It’s National Book Month 2023—these are our favorite reading accessories for bookworms
Products to celebrate the month of literature
Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission.
Bookworms, rejoice! October is National Book Month! It’s a month dedicated to celebrating everything related to the books that we bibliophiles so love. It’s a month meant to encourage everyone to pick up a book and read as much as possible. Whether you fancy memoirs or fiction, audiobooks or ink on paper, it's a day meant to lose yourself in the words of authors old and new. We're here to help you celebrate with Reviewed-tested products that can make reading easier and more fun!
What is National Book Month 2023?
National Book Month is a celebration of all things books. It was established in 2003 by the National Book Foundation. The Foundation also created the National Book Awards, which are held in October. Coincidentally, Banned Books Week happened early this month, too.
When is National Book Month 2023?
National Book Month is observed annually during the month of October.
Products to help you celebrate National Book Month 2023
A Kindle
Using an e-reader is a great way to read books; not only do they save space, but they can help you read in any lighting condition and they hold hundreds of thousands of books at a time. The best e-reader we've tested is the 11th-generation Amazon Kindle thanks to its bright display, responsiveness and compactness.
Audible
Another way to enjoy books is to listen to them for a more immersive experience. Thanks to the power of audiobooks, you can experience the stories of books while doing tasks such as driving and washing dishes. Audible is one of the most popular platforms for audiobooks and after testing it, we're pleased to say it's worth the money thanks to its ease of use and the sheer number of titles it offers.
Headphones
These headphones's excellent noise cancellation makes for immersive listening.
With a quality pair of headphones, you can enjoy your new favorite audiobook even when you're sharing space with others. We highly recommend Sony's WH-1000XM4, the best pair of headphones we’ve ever tested. Not only do these comfortable headphones boast exceptional audio quality, but superb noise-cancellation as well.
A Bluetooth speaker
This speaker's sound quality and wide range enhance your listening.
To play audiobooks out loud in higher quality than what's possible from your phone speaker, we recommend Sonos Roam, which we found to be the best portable Bluetooth speaker. This is thanks to its excellent sound and stylish design.
A reading light
This versatile reading light can brighten up your favorite reading corner.
There's nothing quite like reading while tucked in bed by the warm glow of a reading light. One of the best reading lights is Glocusent's Willow, which comes in multiple colors, supports three distinct light color temperatures, clamps onto surfaces for convenient placement and has a rechargeable battery that claims to last up to 80 hours on a single charge.
A bookshelf
Sturdy and stylish, this shelf comes highly recommended.
If you like to read and collect physical books, treat yourself to a new bookshelf this Book Lovers Day. One of the best you can buy is the Sauder 5-Shelf Bookcase. Beyond its cool, timeless look, this bookcase is a must-buy due to its build quality and because of how easy it is to assemble.
Reading glasses
Eyebuydirect's selection includes Ray-Ban, Oakley, Arnette, Vogue Eyewear, and RFLKT.
If you need reading glasses to enjoy your books, then there are many online stores you can check out. The best online glasses store we've shopped from is Eyebuydirect thanks to its fast delivery and wide variety of frames, including ones by popular brands like Ray-Ban.
A book subscription service
Book subscription services are a fantastic way to stay on a reading regimen.
Those who prefer physical books can get their reading fix by checking out one of the many book club subscriptions such as the popular Book of the Month club. This subscription service, as the name suggests, allows you to receive at least one book (if not more) out of five to seven carefully curated titles per month. What’s more, by signing up for Book of the Month, you'll be able to read hot new releases early.
A bookmark
These often vibrant, sometimes cheeky bookmarks are part of a giant selection.
Which sounds more appealing? Scrambling for last week's grocery receipt to save your place, folding the corner of your page or just buying a cool bookmark? It doesn't get much cooler than the various, affordable tasseled and beaded bookmarks sold by Peter Pauper Press.
A reading log
This reading log features engaging prompts and sections to help you reflect on your reading experience.
There's nothing more satisfying than keeping track of all the books you've read, over the course of a year or just in general. Many people use digital trackers like Goodreads. If you prefer using pen and paper, grab yourself Book Riot’s Read Harder Reading Log. To review and reflect on your books, you can make use of the log's dedicated space to jot down specific details of your book including when you read it, notable quotes and pages, and your overall review. Plus, it comes with 12 reading challenges to help you advance from your reading comfort zone.
A book stand
This moldable pillow can hold up a book while you're in all kinds of spots.
Readers of physical books know how hard it can be to get in a comfortable position while reading. Holding a book can make certain positions either impossible or cumbersome. When you're just diving in or you’re nearing the end of a book, you'll need to have at least one hand on the book to keep your page. That’s where a book stand comes in handy, providing a hands-free reading alternative. This particular bookstand, the Book Seat, molds to whatever surface it's on, making it much more flexible than traditional book stands. Plus, it doubles as a pillow for added comfort.