Book of the Month

What's in the box: One new book that you choose each month from a shortlist of 5 to 7 titles picked by the editorial team.

Book of the Month is a long-running US book club celebrating its Centennial this year. It began in 1926 as the Book-of-the-Month Club. The model is simple. Each month the editorial team puts out a shortlist of 5 to 7 new books, mostly fiction, and members pick the one they want. If nothing on the list appeals, you can skip the month and you won't be charged. The genres are broad. Thrillers, romance, fantasy, historical and literary fiction, horror and sci-fi sit alongside young adult titles, memoir, history and true crime. A few features make it more forgiving than many book subscriptions. Under its Reader's Guarantee, it will replace a pick for free if the book isn't for you. A loyalty program starts giving savings after three boxes. Gift memberships and group gifting are also offered. Right now new members can join for $5 and choose a free gift. The site calls this a limited time offer, and the homepage doesn't show the regular monthly price. The main tradeoff is choice. You get a small curated set of books, not the open catalog of a bookstore. That suits readers who want help deciding, but it may frustrate people with very specific tastes. For readers who like finding new releases with a nudge from editors, it is a solid and flexible option.