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Book of the Month vs OwlCrate
A side-by-side look at Book of the Month and OwlCrate to help you pick the right one.
Book of the Month
Pricing: $16.99/mo (one hardcover) | $14.99 prepaid annual
Pros
- Five curated picks each month; choose your own
- Hardcover editions at $16.99 (well below retail)
- Strong editorial taste skewing contemporary literary
- Skip-a-month flexibility built into the model
- Add additional books to your box at $9.99-$11.99 each
- Strong gift program
Cons
- Hardcover-only; no paperbacks or ebooks
- Editorial taste leans mainstream literary; less for niche genres
- No bookish merch (just the book and a card)
- Shipping included only in continental US
- BOTM exclusive editions are not always the prettiest
OwlCrate
Pricing: $33.99/mo + shipping (YA box) | $39.99/mo (Adult box)
Pros
- Exclusive edition with sprayed edges, custom cover, signed bookplate
- Themed bookish merch (candles, prints, jewelry, art)
- Generally 4-6 items per box including the book
- Strong unboxing experience for content creators
- YA and Adult tiers
- Frequent collaborations with bestselling authors
Cons
- Expensive ($35-$50 with shipping for one book + extras)
- YA fantasy focus is narrow; not for general readers
- Themed merch can pile up if you do not display it
- Some items feel like padding to justify the price
- Wait times for special editions can stretch 6-8 weeks
Bottom line: both Book of the Month and OwlCrate are solid choices. Use the pros, cons and pricing above to decide which fits your needs, then check the latest price through the links.
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