However many books are inside, it's a ready-made stack that means the next read is already sorted.
A book box set suits a reader who has fallen for a series or an author and would like the whole thing in one go. Check which books they own, then choose the edition: paperback to read, hardback to keep, illustrated to display. Check the reading age too.
Gift ideas
A retailer can change a price at any time, so check it before you buy.
Hardcover editions of all seven books in a collectible trunk-like box with sturdy handles, a lockable lid and a decorative sticker set, with jacket art and chapter illustrations by Mary GrandPré. 8448 pages; 45.09 x 35.56 x 19.05 cm.
Three-volume deluxe slipcased hardback edition illustrated throughout by Alan Lee, with new paintings, dozens of first-time drawings, three removable art cards and two foldout maps. 1472 pages; 14.9 x 14.2 x 22.8 cm.
Limited-edition box of all 80 books in the series, issued for Penguin's 80th birthday, with fiction, poetry, essays and maxims by Chekhov, Balzac, Ovid, Austen, Sappho and Dante. Measures 17.8 x 12.4 x 51.2 cm and weighs 4.84 kg.
Box set of the first ten books about the crime-biting canine who is part dog, part man, from Dog Man through Mothering Heights, by Dav Pilkey. 2400 pages from Graphix, 21.59 x 22.35 x 14.73 cm, weighing 5.9 kg.
A book box set suits a reader who has fallen for a series or an author and would like the whole thing in one go. It is a gift that looks like a gift: a heavy box with a spine for every book, and a promise of weeks of reading.
The sets here lean towards grown-up and teenage readers. You'll find big fantasy series, a boxed set of Jane Austen's novels and a collection of short classics. They suit the reader who says they've been meaning to start a series, and the one who has read it three times and wants a good copy.
What to look for in a book box set
Which books are inside. A set can be a whole series or only the first few books, so read the description to see where it stops.
The edition. Paperback suits a reader who wants to read in bed. Hardback lasts longer and looks better on a shelf. Illustrated and collector's editions are meant to be displayed as much as read.
The weight. A complete series can weigh more than a kilo. The largest collections weigh several kilos, which is a lot to carry around.
The reading age. A few sets are series written for younger readers that adults enjoy too, and the age range is in the description.
Check what they already own. A duplicated first book is the usual mistake, and a glance at their shelf, or a word with someone who knows their reading, saves it.
When a book box set is the wrong gift
If they already own the series, you've given them a very attractive spare. If they only read on an e-reader, a box set is a lot of paper. If they got halfway through book one and gave up, more books won't change their mind. A box set is a lot of books to get wrong in one go, so give one only when you know they love the story.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know which books they already own?
Yes, if you can. A duplicated first book is the usual mistake with a box set. Look at their shelf, or ask someone who knows their reading, before you choose a series they might already have.
Should I choose a hardback or a paperback box set?
Paperback sets are lighter and easier to read in bed. Hardbacks last longer and look better on a shelf. Choose paperback for a reader who rereads, and hardback for someone who would keep it on display.
Is a book box set a good gift for a teenager?
It can be, especially a series they have mentioned or already started. Some sets list a reading age, so check it in the description. A teen who reads for fun gets a great deal out of a complete series.
