Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer, where you answer a question and join a “hop”. The purpose is to help bloggers discover and get to know one another.
For this week’s question, Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer asked:
Do you subscribe to any book subscription boxes?
My answer:
I do not subscribe to any boxes. I just can’t personally justify the cost per month, and I can’t stand clutter so they end up being rather wasteful for me because I end up giving away or donating most of the items.
Though I do love getting a box here and there! They are certainly a lot of fun so I love to learn about ones I hadn’t heard of yet!
I gave PageHabit a try. I was so excited for this box because it let you pick the genre you were interested in, so of course I picked horror. But wasn’t very impressed. The bookish items felt cheap and the customer service was bad. Feel free to check out my PageHabit Unboxing here.
The one box that I have really enjoyed so far was a special edition box from OwlCrate! I saw the email go out about this one and I jumped right in! The items for this box were incredible! I kept many of them for myself and I was so pumped about the book. Check out my OwlCrate Vicious and Vengeful Box subscription box here!
Thanks for reading!
Do you subscribe to any book subscription boxes, or any other kind of monthly boxes? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!
Angela Lawrence says
I'm with you – I can't justify the cost and don't feel I would end up using a lot of stuff in the box. It's not really a subscription box, but I'm considering asking for BOTM for Christmas, just to try it out!
Erica Metcalf says
YES!! I LOVE BOTM! I forgot to add that here!
Barb says
I was burned by Nocturnal Reader's Box and while I got my back, it made me super cautious. I did recently buy one from Nightworms as they are piloting a new one but haven't gotten it yet. It has 3 books in it but I haven't received it yet.
Erica Metcalf says
I totally hear ya! That's how I feel with PageHabit… and ooh! I hope the Nightworms is a great one!
GothicVamperstein says
I recently got a six month subscription to Blind Date with a Book Club, as it was for "just" $70 or so for all six months (if you live outside the US). The other bonus is that it was a book only subscription, so at least I don't risk recieving a bunch of knick-knack I don't need nor care for.
Erica Metcalf says
Oh that sounds fun!! I hope you enjoy the books! π
Just Another Girl and Her Books says
I have a hard time justifying the cost too. Hope you have a great weekend. – Katie
Erica Metcalf says
Have a great weekend as well! π
Katherine P says
I kind of have the same the problem with the book boxes. I love the idea of bookish stuff but not sure I would get that enough enjoyment out of it. Plus, I'm just not sure I want to take the risk of getting a book I've already read or am not interested in. I love the idea and I subscribe to a couple of other boxes but I just can't justify it.
Erica Metcalf says
Totally agree. I would much rather a subscription when I can choose the book π Like with BOTM.
BiblioSanctum says
I subscribe to a geek/pop culture-type subscription box, but I don't think I could ever subscribe to a book box. I have way too many books to read already, and reading tastes being so subjective, it's hard to justify the cost knowing there's a risk of receiving a book I have no interest in reading.
~Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum
Erica Metcalf says
For sure! I've heard about a Marvel box that Amazon puts together that sounds pretty cool!
Jessica @ a GREAT read says
From the ones I've done, I can say that Owl Crate is my favorite! Though sometimes the items inside aren't quite what I would use, so I usually give those away as well!
Thanks for visiting my BBH!
Erica Metcalf says
π
Nicki J Markus says
The cost is the biggest factor for me too. And, as you say, you can't guarantee you'd want to keep all the items, or even like the book sent. I love the idea of opening a mystery box, but they are so pricey when it really involves taking a big chance.
Erica Metcalf says
Yeah… if my budget for random things was larger, I would be more willing to subscribe I think π
Tracy says
Those boxes are SO EXPENSIVE! And I feel like half the items end up laying in a drawer. I did get one Owlcrate just for the book once, though!
Erica Metcalf says
Right?! It's fun to open, but afterwards it's a bit upsetting just giving the items away if you don't want them…
Helena @ The Life of a BookNerd Addict says
I've gotten a few from Fairyloot and OwlCrate. I mostly order them for their special covers. I don't use any of the things in it. The extra stuff is so small and basically useless for me. So i'm basically paying $40 to $55 for a special edition.π± I did found out that you can order just the the special edition books from Owlcrate on their website. So that is something to look forward to.
I do find it horrible though, because most of these boxes are directed at young kids and they don't have that kind of money. I feel like some are just try to explode kids, like that one boxe that after shipping it ends up to be $100π³
Hope you have a lovely weekend ahead. π xoxo
Erica Metcalf says
Oh that's so awesome! I love that they give you the option of buying the book! And yeah, that is certainly a bummer. But it's a great gift idea if a parent or grandparent could afford it! π
Katisha Smith says
I would love to try out one of those book subscription boxes, but for now it is not in my budget. Maybe I'll try it for my birthday or some other special occasion, just to say I tried it out.
Katisha @ Reel Literature
Erica Metcalf says
That's a great idea! π
Billy B. says
My wallet is pretty tight right now, so I'm not currently interested in a subscription box. Maybe next year I'll have the extra money to try a box out a for two or three months, that way I can write a review on the service.
Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer
Erica Metcalf says
π
Shooting Stars Mag says
I would have loved the special Vicious box. I think boxes are fun, but I never know what I'll actually like from the boxes so it's not worth the money to do all the time.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
Erica Metcalf says
Yeah, I think that's why I prefer just keeping an eye on the special edition ones π
Suzanne at The Bookish Libra says
I'm with you. I'm always tempted because the boxes look so cool but deep down, I know I would never use most of the stuff that come in them so the expense doesn't make sense for me.
Erica Metcalf says
Right?! Gah, it's such a struggle. Just this morning I went through and put together a bag for donation. Many of the items were bookish related that I just don't have space for.
chucklesthescot says
I haven't found a book box that would give me the new Indie horror books I love so much! The costs are way too high on the book boxes for my budget and I'm not keen on hardback books either so it isn't really my kind of thing!
Erica Metcalf says
π
Maria Behar says
I first became aware of these subscription boxes through a couple of YouTube videos I watched about a year ago. Don't remember which companies they were from, though.
Opening one of these boxes sure sounds exciting! On the other hand, I think that the inclusion of other items in these boxes is just a way for the companies to get more money out of the subscribers. I mean, the most important thing is the book, right? Lol.
As you know, I included Owl Crate in a list of these boxes, in my BBH post. I've also just watched two Owl Crate unboxings on YouTube, and am not impressed AT ALL. The items included in the box simply do not justify the $29.99 monthly price tag!
Another problem with these subscriptions is that the companies don't let you pick which books you want. It's usually a "surprise". Well, I don't like that! I want to pick out the books I WANT to read.
So I think I'll just stick to good ol' Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Ebay!! Lol.
Thanks for commenting on my BBH post! Hope you're having a nice day!! <3 π
Erica Metcalf says
Ugh! That's my biggest struggle with the boxes! When I got the PageHabit box, it was mostly junk! Totally not worth the price!! And I'm the same way with wanting to choose the book! That's why I LOVE BOTM! π