The Bookish Box is a book-inspired subscription box from Appraising Pages, which is now called The Bookish Shop. This month is the first time I've gotten the box in a shipping envelope rather than a literal box. It's super cute!
Originally, The Bookish Box was a subscription box filled with bookish objects only—no actual books involved. Recently, though, they changed up their game and added several subscription varieties to choose from, including one that does have a book inside!
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
This review is of the Bookish Shirt & Goodies Box, which is $29.99 a month + shipping.
About The Bookish Box Subscription Box for Book Lovers
The Subscription Box: The Bookish Box Shirt & Goodies Box Subscription
The Cost: $29.99 + shipping
The Products: Every month you’ll receive a shirt by The Bookish Shop and 3-5 feminine home, beauty, and fashion items
Ships to: US for $7.50 to PA and Worldwide for an additional cost
The Bookish Box Subscription Box "Lady Monarchs" August 2018 Review
Here's the info card for this month's box. Note that they list out every item that you could get with the subscription (including add-ons). In my subscription box, I got everything in the top section plus the shirt.
Calendar Card
In January, I got a little "Calendar Kit" including an easel and just two calendar cards (for January and February). With each month's package, I get a card for the upcoming month. So this box came with the August card. The forest motif is really pretty. It's peaceful to look at while I'm sitting at my desk, haha!
Aladdin Throw Pillowcase
This printed pillowcase fits over a standard-sized throw pillow and makes a nice accent on a couch or in the center of a neatly made bed. It's not the softest thing in the world—I can't find a fabric composition listed anywhere, but it feels like a burlap or canvas fabric made with artificial fibers. So it's probably more decorative than anything. I like the fantastical design and the Princess Jasmine quote on the front of the pillow. It seems like it'd be right at home in a teen's bedroom or on a grown-up Disney fan's favorite reading chair.
Butterfly Wall Art Set
A little wordplay is at work in this "monarch" box! Not only does it feature leaders, princesses, and queens, but some nods to butterflies as well! These gold foil butterflies may not have the patterns of true monarch butterflies, but the lacy floral designs filling their wings are really pretty. The idea of these die-cut creatures is that you can bend their wings back along perforated sections of their body, then stick their bodies to a wall using the included adhesive. They only get about as big as a business or credit card, but they make a head-turning statement when hung together.
Game of Thrones Wooden Bookmark
I like the idea of a wooden bookmark—it'll have a slightly longer lifespan than the paper/cardboard ones that tend to get bent or crunched, especially along the ends that stick out from the books they're nestled inside. The lightweight, light-colored wood is burnt/carved in a precise design. I do kind of wish Cersei had eyes in this design. She looks a little spooky without 'em!
Throne of Glass Sticker
This sticker design by Ink and Wonder is actually mirrored on this month's t-shirt! More on that in a moment. I like the bright colors of this small sticker (it's just under 3" big). I could see a Maas fan proudly displaying it on a new school planner or water bottle. It has a really nice, satin-like finish to it, too.
Queen Sleeping Mask
This playful sleeping mask has a soft, fuzzy front and a smooth back for resting against your eyes. The colors and style have a whimsical quality to them that reminds me a lot of the Disney Sleeping Beauty movie.
Floral Field Notebook
This notebook has the size and shape of a checkbook. The pages are brown kraft paper and saddle-stitched together, so the notebook has a rustic vibe.
Snow White Pocket Mirror
This mirror has the size and shape of a 2.5" button, but instead of a pin backing, it has a handy mirror! I like the metallic sheen of the illustrated side. It's a ghoulish nod to Snow White that feels right for Halloween season!
September Calendar Card
This postcard is the next in a series of monthly calendar cards that I've been getting this year. You're supposed to always get the upcoming month's card, so you get the full use out of it. I got an August card in my July box, but it looks like this card is ALSO an August card! Uh oh!
Doodle Print
This is another recurring item. Each month, you get a postcard-sized doodle that acts as a neat piece of art AND a coloring page! One the back of this unique design, there's info about a new giveaway being hosted on the Bookish Box social channels.
Throne of Glass Shirt
Last but not least is this heather gray tee, which features the same design from the sticker. I've noticed that Sarah J. Maas books are featured quite frequently in this subscription box, so if you're a big fan of her work, you can look forward to having lots to geek out over!
The Verdict: I feel like the quality and style of items I've received via this box suit a teen and tween audience well—older readers might have slightly more sophisticated expectations for the items they get in a box. I can say personally that, as a 31-year-old reviewer, I wish some of the products were slightly higher quality. (The pillowcase, for example, would be more impressive to me if it was made from cotton or some slightly nicer fabric.) There are several series that seem to come up again and again (as I mentioned about the Maas novels), which could either bring people in or make others feel a little left out. (Or encourage them to read something new!) Another thing I thought about with this box is that it's tailored to YA readers, but series like Game of Thrones can get pretty R-rated. Obviously, it's a huge hit, so I could see why it'd be featured here, but I wonder if younger subscribers would be as familiar with that material.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes! Nab this specific box as a one-off here.
Value Breakdown: This box costs $37.49 after shipping, meaning that the average price of each of the 10 featured items via the subscription is $3.75.
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What do you think of the August 2018 Bookish Box?
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