Ever wonder why reading gets harder as you get older? If you’re anything like us, finding your next great read, especially right after finishing a book you completely adored, is exhausting. Sure, you can always pick up a random new release and hope for the best. But let’s be honest—that strategy often ends with a $30 novel you’ll never crack open.
That’s where a book subscription box comes to the rescue!
Instead of agonizing over vague back-cover summaries and hunting down non-spoiler reviews, book club members hand over the reins to someone else to pick their next page-turner. This adds a delightful element of surprise to a TBR (to-be-read) pile, but it can also backfire hard if you get stuck with a dud.
That’s why we love Book of the Month (BOTM), which offers a fun, non-traditional twist on the classic book subscription box model. Not only do readers get to choose their own reads from a short list of buzzy new releases each month, but they also get some peace of mind knowing that the books are all pre-vetted by fellow readers. No more wasting time or money on a flop? Sign us up!
Book of the Month Club
Book of the Month makes finding your next great read easy with a curated selection of buzzy new releases each month.
What is Book of the Month?
Book of the Month Club is similar to other monthly book clubs, but with a major plot twist. Rather than receiving a randomly chosen book each month, subscribers pick from a curated lineup of five or six new release titles. Each option comes from a popular or up-and-coming author and is pre-vetted by the BOTM team. That means only top-tier new releases make this exclusive cut—a big reason why it appeals to bookworms like Senior Editor Katie Bandurski.
“In 2024, I made it my personal mission to start actively reading again,” says Katie. “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.”
How it works
BOTM works on a credit-based system. Each month, subscribers receive one monthly credit for $17.99 plus tax, which is redeemable for one book. There’s also an option to pay $14.99 per credit for a two-credit plan, or $13.99 per credit for 12 credits per year if you want to save a little cash.
Handy gift subscription are available for $59.99 (three books), $99.99 (six books), or $199.99 (12 books) make it a super easy and thoughtful gift for readers, too. You can also pick from audiobooks instead, if that’s more your speed!
Katie initially tested Book of the Month for three months in 2024—July, August, and September. Setting up an account is quick, easy, and completely painless. Just navigate to the signup page and enter all the standard details—shipping address, payment info, and a password.
Next, you choose your book from the aforementioned shortlist of titles. Each subsequent month, subscribers receive an email reminding them to choose a new book. From her very first book onward, Katie was hooked.
“I liked that Book of the Month doesn’t pigeonhole itself into specific genre recommendations every month,” says Katie. “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.”
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. And if you’re just not feeling the vibe of the current books, you can skip a month and redeem your credit later.
Given that each month’s list includes only new releases, the lineup always feels fresh. While one month might lean into a specific genre, the next month will have a completely new collection to explore. It really is a fun surprise every single time!
Why Katie is a repeat subscriber
“I LOVE to read. But I’m not a huge library goer,” says Katie. “I love the idea of selected, vetted books from a source I can trust. And I also like still being able to choose which one I want rather than an AI algorithm selecting for me.”
Katie originally planned on testing the service for only three months. But after missing her curated picks, she retested it roughly a year later in May, June and July 2025 to ensure the service holds up.
While not every book was a fast favorite, most months were winners. One of her favorite finds was Husbands & Lovers by repeat author Beatriz Williams, 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.”
But our favorite aspect of a Book of the Month subscription? The price point, especially for hardback new releases, is very affordable. So even if you don’t absolutely love every pick, it’s still better than buying a random novel at full price. Plus, the books are specially designed to look cohesive when displayed together, which is a nice attention to detail.
“These titles aren’t the same trade hardback books you’d pick up at Barnes & Noble,” says Katie. “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.”
And she’s not alone
Content Director Nicole Doster and Shopping Editor Mary Henn both gave BOTM subscriptions as gifts during the 2024 holiday season, and both received rave reviews from family and friends.
“I gifted a three-month subscription to my mother-in-law who always has her nose in a book,” says Nicole. “The gifting process was seamless, and I appreciated that they had an option for a physical gift card so I didn’t show up to Christmas empty-handed. I even got a notification when she signed up!”
Mary had a similar experience. “I needed a gift for the family member who ‘has everything’ and also loves books—and BOTM was the perfect find,” she explains. “With BOTM, she can choose books she doesn’t already own from a curated list. Buying a subscription as a gift is super easy too! I opted for a physical card, which tucked in a little gift basket with other goodies.”
Even I became a fan after trying it out for three months. In fact, Book of the Month introduced me to two of my current favorite writers. As someone who is usually hesitant to explore new-to-me authors, that’s a pretty big deal.
For folks like me who suffer from choice paralysis, having a curated collection of new, pre-vetted stories to choose from makes finding new favorites a total breeze. And who knows—you may find a new favorite author or two!
Where to subscribe
Book of the Month Club
Skip the guesswork and discover your next page-turner from a selection of books pre-vetted by fellow readers.
At just $17.99 per book, Book of the Month subscribers enjoy these hardcovers for well below retail price at places like Barnes & Noble or even Amazon. Plus, Book of the Month often offers a first-time-subscriber promotion that scores you your first book for just $9.99! If BookTok has betrayed you one time too many, it’s time to turn to the experts.
What’s more, it makes a great low-effort, high-impact gift for bookworms, to boot!
If you prefer something closer to a traditional book club—complete with a dedicated Facebook group for lively discussions—try the Reader’s Digest Fiction Favorites club. Subscribers are treated to a special published volume filled with four condensed books from popular and upcoming authors seven times a year. Because the books arrive edited for length, they offer a faster reading experience, too.
Why you should trust us
As Senior Shopping Editor at Reader’s Digest, Katie Bandurski has been researching and reviewing gifts and subscription services for over five years. Her recommendations include coffee subscriptions, puzzle clubs, flower delivery and candle of the month boxes. In her personal time, she’s also an avid reader with a penchant for historical fiction, romance and fantasy titles.
The post This Monthly Book Subscription is Like BookTok—But Better appeared first on Reader's Digest.
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