Subscriptions! For Books!

As if brick and mortar stores, and Amazon, and Libraries, and eBooks weren’t enough, the book club books came appeared.
Well, they were always here. Remember Columbia House? (Those who are old enough to remember this) It was a club where you could get 9 CD’s for .99. The catch was you must buy a dozen more at regular price. There used to be book clubs like that as well.  Get six books for .99.But you had to by a dozen more at hardback price in a twelve-month period.  This was back in the day when hardbacks were around $14-$16, not the $25-$30 it is now.

Then, of course, we all remember the Scholastic Book Fair. The Gateway drug to reading for Gen X and Millennials.  I’m not sure it hit as hard for Gen Z or now for Gen Alpha. Are there even Scholastic Book Fairs anymore? And are they still the free for all they were back in the day?  I remember coming home, back in the day, with one or two pieces of paper with all the books they were going to sell and begging my mom to get the latest Judy Blume, or Sweet Valley High book. When my oldest was growing up, the latest Junie B. Jones or Animorphs. Then you had the extra money so you could buy a ridiculous poster or scented eraser. Or sparkly pens that turned into bracelets.

The modern-day version of this are monthly book boxes.  There are so many out there and each one is just a little different.
The one I’m in is Book of the Month Club. Which usually has decent hardbacks. If I can’t find anything that month that I want, I can always pause it for a month or two and they won’t charge me. At the end of the year, they have the Lolly’s, which is their version of the Book of the Year.  If you’re a BFF, (which I am) you get one of the nominated books of your choice for free as well as that month’s book of choice. Recently they’ve expanded to audio books as well.   
If you like your books fancy and pretty and don’t like choices, there’s the Once Upon A Book Club. A monthly book club where they choose the book and the theme but you get a special edition of the book that comes with a signed bookplate from the author the hardback foiling and custom endpapers. This book club is unique because there are different levels. There’s the adult level, a YA level, and a Middle school level. So, if you want to spend the money both you and your tween or teen can get unique monthly book subscriptions delivered to your door.

One subscription people seem to know is OwlCrate. A subscription book box that not only comes with the hardback book but also other goodies that match the book choice for that month.  An example of this is December 2023’s book box. It came with a uniquely designed copy of To Kill a Shadow by Katherine Quinn along with a journal, a pen set, hot cocoa, a pin banner, and an enamel pin collection. Again, the book is chosen for the buyer which is how they can get all the extra bits for the subscription. Again, these come in Young Adult and Adult Fantasy. This subscription is specifically for people who like their fantasy novels.

CrateJoy might have the most diverse collection of subscription boxes out there. If you like graphic novels, want children’s books, classics, historical, used books, teen and YA books, books with coffee meditation. They have a crate for anyone. Again, the books choose you but they come with other goodies that match the books chosen. Some crates just come with a box of books. There are so many to choose from and at various price points, you could get lost choosing some of what might be your new favorite monthly subscription.

The last one I want to talk about is Illimicrate. Started in the UK, this subscription box has made its way over to the US. Like the other two boxes, it also has one book that is prechosen by the company as well as items that coincide with the book’s theme. The company also has the extras that OwlCrate has: the exclusive cover, patterned edges, author signed as well as a few other items that match the theme. Stationary, bookmarks, drinkware, fabric items are some of the examples. They have authors that they do special editions of their books with which is exciting for readers and collectors who might have a favorite author (like me) and who would love to get one of the hardback embossed with beveled edges collections (like me.).
All of these subscriptions come with the option to skip a month because they know that not ever book is going to be a fit for their readers.  Or you can pause it and pick it back up at any time. Because again, not everyone can afford to spend the amount of money these subscriptions services charge monthly for books and goodies and that’s okay. Some things are more important.  Like lights to read your books by.

Like I said, I chose the Book of the Month Club because, instead of one book chosen for me each month, I get to choose. I might not get all the cute extras that go with the theme, but I know I will always be able to find a book that sounds interesting.  I’ve been a member for almost 3 years and I think I’ve skipped 5 months in that time. I can always find something that catches my interest. 
If you have extra money and want to treat yourself, then check out a book subscription box. It’s like a little surprise gift for you every month.
It’s almost here friends. If you’re in the US, Daylight savings time is this Sunday morning. Which means more daylight. Spring is coming closer and closer. Flowers are starting to bloom. If you’re in the Midwest or the South, the pollening is coming. Stock up on allergy medicine tissues my friends. Open your windows and pull out your jackets. And always remember to curl up with a good book.