Review: ‘A Box of Stories’ Book Subscription Box
I’d always been an avid reader but had lately started to find that my tastes were very limited. I would always opt for cheap thrillers or occasionally the more obscure of the classics. My bookshelves weren’t pretty and varied - they looked like the shelves in a charity shop.
And I had always loved the idea of having books picked out for me, forcing me to dabble in different genres with Instagrammable covers. So when I saw the advert for A Box of Stories, I had to look further into it.
I wasn’t disappointed! On paper, it seemed like the perfect buy. For the low price of £14.99, I would receive four books. I clicked to purchase, and after only a week of waiting, let’s see how it holds up.
Rating: ****
WHAT MAKES IT A BOX OF STORIES SPECIAL?
Every year, over seventy-seven million books are not well marketed enough in the UK alone, and they don’t quite make the shelves. Only 17% of books are lucky enough to have a hefty budget and make the bestseller list, and this means that some of the best books published have to be destroyed.
As a buyer, this is a big selling point for me, knowing that I am saving four books from being lost forever.
WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
There are several boxes available, including a mixed box of fiction and nonfiction for the indecisive ones, a fiction box, a nonfiction box, or you can narrow it down by genre and pick a crime or historical fiction box.
SO WHAT DID I GET IN A BOX OF STORIES?
I ordered the mixed box in the hope that this would widen my tastes a little, and during the week before I received my order I joined the book club for subscribers on Facebook, looking at other’s boxes in awe.
My books arrived in a plain cardboard box, and when I opened it I found four volumes pictured above.
Clariel by Garth Nix
I thought this book was absolutely stunning in terms of its cover, and it was exactly what I had been hoping for with fantasy being the genre I had previously neglected the most. It was the first one that I picked up, and I definitely finished it quickly.
Not to give spoilers, the book features sixteen-year old Clariel, a royal descendent who resents her new life in Belisaere and longs to be free and alone. Forced into subpar lessons and to adjust to bizarre customs in her new life, she jumps at the chance to prove herself when a dangerous Free Magic creature is discovered.
I loved this book! It was probably the first fantasy I’ve read since Twilight and considerably better written.
The Lie by C.L. Taylor
This was another book that I was excited for - probably because it appeals to my usual tastes the most. Black cover, simple text, kinda creepy - very moi.
The story is about Jane Hughes, a woman happy with her loving partner and ideal job. But her life is a lie - Jane Hughes does not really exist. She has tried to put the past behind her but somebody knows the truth about what happened on her holiday five years ago, and they won’t stop until they have destroyed her and everything she loves.
This book is a nice, easy read, with twists and turns that are very fun to guess. It is no modern classic, and possibly doesn’t outshine the cheap thrillers I usually peruse, but it’s definitely enjoyable and I am glad that it was rescued.
Possessed by Donald Spoto
Possessed is the nonfiction of my little box - a biography of a woman named Joan Crawford. The first line (past the introduction) reads “She was overdressed, overweight and overanxious”, which definitely hooked me! The book is about a woman striving for success in a world that fails her, and it explores the complexities of human beings behind headlines of sadism and alcoholism.
I found this book to be very well written, a great introduction to nonfiction for those who tend to prefer novels. It was easy enough to read, and very insightful! A good pick.
The Shadow Cabinet by Maureen Johnson
If truth be told, this was the book I was least looking forward to. It is book three of a series, for one thing - I didn’t particularly want to invest in a series that I did not fully own. I had in fact owned the first book once, when I was a girl - The Name of the Star. I stole it from my school library, but never ever read it, the cover not piquing my interest.
I still held the same problem with the cover of this book - the fonts and images looking a touch too childish for my liking.
With that being said, when I drove myself to actually open it and start on the first chapter, I did find it interesting enough, the style enjoyable. I still haven’t finished it as I write this! But I will say that perhaps I judged it too quickly.
WHAT DID I LOVE FROM A BOX OF STORIES?
I loved the variety available, the sense of community in the associated book club and the cause itself is so lovely. It is also a relief to know that subscribers will never receive the same copy twice. Compared to the competition, it is definitely among the best value for money, and I had no problems with the service at all.
WHAT WOULD I IMPROVE WITH A BOX OF STORIES?
Book subscriptions are an experience. We choose the boxes, which in most cases are a little more pricey than simply buying the books on Amazon, because we love the intimate experience of having books chosen for us.
This experience, I feel, could be elevated in this instance, with packaging that’s a little more aesthetically pleasing and more Instagrammable to stand better against the competition.
ANY OTHER NOTES?
My box contained a third novel from a series, and while of course this is a charitable cause, perhaps the series books could be reserved for subscribers and be distributed in the correct order - or even a whole box devoted to series books.
WOULD I SUBSCRIBE?
Yes! I am going to be exploring lots of different boxes to review them within the coming months. But I have a feeling that this one is going to be the one I stick with solely for the quantity and price making it such good value for money.
You can view the A Box of Stories site here.