Gifting books has always been a strong tradition in my family, to the extent that my children’s library is bigger than my own at this point. I love that though, because all three of them will take out books to look at or read at any given time. My youngest has been carrying around a 100 First Words book for the past several weeks. Giving books as gifts is a great idea, especially around the holidays. In my corner of the world, it is cold this time of year, making it the perfect time to curl up in a chair with a nice book.
Gifting books is, in my humble opinion, similar to sending someone a song and saying “I was thinking about you”. Books have a way of connecting us across different walks of life and while faerie smut may not exactly convey a deep level of desire to connect, there’s still something about reading a book and thinking your friends and family would enjoy it too. How do you feel out what your friends and family would like to read or what they prefer, to make sure you maximize your gift-giving impact?
Here’s 5 Ways to do Book Gift Giving Right
Consider Their Preferences
If you’re gifting a book to a friend or family member, chances are you may know them pretty well. Remember, when purchasing a book to give as a gift, it isn’t about what you want to read, rather, what are they interested in? For instance, we gifted my grandmother an Amazon Kindle last year for Christmas. She loves it because it is easy on her hands and she can adjust the font size. I’m not 100% sure what I was expecting her to read, probably not bodice-rippers admittedly, but, something else. Turns out, she prefers non-fiction and autobiographies! My mind was blown! Now that I know that though, I can take that information, add it to the other things I know about her, and make sure to gift her something she will enjoy every time.
Consider Your Preferences
Sometimes, a book is so good that you simply have to shout it from the rooftops. I had a few series like that this year (Yes, I’m on the SJM bandwagon). While my friends and family may not read exactly the same thing I prefer, some stories cross over tropes or genres that may still make for a great read for them. Be considerate of their trigger warnings and preferences if you are able and don’t gift them your favorite slasher novel if they abhor gore.
Consider Your Similarities
This is where things get fun! If you know that you and your friends/family read in the same genres, I’m sure your TBR (to be read) list is as long as mine is! My poor husband had such a hard time picking out my Christmas presents because the list of books I gave him was so long. And why was the list so long? Suggestions from my friends who read in the same genre. Consider what you and your friends/family have in common when choosing a book or series to gift, and let your heart lead you on this one.
Seek Comps Online
Another option, especially if you’re working outside of your genre comfort zone, is to check similar titles online. If you know the name of one of their favorite books, you can definitely use the internet to figure out what titles are similar in genre, tropes, writing style, and even plot. Comparing book blurbs and reviews is a great way to discover new books and authors and who knows, you may introduce your friends/family to their new favorite author!
When in Doubt, Gift Cards All the Way!
There is NO shame in gifting gift cards, especially when those cards are specifically designated to allow your favorite bookworms to go crazy at the store. It isn’t every day that you have designated money for books (unless you do in which case, I’m jealous!). Gift cards are a great way to tell your book-loving friends and family that you want them to pick out exactly what they want to read. Maybe they want to try a new genre and haven’t mentioned it to anyone yet; gift cards help you to lend them the freedom to choose which is a beautiful thing.
If you’re anything like me, you’re hoping for mountains of books for this holiday season. I mean, that is what I told everyone I wanted when they asked. Fingers crossed that my bookshelves, and yours, are about to find new tenants.
Happy Reading Everyone!
