We love Christmas in July! It seems to be one of those traditions that came out of nowhere. There are definitely no sleigh bells ringing or overly decorated houses, and no official public holidays. And yet that doesn’t stop people from all around the world happily celebrating. It’s a great excuse to get together with those closest to us, exchange gifts and just celebrate for the sake of celebrating!

With a bit of research, we discovered that one of the earliest known celebrations occurred in 1933 at Keystone Camp in North Carolina. This particular summer camp held a fabulous festive day complete with Christmas decorations, carol singing, gifts, and even a visit from Father Christmas!

Why Christmas in July is the best bookish gift moment of the year

We love that Christmas in July doesn’t follow any rules. You can host a fabulous roast dinner, decorate to your heart’s content, exchange small gifts or read your favorite Christmas stories. It’s all about doing whatever you want, and we love that. This year, we may veer away from the traditional colors and go with red, blue, and white!

At its heart, Christmas in July is simply about bringing a little bit of extra joy smack bang in the middle of the year. For us, it is a reminder that we don’t need to wait to celebrate and connect with those that we love, and if that celebration happens to include a few bookish moments, we’re all for it!

Christmas time is often filled with advertisements for the latest gadgets and toys, and you’re inundated with gift ideas that everyone apparently wants and needs. And that is where Christmas in July is a bit different; it’s a whole lot calmer on the gifting front, and we think giving the gift of stories is the best gift around!

If you’re looking for a great Christmas story, you know the one, that second-chance holiday romance, then our gorgeous edition of Through the Snow Globe by Annie Rains is calling your name!

Christmas in July gifts for the reader who has everything

We all have those readers who seem to have everything from Kindles to book sleeves and bookish-inspired phone cases. They pre-order all the latest releases, and finding them something unique can be a challenge. Relax, we’ve got you covered with these wonderful ideas!

Literary Perfume: Yes, it’s a thing. We even wrote a whole blog about it! We have a fabulous range, including Lost in the Library, A Court of Amber and Musk, A Page on a Park Bench, and The Reader and the Rainstorm!

Book-inspired Plates: Who would have thought that you could bring the classics to your table? Our stunning, exclusively designed book-shaped plate set is the ultimate gift. Each set includes one small salad plate and one large dinner plate, both printed with the book title, author name, and first and second pages of the novel. We have two sets, one inspired by The Great Gatsby and the other by Little Women! Take your pick!

Christmas in July gifts for the mom in a reading slump

We all have those reading slumps, and for busy moms, it’s time to remind them to slow down and get back between the pages.

Our OUABC Lite selections are just what you need! Besides an exciting novel, every book is paired with five envelopes to open as you read, immersing you in the story in a way only OUABC can! Each envelope incorporates the five senses (sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch) to highlight moments that make you feel like you're part of the story in the most immersive way possible. 

Check out our collection, which includes The Wicked Sea by Jordan Stephanie Gray and To Drown a Witch by Lindsey Olsson! 

Everyone needs a reading journal as it inspires you to read more and to really think about the books you have read. Our team had so many discussions about what makes a fabulous reading journal, and we think we came out on top with our journals, which are available in Classic Coral, Periwinkle Prose, and Seafoam Stories. 

Christmas in July gifts for the partner who’s curious about books

And then there are those partners or friends who are curious about books but somehow never make it to the bookstore. Well, this year we have the perfect solution! Our digital gift cards offer the gift of choice and can be applied to any order. All you have to do is choose your amount and check your inbox!

Our ready-to-ship book boxes may be just what you’re looking for. You could even try The Happy Couple Box! This one has been known to bring joy to couples everywhere. It features a paperback copy of Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners, plus 35 Date Night Cards and a wooden body massager, just to mention a few of the wonderful gifts!

Christmas in July gifts for the best friend who reads everything

That best friend who reads everything, well, she certainly deserves something perfect, and yes, we have just what you need. We are so excited about our ever-growing apparel collection that we can’t stop talking about it. We have everything from tanks and tees to sweatshirts and hats!

When it comes to tanks and tees, it’s really difficult to have a favorite. We’re battling to choose between Reading is My Jam Tee, Silly Goose Book Club Tee, or the Book Lover Special Tee, to mention a few!

Christmas in July gifts for yourself

We often forget to spoil ourselves, and we think Christmas in July begs us to indulge! Our monthly book boxes are the ultimate gift to yourself. Each month, an exciting book box will arrive with a wonderful, newly released novel and surprise gifts to open along the way. The perfect monthly reminder to take time out for yourself!

And while you’re at it, make sure to check out our bath, health, and beauty collection, where you get to feel a bit more bookish every day with the perfect perfume, lipstick, and bath salts!

OUABC's 10th Anniversary makes this Christmas in July a once-in-a-decade moment

Can you believe it's our 10th Anniversary? This is a once-in-a-decade moment, and as a team, we would like to thank Michelle for creating the perfect company. After all, who else gets to spend their days surrounded by beautiful books, bookish products, and a team of bookworms?

We have loved being part of the OUABC journey from our first adult book box to where we are now. It is such an honor to be part of the OUABC team, where we get to be involved in something wonderful. Bringing books to life is part of our DNA!

OUABC Christmas in July Gifts

We hope we’ve inspired you to celebrate Christmas in July the bookworm way! We hope you spend time connecting with those you love and many happy hours between the pages!

Don’t forget to check out our Christmas Collection, which includes a host of bookish products just waiting to be wrapped, like our festive cookie tray and our winter landscape mug. And if you’re anything like us, you still have loads of Christmas wrapping paper stacked at the back of your cupboard. 

Happy celebrating and reading from all of us at OUABC!