Author: Rebecca Joines Schinsky

Hope this finds you safe and healthy, reader friends! We at Riot HQ (which is actually, like, 15 HQs now that we all work from home) have been busy looking for ways to support our community through the COVID-19 pandemic. While you’re stuck at home, here are 5 great free services to keep you plugged into your literary life.

All you can read! Get 30 days of free access to Scribd’s entire catalog. This offer does not require any credit card information or commitment.

If you’re itching for a project, now’s the time to catalog your bookshelves! LibraryThing has removed all membership fees. Catalog, categorize, and organize your reading life to your heart’s content.

How about a touch of magic? Escape into your imagination with the Hogwarts Digital Escape Room created by the geniuses at the Peters Township Public Library in McMurray, Pennsylvania. Long live librarians!

So you’re trying to limit screen time and find enough fun and educational experiences to keep your kids busy for….however long school is out? Meet Audible Stories, a free service that offers educational and entertaining audiobook content for kids, teens, and families.

A global pandemic is a powerful reminder of how deeply we are connected to and responsible for each other. Haymarket Books, an independent publisher that focuses on social and economic justice, is offering free ebook editions of 10 titles through April 1.

Stay safe, wash your hands, and happy reading!

Book mail is the best mail! There are a ton of book subscriptions out there — no matter what you’re into, there’s probably one for you. Check out a few of our recent faves.

Feminist Book Club, $45+ monthly

Shipped monthly, each box features a book selected by subscribers, along with a hand-curated array of 2-4 full size, high-quality products. In addition to the box, there is a Facebook group where members get to discuss the month’s book, participate in live chats, and help select future titles. A portion of sales each month go toward a new feminist organization, literally putting money back into doing good.

Bubbles and Books, $25+ monthly

The Bubbles and Books box is a unique mix of bath products and paranormal romance, so you can get your creature feature, love, and self-care on all at once. The basic subscription level at $25 a month gets you one new release paranormal romance novel, along with at least five ebook romances and fix luxury bath products. Talk about a splash!

Margins Box, $33/month

The margins box is perfect for you if you’re seeking more inclusive books in your reading life, as well as goods made by black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) in your life. Each month you will get on newly released YA book by a BIPOC author, along with 4–6 book related goods.

Literary Tea Co, $41/month

This box ships worldwide from Australia, which would be an utter treat for anyone, but especially for those who aren’t Aussie. Imagine getting a new book from another country, along with a selection of teas? I think this is my personal dream book box. Each month, the box features a brand new book, along with six surprise tea selections. Yum!

My Coffee and Book Club, $32/month

If there’s a tea box, you better believe there’s also a coffee box. My Coffee and Book Club is a monthly box that brings together literature and delicious coffee. There’s a lot of opportunity to customize the box. You get one 12-oz bag of small batch coffee—you choose between whole bean and ground—along with two new hardcover books—you choose what genre. There’s also an opportunity to snag a monthly free ebook with the box.

Tailored Book Recommendations (TBR), starting at $15/quarter

Powered by Book Riot, TBR is like StitchFix for books — tell your Bibliologist what you like to read and what you’re looking for, and they’ll send you personalized recommendations by email or hand-selected hardcovers the old-fashioned way.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Check out more fun and unique book subscriptions at Book Riot.

Take 29% off all your favorite bookish tees, totes, and more at Out of Print this Leap Day. Sale ends 3/1.

Reading is an inherently political act. Start your election year wardrobe with the new Get PoLITical collection from Out of Print. Choose from tees, totes, hats, and more.

Shop the collection.

Record your reading life with Book Marks, a new journal created by us here at Book Riot! Inspired by bullet journaling, Book Marks offers ideas for setting up a variety of book tracking pages fill-in prompts, charts, lists, and plenty of dot-grid pages to customize.

To help expand your literary horizons, the journal also includes a section of recommended reading lists. Use Book Marks to jot down what you’re currently reading, what’s on your nightstand, your favorite quotes, new vocabulary words, memorable characters, your reviews of recent reads, and more. A clever bonus: the back flap has a punch-out bookmark!

So you love plants (almost) as much as you love books and there are succulents on all your bookshelves? This one’s for you.

Store your office supplies in this book-inspired vase, $22.

Do your books need some buds to keep them company? These vase bookends are perfect. ($45)

Here’s your new favorite library tote: More Books, More Plants, More Yoga, $28.

Combine books and plants, literally (!) with an upcycled book planter, $45.

Get accessorized with a this plant book enamel pin, $10.

Decorate your reading nook with this sweet print. The books don’t lie: there are never enough plants, $47.

Check out even more perfect gifts for bookish plant lovers at Book Riot.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with these lovely literary gifts for your favorite book lover.

Bookish puns are the best puns. ISBN Thinking of You tote, $20.

For the literary art lover, here’s a sexy print of a Great Gatsby quote, $24.

Set the mood with a Jane Austen-inspired library candle, starting at $12.

Give your linens a literary spritz with Alice in Dreamland pillow spray, $5.70.

Jewelry is a classic Valentine’s gift choice. Go bookish with these storyteller earrings, $15.

When your Valentine loves a good cuppa, you can’t go wrong with beautifully packaged literary tea, $5.

Turn your favorite poem into customized art, $160.

Need a literary Valentine’s card to go with your perfect gift? We’ve got you covered.

The Book Riot Store is closing tomorrow! Here’s your last chance to get 50% off select t-shirts, hoodies, totes, and more. 

Don’t worry — we’ll still be here to share rad bookish stuff with you; it’s just time for new adventures.

 

Calvin & Hobbes are the most beloved besties in comics for good reason! Their hijinks are adorable and inspiring, and they often spout much-needed wisdom. Decorate your notebook, laptop, or even your walls with these cute stickers.

Life is an adventure! Celebrate the great outdoors with Calvin & Hobbes.

Hurtle into the great unknown with Calvin & Hobbes in their little red wagon! 

Jake and Elwood would be honored! Dig this Calvin & Hobbes Blues Brothers tribute.

Make your Mac more fun with this sticker set.

After all that fun, you’ll be ready for a nap! Cuddle up with Calvin & Hobbes.

Check out more fun Calvin & Hobbes stickers at Book Riot.