Book of the Month is a monthly book subscription box. Each month, five curators pick out their favorite new hardcover books, and you can choose which one you want to receive on the first of the month for $14.99/month. You can also add up to two additional books for only $9.99 each. (This box was named one of the best subscriptions under $15 by MSA readers in the 2021 Subscription Box Awards.)
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.)
First Impressions
This book was a really different choice for me this month. I am always good with mysteries and romances, but this one had another element of nature that was a bit outside of my comfort zone. The story itself sounded incredibly intriguing;
Book Summary from Amazon:
Inti Flynn arrives in Scotland with her twin sister, Aggie, to lead a team of biologists tasked with reintroducing fourteen gray wolves into the remote Highlands. She hopes to heal not only the dying landscape, but Aggie, too, unmade by the terrible secrets that drove the sisters out of Alaska.
Inti is not the woman she once was, either, changed by the harm she’s witnessed―inflicted by humans on both the wild and each other. Yet as the wolves surprise everyone by thriving, Inti begins to let her guard down, even opening herself up to the possibility of love. But when a farmer is found dead, Inti knows where the town will lay blame. Unable to accept her wolves could be responsible, Inti makes a reckless decision to protect them. But if the wolves didn’t make the kill, then who did? And what will Inti do when the man she is falling for seems to be the prime suspect?
Propulsive and spell-binding, Charlotte McConaghy's Once There Were Wolves is the unforgettable story of a woman desperate to save the creatures she loves―if she isn’t consumed by a wild that was once her refuge.
So let's see how it measured up!
My BOTM Pick for August
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy - Retail Value $27.99 (On sale for $22.26)
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This book was such a different one for me. The style is not what I am typically drawn to and I had a hard time getting into it, but once I did, I found that it was actually a pretty fast read. I feel like there is a lot of symbolism and some deeper thoughts to explore under the surface here, but I was not really in the headspace to think about it too much. Inti was a tough character to relate to, she seems to relate more to the wolves and nature than she does humans, yet we see her having these normal human experiences that felt unexpected. She seems guarded, not unlike the wolves, and we catch these glimpses into her personality through past experiences and the way she interacts with others, but it was still really hard for me to relate to her, which in turn kept me from being able to empathize with her. When I can't empathize with a character, it's difficult for me to become as invested in their story, so I really struggled with that.
As of right now, I am about halfway through and I've just gotten to the meatier part of the story, so I am hoping that the mystery of it all will help me get a bit more involved in the story! I haven't really gotten to know many of the characters yet and everything just feels so mysterious surrounding their past and their personalities. I hope it all comes together in the end so that I can finish this book feeling satisfied!
Each month, Book of the Month includes a bookmark for you as well.
If you picked this book this month, please let me know what you think of it!
Value - Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $14.99 + free shipping
Value Breakdown: This box costs $14.99, but the book I chose retails for $27.99 which is a savings of about $13. While I struggled to get into this book this month, I still think it was worth it because I had the opportunity to try something new for less than I would have paid normally! I haven't given up on this one yet, so hopefully, it will turn out to be an even better deal than I am anticipating.
Key Takeaways:
I love that each month I get to take a chance on a new book through this subscription. Most of the time it works out, but this month's pick was just not one that I could really get into easily. The beauty of this subscription though is that next month there is still another choice to be made, and while one month may be a disappointment, next month's could be a stellar pick!
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To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this book if you sign up today? No, August 20th was the LAST DAY to sign up for Book of the Month to receive the August selections – but you can sign up now and add this book to your September box for an additional $9.99.
What do you think of the Book of the Month subscription? Let us know below with your own review!
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