Once Upon a Book Club Box Review + Coupon – November 2018


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Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Box

Once Upon a Book Club is a uniquely engaging book subscription box. Instead of just sending along books and bookish items, this monthly subscription box sends you one book and a series of individually wrapped packages, each with a numbered tag that corresponds to a page in the book. As you read and come across those pages, you’ll open the packages and reveal items that relate to that moment in the story!

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Box Inside

Once Upon a Book Club offers a young adult box geared towards readers 13+ and an adult box intended for readers 18+. Both are priced the same and feature newly released books. (According to the site, the books have been released within the last 3 months, unless otherwise noted.)

This is a review of the Adult box for 18+ ($34.99 per month + shipping).

This box was sent to us at no cost to review. (Check out our review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Review

About This Book Box

The Subscription Box: Once Upon a Book Club Adult Box

The Cost: $34.99 a month + $8.50 US shipping. Save with 3, 6, and 12-month subscriptions.

COUPON: Use code ADDICTION10 to save 10% off your first box!

The Products: Women’s fiction with an aspirational bent, plus gifts related to the story.

Ships to: Worldwide

Our November 2018 Review

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Booklet

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Booklet 2

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Booklet 3

There’s a simple paper booklet inside the box. I like that this subscription hosts book “discussions” and “read-a-longs” on their social media pages! It makes it a lot like an IRL book club. You’ll notice, however, that there is no info about the box contents. That would spoil the surprise!

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Promo

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Promo 2

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Promo 3

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Promo 4

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Promo 5

There was also quite a bit of promotional literature included in the box.

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Card

This little print was also included in the box. It is, in fact, relevant to this month’s book.

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Book

The Impossible Girl by Lydia Kang – Retail Value $14.95 (found here for $10.37)

What a thriller! It’s really hard to say much about this book without completely spoiling it, but here goes nothing… In 19th century Manhattan, a girl with an extremely curious medical anomaly works as a grave robber. That’s quite a premise, right?! As time goes on she becomes embroiled in solving mysteries that unfold around her, unaware that her medical anomaly makes her a target! It’s a page-turner! It is really well written and engrossing.

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Plate

I am always, always so happy when I receive either a signed book or a signed bookplate like this one. I immediately stuck it to the inside of the book!

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Mask

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Mask 2

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Mask 3

Page 25: Jar of Charcoal Dead Sea Mud Mask

I was thrilled to get such a nice item right off the bat! It’s a really good size jar, too, at 8.8 ounces! It’s also a Once Upon a Book Club Exclusive! How cool is that? It’s similar to masks I have tried in the past, but really good ones, you know? I love mud masks, and this one has minerals from the Dead Sea! This one left my skin feeling firm and super clean, so it’s just perfect.

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Scroll

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Scroll 2

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Scroll 3

Page 120: Pouch With Wish List

The wish list here pertains directly to what is happening in the book at this point, but I don’t think it necessarily gives anything away to post a picture of it, based on the description of the book I wrote above. The pouch is actually pretty cool – I like the paisley print and the tassels. It’s really plasticky, though, so it doesn’t strike me as something that is super high value. It could be used for a number of things, though, and it’s really cute.

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Tube

Page 216: Newspaper in a Tube

I’m just showing the tube here because I feel like showing the newspaper itself would give too much away. It’s at page 216, so lots has happened by this point! In terms of what’s inside, it’s just a couple of pages of newsprint. Am I being overly cautious? I just hate spoilers!

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Pot

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Pot 2

Once Upon a Book Club Box November 2018 - Pot 3

Page 271: Teapot and Tiny Bottles

Yes, there is a hidden message here, haha. This teapot is both functional and super cute! It’s a pretty good weight and has a nice pour. I especially like the macrame cord that attaches the lid, it’s a really nice touch. The little bottles inside are symbolic more than functional, but they are cute also. I have been trying to think of some kind of use for them or some way to work them into my decor… Thoughts?

The Verdict: This was a really fun first box (for me) from Once Upon a Book Club! The book was engrossing, and the other items really went along well with the parts of the book they correspond to! Outside of the book and the book-related paraphernalia, the mask is much appreciated, and the teapot is both cute and functional. So far, so good!

This box cost me $43.49 ($34.99 a month + $8.50). If I subtract the retail value of the book from that amount, I’m left with $28.54. There are four items of actual value otherwise – the mask, the teapot, the little bottles, and the pouch, so the average cost for each of those would be $7.14. That seems like a great deal for the mask, maybe on par for the teapot, and too much for the other items, but I’m not even sure the value measurement is relevant to this subscription box. The value comes from the experience of reading the book and getting related surprises along the way, the experience as a whole. If you would be bothered by a subscription that does not have a big value surplus, then this might not be the right box for you.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No. Sign up before the 14th of this month to receive the next month’s box!

Coupon – Use code ADDICTION10 to save 10% off your first box!

Check out all of our Once Upon a Book Club reviews to learn more!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

What do you think of the items in this Once Upon a Book Club box?

Written by Anna Rodriguez

Anna Rodriguez

Anna has been a fan of subscription boxes since joining Birchbox in 2013, but didn’t become a true addict until discovering subscriptions she could share with her children. Her favorites include Kiwi Crate and Fab Kids.

Posted in Book Subscription Boxes, Once Upon a Book Club Reviews, Subscription Box Reviews, Subscription Boxes for Women| Tags: once upon a book club | 5 comments

5 Comments

  1. I requested a more recent review of this box last month and you all delivered! That may have been a coincidence, but it made me feel like you read my comment! Appreciate the updated review. Will be using the coupon code! Thank you!

  2. I started this 4 months ago and worried about the books but so far I have loved every one! The experience in each is so fun. I may not find uses for every item in the boxes but that is not why I get this one. The stories and anticipation for each item is what makes this great. Also, I share with friends.

  3. I would use the tiny bottles as ornaments or as a pendant. I’m kind of interested in this sub, but I’m super picky about my books!

  4. I am LOVING this sub!!!

  5. This looks like such a fun box!! I hope to subscribe once my son gets older and I can actually have the time to read again! Thanks for the great review!!

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