5 Subscription Book Boxes to Give as Gifts
5 Subscription Book Boxes to Give as Gifts
1. Book of the Month
5 Subscription Book Boxes to Give as Gifts - 1) Book of the Month
Who to gift it to:
A book-lover who also loves a great online community. Perhaps someone who enjoys history, as Book of the Month has been in existence since 1926.
Price:
3 months for $44.99; 6 months for $79.99; 12 months for $149.99
How it works:
Every month, Book of the Month Club (affiliate link) offers five books to choose from. Book of the Month provides an essay on the book written by the judge who selected the book, a synopsis of the story provided by the publisher, and a short preview of the book. Choose one of the five books offered, or skip the month if you're behind or nothing appeals to you. You also have the option of adding on other books for just $10.
What you get:
1 recently published book, in hardback with a glossy book jacket and a BOTM-branded paper bookmark.
My experience:
For my 30th birthday, a friend of mine gifted me three months with Book of the Month Club. After the three months were up, I got a year subscription from my parents as a Christmas gift. When Book of the Month reposted a photo I had posted on Instagram, they gifted me a free month. So I have yet to pay for a month myself, but I've really enjoyed my experience with them so far. Read some of my reviews of books from Book of the Month Club here, here, and here.
2. Capsule Books
5 Subscription Book Boxes to Give as Gifts - 2) Capsule Books
Who to gift it to:
Your thoughtful, introspective friend.
Price:
$50.00 per box
How it works:
Four times a year, one per season, Capsule Books releases three capsule options options based on a feeling or mood. Read over the descriptions and choose one. This Winter, the capsules were: Alone at a Party, Frozen Over, and Roar of the Fireplace. Click each one to read the description.
What you get:
3 paperback books (the books are a surprise!) The books are all different genres and published in different decades. There is usually some continuity such as "all books were written by females" or "all books take place in France." The capsules also include a little gift, such as a bookmark.
My experience:
I won a free box with Capsule Books in an Instagram contest. I chose the Flâner series from their Autumn Capsules. You can read about the three books I received in that box here, here, and here. I really lucked out that the box I won was so perfectly suited to my interests. I supposed I could be considered a Francophile, one of my New Year Resolutions was to learn French (I took two college classes and then got busy...) I took students to Paris, France to study fashion, and I am forever intrigued by Hemingway/Fitzgerald/Stein/Beach relationships. In addition to the three books, this capsule also included a unique bookmark made by an artisan.
3. Page Habit
5 Subscription Book Boxes to Give as Gifts - 3) Page Habit
Who to gift it to:
The permanent student - your friend who is curious and always wanting to learn more.
Price:
$29.99 per month for 3 months + shipping; $29.99 per month for 6 months (free shipping); $27.00 per month for one year (free shipping)
How it works:
With Page Habit, you choose from 7 different genres (literary fiction, mystery, fantasy, young adult fiction, romance, horror, historical fiction, or science fiction.) Each genre has a very vague description of the book you'll receive - the actual book is a surprise (don't be fooled by the picture next to the description!)
What you get:
1 recently published book with the author's annotations on sticky notes throughout, a letter from the author, a PageHabit branded paper bookmark, and "bookish goods" (see below for an example)
My experience:
Page Habit was kind enough to send me a sample box in exchange for this review. It arrived about a week ago and it included a copy of Radio Free Vermont by Bill McKibben, a letter from the author, the author's annotations written on sticky notes throughout the book, a PageHabit branded paper bookmark, a bookmark magnifier, a canvas book tote, and a short story entitled Blakout by Tara Isabella Burton.
4. Hello Book Lover
5 Subscription Book Boxes to Give as Gifts - 4) Hello Book Lover
Who to gift it to:
Your most fashionable girl friend
Price:
$28.00 monthly auto-bill; $84.00 3-month prepay; $168.00 6-month prepay
How it works:
Each month Hello Book Lover offers two books to choose from curated "for the modern woman" - you can choose which one you want or you can opt to be surprised!
What you get:
1 book and 2-3 fun surprises
My experience:
I haven't had the opportunity to experience the Hello Book Lover box, but a past box that looked appealing to me was the Bonjour Bibliophile Box that included a copy of Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly (click the link to see my review of Lilac Girls and be amazed at how far my reviews have come in less than a year!) Besides a copy of the book, this box included a Rifle Paper Co. greeting card, a bibliophile bookmark, and a chambray headscarf.
4. Quarterlane
5 Subscription Book Boxes to Give as Gifts - 5) Quarterlane
Who to gift it to:
Your friend who has a membership to the local art museum (ahem...like me!)
Price:
$105 - $225 per box; or by subscription starting at $85 per box
How it works:
You have the option to buy a one-off box from Quarterlane or you can choose the subscription option for a small savings. They often collaborate with other brands such as Sefte and Cherry Bombe to bring you special editions of their boxes that include unique items such as a luxurious throw blanket or a one-year subscription to Cherry Bombe.
What you get:
3-5 books, seasonal takeaways and custom artwork created by their artist in residence
My experience:
Quarterlane sent me TWO boxes to review for this post. I am absolutely smitten over the mix of art and books (surprise! surprise!) The white boxes were beautifully packaged and could easily be given as a gift just as they arrived in the mail. The boxes I received were the The Aesthete 06 x Sefte and the Juniper Books for quarterlane. Just looking at them online I knew I would love them. But when they arrived, wow, they are even more beautiful in person. I am 100% confident that this would make a beautiful gift this holiday season. (This is the one I'd want!)
