Here at Once Upon a Book Club, we are so excited that summer is here and entertaining is right at the top of our list! We love entertaining in summer, afternoons filled with sunshine and warm evenings. It’s the one season of the year that just lends itself to family gatherings and catch-up sessions with our friends.

For most of us, entertaining focuses on what we are going to serve, but it’s not all about the food and drinks. Our bookish entertaining essentials bring out your bookish personality and add that extra bit of charm.

So we’ll leave the menu planning to you, and you can leave those bookish touches to us!

Why Generic Dinnerware Misses the Moment 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a beautiful white dinner service, but does it really reflect who you are? Those bookish touches bring that extra bit of personality to the table, and they are great conversation pieces! 

It’s time to turn your summer entertaining into something memorable, especially when your guests are ones who notice the details! Our Little Women or Great Gatsby book plate sets are just what you need to add that touch of literary magic. 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. 

And if you don’t mind being a little quirky with your table setting, you can alternate them with plain plates: a bookish side plate paired with a simple dinner plate, followed by a bookish dinner plate paired with a plain side plate. Add in a few colored plates for a splash of summer brightness, and suddenly your table is the talk of the town!

Glassware: The Literary Conversation Starter

Literary glassware is becoming more and more popular. They are obviously wonderful conversation starters, especially when they’re Tortured Classics. Every set includes four standard-sized whiskey glasses, each printed with a different book title and author on the front, plus a memorable quote on the back. The collection features Moby Dick by Herman Melville, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. 

These are the types of glasses that instantly become part of the conversation. Whether you’re serving whiskey, cocktails, mocktails, or something sparkling, these glasses add that special touch!

But if you’re looking for some incredible wine glasses that will add a touch of drama to your table, then look no further than our gold, hammered metal Wrath of Goddess Wine Goblets! And for the champagne lovers in your life, we have just the thing! “The World is Yours for the Reading” champagne flutes say it all without uttering a word!

Extra Bookish Table Touches

We love that each of our bookish products has a story behind it, because that's what life is about. Getting together with family and friends gives us a chance to share in each other's stories, we share laughter, tears, and all the moments in between!

Candles always add that special touch, and we have a great selection, but when it comes to hosting a summer get-together, we think our lemon-scented candle is just what you need. It was inspired by Nothing Bad Happens Here by Rachel Ekstrom Courage!

We also have the perfect four-napkin summer set. This floral-embroidered napkin set was inspired by Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, which was featured in our 2025 Classic box. 

Our glass mug set is perfect for doubling as a holder for all-important sauces and dips, and with its matching small gold spoon, it will definitely be a highlight! This set was inspired by This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher. Speaking of spoons, you definitely want a book spoon rest inspired by either Little Women or The Great Gatsby. Yes, you need a spoon rest; it's all about the details!

The all-important cheese course will never be the same without our bamboo serving board and cheese knife set! Our gorgeous serving board was inspired by Scenes of the Crime by Jilly Gagnon, while our 3-piece cheese knife set, which includes a flat-bladed knife, cheese fork, and spade knife, was inspired by An Inconvenient Wife by Karen E. Olson.

DIY Bookish Touches You Can Create at Home

Of course, you don’t need to buy something new every time you host. Sometimes the most memorable details are the ones you create yourself. Ours are usually done with a pair of scissors, a ribbon, and a slightly unrealistic belief that “this will only take ten minutes.”

One of the easiest ways to add a bookish touch is with place cards inspired by characters or authors. Instead of writing each guest’s name on a plain card, match them to a character from their favorite book or create a theme with authors from the same genre!

You can even use books you already own as part of the table décor. A few hardcovers strategically placed down the center of the table makes a wonderful centerpiece. All that is left is to add flowers, candles, or small bowls of snacks around them, and suddenly your table has height, color, and personality.

Pour the Wine, Place the Plate, and Let the Entertaining Begin!

Summer entertaining should always feel warm and welcoming, and with a few added touches, you’re bound to create memories that will last a lifetime! 

And at the end of the day, that is what is important. Spending time with your loved ones, creating memories filled with joy and laughter. These are the moments we love reading about, and to be experiencing them, well, that is magical!

Happy entertaining our fellow bookworms! We would love to see what your bookish-inspired tables look like, so make sure to drop a pic!