Readers, this one's for you! We spent three months testing Book of the Month club to see if it's worth the hype.
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Book of the Month Club Review: Is a Book Subscription Worth It?
Updated Sep. 12, 2024
I’ve always loved reading. As a kid, my summers were spent almost exclusively at my hometown library. I would voraciously plow through book after book, pausing only to attend a Harry Potter midnight release party. In high school and college, I pursued as many English classes as I could fit into my schedule.
But in the years of adulthood that followed, recreational reading took a backseat. I picked up a bestseller here or there and even joined a sporadic book club. But it wasn’t until I started to see #BookTok recommendations on social media that I realized just how much I missed curling up with a good story.
In 2024, I made it my personal mission to start actively reading again. Like most 20-somethings, I started with the recommendations plaguing my Instagram feed. One or two picks were really good, a few were truly terrible and most landed somewhere in the middle.
Sick of spending money on subpar reads, I started looking for a better source—and that’s when I found Book of the Month Club.
What is Book of the Month Club?
Book of the Month Club is pretty true to its name. It’s a subscription service that recommends vetted reads. Each month, choose from five or six hardcover titles. You’ll find new and established authors across an array of book genres, including romance, fantasy, thriller and historical fiction. They also have an audiobook option.
As a member, you can also add selections from previous months to your box at a discount and cast a vote for the coveted “book of the year” award.
KATIE BANDURSKI/TASTE OF HOME
We Tried It
Book of the Month
Ready to rekindle your love for reading? Book of the Month makes it easy with vetted new releases.
How We Tested Book of the Month Club
I tested Book of the Month Club for three months in 2024—July, August and September.
Sign-Up and Ordering
Before I could start reading, I needed to create a Book of the Month account. Luckily, it’s a quick and easy process. I navigated to the sign-up button on the website and entered my email address. I was asked if I wanted to pick a book now or later, and I went with the former option. The page loaded with all of July’s selections for both hardbacks and audiobooks.
Once I made my book pick, I went to check out and entered all the standard details—address, payment info and a password. I agreed to the terms and conditions, which explain when your account renews each month. The terms also mention I can’t cancel after the first month; I need to renew at least once. This seemed fair, especially since my first book only cost $9.99 with a new member promo code.
I completed the checkout and was asked if I wanted to upgrade to two credits per month or 12 credits per year—both at a discount compared to the monthly price. I declined, but if I sign up again in the future, I would likely pick the yearly option to save some cash.
Finally, I completed a short get-to-know-you survey with questions about how I heard of Book of the Month, if I’m interested in the podcast, if I plan to buy audiobooks, my birthday, etc. All in, the sign-up process took about five minutes.
Month 1
One of the biggest changes in my reading habits as an adult has been buying books in lieu of borrowing them. I hate waiting months for a popular new release or a sequel. And while I’m traditionally a fast reader, there’s nothing worse than a return deadline looming over your head.
I was eager to see if Book of the Month would offer primarily new titles or books that had been around for awhile. In July, I had five options to choose from:
- House of Glass (Thriller)
- Husbands & Lovers (Historical Fiction)
- The God of the Woods (Literary Fiction)
- The Lost Story (Fantasy)
- A Thousand Times Before (Historical Fiction)
As I browsed, my question was answered immediately. They were all new releases. I hadn’t heard of any of these books before, although I recognized some of the authors.
I found the one-sentence description on the Book of the Month website wasn’t enough for me to form an opinion, so I clicked on each title to read the full synopsis. Honestly? I was impressed that all five books sounded interesting, and I had a tough time deciding which one to choose.
I ultimately picked Husbands & Lovers by repeat author Beatriz Williams, which was a historical fiction spanning multiple generations of women. When my book arrived in a bright blue box, I was eager to dive in. And it’s a good thing I had a free weekend because this book was impossible to put down. I read it cover to cover in 24 hours. The character depth, story development and timeline jumps had me hooked from the first page.
Month 2
After a very successful first month, I was counting down the days until the August selections dropped. I got an email on August 1 previewing the new books, and I logged into my account to make a choice.
As promised, my account was renewed at the end of July, and I had one credit to redeem. Again, I had five options:
- The Pairing (Romance)
- Like Mother, Like Daughter (Thriller)
- Hera (Fantasy)
- The Wedding People (Contemporary Fiction)
- Five-Star Stranger (Literary Fiction)
I liked that Book of the Month doesn’t pigeonhole itself into specific genre recommendations every month. In August, for example, there were no historical fiction titles. But in July, there were two. This makes me feel they are truly recommending the best of the best in new releases. That said, it makes the club a harder sell for those who only read one genre.
I ended up choosing The Wedding People by Alison Espach, and it was another 5-star pick. Two months in a row, Book of the Month delivered an evocative read that left me wanting more.
Month 3
For my final month of testing, I was given six choices:
- A Song to Drown Rivers (Historical Fantasy)
- The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern (Historical Fiction)
- Sleep Tight (Thriller)
- Blue Sisters (Contemporary Fiction)
- Phantasma (Paranormal Romance)
- Madwoman (Contemporary Fiction)
Two of the options were early-release titles, which means they were available to Book of the Month members before the official publish date. Pretty cool!
Since Spooky Season is on the horizon, I went with Phantasma by Kaylie Smith. I can’t say I’ve read any “Paranormal Romance” books, but on the heels of ACOTAR (also known as the A Court of Thorn and Roses series), I was eager for another fantasy world to get lost in— and this book delivered. It was a little spooky and a little spicy without verging into horror territory. Once again, I read my Book of the Month pick cover to cover in just a few sittings.
I appreciate this service helps me test the waters of what I like to read. I can all but guarantee I would not have been drawn to Phantasma at a bookstore. But knowing it’s a vetted pick makes it easier to try something new.
Book Quality
One other cool aspect of Book of the Month Club is that these titles aren’t the same trade hardback books you’d pick up at Barnes & Noble. Each cover includes a Book of the Month logo on the dust jacket, as well as an embellishment with the month and year on the cover. The books are all a standard size, too, for easy display on your bookcase.
Pros
- High quality books you can trust
- Mix of new and established authors
- Choice of hardcover or audiobook
- 5-7 selections per month
- Diverse genres and plot lines
- Fast, free shipping
- Easy to cancel or pause
Cons
- Book selections skew towards female readers
- No curation; all picks are the same for each member
Why You Should Trust Us
As Taste of Home’s Senior Shopping Editor, I’ve been researching and reviewing gifts and subscription services for over five years. My recommendations include coffee subscriptions, puzzle clubs, flower delivery and candle of the month boxes. In my personal time, I’m an avid reader with a penchant for historical fiction, romance and fantasy titles.
FAQ
How much is Book of the Month?
It depends on the subscription model you choose. A monthly credit (which is redeemable for one hardback book) costs $17.99 plus tax. You can also opt for two credits per month at $14.99 each or 12 credits per year at $13.99 each. Book of the Month also offers gift subscriptions that cost $59.99 for three books, $99.99 for six books and $199.99 for 12 books. Talk about a great gift of the month!
How does Book of the Month work?
It’s simple: Sign up for a membership and earn a credit each month. That credit is then redeemable for one of the monthly book selections. After your third box, you can also use the credit to redeem a past book or member favorite pick.
Is Book of the Month worth it?
In my experience, yes! Whether you’re just getting into reading or are an experienced bibliophile, there are plenty of options each month. The $17.99 cost allows you to secure a hardback book—many of which are new releases or even early releases—for less than the list price. Plus, you can pause or cancel at any time.
How do you cancel Book of the Month?
My cancellation experience was seamless. Simply navigate to your account, select cancel membership and click through the prompts. No gimmicks—and no phone calls to customer service! It took about a minute total. Keep in mind that you cannot cancel after your first month; you need to wait until at least one renewal.
Final Verdict
If you’re an avid reader with a keen eye for new releases, you can’t beat Book of the Month club. This subscription service is like having a well-read friend preview all the best new books on the market and send their top recommendations your way every single month. I also appreciate that the selections combine literary quality with popular books and authors. Other book lists I’ve come across are a bit too stuffy for my tastes. Sure, occasionally, I want a critically acclaimed tome laden with words I haven’t seen since AP Lit. But most of the time, I’m looking for a fun beach read or fantastical world to escape in. Book of the Month provides a solid balance.
Plus, even at $17.99 a book, you’ll likely save money. As of press time, each of the three books I tried cost more than what I would pay at Barnes & Noble and even Amazon. If you’re an e-book or paperback reader, you might save a few bucks. But generally speaking, it’s rare to find a new release hardcover book for less than $20.
Where to Order Book of the Month Club
KATIE BANDURSKI/TASTE OF HOME
We Tried It
Book of the Month
If you're lost in the bookstore or down a #BookTok rabbit hole, these curated picks from Book of the Month are always high quality.
Ready to start reading again? You can sign up on the official Book of the Month Club website. Snag your first box at a discount, then each month after is $17.99.
Originally Published: September 12, 2024
