Book Selection

Aardvark Book Club carries a mix of adult genres every month, including contemporary fiction, literary fiction, thriller, mystery, romance, historical fiction, magical realism, dystopian fiction, and more. They do not typically feature high fantasy novels, young adult books, or nonfiction.

The books chosen are often not those with the largest marketing budgets, but those that the Aardvark team thinks members will like. I think most members would describe the selection as a bit quirky in a good manner. There is frequently at least one book per month that is a big title. But if you are looking for the most commercial fiction, you may want to look at a different subscription box. I like that Aardvark features a solid number of debut authors and a good mix of books each month. If you are curious about their past selections, you can find them all here.

One of my only critiques of Aardvark Book Club is that once a title sells out, it is unlikely to be restocked. Still have a variety of past choices to choose from each month. It is just if a title sells out the first month or three months after, Aardvark does not replenish them since printing lead times are very long. However, if a book is sold out the month it becomes available, enough so that they need to print more copies, then the book may become back in stock. It is easy to discern which books are in stock since those that are sold out do not appear on the app.

Book Quality

If you are used to book subscription boxes like Book of the Month, you will find that Aardvark Book Club’s books are much better quality. Every book is a hardcover printed on quality paper and with a butter smooth exterior. The book jacket is the same design as those available commercially with the addition of the Aardvark logo on the front. (That is right, no pesky logo on the spine!) The logo is usually tied into the cover design.

Price

In the U.S., Aardvark Book Club charges members $17.99 for a monthly credit that you use for one book (that includes shipping). If needed, you can skip the current month and the credit will rollover to the next month without you being charged again. Up to two additional books can be added to your box for only $9.99 each. It is also worth noting that since Aardvark Book Club has started prices have not been raised.

For Canadian subscribers, Aardvark Book Club charges members $25.99 CAD/month for a monthly credit and $13.99 for each extra book.

Community

Something that sets Aardvark Book Club apart from other book boxes is their community. The app allows members to connect and chat about the books. Chats are organized by book and make asking questions or sharing your thoughts easy.

While it is not official, there is also a robust community of Aardvark members that comment on Aardvark’s Instagram posts and that work together to figure out the monthly hints.

Customer Service

Aardvark Book Club should honestly get some kind of customer service award. It is a pleasure to communicate with their staff whether that is via email or on Instagram. Aardvark replies quickly to inquiries, usually within 24 hours. They are kind and quick. Plus, they really take customer feedback seriously. Aardvark Book Club is still a small company (they only began shipping books in December 2022) and their customer service and response reflects this.

Shipping

One of the criticisms I have previously heard is that Aardvark Book Club’s shipping is slower than Book of the Month. I think this largely depends on your location. Plus, I have personally noticed that shipping has become faster in 2024.

Typically, your box is shipped in 1-2 days after you order via USPS Media Mail (in the U.S. at least) from Texas. I live in New York and usually the books arrive about 5 days after shipping. It is also worth mentioning that my box has never arrived damaged, unlike my frequently damaged Book of the Month boxes. I think this is partly due to the more robust quality of Aardvark’s boxes.

Incentives/Rewards Program

Right now, Aardvark Book Club does not have a rewards or member incentive program. However, Aardvark sent a survey to its members in December 2023 asking what they would like to see in a member or rewards program. So at this time, it sounds like one is under development, and they are taking into consideration what is important to their readers.

Every month in your box, you will receive a card describing the monthly member challenge. You can complete the challenge and tag @AardvarkBookClub on Instagram or Tiktok. Aardvark usually chooses 5 winners each month to enter to win a free book.