Book of the Month is a monthly book subscription box. Each month, 5 curators pick out their favorite new hardcover books, and you can choose which one you want to receive on the first of the month. You can also add up to 2 additional books for only $9.99 each.
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.)
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About this Box
The Subscription Box: Book of the Month
The Cost: $14.99 a month
The Product: Subscribers get to pick from a selection of hardcover books each month. Skip any month you aren't interested in. Add up to two additional books for $9.99 each.
Ships to: The US for free
Book of the Month May 2020 Review
These are the five book choices for subscribers this month. I was having a really tough time deciding because nothing really jumped out at me this month. I ended up choosing Happy & You Know It since I figured it might be somewhat relatable to me as a mother.
Happy & You Know It by Laura Hankin - Retail Value $26.00 (found here for $23.40)
It looks like this hasn't been released just yet!
Book Summary from Amazon:
After her former band shot to superstardom without her, Claire reluctantly agrees to a gig as a playgroup musician for wealthy infants on New York's Park Avenue. Claire is surprised to discover that she is smitten with her new employers, a welcoming clique of wellness addicts with impossibly shiny hair, who whirl from juice cleanse to overpriced miracle vitamins to spin class with limitless energy.
There is perfect hostess Whitney who is on the brink of social-media stardom and just needs to find a way to keep her flawless life from falling apart. Caustically funny, recent stay-at-home mom Amara who is struggling to embrace her new identity. And old money, veteran mom Gwen who never misses an opportunity to dole out parenting advice. But as Claire grows closer to the stylish women who pay her bills, she uncovers secrets and betrayals that no amount of activated charcoal can fix.
Filled with humor and shocking twists, Happy and You Know It is a brilliant take on motherhood – exposing it as yet another way for society to pass judgment on women – while also exploring the baffling magnetism of curated social-media lives that are designed to make us feel unworthy. But, ultimately, this dazzling novel celebrates the unlikely bonds that form, and the power that can be unlocked, when a group of very different women is thrown together when each is at her most vulnerable.
Our main character, Claire, seems to be struggling with figuring out her next step after being kicked out of her band and she ends up taking a job as a musician to a playgroup full of babies and seemingly wealthy, put-together, Instagram-worthy mommies. While she has nothing in common with these women, they are warm and inviting and soon she finds herself a part of the group. The story is mostly about Claire and the two women she becomes closest to: Amara a very outspoken woman whose child seems to be the "trouble" child and Whitney, who is the perfect Instagram mom that gets all sorts of free things like vitamins and trial "stroller-cising" classes so that she can influence her followers. As the story goes on, you learn that these women and their ideal lives are not quite what they seem and they each have their own secrets to hide. While the story seems to be simple, it really takes a turn towards the last third of the book that I didn't quite see coming, but which definitely made for an interesting read.
Overall, this book was a decent read. It was a quick read and entertaining, but not quite what I expected. While there were some things I could relate to as a mother, for the most part, this all felt pretty fictional to me. I thought that they hit on a few key points in motherhood, but they never really explored them too deeply. There were also a few graphic scenes and some crass language throughout, just as an FYI! I don't know if I'd necessarily recommend this book, but it was easy to get into and it felt like a light, easy read which I definitely appreciated!
Each month, Book of the Month includes a bookmark.
If you picked this book this month, please let me know what you think of it!
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Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner - Retail Value $28.00 (found here for $16.91)
I love Jennifer Weiner so this month I had to get this to add to my summer reading pile! Book of the Month's add-on feature is great since you can select additional books for just $9.99 each and they will ship for free with your monthly book choice. This is a brand new release and I got it for much less than it retails for which is awesome!
Verdict: My Book of the Month pick this month didn't necessarily wow me, but I'm okay with that since I wasn't really into many of the options this month (no FOMO here). It was really easy to read and while I couldn't entirely relate to the premise or the characters, there was enough humor and some interesting twists and turns that kept me reading quickly to the end! If you read this, what did you think?
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this book if you sign up today? No, but it may be available as an add-on next month!
Check out all of our Book of the Month reviews and see what other book subscriptions made our favorites list!
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