Monday, July 7th
2025 Book Club Reviews
BookTide
- Membership costs $19 per month
- 1 book per month
- Extras included
- Small-town bookstore
BookTide stands out from the pack as a small-town bookstore itself. Their goal is to send you selections that have a hand-picked feel and are recommended for you. Each box is meticulously hand-packaged by fellow book lovers who understand your passion. Around since 2016, BookTide is one of the newer book club options in our review. Based in Jersey Shore, the professionals at BookTide pride themselves on offering unique selections and indie novels for your subscription.
No details on books or genres online
Inside your BookTide Box each month you'll find a staff-recommended paperback, a personal note from the bookseller who chose the book, a BookTowne bookmark, and a copy of the IndieNext List book recommendations for the month. Each box is carefully hand-packaged by fellow book-lovers, for a delightful experience tailored to readers like you. However, in terms of book selection, BookTide doesn't offer much on its website. You can't buy books outside of the subscription box. We also couldn't find any example books for previous boxes online. The example photos all show the same box. The subscription may be still too new to be completely developed, but compared to other boxes, BookTide falls behind in transparency and selection.
No customization
There's no real way to customize the boxes from BookTide. You get to select one box and the only options are your payment frequency. Beyond that, you just need to rely on the professionals at BookTide to select something you'll enjoy. There are some basic categories to choose from like "Just a Good Story,” which is just "fiction”, or "More Than Just A Story” which includes non-fiction history or mystery novels. There are also two boxes for teens and YA, as well as one box called "Read This Next” which is novels that are outside mainstream publishing. However, there's no way to choose specific genres like sci-fi, romance, fantasy, or other popular options.
All subscriptions are $19 a month
For a 1-book shipment, BookTide's prices are pretty solid. There are different payment frequencies available, but there's no benefit to subscribing for a year or subscribing for three months. All of the frequencies cost the same: $19 per month. There are no details on whether shipping is free or not.
Minimal scheduling edits
The BookTide boxers ship out on the 25th of every month. We couldn't find any specific details about whether or not you're allowed to pause your box. The lack of transparency shows that BookTide may need more time to really build out its subscription program.
No buzz for BookTide
Since BookTide is run by a standalone bookstore, there isn't a Better Business Bureau rating for this subscription. Further, even though BookTides boxes are facilitated by Cratejoy, there are zero reviews for their boxes yet even on the Cratejoy platform. For this reason, we're not sure how much we trust BookTide. They may still need more time to grow.
Needs more time to gather some feedback
With so little information out there about this book club subscription, it falls pretty low in our ratings. While we love the idea of a small-town bookstore, there just isn't enough information out there to gauge how good the book selections are or how satisfied readers are going to be with the BookTide subscription. Due to the lack of information and how new BookTide's subscription program is, it earns a low rating in our review. We hope that over time it will grow and earn a much higher reputation in the future, but for now, we just don't know enough about it to say definitively.
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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