Brown Paper Bookshelf

A story wrapped, a gift to share. Unwrap the mystery waiting there.

Started in 2019 and based in Bristol, The Brown Paper Bookshelf was born from a love of second-hand bookshops, brown paper parcels, and the quiet excitement of not knowing what story waits inside.

We create beautifully wrapped Blind Date With a Book gifts — each one chosen by hand and carefully packaged to feel like receiving a present from an old friend. Every book is checked to make sure it’s either the first in a series, part of a wider world that can be enjoyed on its own, or a stand-alone story that’s ready to sweep you away.

Our aim is simple: to make reading feel like an experience again. To slow down, unwrap something wonderful, and rediscover the magic of turning pages.

Each parcel comes with a matching bookmark (because we’re forever misplacing ours — and nobody ever suffered for having too many).

Whether it’s a thoughtful gift, a Secret Santa surprise, or a treat for yourself, The Brown Paper Bookshelf invites you to step away from your screen and fall in love with stories all over again.