Unplugged Book Box is a seasonally-inspired and self-care-focused monthly subscription book box. Unplugged Book Box wants you to unplug and recharge with books and goodies that help you focus on you and live in the moment.
Unplugged Book Box offers two monthly box options: Young Adult and Adult Fiction. Each box features a newly released hardcover book and 4-6 bookish self-care and literary-inspired goodies.
This review is of the Unplugged YA Book Box, which is $34.99 a month + shipping.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About this Subscription Box for Book Lovers
The Subscription Box: Unplugged Book Box
The Cost: $34.99 + shipping.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save 10% off a 3, 6, or 12-month subscription!
CODE: MSAUNPLUG10
The Products: Every month you’ll receive 4-6 literature-inspired self-care goodies and a newly released YA hardcover book.
Ships to: the US for $8.50 and worldwide for an additional cost.
Unplugged Book Box “Create Your Own Sunshine” June 2019 Review
Included in the box is a card that highlights this month's theme “Create Your Own Sunshine.” The back of the card contains spoilers for the self-care goodies included in the box and a photo challenge to win various prizes.
This month’s Unplugged Book Box also includes fun printed materials including this yummy smoothie recipe and themed playlist.
Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian – Retail Value $17.99 (found here for $15.01)
This month’s YA book selection is Like a Love Story – the story about friendship, love, and the challenges faced by a queer community confronted with discrimination, cruelty and even death. Included with the book is a signature and note from the author.
Book Summary from Amazon:
“It’s 1989 in New York City, and for three teens, the world is changing.
Reza is an Iranian boy who has just moved to the city with his mother to live with his stepfather and stepbrother. He’s terrified that someone will guess the truth he can barely acknowledge about himself. Reza knows he’s gay, but all he knows of gay life are the media’s images of men dying of AIDS.
Judy is an aspiring fashion designer who worships her uncle Stephen, a gay man with AIDS who devotes his time to activism as a member of ACT UP. Judy has never imagined finding romance...until she falls for Reza and they start dating.
Art is Judy’s best friend, their school’s only out and proud teen. He’ll never be who his conservative parents want him to be, so he rebels by documenting the AIDS crisis through his photographs.
As Reza and Art grow closer, Reza struggles to find a way out of his deception that won’t break Judy’s heart—and destroy the most meaningful friendship he’s ever known.”
I couldn’t put this book down! It’s all about loving who you want to love while also loving yourself. It’s funny, heartfelt, and the characters remind me of myself as a teenager. It tells a story of a time where things were much worse but also reminds us of how far we still must go. The loved the '80s setting, the references were nostalgic, but I wonder if the young adults this book targets will get it.
Riddles Tea Shoppe “The Greywaren Forest Berry and Flowers” Tea – Retail Value $3.99
The caffeine-free tea made exclusively for Unplugged is was inspired by the Greywaren Ronan from The Raven Cycle. Ronan is a supernatural able to bring things to life from his dreams. This rooibos tea has hints of blueberries, raspberries, cranberries and marigold flowers. This tea smells amazing! The aroma, specifically caramel and vanilla, filled my kitchen. It tastes great too!
Bubble Princess “Love is Love is Love” Shower Steamer – Estimated Value $5.00
Made exclusively for Unplugged, this tiny heart-shaped shower steamer is made with menthol and eucalyptus and peppermint oils. It’s tiny so it dissolved pretty quickly in my shower and smells a bit medicinal.
Unplugged Sailor Moon Enamel Pin – Retail Value $8.00
This is the first of three collectible pins for Unplugged! This month’s pin is inspired by Neptune and Uranus who are Sailor Scouts from Sailor Moon. It’s nicely made and sturdy but probably not something I’d wear.
Typewriter Hearts “Baz Grimm-Pitch” Sugar Scrub – Estimated Value $10.00 (based on similar products)
Typewriter Hearts makes bookish themed self-care products including this Unplugged exclusive sugar scrub. This scrub is inspired by misunderstood Baz Grimm-Pitch from Carry On and contains sugar, oils and essential oils. Looking at this scrub, I didn’t have high hopes. I thought it was too fine and would dissolve too quickly. I was wrong! This scrub has staying power, it’s not too rough, smells fresh and clean and left my skin feeling amazingly soft.
Novel Grounds Shine Bright Pouch – Estimated Value $7.00
Made exclusively for Unplugged, this Shine Bright pouch is perfect for carrying around all your bookish goodies. It’s a cute little multipurpose pouch. I love the sparkly silver lettering and I appreciate the sturdy zipper.
Verdict: Unplugged Book Box pairs two of my favorite things: self-care and a love for books! Like a Love Story was fantastic and highly recommended. Aside from the book, I really enjoyed the tea, scrub, and the cute pouch. I will buy more of the tea simply to smell it! The scrub was surprisingly good and effective. And, I love having small pouches to organize items in my big “mom purse.” Unplugged Book Box has been consistent with delivering great boxes and partnering with small businesses which are really awesome.
This Unplugged Book Box costs $43.49 ($34.99 + $8.50 shipping) and has an estimated retail value of $51.98 which is a little more than the cost of the box itself. This isn't an amazing value, but I do think it's a fair price for a well-curated box of high-quality items, self-care goodies, and a newly-released hardcover book.
To Wrap Up:
Can I get this box if I sign up today?: No, sign up now to get the September box. From Unplugged Book Box:
We will be shipping between the 1st and 7th of the month. Ordering between the 1st-last of the previous month ensures you will receive the following month’s box.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save 10% off a 3, 6, or 12-month subscription!
CODE: MSAUNPLUG10
Value Breakdown: This box costs $43.49 after shipping, which means that each of the 6 items in the box has an average cost of $7.25.
What do you think of the June “Create Your Own Sunshine?” Unplugged Book Box?
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