hopefully delight—some people with Poe in scarf form? Out of Print’s teal Poe-ka dot scarf is lightweight, and is made from 80 percent cotton and 20 percent silk. Because it’s hand-dyed and hand-printed, it will need to be dry-cleaned, which seems a fair tradeoff for all the compliments you're sure to get.

Buy it: Amazon

11. Banned Books iPhone Case; $36

Show your support of unsavory books (even if they are often banned for ridiculous reasons) with one of three simple black-and-white “I read banned books” phone cases from Society6. The cases are compatible with iPhone and Android. Sleek is more for appearances, whereas Tough Case insures less damage and Adventurous protects against worst-case scenarios. Besides protecting your phone, the case also works as a conversation starter.

Buy it: Society6

12. Bram Stoker Dracula Tote; $25

Dracula scribe Bram Stoker should be remembered for his gothic stories—and for being fashionable. Society6’s hand-sewn tote bag features a yellow rose, pink bow, and Stoker’s portrait preserved in a cameo; the tote comes in three different sizes.

Buy it: Society6

13. Knock Knock Personal Library Kit; $13

While sharing a treasured book with a friend, family member, or colleague is one of the greatest joys a true bibliophile can experience, there's always that tiny matter of making sure said book gets returned. Even if your personal book collection doesn't come close to rivaling the New York Public Library's, this library kit will ensure that you always know who borrowed your first edition copy of The Great Gatbsy last.

Buy it: Amazon

14. Pacheco coffee table with storage; $590

17 Stories' Pacheco Coffee Table looks like a fancier version of a now-vintage library card catalog file. The veneer finish is composed of distressed fir and birch, and dark metal legs support the table, which is a spacious 4 feet long. Three drawers open to a lot of storage instead of individual catalogs, making it perfect for storing ... well, books for one.

Buy it: Wayfair

15. Bibliophilia: 100 Literary Postcards; $16

While postcards may most often be associated with travel, books have their own way of taking you places. This collection of 100 postcards features 50 of the most powerful quotes in literary history, so that you can let your favorite author—be it Virginia Woolf or Oscar Wilde—do the talking.

Buy it: Amazon

16. Library Books Wallpaper; $27

You don't have to have an additional 1000 square feet of home to create your own personal library. Fake it in any sized space with this library-themed wallpaper, which makes any room feel like your own personal reading nook.

Buy it: Amazon

17. Literary Mugs; $16

Uncommon Goods has immortalized Jane Austen, Lewis Carroll, the Brontë sisters, and Edgar Allan Poe by giving them their own stoneware mugs. Quotes from their works surround images of the novelists, from Austen spouting romantic wisdom from Emma (“If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more”) to Poe’s “Nevermore” philosophy.

Buy it: Uncommon Goods

18. Why So Ever Bards Dispense Profanity: A Party Game Based on the Works of William Shakespeare; $25

William Shakespeare may be known as the world's greatest writer, but he also had a notorious potty mouth. His plays, sonnets, and other works are filled with all sorts of dirty jokes (which may have gone right over your head), which is why this adults-only game, which is basically the Bard's version of Cards Against Humanity, so apropos.

Buy it: Amazon

19. Pride and Prejudice Writing Gloves; $26

Whether you're reading, writing, or just taking the dog for a walk, you can keep the magical words of Jane Austen (or many of your other favorite writers) close by with these fingerless writing gloves.

Buy it: Storiarts

20. Still I Rise Infinity Scarf; $48

If it's your neck that tends to get chilly, cover it up with the warming words of Maya Angelou's Still I Rise (which you can also pair with some writing gloves). Like the gloves, the scarves—both of which are decked out with the text of Angelou's beloved poem—celebrate a variety of authors, including Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Kenneth Grahame, and Roald Dahl.

Buy it: Storiarts