If you’re a reader, you may be in a constant loop of trying to figure out what book to read next. Book of the Month (BOTM) offers a solution to this problem! Whether you’re into audiobooks or physical books, they have options for you to choose from. I have been using Book of the Month since 2020 (so over three years now!). In this post, I am sharing my complete Book of the Month review. I will explain what BOTM is, how it works, the pros and cons, and whether I think the subscription is worth it.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. This means that I get compensated a small amount if purchased through one of these links at no extra cost to you. I always only link products I truly love and any profit made goes to running this blog. Thank you for your support! For more on my disclaimers, you can click here.
Complete Review of Book of the Month
What is Book of the Month?
Book of the Month is a US-based book subscription service. You can choose from 5 newly released hardcover books each month. Sometimes, you even have the option to choose from an early-released book that you can’t get anywhere else. The options are always varied and sometimes cater to the season (think horror books in October or romance books in February). to redeem your book of the month credit for the month, you need to choose from either one of the five options or a select few of the popular books that they offer as an alternative. If you don’t like your options, you can always skip the month.
How Does Book of the Month Work?
At the beginning of each month, the BOTM judges curate a selection of 5 newly released or soon-to-be-released books to choose from. The subscription costs $15.99/credit for one credit each month. One credit can be redeemed for one book. If you would like to add on additional books (up to 4), they are only $10.99 each. If at any time you would like to skip a month, the credit will follow to the next month and you won’t be charged for the following month.
The Perks of Book of the Month
Low-Cost Hardcover Books
A regular hardcover book at a normal bookstore can be as much as $25- $35. You’re already saving by buying one book. If you add on another book, you’re getting two books for the price of one at the bookstore! While there are other lower-cost options for reading, if you love hardcovers and like to own your books, you are saving money. I also no longer buy books at the store since I get books monthly with BOTM. If I want a book, I will grab it on my Kindle, which is generally cheaper anyway. Since I am someone who was buying books before my subscription, I am saving money with having this subscription.
Popular Books and New Releases
I like that BOTM always has new releases, debut albums, and popular books to choose from. These are usually the books that are hard to come by at the library, or that you need to wait weeks for if you are wanting to read them.
Uniform Appearance on Shelf
I love the uniform appearance of BOTM on my bookshelf. They are all the same relative size and there is also a BOTM label on the side. It’s fun to see my collection grow as the months (and years) pass.
Book Mail
The best thing about having a subscription is getting to look forward to it every month! I love to get book mail and I am always excited for my Book of the Month subscription to arrive.
Add to Your TBR
If you’re someone who isn’t sure what to read next or is overwhelmed by the options, this is a great alternative! I always discover new books to add to my to-be-read (TBR) list and I have a rotating stack of the BOTM books I am going to read next. I can usually find a book I want to read out of the 5 picks each month, but if I don’t I just skip it!
Bookish Rewards and Challenges
There are lots of different little extras that BOTM offers to give you small bookish rewards. For example, if you refer someone they will send you a selection of pins. If you reach BFF status, you will get a free tote bag, a free book of the year finalist book, discounts in the BOTM store, and a free book credit during your birthday month. Each year they also offer BOTM challenges that if you complete you get a small bonus in your next box.
The Cons of Book of the Month
Cost
To some, the cost might not be worth it. BOTM has raised its prices by several dollars since I have been a member. As I mentioned above, there are cheaper ways to read books. You can get the app Libby to check out audiobooks or ebooks. You can also go to the library. Paperback books are typically cheaper than hardcover books as well.
Author and Genre Selection
If you are someone who likes to read all the books that an author puts out, you might not have this option. For example, I love reading Riley Sager. While BOTM has 3 of Riley Sager’s books, I read his others by checking them out at the library. Likewise, if you like to read certain genres, I have found that you may not have as many options. There are not too many memoirs, science fiction, or horror novels that they add to the selection. Most commonly there are contemporary novels and historical fiction (from what I’ve seen). Depending on the genre and author you like, you may not have the option to buy the books using BOTM.
Logo
While the books look uniform on the shelf, the logo might be a con for you. The Book of the Month books are marked with their branding both on the side and front of the book.
Manual Skip
If you want to skip a month, you need to log in and manually skip. In any case, if you are not able to skip, you will be charged. If you don’t get a book that month, they do give you credit for future months. However, if you do not want to be charged, it can be annoying! If you’re someone who forgets about your subscriptions or doesn’t want to “set it and forget it” this would probably be a big con!
Is Book of the Month Worth it?
If you read at least two books a month and enjoy new releases or popular books, BOTM is worth it! I like the small little extras they give you like a bookmark in each box (as someone who will grab anything within reach to be a bookmark). I also like that I can keep up-to-date on all new releases and popular books. For me, I also love that it’s something I can look forward to each month and I don’t mind the subscription.
If you are someone who doesn’t care to read new or popular books, doesn’t like to own the books you read, doesn’t like to spend money on books, or prefers a Kindle, BOTM would not be worth it for you. There are options out there to read free or cheaper (like I mentioned above).
Final Thoughts on Book of the Month
I love BOTM, but it isn’t for everyone. I hope this Book of the Month review helped explain what it is and if it would be a good fit for you. If you are interested in trying Book of the Month, click here for a referral link that you can use to get your first book for just $5.
If you are looking for more book-related posts, be sure to check out my Kindle Unlimited Review, and My Favorite Reads of 2023.
As always, you can find me on Instagram @maddie_deer here, or can follow me on my Facebook page to be alerted of any new posts here. Thanks for reading! 🙂
