Saturday, September 14th
2024 Book Club Reviews
A Box of Stories
- Membership costs from $51.29 to $56.99 per month
- 4 books per month
- Choose your genre
- Flexible pause option
- Change genres at any time
- Popular genres, sci-fi, fantasy, and literary fiction
- 4.2-star average rating
A Box of Stories offers a surprise box containing four books, enabling book enthusiasts to explore new and remarkable stories and authors while rescuing four titles from potential obscurity. The goal of A Box of Stories is to set you on fantastic books that normally go undiscovered. A Box of Stories selects books that have decent sales, but are sadly below the mad popularity of many bestsellers, utilizing an algorithm that considers various factors such as reviews, rankings, and sales figures to curate boxes guaranteed to delight readers. Unlike other subscription services, A Box of Stories doesn't pre-select books; instead, each box is a unique surprise, offering readers a new adventure with every order.
Wide selection of genres
A Box of Stories offers a wide range of genres including sci-fi and fantasy boxes, crime, thriller, and mystery boxes, literary fiction boxes, YA boxes, light reading boxes, and a surprise box. There is also the option to build your own by selecting the genres of all four included books yourself. But beyond genre, the books will be a complete surprise. Some of the recent books offered by different boxes include:
- The Light Brigade (Sci-fi) Kameron Hurley
- Domina (Thriller) L. S. Hilton
- A House of Ghosts (Mystery/thriller) W. C. Ryan
- The Wicked King (YA Romance) Holly Black
Pricing starts at $51.29 per month
At four books per box, we're not surprised to see a much higher price tag. However, you're getting a lot for your money. Starting at $51.29 per month (if you choose an annual membership), you get 4 books, which is a great deal given that most books are $16 to $18 on their own. If you choose to go month-to-month with your subscription it will cost $56.99 per month instead. All of the book boxes are the same price, and they all offer 3- and 6-month pay periods also.
Pause shipments any time
You will get 4 books each month no matter what pay period you select. You have the option to pause shipments and restart them at any time. This way, if you travel, or you start to have too many books on your TBR pile, you can take a little break. The shipping is also free of charge, so you can just sit back and relax once you've started your subscription.
Change genres any time
One standout feature here is that you can shift between genres without interrupting your subscription. For example, when you sign up you might subscribe to the sci-fi and fantasy box. However, if you feel more in the mood for a YA or literary fiction box in a few months, you can ask for a different genre to be sent over at no extra charge. You don't have to cancel and resubscribe; just tell A Box of Stories what you want, and they'll have it over to you on your next delivery cycle.
Customers love the selections, but shipping is slow
A Box of Stories has a decent reputation for a subscription box. On Cratejoy, where the box is facilitated, the company has a solid 4-star rating from reviewers. On outside sites, A Box of Stories does even better with a 4.2-star rating from Trustpilot. Across reviews, readers agree that they love the unique titles offered by the boxes. Rather than receiving the same mainstream titles as other subscription services, A Box of Stories offers something new. There were a few complaints about long shipping times and late deliveries, but in terms of the books themselves, customers were very happy.
Most flexible with new fiction
Despite the very high price, A Box of Stories earns a solid rating in our review. Its offering of 4 books gives fast readers a few things to look forward to each month, and the variety of genes is a standout feature. Not designed for any one gender or style, A Box of Stories will appeal to a lot of readers. And, you can explore different genres throughout your subscription, making it more flexible than many competitors. The unique book selection also offers different titles than other book clubs, so you're more likely to encounter new stories you've never seen before too. This is a book club we enthusiastically recommend.
More Book Club Reviews
Where Can You Find the Best Book Club?
If you're looking for a new way to enjoy reading, joining a book club subscription can be a fun and enriching experience. Whether you're an avid reader seeking to expand your literary horizons or someone looking to rediscover the joy of reading, participating in a book club offers numerous benefits.
But modern book clubs aren't the same as you might be thinking: a group picking one book to read and getting together in person to talk it over. Instead, virtual book clubs more closely resemble a wine club or something similar where you subscribe to a "club” to get new books sent to you each month.
Book Club FAQ
Continued from above...
Book clubs offer an extensive array of genres ranging from mysteries and sci-fi to historical dramas and fantasy epics. However, the abundance of options can sometimes feel overwhelming, leaving you unsure of where to start. A book club helps solve that problem by providing you with curated selections delivered right to your doorstep. Such a service would not only save you time but also keeps up a steady supply of books perfectly suited to your interests. You can choose from a selection of award-winning titles from both renowned and emerging authors in your favorite genre, or branch out and try some new literary categories you've never read before.
With a book club subscription, you can bid farewell to the hassle of scouring bookstores or endlessly scrolling through online catalogs. Instead, each month brings a delightful surprise as you receive a handpicked selection of books directly to your home. At most book club subscriptions, you have the flexibility to customize your membership duration and even give a subscription to fellow book lovers, spreading the joy of reading far and wide.
In the fast-paced world we live in, finding moments of relaxation and enjoyment is essential for maintaining a healthy balance. Investing in a book club subscription not only provides endless hours of entertainment but also fosters a sense of anticipation and excitement as you eagerly await each month's new arrivals. So why not treat yourself or a loved one to the gift of literary exploration? It's a worthwhile investment in both leisure and personal enrichment, offering a fulfilling escape from the demands of everyday life.
Choosing the right book club is essential to a fulfilling and enjoyable reading experience. To help you navigate the variety of book clubs out there, here are some factors to consider:
- Book selection. Evaluate the types of books chosen by the club, including genres, themes, and authors. Look for clubs that follow your reading interests and preferences, so that you'll enjoy the selected books and actively engage in discussions.
- Customization. Can you add specific books to your order? Can you customize the shipping periods or pause your book club shipments if you travel? You want your book club subscription to fit your life, so make sure there are options to make the service feel like it's tailored for you.
- Price. All book aficionados know that their hobby can come with a bit of a price tag (especially if you're getting multiple books at a time or gunning for a hardcover, new-release copy of a novel). So, make sure that the price of the book club subscription makes sense with the value of books and quantity that you receive.
- Reputation. What are other readers saying about each book club? Are the novels worth the subscription? Are there enough perks to keep customers coming back? Seeing what reviewers say about your chosen book club can help you narrow your options.
To help you find the best book club for your reading journey, Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked the top options on the market. We hope our recommendations will help you discover the perfect book club subscription to enrich your reading experience. So, set aside your worries for a moment, find a cozy spot, maybe even light a scented candle, and immerse yourself in a captivating novel. Before you know it, hours may slip away unnoticed as you become engrossed in the journey of your next book!
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