I didn’t know that book subscription boxes were a thing until I saw a video about them on TikTok over the summer. Ever since then, I have discovered that there are so many out there and I decided to try a few of them.
Book subscription boxes send you a book and sometimes some other items every month. Most of them are recurring subscriptions, billed monthly. The prices range from just over $10 to around $50. They are all unique, and each has something special that distinguishes them from each other.
With so many options out there, I thought that I would let you know my thoughts about the ones that I tried so that if you are interested in trying one as well, you can find the one that will work best for you.
- Owlcrate
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Owlcrate is a monthly subscription box for people who love Young Adult books! Each month, you receive a box with an exclusive, highly anticipated, new YA release, as well as 3-5 bookish items inspired by other YA books. Items can include jewelry, bookmarks, candles, and more useful, fun, and unique items that come from small businesses who partner with Owlcrate to create really cool exclusive products! The boxes also come with exclusive content from the author as well! Lastly, you get a collectible enamel pin that corresponds to the month’s theme, which the book and other items are also centered around. The book and items are usually a surprise, but the company releases hints in the month leading up to the box and will tell you the book if you email them and ask!
These boxes ship anywhere in the world, with different shipping costs depending on the area. The Owlcrate store also sells past boxes, individual items from past boxes, and another subscription box for younger book nerds!
This was the first book subscription box I tried. I bought a 3-month plan when I got off of the waitlist in July and recently renewed my subscription through December. So far, I have absolutely loved it! Originally, I was worried that I would get a lot of repeat items or just junk that I would have no use for, but I have actually been pleasantly surprised at the quality of the boxes. All of the items are original, useful, and cute! The exclusive editions of the books are absolutely gorgeous as well! The best part is that every element of the box is crafted with care and intention, creating a really special experience that I have found myself looking forward to every single month!
Price: $29.99 + Shipping / month
Arrival: Usually on the 3rd week of the month
Packaging Waste: Minimal! The enamel pin comes wrapped in plastic but other than that almost everything comes in packaging that can be recycled :)
Favorite Thing: The surprise element is super fun and is part of the reason I am so excited to get my box and see what is inside.
Least Favorite Thing: The shipping price is quite expensive, especially because the boxes are packed with things. But it is worth it to me!
What Makes This Box Special: The exclusive book cover and items. You cannot find or buy them anywhere else!
- Book of the Month
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Book of the Month is another monthly subscription box that delivers 1-3 books to your door every month. The special thing about this box is that you get to choose the book(s) that you want! On the first day of every month, BOTM releases their picks for the books of the month, with 5 top reads from a variety of genres. If you see a book that looks interesting, you can choose it as your book of the month and they will ship it to you as soon as you place your order! You can also add one or two more books to your box from their past book collection.
I have gotten two boxes so far and I really enjoy them! I like getting to pick out the books I want and getting them quickly. Of all of the book subscription boxes, this one is probably the simplest and easiest to opt-in/out of. This past month, I did not see any books that I wanted, so I just did not get a book and now I have a credit on my account for the next month, or the next time that I see a book that I want.
Price: $9.99 for your first box, then $14.99 for every box after (a great deal! These are hardcover books, which normally retail for around $20. Oh also shipping is free… I repeat, SHIPPING IS FREE!!!)
Arrival: Ships as soon as you order it! As early or late in the month as you want
Packaging Waste: None! (Other than the box)
Favorite Thing: Overall simplicity of it and the ability to choose my book(s)
Least Favorite Thing: Doesn’t always have a BOTM that I want and I cannot get past the book add on without ordering one of the monthly picks
What Makes This Box Special: The flexibility and simplicity! It is also the only one I have tried that is customizable.
- Bookish Box
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The Bookish Box is a monthly subscription box that sends you a new book release with 3-5 home, beauty, and fashion items themed around other popular books. Subscribers can choose between the Young Adult or the Adult box and can also choose to upgrade their box with a book-themed T-shirt as well.
Like Owlcrate, The Bookish Box has a monthly theme from both its YA and Adult boxes! Unlike Owlcrate, there is no surprise element for the book (you always know what it is before you get it), but the items are a surprise. The items are also a little less exclusive than the Owlcrate ones, as they come from and can be found on the Bookish Box’s website, but this by no means makes them less cool! I will say, however, that the items are also not as original, especially month to month. For example, in both my September and October box, I got a candle and a necklace. The items also don’t follow the theme as closely.
This is still a really cool box and I have gotten some items that I absolutely love! I wear both of my necklaces all of the time and I got a beautiful tote bag that I carry with me everywhere. I also absolutely LOVE the tarot cards that come in each month’s box with beautiful artwork of popular book characters. Overall, this box has a lot of really great things going for it and I love a lot of things about it!
Price: $36.99 – $52.50 / month (use this link to get a discount code!)
Arrival: Varies, usually at the very end of the month
Packaging Waste: Some. Unfortunately more than the others I have tried with many items being wrapped in plastic. The books come in their own felt dust bag, which is cute!
Favorite Thing: The items are very cool and useful!
Least Favorite Thing: Not as specific to the theme and the shipping is less consistent than other boxes.
What Makes This Box Special: The monthly tarot cards are truly unique! Also, the variety of subscription options and the ability to add on other merchandise.
- Once Upon a Book Club
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The last book box that I tried is probably one of the most unique ones. The Once Upon A Bookclub Box also has both an Adult and Young Adult option for their boxes, that arrive every month with a book, a 5” x 7” quote print, and 3-5 gifts that match a quote or item mentioned in the book, each individually wrapped with a page number. As you read your monthly book, you can open your gifts as you finish the corresponding pages. This book box is truly more of an experience and makes you feel like the book is really coming to life! You can also find a book club discussion in each box to discuss with the other members of the community on the company’s Instagram.
I just got my first box and I have not read the book yet, so I do not know what my items are. This box is super exciting because everything about it is so different from other boxes. While Owlcrate and The Bookish Box have had the same books as each other in the past, Once Upon a Book Club normally does not have the same book as other subscription boxes because they choose lesser-known releases to feature. Either way, I am super excited to read my book so that I can open my items! That is probably one of the best things about this box because I still haven’t read most of the books I have gotten from my other subscription boxes even months after just because I have had a lot of other books to read, but for this book, I am incentivized to read the book as soon as possible so that I can find out what the items are!
Price: $34.99 + Shipping / month
Arrival: Pretty late. The “October” box arrived towards the end of November.
Packaging Waste: Minimal! Most of the packaging is recyclable!
Favorite Thing: The concept is so unique! I love that the items correspond to specific things and pages within the book.
Least Favorite Thing: I am just not as excited about the monthly books. Just because they are more obscure does not mean that they are bad, I just have other books that I am anticipating more.
What Makes This Box Special: More obscure books, themed to book, items are a surprise and coded to a page, the super cool boxes that everything comes in that look like a book, really just the whole concept is so special and unique!
Those are my opinions on all of the book boxes that I have tried! I personally like the Owlcrate book box the best, just because the part I like the most is getting an exclusive copy of a book and exclusive items, but the other boxes are really cool as well. If you are thinking of getting a book box, I encourage you to check out all of the options and find which one you will like the best. Right now, all of these book boxes are having holiday sales, so it is the perfect time to sign up for a new subscription. These boxes also make great holiday gifts for book-loving friends and family members.
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