Book Riot Quarterly Subscription Box Review #BKR02

Is there a way to set a preference to what type of books you like when you order? I would like to order because I love books, but I don’t want to get books in genres I don’t really read. I just want to make sure before I order. Thank you! 🙂

Liz,
I laughed when I read the portion of your review about being disappointed you didn’t get the extra promotional book. That’s exactly what I wrote on my review that they sent me! I don’t want to sound greedy, but why would you tell the subscribers that they may or may not receive a bonus book, especially to people who love books? (I didn’t receive one.) Every person that didn’t get one wants to know “Why not me?” I suggested that they put a sticker on the extra book saying it’s a free bonus that was given to a random sample of subscribers versus printing it in the main booklet. I’m on the fence about this subscription. The next box will decide it!

I much prefer Powell’s Indiespensibles, which I have subscribed to since the beginning. Every 6 weeks you get a signed first edition beautifully bound, from an independent publisher (hence the “indie”), and usually a treat or mug or other goodie. It’s $39.95 per shipment, arrives quickly, and more often than not the book becomes a best seller.
However, I am coveting that mug. and I also love the magnet…yay books!

I subscribe to this box, and I’m generally pleased with the value (I valued this one at $54). I think the non-book items in this box were much improved from the non-book items in the first box. The books in both of the boxes are not ones that I’d pick out for myself, but I think that’s part of what makes this special.

I reviewed this box on my blog, and one of the things that is holding some potential subscribers back is not knowing what genre of books will be received. Someone from Book Riot commented that they are considering an option for subscribers to choose a genre for their box.

Also, someone recommended the book subscription Indiespensible by Powell’s books and I love that one too! It’s more elegant and high-brow in curation compared to the fun, trendy BookRiot box, so they complement each other IMO. You get 1-2 books (with the primary one announced ahead of time and sometimes signed!) and a couple other goodies. The books are what I call “library builders” because they have been beautiful hard-bound, slip-covered editions. Highly recommended!

I loved the box and it’s one of my favorites (I’m a huge reader). The two books were awesome and I got an advanced copy of The Vacationers that I haven’t read yet. It’s definitely a box for serious readers, who are passionate about books. In their follow-up survey, I did give feedback that the value was a little low, so maybe they will work on that aspect. BookRiot released a teaser for #3 on their site recently. Five random subscribers will get a Kobo Arc Tablet, so that’s pretty cool!

Aww I would have loved that mug! And now I can look into this Short Story Thursdays too. 🙂

I wish they made a box like this for ereaders. Even if it was an “all digital” goodies box. We buy from StoryBundle and Humble Bundle when they run ebook specials, but getting a non-genre fiction pack would be great.

I got my box about 3 weeks ago and wasn’t very impressed. It was my first and last I will be getting. I did receive an extra book called Gemini. The other books I wasn’t into and the only thing I’ll be using is the mug. I don’t think it was worth $50. Oh well

I had posted on their FB page about the value, as far as I could tell, being around $48 because I saw the USB being just being like a marketing freebie, but they said that the USB was worth $10, so I guess that makes the monetary value OK, but yes, this box really is all about the curation.