Love, Parnassus

What's in the box: One first edition romance novel (sometimes signed), plus a letter from the author, a custom sticker and a bookmark.

Love, Parnassus is a monthly romance subscription run by Parnassus Books, the independent bookstore in Nashville. Each month you get one first edition romance novel, and some are signed. The box also has a letter from the author, a custom sticker and a bookmark. The picks lean toward debut authors and writers you may not have read yet, so it suits readers who want to find new names more than follow authors they already love. Some of the books are explicit, and the store says the box is best for readers 18 and over. It also says it chooses books that celebrate love in all its forms and that it reads and supports queer, Black and POC writers and characters. You can pay month to month, with the charge on the 1st, or prepay for 3, 6 or 12 months, which works well as a gift. One helpful policy is that you can return a selection within two weeks of receiving it if it doesn't suit you. The store also posts a full list of past picks, so you can check its taste before you sign up. The box is aimed at US readers. If you live abroad, you have to email the subscriptions manager for a custom shipping quote. The site does not list prices on the main page.