Chapters Bookstore

What's in the box: One book you chose blind from three themed monthly selections, plus the option to book a video chat with another reader of the same title.

Chapters is a Japanese monthly online bookstore that pairs a blind book pick with an openly romantic social angle. Each month the staff, mostly working booksellers, present three titles built around a theme with the author and title hidden. You choose one based only on custom artwork and a short recommendation. The site says picks lean toward approachable reads such as short story collections and essays, and some months bring in guest curators, like the selection unit Mitsurudo for October 2026. The book arrives about 7 to 10 days after ordering, and you only learn what it is when you open the package. The second half of the service is Apero, a 20 minute video chat with someone who read the same book that season. The site says sessions run almost daily, and contact details are shared only if both people say yes. Chapters describes itself as a cross between a bookstore and a matchmaking service, so expect a dating flavor rather than a neutral book club. It also notes that chats may not be available depending on participant numbers and gender balance. For readers who only want curated books, the blind choice is a pleasant ritual, but you get just one title a month. Everything is in Japanese, so it mainly suits people living in Japan who read the language comfortably.