We’ve rounded up ten bookworm essentials to help you read more this year.
If you ask anyone in my family to describe me in one word, they would all say the same thing: bookworm. I’m that girl: the book girl, the girl who is passionate about fictional characters and lives in fantasy worlds, has a book in her hands and her heart in the clouds.
Here are my bookworm essentials, the cozy bookish staples and accessories I use to romanticize reading every day.
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Audiobook Subscription
Audiobooks are the best way to read hands-free while working on routine tasks (like meal prepping, errand runs, morning commutes). You can find a catalog of audiobooks to listen to (for a monthly membership fee) through subscription services like Audible, Spotify Premium, and Libro.fm.
You can also check out audiobooks from your local library! I primarily listen to audiobooks through Libby, an app that allows you to stream audiobooks (for free) from your library’s digital catalog.
Library Card
On the topic of libraries, a library card is a bookworm essential that feels like a superpower. In big city libraries, you can often check out more than books (think: passes to local museums, hobby equipment like cake pans and sewing machines, and seeds for planting).
So, one of the first things I do when I move to a new city is sign up for a local library card (I’ll also sign up for all the library systems in the neighboring counties, if I can). It’s easy to feel like a kid again in a library, with its wide selection of titles and lack of pressure to read fast (many modern library systems auto-renew books and don’t charge fines). Libraries are cozy, third places for book lovers of all ages.
Read Next: 10 Most Beautiful Libraries In The US
Barnes & Noble Rewards Membership
After Barnes & Noble phased out its old membership model, I switched to the (free tier) Rewards Membership. In this revamped loyalty program, you collect (virtual) stamps for every ten dollars you spend at Barnes & Noble (and accumulate $5 of store credit for every ten stamps you collect). Bookworm Tip: The stamps don’t expire as long as your account is active each year.
If you shop at Barnes & Noble frequently (or plan to do a lot of holiday shopping at Barnes & Noble this year), I’d definitely recommend signing up for the Rewards Membership in-store for the benefits!
Reading Light
Book accessories make the best gifts, and book lights are gifts readers will love to use. After all, warm lights, scented candles, and a hot mug of tea set the mood for a gentle night of reading.
Bookmarks
For Libra-indecisive readers who are in the middle of a dozen books at once (calling myself out here), bookmarks (like these ones) help keep track of a place in a story and offer alternatives to dog-earing pages in a pinch.
Shelves
Books, everywhere, are the (not so) subtle sign of a bookworm in residence. I still have books scattered around my apartment in Leaning Tower of Pisa-esque piles (please don’t judge me), but I try to organize them as much as possible on shelves. These white IKEA Billy bookcases have been my go-tos for years, and I also added this tree-shaped bookshelf to my living room last year (I stick all my horror novels in the bottom cubby).
Reading Journal
One of my favorite self-care rituals is journaling in the evening with a home-brewed latte (we’ll pretend it’s decaf). I own lots of journals, but my favorite (aside from my commonplace book) is my reading journal for the space it gives me to write down thoughts about what I’ve most recently read, scribble in facts I’ve learned (I’m a bit of a nerd), and record my favorite book quotes.
Papier
Reading Journal
Hannah Azerang
Clockwork Reader Journal
Read It Forward
Book Club: A Journal
Tote Bag
I usually pack my reading journal and current read into a foldable, canvas tote bag. I’ve mentioned totes before on Passport To Eden as one of my favorite travel essentials, but totes are also perfect for bookworms who want a sturdy bag big enough for a stack of books.
Mug
One of the simplest, yet most meaningful bookworm essentials is a mug. Imagine your favorite hot drink. Tendrils of steam rise above the rim of a cup. The air smells like cinnamon or cardamom. Your fingers curl around the cup’s handle. It’s a small, tactile action that makes the experience of reading so much more relaxing, soothing, and feel-good.
Linvia
Ceramic Teacup
Koythin
Flower Cup Mug
Mora
Mug With Saucer
E-Reader
An e-reader is my favorite tool for reading on flights. I love the portability of an e-reader, the ability to enlarge the screen’s font sizes, and the ease of accessing a book digitally (I usually check out a digital copy from my local library and open it up on my Kindle Paperwhite). This is my go-to bookworm essential while traveling.
What are your favorite book accessories? Let me know in the comments below!
I couldn’t agree more! As a fellow bookworm, I’ve found that having the right essentials on hand makes all the difference in enjoying a good read. From cozy throw blankets to book lights, these little extras can turn a good book into a great experience. Thanks for sharing your picks – I’m definitely going to try some of these out!