What Book of the Month Sends You Each Month
Book of the Month is a subscription service that ships you one book per month, selected from a curated list. You choose which book you want before each shipment, or you can let the service pick one for you automatically. The book arrives at your address, and you keep it — there is no return requirement.
The service costs $14.99 per month when you pay month-to-month, though annual plans run cheaper if you commit upfront. You can pause your subscription for up to three months without losing your membership, and you can cancel anytime without penalty. The books themselves are hardcover first editions or recent releases, not older reprints or paperbacks.
Shipping is included in the subscription price. Standard delivery takes five to seven business days from the time your book ships. You do not pay extra for shipping, and there are no hidden monthly fees beyond the stated subscription cost.
Key Takeaways
- You receive one book per month, chosen from a rotating list of 4 to 6 titles that changes monthly.
- The monthly cost is $14.99 for month-to-month membership, with discounts available for annual prepayment.
- You can skip a month, pause for up to three months, or cancel your membership at any time without fees.
- Books ship within five to seven business days and include shipping in the subscription price.
- You own each book outright and can keep, sell, or give away your monthly selections.
How to Choose Your Monthly Book
Each month, Book of the Month releases a new selection of titles. You log into your account online or through the mobile app and see the available books for that month. The service typically offers between four and six choices, each with a description, cover image, and sometimes a sample chapter or review excerpt.
You have until the last day of the month to make your selection. If you do not choose, the service will automatically send you the "Book of the Month" — their staff pick — unless you have turned off auto-selection in your account settings. This default option changes each month and is clearly labeled before the deadline.
If you want to skip a month entirely, you can do that through your account dashboard. Skipping does not cancel your membership; it simply pauses that month's shipment and rolls your subscription forward to the next month. You can skip up to three consecutive months before the service requires you to either select a book or pause your full membership.
Membership Tiers and Pricing
Book of the Month offers two main membership structures: month-to-month and annual. The month-to-month plan costs $14.99 per month and can be canceled or paused anytime. The annual plan requires upfront payment and typically costs less per month when divided across twelve months — the exact annual price varies by promotional period.
The service occasionally runs promotions for new members, such as discounted first months or bonus books. These offers appear on the Book of the Month website and are time-limited. Existing members do not automatically receive these promotional rates unless they cancel and rejoin during a promotion window.
There are no additional tiers or premium levels within Book of the Month. All members receive the same selection of books each month and the same shipping speed. The only difference is the payment frequency and total cost.
What Happens If You Pause or Cancel
Pausing your membership freezes your subscription for one to three months. During a pause, you will not be charged and will not receive a book. Your account remains active, and you can resume at any time by logging in and selecting a book for the next available month. Pausing does not affect your membership status or any future promotional offers you might receive.
Canceling your membership ends your subscription entirely. You will not be charged after cancellation, and you will not receive future books. If you cancel mid-month, you are still charged for that month and will receive the book you selected or the auto-selected title. You can rejoin Book of the Month at any time, though you will not automatically retain any previous membership benefits unless a new-member promotion is running.
The service does not charge cancellation fees or require you to provide a reason for leaving. You can cancel through your account settings online or by contacting their customer service team.
Shipping, Delivery, and Book Condition
Book of the Month ships books via standard mail carriers, typically USPS or UPS depending on your location. Shipping is included in your monthly subscription fee and takes five to seven business days from the ship date. You will receive a tracking number via email once your book ships, usually within the first week of the month.
Books arrive in protective packaging designed to prevent damage during transit. If a book arrives damaged or defective, you can contact Book of the Month's customer service with a photo of the damage, and they will send a replacement at no charge. Replacements typically ship within five to seven business days.
International shipping is not currently available through Book of the Month. The service only ships to addresses within the United States.
How Book of the Month Differs From Other Book Subscriptions
Book of the Month lets you choose your book each month, whereas some competitors send a pre-selected title automatically. This means you have control over what arrives at your door and can avoid books that do not interest you. Other services like Scribd or Kindle Unlimited offer unlimited reading of a digital library instead of physical books shipped to your home.
Book of the Month focuses on mainstream fiction and nonfiction bestsellers and award winners, not rare or out-of-print titles. If you are looking for literary fiction, memoirs, mysteries, or popular nonfiction, the monthly selection usually includes options in those categories. If you read primarily in niche genres like romance, science fiction, or academic texts, you may find fewer choices that match your interests.
The cost per book is higher than buying used books online, but lower than buying new hardcovers at retail price. A new hardcover typically costs $25 to $30 in bookstores; Book of the Month's $14.99 monthly cost works out to roughly half that price per book. This math changes if you already have access to a library or if you read very slowly and accumulate books faster than you read them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I gift a Book of the Month subscription to someone else?
Yes. Book of the Month offers gift subscriptions that you can purchase for three, six, or twelve months. The recipient receives a notification with instructions to set up their account and make their first book selection. Gift subscriptions work the same way as regular memberships and can be paused or canceled by the recipient at any time.
What if I do not like the book I received?
Book of the Month does not offer refunds or exchanges based on personal preference. Once you receive a book, it is yours to keep. However, you can sell it, donate it, or give it away. If the book arrived damaged, the service will replace it at no charge.
Do I have to commit to a certain number of months?
No. Month-to-month memberships can be canceled anytime without penalty. Annual memberships require upfront payment for twelve months, but you can still pause or cancel if your situation changes — though you will not receive a refund for unused months.
Can I change my book selection after I have already chosen one?
Yes, as long as the book has not shipped yet. You can log into your account and swap your selection for a different title from that month's options. Once your book ships and you receive a tracking number, you can no longer change your selection for that month.
What if I move or need to change my shipping address?
You can update your shipping address through your account settings anytime. If you change your address before your book ships for the month, it will ship to your new address. If your book has already shipped, contact customer service with your tracking number and new address, and they can attempt to redirect it if the package has not yet been delivered.