Aardvark Book Club is the budget mainstream book subscription, and it is the answer for readers who want BOTM-style editorial picks at a meaningfully lower price. The model is similar: monthly curated picks from contemporary literary and commercial fiction, with hardcover or paperback editions shipped to your door.
Aardvark Book Club review summary
Aardvark is a curated monthly book subscription at $9.99/month for one book or up to $19.99/month for multiple selections. The editorial taste tracks contemporary literary and commercial fiction, with frequent overlap with BOTM picks. Books arrive as hardcover or paperback depending on the title's publication format. Free shipping in the continental US.
Is Aardvark worth it?
Yes, if BOTM's editorial taste fits you but the $16.99 monthly cost does not. Aardvark is the budget option with about 80 percent of the BOTM experience at 60 percent of the price. If you want a single curated book per month for under $10, Aardvark is the easy answer.
Aardvark vs Book of the Month
Aardvark is cheaper ($9.99 vs $16.99) and ships paperback or hardcover. BOTM is hardcover-only at the higher price. Editorial picks overlap significantly, with both clubs frequently selecting the same titles. BOTM has more polished branding, better gift flow, and slightly more curated selections. Aardvark wins on price; BOTM wins on polish. Both are defensible choices.
Aardvark vs the library
The library is free. If you can wait for popular new releases (typical hold time 4-8 weeks for a new bestseller), Libby and your library card are dramatically better value. Aardvark wins if you want to own the book, want it at launch, and want the curation. For dedicated cheapness, the library is unbeatable.
The book selection process
Each month Aardvark surfaces 5-7 picks across literary fiction, thriller, contemporary fiction, and nonfiction. The selection skews mainstream literary with strong commercial fiction. Picks frequently overlap with BOTM (when both clubs pick the same hot new release), occasionally diverge (Aardvark sometimes picks slightly more commercial titles). Selections are revealed on the first of the month.
Add-ons and multiple-book subscriptions
Aardvark offers tiered subscriptions for readers who want more than one book per month. The two-book tier runs around $14.99/month, the three-book tier around $19.99/month. For readers who consume two or three new releases per month, the per-book cost is competitive with discount-channel hardcover pricing.
Hardcover vs paperback distinction
Aardvark ships books in whichever format the publisher has available at the time of the box. New releases are typically hardcover. Older or backlist selections may be paperback. BOTM ships hardcover only and pays the higher price difference. For readers who prefer hardcover, this is a real BOTM advantage. For readers who do not care, Aardvark's flexibility is fine.
Skip and pause flexibility
Aardvark allows you to skip any month with no penalty, similar to BOTM. You can also pause indefinitely. Cancellation is straightforward. The skip system is well-designed and the company does not penalize you for using it.
Who should subscribe to Aardvark
Subscribe if you want BOTM-style editorial curation at a budget price. Subscribe if you read at least one new release per month and want to own it. Subscribe if you do not care about the hardcover vs paperback distinction. The $9.99/month price makes this the most accessible monthly book subscription in the mainstream curated category.
Who should look elsewhere
If you can wait for library holds and want to spend nothing, Libby plus your library card. If you specifically want hardcover only at every selection, BOTM. If you want bookish merch and exclusive editions, OwlCrate or FairyLoot. If you want genre depth (mystery, sci-fi, romance), look at genre-specific subscription clubs.
Final verdict
Four stars and the budget pick in the curated subscription category. Aardvark is the right answer for readers who want BOTM-style picks at the lowest mainstream price.