The Secret Book Box Review

The Secret Book Box is one of South Africa's book subscription services that have popped up over the last couple of years. Book Boxes have always felt like such an overseas kind of thing and by this I mean it wasn't ever something that I could consider getting due to expensive exchange rates and shipping costs. 

The Secret Book Box is the second book subscriptions service I have gotten. I had previous tried The B Case and you can see my unboxing here.

But today is all about The Secret Book Box. I have a code you can use if you would like to grab yourself a box (unfortunately it only ships in SA!). Use the code MELLENY10 at checkout!

Initial Impressions:

The book box arrived within three days of the owner informing me that the box had shipped. When it arrived, it was in a waterproof box and completely undamaged. Which in my opinion is a big plus! The owner was really nice and was clear with her communications. She is very open with the company when it comes to things such as when the box ships, what she currently has for the box and what she is still waiting for. The owner is very hands on and is available for customer to discuss their concerns.

Content Thoughts:

Everything that can be found in the box is pictured above. I will being going through the content piece by piece to give more direct thoughts on the box. The box that I received was the Mama Box: General. This just means that I have contemporary or non-fantasy book.

The Book:

I have heard great things about Lisa Genova and whilst this book was on my immediate radar, I was definitely thinking about getting this at one point. The format of the book is Trade Paperback. This essentially means that it is the larger format of the book. I am very happy that we got this book which is a new release. Hopefully I will be able to get to this book soon. Here is some extra information about the book:

Title: Every Note Played

Author: Lisa Genova

Series: Not Applicable

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: 01 April 2018 

Average Rating: 4.18 Stars

Pages: 320

Goodreads Synopsis:

An accomplished concert pianist, Richard received standing ovations from audiences all over the world in awe of his rare combination of emotional resonance and flawless technique. Every finger of his hands was a finely calibrated instrument, dancing across the keys and striking each note with exacting precision. That was eight months ago.

Richard now has ALS, and his entire right arm is paralyzed. His fingers are impotent, still, devoid of possibility. The loss of his hand feels like a death, a loss of true love, a divorce—his divorce.

He knows his left arm will go next.

Three years ago, Karina removed their framed wedding picture from the living room wall and hung a mirror there instead. But she still hasn’t moved on. Karina is paralyzed by excuses and fear, stuck in an unfulfilling life as a piano teacher, afraid to pursue the path she abandoned as a young woman, blaming Richard and their failed marriage for all of it.

When Richard becomes increasingly paralyzed and is no longer able to live on his own, Karina becomes his reluctant caretaker. As Richard’s muscles, voice, and breath fade, both he and Karina try to reconcile their past before it’s too late.

The Heat Therapy Pillow:

I absolutely love this thing. I literally put it into the microwave for a minute and its nice and warm. I don't really get the scent of Lavender from it but it doesn't take away from the experience. With it being Winter in South Africa, this pillow is absolutely perfect for my toes when I am working at my desk or for when I am in bed and I just need a little something to jump start the heating process.

The Cat Pen:

I don't really know what I want to do with this product just yet. At the moment it is just sitting on my table, looking cute in pink but I think it will come in handy when I can't find a single pen.

The Lip Balm:

I am always in search for amazing lip balms because I always seem to loose mine. It was a cold day when I got this box so it was safe to say that the balm was solid. It is a coconut oil lip balm and it just smells so nice. I haven't used it yet but I definitely cannot wait to use it!

The Bookmark:

The bookmark and spoiler card are made from really good card stock. You can feel the quality when you touch them. You can also tell that a lot of effort went into designing the card, which is outsourced. I cannot wait to use this bookmark soon!

Overall Thoughts:

Overall, it wasn't a bad box. Each item was made in South Africa (excluding the book) but the box included content from #ProudlySouthAfrican sources. I loved that aspect because it introduced me to  new vendors that I cannot wait to try out. I do wish that there was more in the box but from what I have seen with current boxes coming out, that wish is coming true. The boxes are slowing filling up and becoming better with each box. I am really happy with this box! I cannot wait to see what else comes from this box!

Don't forget to use my code MELLENY10 at checkout for a discount!

Would I recommend: YES!!

Yours in Reading