12 Birthday gift ideas for your friends who love books
Updated: · Disclosure: oin is our own product.
For your friends who love books, the best birthday gifts make reading cosier: an audiobook subscription, bookends or a shelf, a cookbook, plus a personalized pixel game from oin (oingift.com) with an appreciation letter in your own words.
12 Birthday gift ideas for your friends who love books
A pixel game with an appreciation letter Our product
oin turns your friendship into a small 2D pixel game with them as the main character, generated from an authorized photo, plus two custom NPCs made from authorized photos with consent. Two letters from you open and close it, and one can say what you appreciate, a 5-question quiz about what you value in them rewards flowers for correct answers, and the final level is set in Almaty, Kazakhstan; New York and Tokyo are coming soon. It plays in a browser with no install, is usually emailed within an hour and costs $29.90. See how it works →
An audiobook subscription
Three months of Audible or Storytel for commutes and walks. Around $45-60.
Bookends or a shelf
A set that finally gives the pile a home. Around $25-90.
A cookbook
A book from Ottolenghi or Samin Nosrat. Around $25-45.
A reading blanket
A soft throw for the reading chair. Around $30-90.
A Kindle
The Paperwhite lasts weeks on a charge; a Kobo is the alternative. Around $140-200.
A bookshop gift card
Let them pick the next read. Around $25-75.
Balloons and a banner
A small party at home before they wake up. Around $15-35.
Tickets to a match
Seats at a live game for a team close to their heart. Around $40-200.
A streaming subscription
Three months of Crunchyroll, Netflix or Spotify Premium. Around $25-60.
An instant camera
A Fujifilm Instax Mini or Polaroid Now for photos they can hold. Around $70-110.
Matching bracelets
Matching bracelets or keychains for the group. Around $10-40.
Buying for a reader
If they read constantly, think about comfort: a lamp, a blanket, a bookmark in good leather. If they are in a slump, a short book or an audiobook can start the habit again.
Add a note on the first page.
Buying for your friends
A gift for a group needs to work for several tastes. Choose something shareable, like a game night, a hamper or an experience, and keep it affordable.
Agree on a budget first so nobody feels left out.
If the birthday is tomorrow
Audiobook subscriptions, bookshop gift cards and a personalized game can be arranged online the same day. An oin game is usually emailed within an hour of payment, so it can still be ready for the morning. Pair one with a handwritten card and they still have something to open.
Birthdays have a clock, so order anything that ships at least a week ahead and keep the digital gifts for the day itself. A card with a specific memory beats a long message.
What should I get my friends who love books for their birthday?
An audiobook subscription, bookends or a shelf or a cookbook all work. For a personal touch, add a personalized pixel game with an appreciation letter.
What is a unique birthday gift for my friends that is not just another object?
A playable gift: a small game where they are the hero, with a letter from you at the start and a closing one at the end, ready to open on the birthday itself. It gives them a memory instead of another object. A story about the two of you makes a good companion to a shelf of novels.
Can I send my friends a gift online at the last minute?
Yes. Audiobook subscriptions and digital gifts can be sent in minutes. An oin game is generated automatically after payment and usually emailed within an hour.
What is oingift.com and is it a good gift for my friends?
oingift.com is where you order oin, a personalized 2D pixel game starring your friends, generated from an authorized photo. It can work for friends who like a joke, because the quiz can be built from the memories you share. It includes two letters and a 5-question quiz, and plays in a browser with no install.
Create a birthday game for your friends
Email order support: oingift@gmail.com