Are you looking for a unique gift for a booklover in your life? Maybe you want to discover new authors but don’t have time to browse? Or do you know someone who has to live in a town without an independent bookstore? Several bookstores in our region offer book subscriptions that can help in any of those situations.
Here is a sampling. Click on the links or the logos to get details about the cost and offerings from each shop.
Village Books’ Signed First Editions Club gets you six signed first editions over the year. These are hardcover first editions, signed by the authors, so perfect for collectors. Shipping is included, so even if you can’t get to Bellingham, you can benefit from their book savvy and author connections.
Phinney by Post offers monthly selections of surprise paperbacks, alternating fiction and nonfiction. You could also chose an every-other-month option of just “made up” or just “true.” The past picks are eclectic and delightful. This would be a great way to reach outside your comfort zone of reading.
Powell’s Books indiespensible subscriptions are currently sold out… but watch their website to see when you can sign up. This subscription leans toward the unexpected: exclusive printings, small publishers, collectible sets, and signed first editions. The lucky subscribers get new treasures every 6-8 weeks.
The Maiden Voyage First Edition Program from Elliott Bay Book Company delivers six novels a year, each by a debut author. If you want to be among the first to follow new talent, this is a perfect choice. These are hardcover first editions, so again, nice for collectors.