The Complete Low-Down on Book of the Month: Should You Join This Popular Book Subscription Service?
As a book fiend constantly itching for my next fiction fix, I’ve torn through everything from Stephen King horrors to historical romance bodice-rippers since I first discovered the magic of reading as a child. I’ve subscribed to every book delivery service under the sun from Kindle Unlimited to BookSpan hunting that perfect match aligning affordable pricing for the 95+ novels I consume annually with trusted curation to unearth buried literary gems.
Enter Book of the Month – or as devotees label it, BOTM. This century-old book club relaunched in 2015 aims to spotlight buzzy new releases and overlooked #OwnVoice authors we addicts depend on librarians and influencers to surface for our never-ending TBR. But does BOTM’s IRL unboxing experience and handpicked early previews merit the $15 monthly membership fee?
I signed up to unlock the hype and have been using BOTM for half a year now. Consider this your master playbook for everything BOTM based on my personal testing as an expert budget book buyer. Weigh the pros and cons across curation, price, titles and other fine print to determine if this Old School turned Instagram-famous book subscription stands out from competitors for personalized recommendations. Let’s dig in!
Here‘s the Lowdown on BOTM Basics Before Joining
What’s the BOTM Model?
On a monthly basis, BOTM compiles a list of 5 new releases spanning fiction, memoir and other nonfiction aren venture with fresh takes or undiscovered narratives you likely won’t spot on front-page listings at Barnes & Noble or the Amazon best seller carousel.
As a member, you select just 1 of the 5 “BOTM” options to be shipped as that month’s pick. Additional books can be bought at discount via Add-Ons or premium Hardcover pre-orders. Compare this to old school “pick 1 of 6” book clubs where variety lags. BOTM unlocks more variety across genres and author backgrounds.
Here’s a glimpse at a recent month‘s offerings to showcase the diversity:
What Will It Cost Me?
BOTM boasts affordable pricing, unlocking steep discounts off the $25-$30 price tag for new hardcover fiction at major retailers:
- First book ships for just $5 with code LETSGO
- Subsequent monthly picks run $9.99
- Add-on books cost $9.99-15.99
Across 6 months using BOTM since discovering that LETSGO coupon, I‘ve placed 11 total orders averaging 2 books per month. My total savings on quality new releases? $96 off retail based on average hardcover costs.
So if you‘re anything like me consuming 90+ books yearly, BOTM pays for itself quickly while fueling fresh author discovery months over month.
What Sets BOTM Apart?
Unlike mainstream bestseller catalogs, BOTM spotlights untapped voices writing across backgrounds and experiences often unseen at major publishers. Their picks promise early previews of the next hot release before acclaim.
But the BOTM differentiatorlies less in bargain pricing and more through personalized curation. I adore how tailored title suggestions become based on your favorite genres, authors and past monthly ratings. The BOTM experience evolves month-to-month aligning your shipments to individual tastes as their algorithms learn reading preferences.
Let‘s unpack what exactly that customization looks like…
Tailoring Your Experience Through BOTM Features
Crafting Your Reader Identity
Upon signup, BOTM has you fill out a Reader Profile identifying:
- Favorite authors like Celeste Ng or Brandon Sanderson
- Preferred genres including historical fiction or contemporary romance
- Book settings that hook you like twisty psychological thrillers or epic fantasy realms
- Elements you love from colonizer narratives to sage elderly characters dispensing folk wisdom
This upfront personalization ensures the monthly picks served up align with novels you‘ll hopefully enjoy. profiles prompt you to explore new subgenres through smart suggestions based on stated interests.
Rating Each Month‘s Picks
After devouring your latest BOTM installment, you rate across factors like:
- Well-developed characters
- Compelling but believable plot
- Descriptive setting immersion
- Strength of writing prose
- Emotional impact leaving you pondering for days
I adore having a direct line each month to share feedback on why a book worked (or didn’t!) for me. The collaborative nature of rating curation keeps your future BOTM books aligned to personal tastes.
Gifting Book Credits
I leaned on BOTM over this past holiday season through their digital Gift Memberships perfect for fellow book junkie loved ones. Sending a 3 or 6 month digital subscription scored me bonus wallet credits toward my next box with each referral. If only chipper BOTM recommendations and discounts came as easily as these custom gift promos!
Add-On Marketplace
Don’t limit yourself to just one book a month! I use BOTM’s Add-On marketplace constantly, building 2 to 5 title hauls monthly filled with extra genres and compelling writers beyond my assigned pick.
This á la carte model means you control volume and variety session to session. Some months when budgets feel stretched, I stick to my one included book. Others when a bounty of can’t-miss options shine, I binge add thrilling psychological thrillers as indulgent add-ons to subsidy my addiction.
Special Edition Preorders
Before mainstream market debuts, BOTM grants members exclusive access to preorder special edition hardcovers of buzzworthy upcoming novels. Past examples where I scored these collectible editions ahead of Goodreads giveaways include bestsellers The Maidens by Alex Michaelides and The Christie Affair by Nina De Gramont.
These rare BOTM-branded preorders feature colorful spray-edged designs, author Q&As and other bonus content you can’t get anywhere else. As a lifelong book collector and author stan, these special editions thrill my fangirl heart!
Tailored Bundles
Beyond monthly picks and add-ons, BOTM offers curated Book Bundles organized around seasonal themes, specific genres and more. I snapped up their cozy Winter Reading bundle filled with small-town heartwarmers perfect to combat Seattle rainy days. Other bundles center summer beach reads or buzzy book-to-movie adaptations if niche categories inspire you.
Putting BOTM Value to the Test: How Much Does a Subscription Save Avid Readers?
Okay, so BOTM clearly surrounds seasoned bookworms with high quality new releases while learning our tastes. But does the discounted pricing add up to major savings that merit the $15 monthly fee?
I ran the numbers based on my BOTM order history to find out. Across 11 shipments and 19 total books over 6 months, here‘s my cost breakdown:
| Purchase Type | Books Acquired | Total Paid | Average Price Per Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Month Pick | 1 book | $5 (LETSGO deal) | $5 |
| Monthly Picks | 5 books | $49.95 ($9.99 each) | $10 |
| Add-On Fiction | 8 books | $119.92 ($14.99 each) | $15 |
| Add-On Memoir | 2 books | $19.98 ($9.99 each) | $10 |
| Preorder Editions | 3 books | $47.97 ($15.99 each) | $16 |
| Grand Totals | 19 books | $243.82 | $12.83 per book |
To calculate true savings, I compared BOTM‘s $12.83 average book pricing to $25 – the standard for brand new hardcover fiction based on browsing local bookshop new arrivals.
My total savings over 6 months: $96 off retail value.
So that $15 monthly BOTM fee earns back its value quickly – even faster when you use new member codes scoring your first monthly pick for only $5-10.
If you consider the 19 books I‘ve read worth $25 each at full price, I‘d have spent $340. But BOTM ultimately cost me under $250 over 6 months thanks to discounted pricing.
For fellow quick finishers easily plowing through 100+ books annually like myself, that 41% off every new release adds up fast! Even casual readers would benefit from BOTM savings over time.
And this analysis doesn’t even factor exclusive extras like special edition premorder perks, free totes and other BFF loyalty freebies unlocked the longer you subscribe.
How BOTM Stacks Up Against the Leading Book Subscription Contenders
Naturally with all the advertising and social media buzz around BOTM, you likely wonder how it compares to Audible, Amazon and similar giant competitors. Here I pit BOTM against 3 chief rivals:
BOTM vs. Kindle Unlimited
Kindle Unlimited grants unlimited access to 1 million+ ebooks, audiobooks and more for just $9.99 per month. But its catalog skews mass market, dominated by self-published romances and thrillers over literary discoveries.
As a paper book purist, I find Kindle frustrating for delayed new releases and physical format limitations. BOTM unlocks early previews in collectible hardcover editions, bestowing prestige.
BOTM vs. Amazon First Reads
Free for Prime members, First Reads also previews upcoming books before their official debut. But BOTM’s tastemaker curation exposes hidden gems more often than Amazon editors stuck recommending repetitive sci-fi and mysteries.
BOTM vs. BookSpan
Formerly called Book-of-the-Month Club, BookSpan spotlights new releases across mass commercial fiction akin to drugstore paperback best sellers. Bookish enthusiasts will crave BOTM’s elevated curation and early discovery perks unlocking breakout authors poised for next level fame.
While BookSpan and sister brand Book-of-the-Month YA interest casual readers fine, I prefer BOTM’s specialist approach. Every shipment feels personalized thanks to those tailored genres and interactive ratings continually refining suggestions.
What Could BOTM Do Even Better?
What constructive criticism might make an already beloved book service even stronger? After half a year as an avid member, here are my top enhancement requests:
Prioritize Specific Upcoming Releases
The biggest missing element for me is waitlisting highly anticipated upcoming books not included in monthly picks. Competitor BookSpan allows members to queue anticipated titles like awaited sequels so you’re first in line to purchase once stock is available.
BOTM should enable waitlisting upcoming releases mentioned in member surveys but not appearing in regular monthly offerings.
Expand Backlist Options
Though BOTM excels unveiling hidden gem writers before their prime, members lack access later on to snap up breakout hits once mass fame strikes. Case in point: books like The Vanishing Half or The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue shone in past BOTM spotlighted months then grew into cultural phenomenons as Reese Witherspoon book club darlings and New York Times Best Sellers.
Yet long-time BOTM fans lack pathways to buy those same books later once acclaim escalates demand. Expanding alumni author distribution for proven past hits would hugely benefit loyal subscribers.
Increase Diverse Perspectives
While LGBTQ stories and leading writers of color make regular appearances, BOTM’s overall catalog remains disproportionately white-authored. Widening variety across lead characters and creators featured every month would ensure picks appeal to wider modern audiences.
Verdict: Is BOTM Ultimately Worth That Monthly $15 Fee Compared to Buying Books My Usual Way?
For diehard readers like myself forever borrowing library hauls or blowing budgets on $25-30 cada new hardcover release, BOTM props up my habits through:
- Unmatched curation identifying buried treasures aligned to my preferred elements months before the masses take notice.
- Major discounting with 41-60% off pricing versus new fiction at Amazon, Target and bookstores.
- Early previews of editions I’d hunt at midnight like honored bookstagrammer releases!
- Fun unboxing thrill fueling discovery from my doorstep instead of crowded shelves.
- BFF loyalty perks through free books, totes and other bookish swag rewarding long-term membership.
- Seamless skipping any month when picks don’t entice me, no commitments.
If you too juggle overflowing nightstand piles across genres, take risks on debut talent beyond top lists, or collect rare book club editions, BOTM brings unmatched value. Curated finds match quirky preferences Amazon algorithms miss.
At just over $10 per book, BOTM stretches my book buying budget further so I can support more rising authors. Rather than drain wallets on mainstream murder mystery bulk buys, BOTM diversifies discovery.
Give yourself (or a fellow bookworm bestie) the BOTM gift starting at only $5 for your first shipment. Then receive exclusively-picked stories monthly perfectly personalized to how your tastes evolve.
Thank you for joining me on this deep dive into the BOTM experience! Whether you’re new to book subscriptions or an existing bibliophile member yourself, I welcome hearing your takeaways in the comments. Happy reading friends!
