5 Book Boxes That Bring Literary Escapes To Your Door

Avid readers know it’s hard to keep up with new books being released. It can also be challenging to look beyond your favourite titles and learn about fresh authors and diverse genres. Imagine a curated new book regularly landing on your doorstep. Now imagine it comes along with some self-care and something tasty to eat or drink while you read. Book subscription boxes fit this bill and deliver regular content and treats straight to readers. With monthly, bi-monthy or quarterly options, these subscriptions make great gifts or are a perfect way to treat yourself. Here are a few of our favourite (mostly) Canadian book subscription options. —Jenn Wint

Lit Love is a monthly subscription box offering you the choice of your monthly book. New releases are carefully curated across genres like thriller, adventure, romance and beyond. Each month select from up to three book titles—or don’t choose and be surprised. Along with your book, you’ll receive treats, self-care and other bookish goodies like home decor, stationary, snacks, coffee, tea, cocktail mixes, socks, candles, bath and body luxuries. These lovingly curated gifts are consumable, unique, useful in everyday life and are from local and small businesses.

Raven Reads is a Canadian-based subscription box service that seasonally delivers custom curated books and giftware written or created by Indigenous peoples from around the world. Every box contains a carefully chosen book written by an Indigenous author, a letter from the author or box curator, a written story or teaching from or about one of many Indigenous cultures from around the world, and two to three gift-like items from Indigenous entrepreneurs. There is also a box option for children. Boxes aim to raise awareness of collective histories, lived experiences and support Indigenous authors and entrepreneurs.

Read Between the Vines is a book and beverage subscription service that includes a live monthly book club meet up. Boxes include the monthly book, signed when the author is local, and the reader’s choice of coffee, tea and / or wine and chocolate. The unique weekly virtual book club offers a lively discussion about the themes and plot of the book and on occasion, includes the author. With the purchase of every Book Club Box, an equal volume of trash is removed from a fresh water source or surrounding green spaces.

ReadHer is a bi-monthly book subscription box featuring a book written by a Black author, in addition to three to five goodies for the reader. Gifts have a monthly theme and include bookmarks, a tote, stickers, T-shirt, bookish merchandise, fun accessories and snacks with a focus on supporting Black businesses. The popular genre in ReadHer is romance from contemporary, friends to lovers, second chance love, women’s fiction and more. This female focused subscription is curated with relaxation and escape in mind.

Each box by the Wordy Traveler has been compiled by a team of world travelers to transport readers through the pages and across the globe. Each quarterly subscription offers curated books chosen for capturing the very essence of the featured location. Also included is an ethically sourced premium tea and coffee, a limited-edition fine art print from a photographer or artist, bookmark, and exciting gifts from around the world. Each box purchase also provides life-saving nutrition for two children and pregnant women across the world.