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LEGO® Came Out In Style October 2024 With A GWP, Gift With Purchase, Set That Was Rare, Aesthetically Pleasing, And Quick To Leave Stock
This incredibly small and aesthetically designed LEGO® Gift With Purchase Set, 40698: Books Are My Passion, could help you add a cozy reading nook to your shelf in style. This 285-piece set brings a special flare of tranquility to any LEGO® collection, matching similar vibes to the botanical collection. Personally, I feel like this set brings a dash of serenity and a bit of inception by bringing a small bookcase to your bookcase right in your living room.
Let’s explore the key aspects of this set:
- The Build
- The Design
- The Minifigure(s)
- The Cost (or how to get this unique GWP)
With these key elements, you can decide if it’s worth hunting for and buying on third-party platforms.
What’s The Build Like For Books Are My Passion?
With 285 pieces, you are looking at a build that will take the average LEGO® builder a maximum of 1.5 hours. Most beginner to advanced builders take roughly 1-1.5 hours to build a few hundred pieces.
The build itself is not complicated, and the multi-colored gold/silver bar bricks used to copy the appearance of book bindings are an exceptional touch. This is a LEGO® bookshelf building technique I don’t see very often—it comes out marvelously. Nothing is difficult about the build, and you should have a lot of fun modifying it or making your own MOC (My Own Creation) by surrounding it with your collection’s LEGO® structures.
What’s The Design Like For The Books Are My Passion LEGO® Set?
I love the design of Books Are My Passion, and you will, too! It is quite small, with dimensions of 12 cm (5 in.) high, 9 cm (3.5 in.) wide, and 9 cm (3.5 in) deep—but these dimensions add to the allure.
A few really unique callouts:
- The minifigure head on top of the bookcase is a world map printed on a LEGO® head that appears to be one-of-a-kind to this set.
- Using 1×1 brown studs to make ornaments on top of the bookcase is an insanely simple yet beautiful design.
- The design of the blue reading chair and library ladder are two elegant pieces that complement the bookcase’s brown-hue well.
Honestly, this set has such an artsy and authentic feel to it. It’s a wonderful design.
Is The Minifigure Inside Worth It?
Unfortunately, the minifigure is the worst part of this set. It is a very simple female minifigure with only a finely printed LEGO® sweater for the torso. The hairpiece, head, and legs are nothing to write home about. Still, I think this simple minifigure does contribute to the overall aesthetic of set 40698. This set lives by two watchwords: Simple and elegant.
Is The GWP Books Are My Passion Worth It? How Do I Get It?
Another downside to this set: It’s a GWP Gift With Purchase. This set is no longer offered as it was a GWP from October 28th to November 11th, 2024, when holiday LEGO® shoppers spent US $130.00 / AU $215.00 / €130.00 / £130.00 (some sources say £120.00) on LEGO.com or spent their LEGO® funds at a local LEGO® store during the promotion. It was worth it as a rare find and collectible in late October to early November 2024, but with the promo over since November 2024, the only way you can get this set is via third-party platforms and sellers—bummer.
According to BrickEconomy, a sealed copy of 40698 Books Are My Passion sits around $95 USD as of October 2026, and it has averaged roughly 22% annual appreciation since the set retired in November 2024. That’s a significant premium considering this was originally a free promotional set with an approximate retail value of $19.99. Used copies average around $79, with a range of roughly $31 to $88 depending on condition. Please note Brickset values it much lower at around $52 new, and Brick Owl listings for new sealed copies run roughly $62.00 to $99.99, so shop around before you shell out good money!
Frankly, I would take inspiration from this design and build your own using pieces from your personal LEGO® collection! Plus, I’ve linked the LEGO® page that allows you to download the directions for the Books Are My Passion set to get you started. Enjoy!
How Books Are My Passion Fits Into The LEGO® Ideas Legacy
Set 40698 Books Are My Passion holds a special place in LEGO® history as it was the winning entry in the LEGO® Ideas “Me, Myself and I” design contest back in 2023. The original design, titled “Reading, Reading, Reading” by fan designer Fr_An, captured the community’s imagination with its cozy, literary aesthetic. LEGO® Ideas kept the momentum going in 2026 with exciting releases like the Love Birds set (January 2026), the Floating Sea Otter (March 2026), and Peanuts: Snoopy’s Doghouse (June 2026), and even a Yu-Gi-Oh! set is in development for an expected 2027 release. The Ideas platform remains one of the most beloved ways for fans to see their creative visions become official LEGO® products.
Matt Buxbaum · CEO at Baumlinks LLC
Matt B. spends his time arm wrestling, boxing, and most importantly, building LEGO®. His eclectic tastes give you dynamic information on all things LEGO® news and LEGO® product releases.
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