This $16 Book Light Makes My Nights So Much Cozier

My favorite way to unwind before bed has always been with a good book. An hour before bedtime, I turn off the TV, put my phone away to avoid doomscrolling, and curl up with one of my current reads. For the longest time, the only issue with my beloved nightly routine was that my bedside lamp wasn’t cutting it. It didn’t shine enough light directly on the page, causing me to strain my eyes, while basking the rest of my room in more brightness than I’d like right before sleep.

After seeing a book light in a picture on social media, I searched Amazon for a solution to my problem, and was met with countless options. Unfortunately, none of them worked for me. Just as I was giving up on my search, my best friend recommended the Glocusent USB Rechargeable Book Light, which she had gotten as a stocking stuffer for her bookworm daughter. I was not disappointed!

Delighted to find it in my favorite color, I ordered the $16 purple model. It also comes in pink, sky blue, white, green, and dark blue, ranging from $13 to $16. I was pleased to find that it worked wonderfully with both hard covers and paperbacks without weighing either down when clipped to the back cover. It’s incredibly compact (4.09 inches x 1.34 inches x 0.59 inch), and although incredibly lightweight (1.4 ounces), it’s also surprisingly sturdy. 

The neck is tall enough that I can flip the pages with no hassle. Both the neck and head lamp easily twist and adjust to different angles, so the light fully covers the page. It offers five different brightness settings, and three different light color modes: a gentle amber, a brighter comfortable reading light, and a daylight level.

In a sleek and clever design, the USB port is protected with a removable cover that blends in seamlessly with the casing. Depending on settings used, the battery lasts anywhere from 10 to 80 hours. Four power indicators show how much power is left. Typically, I only have to charge it about once a month. I’m not at all surprised that this book light has accrued over 23,000 Amazon reviews with a 4.7-star average rating. 

I’ve had this book light for a little over a year, and it has become invaluable in my nighttime routine. With my bedroom either completely dark or dimly lit with colored LED lights, I use the book light’s warm amber mode, which I find gives off the coziest feeling and is best for winding down. I turn off my bedside lamp and use only my book light when I’m getting ready to go to sleep, and it does a fantastic job of illuminating the page — great if you struggle with straining your eyes or reading in dimmer conditions. Its adjustable settings make it possible to achieve the most comfortable lighting in any environment and in any reading position. 

The warm, gentle glow I opt for creates a cozy ambience, and really helps the rest of my room (and the world, really) fade away so I can savor the magic of storytelling without disrupting the serene atmosphere of my bedroom with harsh lighting. I don’t have to reach over or get up to turn off any lights — just a soft click and I am ready to get some sleep.

I also love how travel-friendly it is, since it easily fits into any bag or pocket. It’s convenient on flights when I want to read but not disrupt the passenger next to me by turning on the overhead light. When I want to read outdoors past sunset or under a starry sky, I can. I even take it with me to my favorite coffee shop, which serves amazing lattes but has extremely dim lighting. 

The Glocusent book light is a must-have companion for bookworms, whether you’re looking for a more relaxing reading experience, like getting snug in a dark corner, or want to read in bed without disturbing your partner. 

If you’re anything like me, you’ll also appreciate the nostalgia it brings up — how it takes you back to nights as a child reading with a flashlight under your covers past your bedtime. 

Buy: Glocusent USB Rechargeable Book Light, $15.99