Book of the Month: First Hardcover for $5 Plus a Free Gift

Book of the Month is currently offering new members a deal worth knowing about: your first hardcover book for just $5, plus your choice of a free gift. Before you jump in, though, there’s something important to understand. This is not a free trial or a free sample—it’s a paid monthly book subscription with a discounted first box. After that initial $5 book, you’ll be enrolled in ongoing monthly membership at the regular price unless you cancel. The deal is available for a limited time, and the specific gift options may vary, so it’s worth checking the current offer directly on the Book of the Month homepage before you sign up.

What the $5 First Book Deal Includes

The current new-member offer from Book of the Month lets you get your first hardcover book for $5, along with your choice of a free gift. At the time of writing, the gift options are displayed at checkout, and they’ve varied over time—previous options have included items like totes or hats, so what’s available may differ when you sign up. The offer is described as limited time, though no specific end date is published on the official site. Once you’re past that first discounted box, you become a regular monthly member.

Standard monthly membership pricing ranges from $12.99 to $17.99 per month, according to Book of the Month’s pricing page, depending on which plan you choose. The company notes that any price changes are communicated to members via email in advance. This is a subscription that renews automatically each month, so it’s important to understand the commitment and cancellation terms before you claim the deal.

Who This Book Subscription Deal Is For

The $5 first book offer appears to be aimed at new members trying Book of the Month for the first time. The official site promotes the deal as a way to “give BOTM a try.” If you’ve been curious about book subscription boxes but didn’t want to commit at full price right away, this introductory deal lowers the barrier. That said, the site doesn’t explicitly state whether former members who rejoin would qualify, so if you’ve had a membership before, you may want to confirm eligibility at checkout or contact support.

The service itself delivers hardcover books—each month, the editorial team curates a shortlist of 5 to 7 new reads that they consider standout fiction. You pick one (or skip) each month. If you enjoy discovering new books without browsing bookstores or hunting for recommendations, and you want a physical hardcover delivered, the membership model may suit you.

How to Claim Your First Book and Free Gift

Signing up is straightforward. Here’s how to claim the offer:

1. Go to the Book of the Month homepage and look for the current new-member offer (at the time of writing, it’s promoted as “$5 book with a free gift”).
2. Click to join and create your account. You’ll need to provide your email address and payment information.
3. Choose your first book from the current month’s selections and select your free gift from the available options shown at checkout.
4. Complete your order. Your $5 hardcover and gift will ship to you, and you’ll be enrolled in the monthly membership going forward.
5. After your first box, remember to log in each month by the 6th to pick a book or skip—otherwise you’ll be charged for a credit.

No promo code is currently confirmed as required for the $5 offer on the homepage. If you do use a promotional code at checkout, specific commitment terms will apply (more on that below).

How Monthly Book Picks and Skipping Work

Each month, Book of the Month releases a curated list of 5 to 7 new books selected by their editorial team. As a member, you have until the 6th of each month to log in and pick a book—or skip if nothing appeals to you. If you skip, you won’t be charged at the end of the month, and your existing credit (if you have one) rolls over.

If you don’t log in by the 6th and don’t skip, you’ll automatically be renewed and charged for a credit. That credit can be used to redeem a book the following month or put toward add-on books in your box. One credit equals one book, whether it’s a hardcover or an audiobook. The monthly deadline is firm, so setting a calendar reminder for the first few days of each month is a practical way to stay on top of it.

The service also includes a Reader’s Guarantee—if you try a selection and it isn’t for you, Book of the Month says they’ll replace it for free. Shipping is listed as free on the official site.

What to Know Before You Sign Up: Commitment and Renewal Terms

This is where the fine print matters. If you sign up with a standard subscription at full price (no promo code), there’s no minimum commitment—you can cancel anytime. However, if you enroll using a promotional code, you agree to a short commitment that lasts until your first renewal. Here’s what that means in plain terms:

Book of the Month says that if you join with a promo code, your commitment is fulfilled after your first renewal occurs. Until then, you cannot skip billing periods, you cannot pause your subscription, and early cancellation is not permitted. Once that first renewal has happened, you are free to cancel online at any time.

Is the $5 Book of the Month Deal Worth Claiming?

If you’re interested in trying a book subscription and don’t mind the commitment that comes with a promo code sign-up (no skipping, pausing, or cancelling early until after your first renewal), this deal offers a low-cost way to test the service. The key is going in with open eyes: this is a paid subscription that continues until you cancel, not a one-time purchase. Mark the 6th of each month on your calendar so you never accidentally get charged for a credit you didn’t intend to use. The free gift is a nice bonus, and the Reader’s Guarantee adds some reassurance if you end up with a book that doesn’t suit you. Just confirm the current offer details on the official site before you check out—limited-time promotions can change, and the gift options may differ from what was available previously.

This is an independent consumer guide and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Book of the Month. Details were checked in October 2026 and may have changed since publication. Always confirm the current offer, price, and terms directly on the official Book of the Month website before signing up.