After visiting New York, my husband gifted me a subscription to The Strand’s The Book HookUp. We’d visited New York City for the first time at Christmas in 2018, stopping in at The Strand bookstore, of course, so it was the perfect gift. What I love about this subscription is that it’s quarterly, so not a huge commitment.

• Boxes ship out in March, June, September, and December—or Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
• The box comes with two books—typically one is a signed currently hyped book and the other is an advanced reader copy.
• It also includes other bookish and local goodies.

March’s box included a book with one of the creepiest covers I’ve seen in a long time, but both books are outside my usual genre. I’m trying to decide if they’ll get added to my shelves or not!

Let’s wander in!

My box is a young adult box, but you can choose from a variety of boxes, including fiction, classics, and sci-fi. However, the prices differ for some of the boxes. There’s also a spoiler link on the website where you can see what the main title will be in your next box. I can never resist a peek!

What I found inside:

The Books

(Link to Goodreads synopsis through book title.)

• This box included a signed hardback of She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran. This YA horror book about a house that haunts a family has been everywhere the past few months, so I was excited when it showed up in my box. I think it’s one of the creepiest covers I’ve seen in a long time. It seems like readers either love this one or just think it’s okay. Let me know if you’ve read it and what you thought!
• Also included was an advanced copy of Daughter by Kate McLaughlin. This YA thriller about a daughter who finds out her father is a serial killer was completely new to me, but it seems to have mostly favorable reviews. I’m not sure yet if it’s one I’ll keep or pass on.

She Is a Haunting Synopsis:

A house with a terrifying appetite haunts a broken family in this atmospheric horror, perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic.

When Jade Nguyen arrives in Vietnam for a visit with her estranged father, she has one goal: survive five weeks pretending to be a happy family in the French colonial house Ba is restoring. She’s always lied to fit in, so if she’s straight enough, Vietnamese enough, American enough, she can get out with the college money he promised.

But the house has other plans. Night after night, Jade wakes up paralyzed. The walls exude a thrumming sound, while bugs leave their legs and feelers in places they don’t belong. She finds curious traces of her ancestors in the gardens they once tended. And at night Jade can’t ignore the ghost of the beautiful bride who leaves her cryptic warnings: Don’t eat.

Neither Ba nor her sweet sister Lily believe that there is anything strange happening. With help from a delinquent girl, Jade will prove this house—the home her family has always wanted—will not rest until it destroys them. Maybe, this time, she can keep her family together. As she roots out the house’s rot, she must also face the truth of who she is and who she must become to save them all.

Published on February 28, 202

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Daughter Synopsis:

Scarlet’s life is pretty average. Overly protective mom. Great friends. Cute boy she’s interested in. And a father she’s never known – until she does.

When the FBI show up at Scarlet’s door, she is shocked to learn her father is infamous serial killer Jeffrey Robert Lake. And now, he’s dying and will only give the names and locations of his remaining victims to the one person, the daughter he hasn’t seen since she was a baby.

Scarlet’s mother has tried to protect her from Lake’s horrifying legacy, but there’s no way they can escape the media firestorm that erupts when they come out of hiding. Or the people who blame Scarlet for her father’s choices. When trying to do the right thing puts her life in danger, Scarlet is faced with a choice – go back into hiding or make the world see her as more than a monster’s daughter.

Kate McLaughlin’s Daughter is a novel about trying right deadly choices that were never yours to begin with.

Published on March 8, 2023

Equality Socks

Included in my box was a pair of “socks that fight for equality” by Conscious Step. The gray socks have black embroidered fists. A great way to show support for the causes you love! Conscious Step has various items for various causes. About the company: “supreme comfort, ethical and sustainable production, designs that make you smile — all empowering nonprofits to support the causes and communities you care about.”

Cookies

A perfect reading snack, also included was a package of Leos Cookies & Creme Cookies by Rip Van. Basically an Oreo with less sugar, which is exactly what they tasted like. 😃

Tea

And lastly, a sample packet of Ganesha Green Organic Tea by Nepal Tea, and a discount code for more tea. I’m a fan of drinking tea while reading, so I’m looking forward to trying this one!

Have your read any of these books? Tried any of the other items? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Wandering!