GIFT IDEAS

SWEET READS ARE MADE OF THESE!

By SHAGORIKA EASWAR

I have never required any incentive to read, but I reminded of the old Eurythmics hit, Sweet dreams are made of this, when a sample box of Sweet Reads was shipped to me recently.

Sweet Reads Box is Canada’s beloved monthly book subscription service that just launched in the United States. It was created for book lovers by book lovers and is a great gift idea for students or anyone who loves to read.

No matter what stage you are at in your life, time for yourself seems to get lost in the everyday. Sweet Reads Box is your chance to relax and enjoy a great read, a decadent sweet, and carefully curated items that ties to your novel. You can select a monthly subscription, or choose from the line’s limited edition boxes or past boxes. The boxes also make wonderful gifts for the back-to-school and holiday seasons.

My sample, The Maid Book Box, features Nita Prose’s The Maid, a delightfully charming novel with an intricate and surprising mystery at the centre. The story is about a woman you won’t soon forget named Molly Gray, whose life was centered around her Gran (who has recently died) and she has to forge her own path. The story focuses on her job as a hotel maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. When Molly finds a wealthy guest dead in his bed, life takes a different course. Thus begins a search to prove her innocence and find the real killer. Captivating and curious, this novel has garnered critical acclaim and generated quite the buzz.

The fictional world of The Maid is brought to life with the products included in the box: Walton Wood Farm’s scrumptious Regency Hotel Shortbread, Regency Hotel Cleaner to clean up any mess, and Regency English Breakfast Tea, a Chocolate Puzzle by Chronicle Books, Lindt’s Milk Chocolate Truffles, a Door Hanger by Penguin Books, and a Regency Hotel Notepad and Pen. The best part? A note from Nita Prose herself, addressed to Dear Sweet Readers! This personalizes the box with the backstory of how she came up with the idea for her book and why shortbread and tea are included in the box. Box retails for $40.00.

There are several other boxes to pick from including Lessons in Chemistry Book Box. This box features Bonnie Garmus’s Lessons in Chemistry novel, and includes a Lemon Square baked good by Lemon Square Co., C25H28N6O7 Instant Coffee by Alpine Coffee, an Assorted Styles Dishtowel by Danica, Marinara Mix by Gourmet du Village, Lab Goal Socks by Endur, Soda Biscuits by Supper at Six, Italian Noodles by Supper at Six, a Lessons in Chemistry Pencil by Penguin Canada, a custom-created notepad specially designed to coordinate with the novel, and a special letter from author Bonnie Garmus exclusive to Sweet Readers. Box retails for $89.99.

Subscribers can choose a plan with one month, three month, six month and twelve month subscriptions available.

Boxes ship by the 15th of each month.

Not sure if you are ready to commit? You can try a single box with a one-time payment and no auto renew.

For details or to sign up, visit sweetreadsbox.com.