This $15 Monthly Book Subscription Is Honestly Life-Changing

Because it's way easier to choose a book from five awesome options, than it is to walk into a bookstore and choose one from thousands.

I've been a book lover since I was a lil' beb. When I was in school, I literally got in trouble for reading Harry Potter under my desk.

Emily Shwake

You get the point: there was just so much to read, so little time. I've always wanted to read everything and I used to tear through novels like it was my job. But as soon as reading actually kind of did become my job, it felt less fun, and more just like work.

I studied literature at college, which meant I had a whole lot of required reading — and not much time for anything else.

Emily Shwake

I had to read at least two books a month for class and it might sound dumb, but when I graduated I had to re-learn how to read for fun.

I will always love reading nonfiction and classics, but it's really hard to read something like Cannibalism: A Perfectly Natural History after a long day at work. I wanted to be able to read just for the sake of reading again. I just needed to find some really good, contemporary fiction to get me back in the habit.

I stumbled across Book of the Month while looking for something new and exciting to reignite my love for books, and signed up immediately.

Emily Shwake

A Book of the Month subscription costs $14.99 per month, and your first month is totally free. You can also add on two extra books for $9.99 each.

May I remind you that hardcovers in stores are usually closer to $30. As a person who's tried and failed to get into going to the library, signing up felt like a very sound financial decision.

Each month, subscribers are given five books to choose from, all of which are new or exclusive releases.

Emily Shwake

During the first week of every month, I go into my account on the site to scroll through the different options. I'm given a sentence-long synopsis, the cover image, and the genre to help me choose between the five books. When the indecision sets in, I can go through the book's details page, which offers a longer synopsis and a book review from one of the panel judges. The page also has a few characteristics of each title — unreliable narrator, feminist, slow build, "movie-ish" read, etc. — which is nice for figuring out what kind of ~experience~ I'm in the mood for. Plus, the graphics are all super cute. ☺️

Once I finally decide what I want, the package arrives on my doorstep about a week later. I honestly feel like I'm getting a gift and I feel so special. Oh, and there's always the option to skip a month if none of the choices are screaming your name, or if you're still working on the book from last month!

The books are mostly fiction with a smattering of especially interesting nonfiction — and they're the kind of recommendations you would get from a friend.

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Like when someone shoves a book in your hand and says, "please read this book, it's so good, I couldn't put it down" or "so, it starts kinda slow, but the twist is ridiculous!" But your friend in this situation is a bunch of writers, editors, bloggers, and book reviewers — basically, people that read for a living. Unlike your IRL friends, however, they're not picky about genres. I've seen everything from historical fiction and young adult books to thrillers and sci-fi.

The best part is you get them right as they're published so you'll get to read books like The Girls or Little Fires Everywhere before they become crazy popular. And then you'll be able to pass them along to your own friends!

Oh, and almost all of the authors they feature are emerging female authors so yay!

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They used to be really good about promoting people of color, but they've fallen short in the more recent boxes. Fingers crossed for more in the future!

Is there a gift option, you ask? Of course there is!

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Giving your favorite book to a pal is thoughtful. But you can give them 12 books for $149.99 and be Best Friend of the Year or three books for just $44.99, which is nice too.

In conclusion, I'm gonna be a member for life.

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Subscribe to Book of the Month for $14.99 a month or $149.99 a year.