Friday, 23 June 2017

A Guide to Book Subscription Boxes




I've never purchased a bookish subscription box, because frankly, there are just so many on the market, and the idea of researching them all scared me slightly. They are all different prices and have different items and aghhhhh how do I choose?
So, I've decided to make a blog post comparing 10 of the most popular boxes so that y'all have somewhere to go to see all the features of the various boxes.All pictures do not belong to me, they're from each box's website.

First, here's a table of all the various boxes and then I'll describe each of them. Enjoy!

 


 

  
Each box contains:
  • 1 brand new, hardcover YA book
  • Signed bookplate (or book is signed by the author)
  • 1-2 bookish items
  • Handwritten, personalised note

Details
  • Monthly
  • Ships to US, Puerto Rico and Canada
  • $23/month
  • Shipping: $6.50 (US) or $22.75 (Canada)
  • Box without exclusive bookish items also available, costs $13.99 + shipping

 
Each box contains:
  • 1 brand new, hardcover YA book
  • Bookish keepsakes from small businesses
  • Exclusive items from authors and publishers
  • A handwritten letter from the author, signed bookplates as much as possible
  • Collectable flyer

Details
  • Monthly
  • Ships Woldwide
  • $29.99/month, slightly cheaper if you purchase several months at once.
  • Shipping: $6.99 (US), $10.59 (Canada) or $19.99 (Worldwide)

 


  

Each box contains:
  • 1 brand new, hardcover YA book
  • Unique buddy reading hashtag to link you up with another reader
  • 5-6 bookish items related to the theme of the month
  • Fairyscoop, a mini newsletter
  • A letter and signed bookplate from the author, wherever available.
  • Promotional items for other YA books
  • Packing list with artwork

Details
  • Monthly
  • Ships Worldwide
  • £26/month, slightly cheaper if you buy a 6 or 12 month subscription
  • Shipping variable depending on country e.g. UK - £3.95, US - $18.30

  


Each box contains:
  • 1 brand new, hardcover YA book
  • 4+ bookish items
  • Handwritten, personalised note

Details
  •  Monthly
  • Ships Worldwide
  • $29.99/month
  • Shipping: variable dependant on country
  

  


Each box contains:
  • 1 brand new, hardcover YA book
  • 2-4 bookish items

Details
  • Monhtly
  • Ships Internationally
  • $29.99/month, slightly cheaper if you buy a 6 or 12 month subscription
  • Shipping: variable, dependent on country
  

Each box contains:
  • 1 brand new, hardcover YA book
  • 3-6 bookish items
  • Branded bookmark

Details
  • Monthly
  • Ships Worldwide
  • $39.99/month, slightly cheaper if purchased in 6 or 12 month subscriptions
  • Shipping: $9.99 (AUS&NZ) or $22.99 (Worldwide)

 

Each box contains:
  • 1 brand new, hardcover YA book
  • Variable number of bookish items

Details
  • Monthly
  • Ships Worldwide
  • £29.99
  • Shipping: £4.99 to £13.99 depending on location

 

Each box contains:
  • 1 brand new, hardcover, Sci-fi/Fantasy YA book
  • 3+ bookish items

Details
  • Monthly
  • Ships Worldwide
  • $29.99/month, slighly cheaper with 3 month or 6 plans
  • Shipping: $7.99 (US), $14.99 (CAN) or $22.99 (Worldwide)
 

Each box contains:
  • 1 new hardcover book, filled with handwritten author notes and exclusive content
  • 2 books chosen by the author of the box

Details
  • Quarterly
  • Ships Internationally
  • $49 quarterly
  • Shipping: Variable based on location
 

  • Signed, first edition of a brand new, hardcover YA book
  • Selection of YA bookish items


Details
  • Run by The Strand Bookstore
  • Quarterly
  • Ships Worldwide
  • $30 quarterly
  • Shipping: $3.99 (US), $9.99 (Canada) or $17.99 (International)
I hope this was helpful,guys! Have any of you ever tried a bookish box? What did you think of it? If you haven't, which one do you think looks best? I'd love to know.

Love,
Posted by at

48 comments:

  1. Erica Robyn23 June 2017 at 16:02

    WONDERFUL post!! I haven't subscribed to a subscription box either, but I hope to one day try a few out! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan24 June 2017 at 09:05

      Aww , thank you so much Erica! Let me know which one you end up subscribing too <3

      Delete
  2. Greg23 June 2017 at 17:01

    Wow there are so many! I've probably heard of Owlcrate and Fairyloot the most, and both have looked good from what I've seen from blog posts and unboxings. I'm debating whether to do one of these ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan24 June 2017 at 09:06

      I know! The more I researched, the more boxes I found. There are even more that I didn't include! :)

      Delete
  3. The Quiet Geordie24 June 2017 at 07:52

    There's the Book Box Club http://www.bookboxclub.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kayla24 June 2017 at 07:52

    I have gotten 5 or 6 Litjoy crates.

    I like them for the most part. My sister and I share them, so if there's something one of us doesn't want, the other probably does.

    Most of the books were books I had heard about, and you get them just a week or two after they come out, so it's a good deal as far as I'm concerned. :)

    Some of these others look neat, though. I might have to do a pause on LJC and try out a different one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan24 June 2017 at 09:08

      Ooh, that sounds really good! I think I would like that box. If you try any others out, let me know <3

      Delete
  5. Unknown24 June 2017 at 08:24

    I haven't tried a book box subscription yet but I want to so bad

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan24 June 2017 at 09:10

      Me too! But they all look so good so I struggle to choose! :)

      Delete
  6. Unknown24 June 2017 at 09:02

    Once Upon a Book Club YA and Adult I love both of those

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan24 June 2017 at 09:10

      I just looked those up and wow, they look so good!

      Delete
  7. Ashley Gallegos24 June 2017 at 09:05

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ashley Gallegos24 June 2017 at 09:05

    Indie Book Connect ships worldwide and sends out two autographed books and a bookmark each month for just $20! I love them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan24 June 2017 at 09:12

      That sounds AMAZING! I'll have to look into it :)

      Delete
  9. Myrth | Tales Past Midnight24 June 2017 at 09:14

    I wish I could subscribe to at least one of these but I don't have the money for it and the international shipping to my country will probably cost as much as the subscription itself if not more. I can only wish.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan12 July 2017 at 07:01

      I'm in the same boat with that one. International shipping costs are THE WORST.

      Delete
  10. Seraphina Cornwallgirl24 June 2017 at 09:18

    I started with Owlcrate 2 month ago and I loved it. This month I was crazy and also got Fairyloot and Whimsify. Whimsify was so great! Fairyloot is still on it's way. Can hardly wait ��

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan12 July 2017 at 07:13

      I've heard so many good things about Fairyloot - I hope you love your box!

      Delete
  11. anarmchairbythesea24 June 2017 at 09:48

    I run Ninja Book Box. We're UK based with free UK shipping and all the books in our boxes are from independent publishers across all genres and gifts from small businesses,and we ship worldwide!

    I've also tried Fairyloot which I really like,and Prudence and the Crow which is lovely for preloved books 😊 oh,and Book Voyage which I LOVE - each box contains a book from a different country and snacks also from that country!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kay 24 June 2017 at 14:38

      I will defiantly be checking these out, its getting harder to find anything in the UK anymore! Unless I'm looking wrong...
      Do you know any adult based book boxes?

      Kay xxx

      Delete
    2. Megan12 July 2017 at 07:11

      Woah, your box sounds amazing, I'll definately be investigating it! :D

      Delete
  12. Unknown24 June 2017 at 12:48

    Very good! I'd mention that Fairyloot has a very limited number of spots so you have to jump on it if you want it!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Unknown24 June 2017 at 17:06

    Illumicrate is actually quarterly, not monthly. It's nice seeing them side by side. I've only ever subscribed to Shelflove Crate and YA Chronicles, but I've liked every box I've received.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan12 July 2017 at 07:14

      Ahhhh, thanks for pointing that out, I'll change it! Those both sound like really great boxes :D

      Delete
  14. Jen25 June 2017 at 09:09

    Wow - I didn't realize that there were so many - thanks for giving me all the options!
    @kay - I'm pretty sure the Strand boxes (Book Hookup) include a lot of genres including general fiction, art/photography, even feminist!

    Megan, thanks so much for the shout-out on Twitter. That was so kind of you!

    Jen @ YA Romantics

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan12 July 2017 at 07:16

      Aww, you're so welcome, Jen! You're such a lovely blogging friend :D
      I know, I thought there were only 2 or 3 and then I started researching and more and more of them appeared. These aren't even all of them!

      Delete
  15. Debbish25 June 2017 at 22:01

    I tend to be pretty fussy about what I read so can't imagine finding one that would include the books I enjoy - though I can imagine subscribing to something that has quirky bookish tshirts or similar.

    Of course postage (to Australia) is a killer for most subscription boxes!

    Great post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan12 July 2017 at 07:18

      I'm always a little worried I'll get a book I already have too. And yes, postage is so annoying! :)

      Delete
  16. LilyElement26 June 2017 at 07:55

    Thank you! I didn't know about pretty much all of these :D

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous26 June 2017 at 14:51

    Thank you SO MUCH for this post!

    There are so many subscriptions available it's not always easy to remember which ones might benefit best to a particular person. For one, I've seen Owlcrate, lllumicrate and Litjoycrate everywhere but now that I've seen your info on Fairyloot, that box seems so much cooler in that sense you get someone to read your book with! How much fun is that? You get connected to fellow book readers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan12 July 2017 at 07:20

      I know, it sounds amazing! Can you imagine sharing your thoughts on the book with someone from the other side of the world?

      Delete
  18. Amethyst Incantations29 June 2017 at 09:07

    I've only tried Uppercase, but I really liked it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan12 July 2017 at 07:21

      It looks really good, I wish they shipped internationally!

      Delete
  19. Unknown3 July 2017 at 13:28

    I've personally never tried a book subscription box, but I'm intrigued by the concept. I love the idea of a unique hashtag to hook up with a reading buddy from Fairyloot! I've done a few of the beauty subscription boxes, and honestly, I canceled them because I'd rather pick things out myself. I guess I would worry that the book I received wasn't one I'd be interested in reading? But maybe that's silly, because honestly, I want to read all the things!
    Lauren @ Bookgirl Secrets

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan12 July 2017 at 07:22

      I have that fear too, and also that I might already own the book? I don't know, I guess I'm just nervous because I've never tried a bookish subscription box!

      Delete
  20. Unknown9 July 2017 at 19:22

    Those look awesome!

    I gave your blog a follow, and I would truly appreciate it if you could check out my book reviews blog located at https://elsbookreviews.blogspot.ca/ and possibly give it a follow as well! Looking forward to reading more of your reviews!

    - El

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan12 July 2017 at 07:23

      I followed you! Looking forward to reading your posts! :D

      Delete
  21. Joy @ Thoughts By J10 July 2017 at 04:01

    I've always wanted to sign up to a bookish box just to give it a try — but I can never justify the costs! The shipping from the US/UK to Australia is absolutely ridiculous, and the Aussie box that you've featured (The YA Chronicles) is also really expensive.

    I really want to try them out one day — specifically OwlCrate or FairyLoot. Just need to be richer ha.

    Joy @ Thoughts By J

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan12 July 2017 at 07:25

      Haha me too. I can't afford a box at the moment, but I can see how it might be a fun surprise!

      Delete
  22. Michelle13 July 2017 at 02:12

    Very cool and much needed post!! I totally didn't know the difference between these boxes and actually it seems like there isn't a lot of difference besides like 10ish dollars and 1-2 items? I always think I want a box, but then I remember that they usually come with a book in them and I want to pick what books I want and don't want. I'd be more likely to buy a bookish box without the book!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction19 July 2017 at 11:50

    I've never done one of these subscriptions either, mostly because I'm nervous about getting repeats of books I've already read. But I'm intrigued by the idea that Quarterly YA has handwritten notes---that makes it really special.

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

    ReplyDelete
  24. vvb32 reads24 July 2017 at 20:51

    I've been enjoying Owlcrate. I tried Uppercase and liked it too. But it was being shipped in a padded envelope instead of a box and sometimes the book corners got damaged.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Unknown25 July 2017 at 19:23

    This is super helpful and interesting! I'm actually currently subscribed to Fairyloot, which I absolutely love. (I asked for it for my birthday present, which was a fantastic way to get started) I'm always excited to get a new box and I'd like to try a couple other ones as well! The Quarterly one, especially, has always intrigued me. Fantastic post!
    -Amy @ burstingwithbooks.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Steve25 April 2021 at 23:23

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  27. john Lee31 March 2023 at 01:29

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    John lee

    ReplyDelete
  28. Business Tech17 August 2023 at 14:43

    Your article is so informative and i really enjoy your knowledge on Custom Book Boxes. I like to share your article with my friends and people in my circle.

    ReplyDelete

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