Star Wars Book Shopping Guide
A guide to buying Star Wars books and bookish gifts.
To a Star Wars book reader or collector, there’s almost nothing more exciting than a new book (or book-adjacent item). Whether you’re buying something new for yourself or you stumbled into this guide looking for a gift for someone you like, there’s a lot out there to choose from — it can be overwhelming trying to decide what to settle on.
That’s why Now This Is Lit has put together a Star Wars book shopping guide for anyone searching for the perfect story set in a galaxy far, far away.
While I recorded a whole conversation with Chelsea from Space Wizards Book Club about book and gift shopping, I’ve put together a guide you can read and save for later as well.
How and Where to Buy Star Wars Books
You can find Star Wars books almost anywhere all other books are sold online or “in the wild.” However, where you find books depends a lot on what you’re looking for and how you prefer to shop.
Online: Bookshop.org, Books-A-Million, Amazon
On a budget: ThriftBooks, used bookstores
In your city: Resale shops, local independent bookstores, local comic book stores, Barnes & Noble
Where you go to shop for Star Wars books really depends on the books you’re looking for and your budget. You’ll mostly find the pricey special editions that are harder to find on sites like eBay. But if you’re looking for a new copy of a book that just came out last month, you may have to look at a store that carries current releases, such as a Barnes & Noble or Target.
Also, I’m not one to gatekeep, so this Facebook group might interest anyone looking for hard-to-find books like Legends hardcovers or convention-exclusive editions. It’s a public Star Wars book selling/trading group, so make sure you read everything carefully before making any transactions!
Knowing what to buy for a loved one may be as simple as asking them what they want. Many readers and collectors have wishlists they’ll be more than happy to share with you.
For the Star Wars Book Lover Who Has Everything …
Never underestimate the power of personalization! I normally don’t keep duplicates on my Star Wars shelves. But I do keep one extra copy of a Legends book someone gifted to me once. It has a note scribbled in one of the inside covers that transformed the book from an unnecessary duplicate to a special item I never want to part with.
So even if your loved one with a full collection seems to have everything, it’s easy to turn an inexpensive paperback copy into a gift they will cherish forever. Whether you leave a personal note, annotate the book, or simply mark occasional passages that made you think of that person, sometimes gifts that come from the heart are the best to receive.
If you’re looking to splurge — on yourself or someone you like — special editions and signed editions of Star Wars books already owned are pricier but valid options. Many authors offer signed bookplates for purchase through their official websites to give you an even wider selection of books to choose from — simply add the bookplate to any book, maybe add your own additional note as well, and wrap!
Book hunting experiences can also be a great gift. Gift your loved one a “book shopping date” where you go somewhere together to hunt for books. You may want to set a budget before you go, but as with experience-centric gifts, it’s less about what you purchase and more about the memories you create surrounding the purchasing.
And for those looking for Star Wars book-adjacent gifts, there are plenty of options for that as well.
Other Star Wars Bookish Gifts
Books aren’t the only things some book lovers are into. Sometimes building a bookshelf also entails decorating and accessorizing. (There is a reason reading and book collecting are two separate hobbies.)
My original bookshelves, for example, contained a mix of plants, Funko Pops, and cute little signs (one says “I’d rather be reading,” which is never not true). Everyone has their own personal aesthetic, but if you need inspiration for gift ideas, Instagram and Pinterest are filled to bursting with those.
Some collect bookmarks in mugs. Others string lights along the edges of their shelves. If you can’t decide what to buy, you could always create a Star Wars book gift basket with a book, favorite drink, mug, and a Star Wars-themed candle. What exactly you put in the basket is less important than the gesture itself. I can tell you this much: There isn’t a reader out there who wouldn’t love a book-themed gift basket that came from someone they adore.
The possibilities are expansive! The most important thing to remember is this: No matter what you end up getting your Star Wars book-obsessed loved one, they’ll love it because it came from you.
But ALSO. You deserve something nice too. Splurging on yourself every now and then is absolutely justified. Do it.
Now This Is Lit is a podcast (and newsletter!) about Star Wars books, the people who make them, and the readers who just can’t get enough of them. You can find the show wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe to the Substack for more deep dives, guides, interview transcripts, and book love.