After seeing countless advertisements for Book of the Month on Instagram, I caved last November and bought a subscription to their service. For a book lover such as myself, it seemed like a no-brainer; their opening deal offered the first book for just five dollars — plus a free baseball cap with bookish embroidery of your choosing. Thoroughly enticed, I signed up, and for the last twelve months, I have been receiving one new fiction release per month from them. After a full year, my opinions on Book of the Month have varied widely from month to month; those interested in subscribing should proceed with caution.
First and most notably, Book of the Month focuses exclusively on new fiction releases. They select between five and seven books per month of varying genres, but most frequently including romance, fantasy, contemporary fiction and historical fiction. They also recently debuted a new section of books called “The Offset,” which features novels that are creepier and more experimental than their typical selection. For their centennial, which is this year, they have also been re-releasing famous classics and various literature from the past hundred years to celebrate. The membership, which costs $17.99 per month after your first month, covers only one book, but for an additional charge, you can add as many other books as you want to the box. You could even add books from months past, if they still have them in stock. The box includes a paper bookmark as well.
Personally, I have always been the kind of reader who prefers classics and non-fiction texts, and so Book of the Month was a big departure from my typical reads. I was excited, though, to try reading more recent fiction; and with a five dollar deal on the first book, I was eager to give them a try. My first three selections were my favorites; two romances and a thriller. They made reading fun again, something to be enjoyed rather than simply an intellectual pursuit. But, February was a different story.
The Offset lured me in with unique titles and experimental themes and plots. I was interested but ultimately disappointed by the selection; although I powered through the book, it was unpleasant and frustrating, and I decided to move away from the Offset. The next month, none of the titles interested me — a theme which will return later — and I let my mom choose a book for herself. In April, I returned again to the Offset and hated the book so much that it was my first “did not finish” in my entire reading career; it was an unpleasant reading experience. May, June and July I again gave my books to my mother and a friend because the titles were not appealing to me; I was beginning to get tired of a monthly charge of $17.99 for books I wasn’t reading. Nevertheless, I held onto the subscription for the promise of a special edition tote bag that is only given at the one-year mark. August’s book I took for myself but I have not opened it yet; September’s book I gave away, and for October I chose a classic centennial edition.
Will I continue my membership? I’m uncertain. As an English major concentrating on publishing, it’s important for my career that I keep up with new releases and the modern book scene; however, ultimately, I’d rather enjoy my books than force myself to choke down what I don’t like. For fans of modern fiction (romance and fantasy especially), Book of the Month is probably a better investment.