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Are you in a gifting rut? In need of a gift idea almost anyone would be delighted by? Searching high and low for a gift that still feels special even though we can’t all be together this season? I have just the suggestion — *speeds over on my library ladder* — Book of the Month.
Disney
Book of the Month is a subscription service that will deliver your giftee a current, best-selling book every month for three, six, or twelve months. Better yet, they’ll get to choose a book from five available titles from various genres to pick the one that speaks to them, which will then be sent ASAP for their enjoyment!
Rachel Dunkel / BuzzFeed
Every book comes in an iconic blue box with a little bookmark. <3 I don’t know about you, but gifting for me this year is going to look a lot different than usual. While I would normally want to treat friends and family to experience-based gifts, experiences aren’t really going to exist again for a while! This feels like a great way to treat them to a special, quiet night in in a safe way.
I’ve been a subscriber for over a year and totally, completely recommend it. And 2020 has been…ya know…but I *always* look forward to the first of every month because it means I get to pick a new book! And as someone who loves literary fiction as much as a juicy romance novel, being able to cater my box to what strikes my fancy that month is key.
Rachel Dunkel / BuzzFeed
I’m always impressed by the range of genres available. Beach reads, mysteries, nonfiction, fantasy — you name it they have it! It’s also been a great opportunity to try books I never would have independently picked in the store but absolutely loved and would have missed out on! I owe my newfound love of fast-paced thrillers largely to BOTM.
BOTM provides a ton of info about each title that’s fun and easy to peruse while they make their selection. They won’t have to jump from site to site and do a bunch of research to get the vibe for each book and make an educated choice. It feels akin to getting a recommendation from a friend who knows you really well.
Book of the Month
The brilliance of giving BOTM as a gift is giving someone something much more personal and thoughtful than a gift card while still guaranteeing they’ll get *just* the books they want. Scrolling through the month’s options is a genuine blast, and the handy little icons, write-ups from authors, spoiler-free synopses, and user reviews on their site and app will make it so they can feel confident and excited about their choices.
Book of the Month
The brilliance of giving BOTM as a gift is giving someone something much more personal and thoughtful than a gift card while still guaranteeing they’ll get *just* the books they want. Scrolling through the month’s options is a genuine blast, and the handy little icons, write-ups from authors, spoiler-free synopses, and user reviews on their site and app will make it so they can feel confident and excited about their choices.
One of the things I like most about Book of the Month, which also makes it a perfect gift, is how flexible it is. If none of the month’s five books calls their name, they can save the credit and skip that month! *Or* if they’re drawn to more than one of the month’s picks or any of the available add-on titles, they can add it right to that month’s shipment.
Rachel Dunkel / BuzzFeed
I’ve skipped months and added on some months! It totally depends on how busy I am and what’s available. But both skipping and adding are supremely easy! No jumping through hoops to customize a box.
They’ll be just as thrilled to receive their book as they will be to select it. The books themselves are gorgeous. They’re hardcover and under the sleeve they’re embossed in gold with the month and year they received them. All together now — “Gift! Worthy!”
Rachel Dunkel / BuzzFeed
Almost an entire shelf of my bookshelf is dedicated to my BOTM books, and yeehaw do they look pretty as can be! See? Book of the Month is even a great gift for people who want Insta-worthy bookshelves.
And between you and me, BOTM is a wildly cost-effective way to buy and gift books. Newly released hardcovers like you get with the subscription normally cost around $25, but even at the three-month subscription level, you’re only paying $16.66 per book — $14.17 if you go for the 12-month plan!
Rachel Dunkel / BuzzFeed
^Self-portrait of a woman who would have purchased all of these highly anticipated books anyway and got to save some $$$!
How can I guaranteeBook of the Month is a wonderful gift? Because I’ve given it as a gift myself, and to much acclaim if I may toot my own horn. After giving a BOTM subscription to my mom last year, she’s asked for it *twice* again since! It’s always so fun to be subscribed at the same time and compare our picks. Maybe you need it for yourself too…ya know, so they can have the full BOTM experience 😉.
Nobody tell my mom that I’m getting her BOTM again for her upcoming birthday! I’m sure it won’t be a surprise, but regardless, no spoilers! Mom, if you see this…ignore!
Many of my colleagues are also subscribers — some even after receiving it as a gift! — and it should come as no surprise that they love it. We’re basically a book club. Check out their glowing reviews below!
Rebecca O’Connell / BuzzFeed
“When I first heard about Book of the Month Club, I was skeptical. I can figure out what to read on my own, tyvm! But it’s more than just ‘let this company send you a random book.’ You get to pick one of five books each month (or skip a month if nothing calls to you) and then you get a nice hardcover book in the mail. My favorite so far has been Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo: a fantasy thriller that imagines what it would be like if Yale’s secret societies actually dabbled in black magic. I devoured it in almost one sitting. If you love ghosts, a reluctant Scooby gang, and a scathing critique of Ivy League classism, I highly recommend this engrossing read.” —Rebecca O’Connell
“I was gifted a year of Book of the Month for my birthday one year and to date it is one of the best things I’ve received. There are few things as satisfying as getting truly lost in the pages of a good book — and it provides a great distraction for the mind if you’ve been watching something super scary (ahem, the news). Each month you’re permitted to choose one of five books, all of which are different genres. Then the book you select will be delivered to your door. Magic! Excuse me, I need to re-up my subscription.” —Heather Braga
“I received a three-month Book of the Month subscription for Christmas one year, and it was the best surprise! I really underestimated how much I would enjoy having books picked out for me. It’s like never having to choose where to eat ever again. A dream come true! Also, two great things will happen when you have a BOTM subscription: 1) You’re going to discover new, amazing authors (ily, Sally Rooney). 2) You’re going to become the friend who already read that amazing book before it got popular. Who woulda thought a book subscription could up your cool-factor so much?” —Danielle Healy
It’s undeniable — Book of the Month is just the thing to get a ton of people on your gifting list this year. Get them a subscription for three months for $49.99, six months for $89.99, or 12 months for $169.99 and let the reading begin!
Your friends and family, summoning their new favorite reads to their door each month, all courtesy of YOU!
Disney
The reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.
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