Book Box

What's in the box: One hand-picked book each month, with optional chocolate or tea in some adult boxes.

Book Box is a small, locally run book subscription based in Mount Maunganui. Each month it posts one hand-picked book to your door. You choose a box type and the team chooses the title, which could be a best-seller, a classic or a book by an author you already like. There are boxes for adults, young adults and children. Adults can also get a book paired with chocolate or tea, or a box that only sends new and recent releases. Listed prices run from $19 to $26, and delivery within New Zealand is free. If you have already read the book they send, you can return it for free. You can cancel by email or manage your subscription yourself online, and gift vouchers are available. The site does not explain how the team learns what you like or whether there is a preference form, and it does not say how long a gift voucher lasts. Each box holds a single book, so the value depends on how well the picks suit you. Readers with very particular tastes may find the surprise format hit and miss. For New Zealand readers who want a steady nudge to read more, or an easy way to keep kids reading, it is a simple option that is easy to cancel.