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Trending DIY Book Nook Kits (December 2024) - Bookshelf Memories

Trending DIY Book Nook Kits (December 2024)

With the year-end fast approaching and the busiest gifting season well underway, pay attention to last order dates, and what’s selling to ensure you get what you need in case items sell out. If you aren’t quite sure where to buy quality book nook kits, know that most that are sold on marketplaces like Amazon, Aliexpress, Temu, U-Buy, Wish and on Tik Tok shops, are made by the same manufacturers, just imported. If it's sold out on one platform, you may find it on another.

The only exception to that is for independent designers with unique 3D puzzle kits that don’t list them on online marketplaces. With that in mind…

Hot off the Block: The New Releases Shipping Now

Two new designs launched recently. If you weren't on the waiting list, you wouldn't have received the notifications. An exclusive to Bookshelf Memories is our very own DIY Tokyo Alley book nook kit. Another Japanese themed kit is of Kyoto Gion and that’s by Anavrin. Both are exclusive designs, only available directly, not listed on online marketplaces.

If you’re buying a book nook kit to gift to someone, you ought to know what accessories will be needed and whether you need to buy them separately. The DIY Tokyo Alley kit is a complete kit with all the tools needed to assemble it included. For those new to miniature building, you can find a list of book nook kit accessories here. Check listings to see if everything needed to complete the kits are included or needed. Most require batteries, or in our case, a wall adapter and power cable.

The Best Selling DIY Book Nook Kits Leaving Amazon Warehouses Now!

Putting our fingers on the pulse of shoppers, we turned to one of the biggest online retailers of these. Amazon.com. The category these get listed on are Toys and Games > Puzzles > 3D Puzzles. Lo-and-behold, there’s a best sellers list for the category! What better way to know what’s trending than to see the exact names of the kits people are buying.

8 DIY Book Nook Kits on the 3D Puzzles Best Seller List on Amazon

1. Library of Books

In at #6 is the Library of Books kit from the CRIOLPO store. Within the past month alone, over 4,000 of these kits have sold. There’s no shortage though because it’s an unbranded version sold on every major marketplace.

2. Fsolis Owl Bookstore

At #8 is the Fsolis Owl Bookstore. Fsolis are resellers of Cutebee designs. They buy wholesale and list the kits on multiple marketplaces. When Amazon runs out, check the other platforms. Refer to our Cutebee Gift Guide post for a list of all the official stores you can get these kits.

3. Bookshop Memories

At #9 is Bookshop Memories, which is smaller than most with just 137 pieces. It's one of the least difficult kits to put together. The estimated assembly time is just 2 hours. Despite that, the inside of it oozes literary charm, it lights up, and the doors can be open or closed. 

4. Magic Pharmacist

At #36 is the Magic Pharmacist kit from the Fsolis store. The same kit makes another appearance as the 42nd best selling book nook kit, this time from the Cutebee store. There’s more people buying the Magic Pharmacist from a reseller store than they are from the original maker.

5. Beyond Library Max

At #43 is the Beyond Library Max XL book nook kit available at the CCCDF store on Amazon.com. This is an original design by MiniCity and is significantly more complex than the standard “Beyond Library” kit by the same designer.

A little bit of advice: If you’re after a book nook kit for beginners doing a first-time project, know what's involved with this. MiniCity are not known for simplicity. The designs are complex. The smaller version (Beyond Library) is the most popular book nook kit based on user ratings, but it's 520 pieces. This "Max" version of it has over 1,000 pieces. It'd be better suited as a book nook kit for hobbyists who have experience under their belt assembling these. Unless, it’s the challenge the person is after.

6. Alice in Wonderland Storybook Nightlight

At #46 is a storybook nightlight puzzle from the Funpola store. It’s not a bookshelf insert per se, but it does serve the same purpose for decorating bookshelves with 3D wooden puzzle kits. In terms of the age ranges it’s suitable for, the sellers don’t seem to know. At one point, it was for ages 5+, now it’s 120 months (10 years old), likely because user reviews are stating that it was difficult for adults to put together let alone expecting a kid to build it.

Quick tip: Most miniature 3D puzzles that contain lights tend to be for ages 14 and upwards. With that in mind, it’d be reasonable to assume that this is a kit for teens and adults to build that can then be used in a kids room as a reading light / story lamp.

7. The Bookstore by Rolife

At #48, it’s the Bookstore kit by Rolife. See our post about Rolife DIY book nook kits because like Cutebee, they’re available on several platforms, each with different prices and shipping times.

8. Eternal Bookstore

At #81, it’s the Eternal Bookstore, a Cutebee original being resold under different brand names. Cutefun is the store on the best sellers list, but, the same kit (at time of writing) is on sale at Cutebee.net, and with free shipping. This is one of those gifts for bibliophiles who have an appreciation of literature and old bookstores that evoke a sense of nostalgia.

If you know you want to gift a book nook kit, but can't quite put your finger on which one to choose, there are two things you can do. 

  1. Read our guide on how to choose quality book nook kits: Tips for the perfect gift
  2. Draw inspiration from the Most Wished For book nook kits on Amazon

The 10 Book Nook Kits on the “Amazon Most Wished For” List

1. Count Cat's Study (Fsolis)

Topping the Wish List on the #1 spot is Count Cat's Study on the Fsolis store, and again in the 7th spot for the Cutebee store listing.  

2. Su Dongpo's Life (Cutebee)

The 2nd most wished for is Cutebees Su Dongpo’s Life. This is a Chinese inspired design with a true story behind it. It tells the story of Su Dongo, also known as Su Shi (nothing to do with sushi) a prominent figure in Chinese history, particularly during the Song Dynasty in the period of 960-1279.

3. Detective Famous Agency 

5th on the wish list is the CRIOPLO store with the Detective Famous Agency book nook kit.

4. Grandpa's Antiques Store 

At #11 is another Fsolis book nook kit listing, this time it's for the Grandpa's Antiques Store model. This is one to be appreciated by art aficionados as it pays homage to several famous painters with replicas of paintings scaled down and framed to hang on the walls of the store.

5. The Emperor’s Study

Taking 14th place is The Emperor’s Study on the CCCDF store with another original design by MiniCity. They are a designer with several distinct book nook kits. This one is inspired by ancient China.

They do give a "warm notice" on the website (but not on Amazon) that “the number of pieces are 3 times or more than the market, so the probability of problems is relatively increased”. This kit is 443 pieces.

6. The Eternal Bookstore 

At #15, it’s the Eternal Bookstore kit on the Cutefun store. This is a Cutebee design being resold under a different branded store so price shop to see what deals you can get. Cutebee.net have free shipping deals and a discounted price on this model.

7. Dorothy’s Journey 

#42 on the list is another original by MiniCity, this time Dorothy’s Journey and it’s one of only a few designs featuring miniature characters from the original story, including Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Lion.

8. Cyberpunk 

At #43 is the Cyberpunk book nook kit from the TomYoung store. The design aesthetics are not the soft ambient lighting that’s usually used in traditional book nook kits. This is the type of design that would transform video game storage shelves with its neon lights that uses a trio of contrasting colors - tech blue with a contrasting yellow and pink lights to create the neon effect.

9. Magic Wand Shop (Fuiltee)

At #53 is the Harry Potter themed Magic Wand Shop book nook kit and this one is a book nook nook kit and not the Magic Wand Miniature House Kit by ROKR. The Magic Wand Shop is the standard width and height of a bookshelf insert.

10. Rolife Sakura Densya

Last, at #61 of the most wished for book nook kits in the 3d puzzles category is the Japanese themed Sakura Densya book nook kit by Rolife.

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