🎁 The Perfect Gifts for YA Book Lovers

Hey YA Fans!

Before diving in, it’s that time of year for you to share your favorite YA books of 2020. Drop your favorite 2020 YA book — keep it to 2020 releases and YA books only, please — into the document here by December 14. I’ll tabulate the votes and share your top favorite reads this year in a newsletter before the end of the month. Psst: 99% of folks who take part in this are awesome, but the 1% who think they can slide their own title in or rally others to do it for them…I just delete those answers because that’s not fun.

Onward!

You’re probably seeing tons of gift guides in your inbox, and while you’re getting another one, know this one is tailored to those who love young adult books. AKA: cool stuff you can buy yourself or someone else now or anytime in the future.

I’ve pulled together a few great YA goods, and at the end of the roundup, I’m including a couple of things that have made my reading life a little better this year. One of these items is something I didn’t know exactly how much I’d use, but has become a staple in my life and something I get asked about all the time.

I kept this to items that are broadly YA, though whatever books or fandoms you or a loved one are into, know you can find so much great stuff for those interests in Etsy. Sarah J. Maas, Marie Lu, The Hunger Games…there are so many cool things related to those books and author fandoms.

A beautiful print of a stack of YA fantasy books. $15.

While you’re reading, enjoy the scent of a freesia, violet, and musk candle. $11.

A planter made of YA books! I love this so much. There is only one available as of this writing, but if you click through to the seller’s full shop, there are some other cool repurposed book pieces to explore. $44.

The perfect mug — look at that giant handle! — for YA readers everywhere. $20 and up, depending on size.

The perfect sticker for all of the main characters out there. $3.50.

“It’s a good day to read YA” shirt. Grab this in an array of color options. $29 and up.

If you head to the main shop, you can find a number of YA character and book themed scents. But I thought it was worth sharing the one that was pretty broad: the book and library collection. Three perfume oils in the scent of “old books,” “new books,” and “dusty manuscript.” Buy the set and gift to three different friends (or keep ’em all for you). $32.

And here are two items that have improved my reading life this year:

Early on in quarantine times, I kept seeing this “reading bean” advertised. Did I really need a special pillow to read? The answer is YES. This thing is soft and silky and the way it contours to your lap and belly makes holding a book open so easy. As my pregnancy has gone on, my carpal tunnel has gotten especially bad and not having to hold a book open with my wrists up has been a life saver. The Book Bean has a ton of colors and styles to choose from and is worth every penny of its $30 price tag.

I have child-sized ear canals and a budget, so putting money down on anything Apple-related is squarely in the “not for me” category. I needed a new pair of headphones for audiobook listening and picked up this wireless set. In addition to being affordable — $40, but right now there’s even a 20% off coupon — these buds come with a few different sized pieces to adjust to your ear size. A+, would buy again.

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Thanks for hanging out, and don’t forget to cast your votes on best 2020 YA book in the document at the top of the email.

See you later this week!

— Kelly Jensen, @heykellyjensen on Instagram and editor of Body Talk, (Don’t) Call Me Crazy, and Here We Are.