Book Box

Book Box, personalised book subscription in Australia

Book Box is an Australian monthly book subscription service. It works by completing a detailed questionnaire about reading preferences, choosing how many books you want to receive, and having a curated box delivered to your home with the selected titles and extras. The company states that shipping is free Australia-wide and that the selection is made by a human team, not an algorithm.

The company presents itself as an option for readers who have lost the habit of reading and want to get it back through a recurring system. According to its own account, the box is designed as a moment of self-care: a book, a bookmark and complementary products delivered monthly.

How the service works

The process is divided into three steps. First, the customer completes an in-depth questionnaire about their literary tastes. Then they select the number of books they want curated and make payment. Finally, they receive the box at their home with free shipping in Australia. The company notes that each book is personally selected by the team based on the questionnaire responses.

The catalogue allows you to choose between one, two or three curated books. The price shown for the Book Box is AUD $109.99. The subscription can be paused or cancelled at any time.

Contents of each box

According to the company's description, each Book Box includes a genre-themed envelope, matching stickers, a themed bookmark, a card explaining why that book was chosen, a book review card, a reading tracker, the curated book and handpicked goodies. The company presents this set as an unboxing and self-care experience.

Double-Up Guarantee and customer service

Book Box offers a guarantee called the Double-Up Guarantee: if the customer receives a book they already own, they can let the company know by email and the company will curate a new book and cover the return shipping cost for the duplicate. The contact email provided is hello@bookbox.au.

Shipping and delivery times

The company states that orders are shipped within up to five business days and that shipping is free Australia-wide. Estimated delivery times by state are: New South Wales, 1-3 business days; Australian Capital Territory, 1-3 business days; South Australia, 2-3 business days; Queensland, 2-4 business days; Victoria, 2-4 business days; Northern Territory, 3-5 business days; Tasmania, 4-5 business days; Western Australia, 4-7 business days. For New Zealand the stated time is 8 to 12 business days and for international shipping, more than 20 days. The company warns of possible delays during public holidays and major sale events.

Team and approach

The books are selected by a team identified on the site as Kate the Book Dragon, Carl the Tech Whiz and Leo, described as a little helper. The company states that each item is curated according to the customer's tastes and that, by purchasing a Book Box, you also support other Australian small businesses. The company presents itself as the first and only one of its kind in Australia.

Reviews and community

The site shows an average rating of 4.91 out of 5 and a rating of 4.90 with 3,224 verified reviews. The company states that more than 60,000 Australian readers have used the service. Book Box targets a mostly female audience in Australia and presents itself as a community of book lovers.