Books & hobbies · Reviewed by The GiftsVerdict team
Book of the Month review
Book of the Month
A gift that arrives repeatedly, chosen by people rather than an algorithm.
Tested by The GiftsVerdict team
Boston, Massachusetts · September 2026
The verdict
Around $17.99 a month, with gift terms of three, six or twelve months. The reader picks from a curated shortlist each month rather than receiving whatever an algorithm chose, which is the design decision that makes it work — a subscription that sends the wrong book twice gets cancelled. Hardcovers, and a gift subscription ends when the term does.
What we liked
- The recipient chooses from a shortlist rather than receiving a surprise
- Hardcovers rather than remaindered stock
- Arrives several times rather than once
- Gift terms end cleanly at three, six or twelve months
What we did not
- No large-print option, which rules it out for some older readers
- Selections skew towards new fiction — a poor fit for a narrow taste
- Verify the specific gift term does not roll into a paid subscription
What it is like to live with
Subscriptions are the most under-rated gift for someone who says they want nothing, because six parcels across six months never land as one awkward moment, and each one is a small reminder that somebody thought about them.
The one thing to check before buying any subscription as a gift is what happens at the end. A present that quietly becomes a recurring charge the recipient has to cancel is worse than no present, and the terms differ between providers even within this category.
How we tested it
Assessed from published pricing and gift terms read in September 2026. Confirm current gift-term behaviour at checkout — subscription terms in this category change.
How we chooseThe scorecard
The same five axes on every review, so any two gifts on this site can be compared.
- Build quality
- 8/10
- Value for money
- 8/10
- Ease of use
- 9/10
- Unwrapping moment
- 8/10
- Warranty & support
- 8/10
On our lists
Where the Book of the Month is recommended
Head to Head
We put it up against something else
Read next
If this one is not right
Two gifts from the archive that solve a similar problem for a similar person.
About the reviewer
The GiftsVerdict team
Editorial team · Boston, Massachusetts
We spend a lot of time on what people buy for parents and grandparents, and these guides are where we write it down.