7 Book Subscription Services We Love in 2025

For an indie bookstore vibe: Books Are Magic Book Club

The selections from Books Are Magic Book Club are exactly what a real indie bookseller might put in your hands if you went into the store asking for a good book. Select a single genre from a list of four—fiction, essays/memoir, poetry, romance—and three age-based options for kids. Once you place your order, you don’t need to keep track of payments, selections, or timelines: A book (paperbacks for romance and poetry, hardback for fiction and memoir) arrives monthly in a padded paper envelope alongside a Books Are Magic branded tote with the first delivery. Selections lean literary but not esoterically so, and popular but not necessarily commercial. Think Worry by Alexandra Tanner, Grief Is for People by Sloane Crosley, a poetry collection by Nick Flynn, and Second Chances in New Port Stephen by TJ Alexander. Books are often (but not always) signed by the author; Books Are Magic also has a quarterly cookbook subscription.

Price: hardcover subscriptions for $30 per month; paperback subscriptions for $20 per month; kids and teen subscriptions for $25 per month; $10 flat-rate shipping

Cancellation and satisfaction policy: skip, pause, or cancel any time; books cannot be returned

The original book club: Book of the Month

For people who would prefer an element of control—but don’t want to get overwhelmed with choice—Book of the Month offers readers a monthly selection of six or seven recently released hardcovers. The titles touch most every genre—romance, mystery, sci-fi, narrative nonfiction, literary and historical fiction—and lean a tad commercial. Recent titles include Elin Hilderbrand’s Swan Song and Kristin Hannah’s The Women. You’re not going to find any particularly dark or controversial titles on BOTM; don’t expect Miranda July’s National Book Award–nominated All Fours to show up on their list, for example.

It’s simple to skip a month or cancel anytime. Your chosen title arrives in a small branded box with no extras. The editions are branded with small logos on the covers and spines, and the paper is supposedly thinner, but we couldn’t tell the difference.

Price: month-to-month subscriptions for $16.99 per month, shipping included; prepaid subscriptions are $60 for three months, $100 for six months, and $200 for one year; subscribers can add up to two additional books per month for about $17 each

Cancellation and satisfaction policy: skip, pause, or cancel month-to-month subscriptions any time; if you don’t like a book, BOTM will issue a credit for an additional book of your choice and encourage you to pass the book you didn’t like onto another reader

Genre readers delight: The Book Drop

The Book Drop from Bethany Beach Books in Delaware caters to genre readers by offering four monthly subscriptions—historical fiction, thriller, romance, or fantasy. (There’s also a surprise option that sends a book from a different genre each month and an alternating subscription that combines two.) A new hardcover or paperback arrives in a recyclable paper Book Drop–branded envelope alongside bookmarks, reading guides, and often (but not always) a letter from the author. Recent selections have included The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride (historical fiction), Happy Place by Emily Henry (romance), and The Vacancy in Room 10 by Seraphina Nova Glass (thriller). The Book Drop also offers three children’s subscriptions for ages 0 to 13 and is the only service we found with a separate large-print club.

Price: $26 per month, shipping included; prepaid subscriptions are $76 for three months or $150 per year

Cancellation and satisfaction policy: skip, pause, or cancel month-to-month subscriptions any time; prepaid subscriptions can be cancelled for a prorated refund, but individual books cannot be returned

Excellent eco-conscious option: Used Books Monthly

For people who don’t have a good used bookstore nearby, Used Books Monthly is a lifesaver, as long as you’re open to surprises. First, subscribers choose to receive from one to four books, then complete a simple, two-minute questionnaire indicating preferred genres and highlighting a few favored authors and titles. Books are selected individually for each subscriber and arrive in a no-frills, branded envelope. I got a hardcover copy of Bright Shiny Morning by James Frey and a paperback of Summerlong by Dean Bakopoulos in excellent shape. The choices, both contemporary fiction, were books I probably wouldn’t have picked out on my own but was happy to try. If Used Books Monthly gets it wrong, email them to make adjustments for future shipments.

Price: one book for $5 per month up to four books for $17, plus shipping (we paid $5 for two books); three-, six-, or 12-month prepaid subscriptions are also available; prices vary

Cancellation and satisfaction policy: skip, pause, or cancel month-to-month subscriptions any time; individual books cannot be returned