Subscription Boxes

All the unboxings and details about subscription boxes (bookish or not)

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Spectacular! Spectacular! Book Box Club

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Subscription box: Book Box Club

Theme/Month: Spectacular! Spectacular!, September 2021

Ownership: Subscribed on their 12 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing a Book Box Club subscription, you can do it on their website.

Book Box Club is a young adult subscription box, the unique thing is the Clubhouse where you can chat to the author a month (or so) after the box was shipped and ask questions and just chat around. It also includes several goodies and usually, the choice of book is one that is unique and not in other book boxes so very few chances of duplicate books and a lot of new reads discovery power.

Do I have any sense of time? No why do you ask? Oh yes, I did unbox October before September but no, I do not know what time is anymore. So let us just dive into this box instead, starting from the book on the left and going clockwise:

  • The Winter Garden by Alexandra Bell
  • Not Here to be Liked pin, which is a good book
  • Starlit skies candle, smells divine.
  • Night Circus admission ticket necklace.
  • A self assemble shelf bunting which I should put up at some point!
  • A gorgeous botanical bookmark
  • Promotional postcard for a book
  • Birthday Cake popcorn which lasted long enough to take a picture and that was it!
  • The theme card for the month

This had a celebration theme being an anniversary box and that was delightful for me. Overall the box was good, maybe not my favourite but very lovely regardless. And that popcorn was surprisingly nice!

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Revenge is Sweeter Illumicrate

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Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Revenge is Sweeter, October 2021

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing an Illumicrate subscription, you can do it on their website.

Illumicrate is a book subscription box, it usually features fantasy and sci-fi but not exclusively young adult, sometimes it features adult too. It usually contains a new release, a pin and several bookish goodies.

A highly expected read, and a bang of a box for October. Starting with the bottom item and going clockwise:

  • A book carrying bag, not even sure how to describe it, but it is almost like a fabric foldable basket and it is ideal for a catch-all. This is the second one and I love it alongside the first, please send more of these.
  • Measuring cups, which at the time, the day before got the box I had been looking at buying some and then like it read my mind, I had new measuring cups.
  • The Convergence candle, I am slowly trying to burn through my collection but I am glad to still be getting candles.
  • Collectable pin
  • Theme leaflet that describes content and shops and fandom
  • Iron widow, as the main book, and what a book to choose
  • A print, which is, as usual, I am not bothered about, I like the art but that is it.
  • Collectable mug, can’t remember the exact fandom but love it.

Overall it was a good box with items I had been looking forward to and a great book, so I liked it. Probably the only downside was having a print because those always feel like fillers but I get that people collect them, so it is all good for me. Not bad at all!

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Very Nice Villains Tales by Mail

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Subscription box: Tales by Mail

Theme/Month: Very Nice Villains, October 2021

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing a Tales by Mail subscription, you can do it on their website.

Tales by Mail is a bi-monthly middle-grade book box that comes with two books, some activity pages you can collect, or copy or use in various ways, a pin and one or two items.

Again, still behind with the unboxing but I want to talk about them and the contents so here we go with one from back in October! Starting from the left and going clockwise as usual:

  • His Royal Hopeless bookmark
  • Hi Royal Hopeless by Chloe Perrin, this book looks hilarious and fits the title quite nicely.
  • Theme card and set of activity pages, I love collecting these in the little ring binder.
  • Rules for Vampires by Sara Ogilvie, also an interesting funny read to fit the theme.
  • Very Nice Notes mini notebook, which is utterly cute
  • A little card/postcard
  • The collectible monthly pin
  • A Very Nice Villain patch with a cute bat
  • And finally a promotional bookmark for Rules for Vampires

Overall, as usual, one of the best things about Tales by Mail is that there isn’t a lot of items and therefore it is more about the books with a tiny treat and I love that. Alongside the fact that it sticks to the theme and provides me with some interesting middle grade book choices!

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Mermaids and Myths Book Box Club

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Subscription box: Book Box Club

Theme/Month:Mermaids and Myths, October 2021

Ownership: Subscribed on their 12 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing a Book Box Club subscription, you can do it on their website.

Book Box Club is a young adult subscription box, the unique thing is the Clubhouse where you can chat to the author a month (or so) after the box was shipped and ask questions and just chat around. It also includes several goodies and usually, the choice of book is one that is unique and not in other book boxes so very few chances of duplicate books and a lot of new reads discovery power.

A little old but a good box nonetheless which I loved how in tune with the theme it was, so here we go on contents starting with the book on the left and going clockwise:

  • Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen, an interesting read indeed and obviously all about mermaids and myths.
  • Theme card, which matches the book and the colour scheme of the box items overall. I like when the card matches well the rest of the box.
  • Mermaid tail iridiscent pen which is just adorable and shiny!
  • A coffee travel mug, which honestly has become my favourite one, the artwork is GORGEOUS.
  • Mermaid socks, nekkid mermaids which apparently I missed entirely and focused on the Lemons until my friends pointed it out.
  • Mermaid wooden pin with a tiny mermaid in a bottle. Adorable size.
  • Mermaid bath fizzer, which I haven’t used because I forget I have a bath tub and to take a bath since I shower instead, but it smells amazing.

Loved this box, it was on point with everything, very lovely on the whole sticking to the theme and everything, so all good. And I still recommend getting a subscription to their box. Good interesting book choices that arent the one everyone else is doing.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Stranger than Fiction Book Box Club

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Subscription box: Book Box Club

Theme/Month: Stranger Than Fiction, August 2021

Ownership: Subscribed on their 12 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing a Book Box Club subscription, you can do it on their website.

Book Box Club is a young adult subscription box, the unique thing is the Clubhouse where you can chat to the author a month (or so) after the box was shipped and ask questions and just chat around. It also includes several goodies and usually the choice of book is one that is unique and not in other book boxes so very few chances of duplicate books and a lot of new reads discovery power.

A double book box for August and it was definitely full of items. Starting from top centre and the theme card:

  • Theme card.
  • Splinters of sunshine promo
  • A water bottle with measures to check how much you’ve had already.
  • Time Lord tea
  • Lightbulb clips, love funky clips so this was really nice
  • Tote bag with a quote about how strange we all are.
  • The Upper wOrld pin
  • Clubhouse invite
  • The Upper World which is an intriguing book with an interesting concept.
  • and the second book being Every Line of You, also quite interesting.

Overall, a lot of content and items, probably my favourite was the light bulb paper clips because they are cute but it is a hard choice since it was all cute and for a double book box, it did really well.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Magical Level-Up! Yume Twins

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Subscription box: YumeTwins

Theme/Month: Magical Level-Up!, November 2021

Ownership: One off purchase since I really enjoy the contents but it becomes too much for me on a monthly basis. I am not as cutesy and cuddly as the box is, so I pick and choose the ones I cannot resist.

Yume Twins is a monthly subscription box focused on the kawaii and cute of life. It is focused on fandoms and makes sure to include a lot of items from a variety of them. They are a favourite and you can see reviews of their boxes from even as far back as 2018 because they are always good quality.

So after the Magical Girl theme tempted me too much and I couldn’t resist it, here are the contents of it:

  • Underneath everything, there is a small blanket from Sakura CardCaptor, it is relatively small but it fits comfortably over a lap or to warm your feet.
  • Sailor Moon set of cards
  • Ghibli stationery set which is cute
  • Tiny round Sanrio figurine, you got a random one from a selection of potential options.
  • Coffin of notes, at first it surprised me and felt odd but I think they are cute and in a nice little tin.
  • A squishable super soft magical cat pillow which I adore

As usual, the cutness of this wins a lot and I am very happy with everything that came in the box. No complaints, so if you’re into cute boxes, this is a lovely one. Shipping is fast, and reliable.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Dark Academia Illumicrate

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Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Dark Academia, August 2021

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing an Illumicrate subscription, you can do it on their website.

Illumicrate is a book subscription box, it usually features fantasy and sci-fi but not exclusively young adult, sometimes it features adult too. It usually contains a new release, a pin and several bookish goodies.

Being someone who enjoys some dark academia books, this box sounded right up my street, but was it? Starting from the book on the left and going clockwise:

  • The Devil Makes Three, with a stunning cover and sprayed edges
  • First collectible teacup and saucer, this won my heart because the artwork is Mucha style, a goddess and it is about tea…
  • A reading journal, very fancy hardcover
  • Dark Academia page tabs to mark things int he book to your academic delight.
  • Monthly pin, which looks very interesting.
  • A Guid to Secret Societies ceramic book pot, which is quite pretty.
  • Academic and bookish washi tape to help with he reading journal.

Honestly if they had included a fountain pen and some tea, this would’ve been the perfect box, and so aesthetically and thematically pleasing. But even without those items it is a very good box and fighting for the spot of favourite box of the year from Illumicrate.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Dark Academia Owlcrate

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Subscription box: Owlcrate

Theme/Month: Dark Academia, August 2021

Ownership: One-off purchase since the shipping and tax have made Owlcrate too expensive.

When they announced the theme of Dark Academia and the hints for the book alongside the fandoms I had to order it even if it was a bit expensive. And I do not regret my choices. So let’s unbox it and see what was inside, starting from the top left and going clockwise:

  • A stationery set that looks like a school journal kinda thing and it has page tabs, sticky notes, a pen and a notepad in it. All very cute.
  • Raven Boys Book Sleeve.
  • From the Library Of stamp which is a nice design and you just need an ink pad in your favourite colour to mark all your books so no one steals them when they borrow them.
  • Riddle’s Tea Shoppe blend based on Truly Devious series.
  • Book tin from V.E. Schwab’s Darker Shade of Magic series, White London in this case. Sadly I don’t have the rest but this one is gorgeous.
  • Monthly Pin with a typewriter
  • A very delicate moon bookmark based on The Secret History.
  • The main book was A Lesson in Vengeance in a very soft and not dark academia type of cover which was a surprise for me.

Overall it had the right vibe with all the items in it and it felt delicate and yet dark, even if the exclusive cover was a bit of a surprise, but I liked the items and felt it was worth getting however it was still a bit steep for a regular box. Probably worth it if you are in the US and shipping isn’t prohibitive.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Reads: Never Enough Illumicrate

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Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Never Enough, July 2021

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing an Illumicrate subscription, you can do it on their website.

Illumicrate is a book subscription box, it usually features fantasy and sci-fi but not exclusively young adult, sometimes it features adult too. It usually contains a new release, a pin and several bookish goodies.

The box to complete the sapphic trifecta with a very summery look and some interesting item choices, starting from the book and going clockwise:

  • She Who Became The Sun, trying to rival the sun with sprayed edges and looks of the book.
  • A Descendant of the Crane fan, very good of a hot summer day to keep cool.
  • Poppy War inspired mug, which is very loved by me.
  • Another of those odd print in a glass kinda portrait holder. I like the portrait holder, not so much the print and I do not care for the fandom.
  • A compact mirror inspired by Dorian Gray
  • Lila Bard bust which I mean, a bust is cool but I don’t need it, see no use for it except gather dust and honestly not crazy about it, however I do appreciate the artwork.
  • The Upper World taster.
  • Monthly in which is stunning
  • And finally the theme leaflet!

As much as the previous box was really up my street, this one was a huge miss, between fandoms and the items, it just failed to hit the spot with almost everything except the mug and fan, which seems to be something that happens when there is a mug included, I am less keen on the rest of the items. Hopefully the box for August is more up my street.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Explore Okinawa Sakuraco

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Explore Okinawa SakuraCo

Subscription box: SakuraCo

Theme/Month: Explore Okinawa, August 2021

Ownership: Subscribed on their 3 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing a Sakura Co subscription, you can do it on their website.

SakuraCo is a new box that focuses on Japanese tea, sweets and snacks from local makers for you to enjoy. And the idea is that you take a unique snack journey around Japan with the contents of the box. I’ve been subscribed since the first box and so far enjoyed the journey.

This box was all about purple potato, and interesting more savoury flavours. So let’s see what was inside, starting from the top left and going clockwise:

  • Kombu Arare Crackers, crispy and with sea flavours.
  • Beni Imo Pie, which has a crispy puff pastry and a potato sweet paste inside, it is odd but tasty.
  • Sanpincha Tea
  • Beni Imo Tart, this looks like they had just made you a little pastry and poured the fresh pastry on it. Tastier than the pie.
  • Owan Bowl with a sakura pattern, currently have mine willed with sweets.
  • Brown Sugar Shisa Candy, perfection. Hard shell, soft caramel sugar goodness inside.
  • Okinawa Tofu Chips, nice chips and crispy.
  • Lightly Salted Red Bean, a bit dry but delicious.
  • Yuzu Monaka, citrusy and delicious.
  • Kogane Shikuwasa Manju, also a bit dry but not too sweet or sour or bitter.
  • Shikuwasa Jelly, refreshing.
  • Apple and Mango Melange Jelly, delicious, I want more of this please!
  • Brown Sugar Manju, I am probably not the fondest of manju but the brown sugar part was delicious.
  • Issa Cracker, they are more refreshing and light than I expected. Seaweed flavoured.
  • Snow Salt Chinsuko, very soft and flaky, almost melt in your mouth.
  • Sata Andagi Beni Imo Doughnuts, very nice, wished for more because it is like little doughnut holes filled with a sweet potato paste.
  • It also came with a postcard and the leaflet with a description of everything alongside more details about why they included them, etc.

Probably not my favourite one as it was a bit repetitive and a lot of manju therefore a bit too dry and not as tasty but still quite good.