Do you subscribe to book boxes? I admit, I get sucked into these things and end up subscribing to more than one at a time! Several years ago, my wonderful husband subscribed me to a book box, Coffee and a Classic, as a Christmas present. Every month I got a lovely box with a book, coffee or tea, a mug, and all sorts of neat bookish goodies. I waited eagerly for this box each month, but eventually decided $50 a month for a book and a mug was a little steep and unsubscribed.

Since then, I've subscribed to a book box for true crime lovers, one for romance readers, a book box subscription that was a one-off, and Book of the Month which I currently get each month because I can't seem to unsubscribe from them. They just sent me a tote bag this last month because I've gotten so many boxes from them.

The thing is, I'm not sure these boxes are really worth it. They're fun to get, no doubt, but what're they really worth? The books are often not of your choosing, which is a strike against unless you enjoy the thrill of surprise (I really don't). I do have to say, the thing I like most about Book of the Month is that you get to choose your selection each month and the box doesn't come with a whole bunch of frills. There's a book and a paper bookmark, that's it. 

The same can't be said for most of these boxes that are often filled with bookish stuff. Things like necklaces, lotion, candles, and edible goodies. Sadly, other than a few items here and there, I can't tell you what I've done with the stack of bookish treasures I've gotten from these boxes over the years. I have most of the mugs I got from the Coffee and a Classic boxes, but otherwise most of the stuff has fallen by the wayside somewhere along the way.

For a while I kept a box where I put these goodies, but it began to overflow with things I would never use like a bottle opener the shape of a whale, incense that smelled awful, ornaments, little candles, and small notebooks. Funny enough, I actually still have the bottle opener, it's one of the few items I know what I did with. 

So that leaves the value of the box in the book and most books just aren't worth the $40 or $50 that many of these boxes cost per month. Especially since I could just buy the books for under $15 on Amazon. Again, something I like about Book of the Month because it costs me less than $20 per month most months.

Perhaps I'm just jaded by the many, many book boxes I've gotten over the years. None of them, except the Coffee and a Classic boxes that started it all being all that impressive. I'd love to hear what you think. Do you get book boxes and if so, what's the value for you? Do you like the surprise each month and, honestly, would you actually buy the books you've gotten in those book boxes if you saw them on the shelf at Barnes and Noble? I'd love to hear!