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.
Special-edition boxed set of all seven books by J.K. Rowling, marking 20 years since the first was published, with covers redesigned by Caldecott Medalist Brian Selznick. 8640 pages, ages 8 and up, 24.13 x 14.61 x 22.86 cm.
Box set of all fifteen novels, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach and Matilda, plus three poetry collections and the autobiographical Boy and Going Solo, with Quentin Blake artwork. Penguin, ages 9 to 18.
Special-edition set of books 1 to 7 in deluxe paperback, with gold foil on the covers and coloured stencilled edges carrying icons for each book. Scholastic, 4224 pages; 13.97 x 25.4 x 20.07 cm, weighing 4.06 kg.
Books 1 to 25 of the more challenging adventure series for experienced readers, in which Merlin sends Jack and Annie through a tree house to places such as Camelot, starting with Christmas in Camelot and Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve.
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.
