Bookish Product Review: StoryTimeSleeve

I know lots of people have been using booksleeves for years, but I wasn't one of them. I had these two from BookBeau that I got in book boxes and they're fine. I used them in some Bookstagram photos. 

(Rose Red had a much different impression, which you can read about here.) But I'm starting to see sleeves from so many other vendors lately and I decided it was time to give them a try. 

I was inspired by an Instagram post featuring StoryTimeSleeve. I loved her fabrics and when I discovered she was in my area, I had to order. Support local business, right?

The patterns above are the ones I'm keeping for myself. Super cute, right? Watch for them in upcoming Bookstagram pics. The standard sleeves are slightly wider than my BookBeaus (half and inch or so) and fit trade paperbacks and small hardcovers. They also have a fabric lining which the Bookbeaus don't have. In mine it's solid black, but the two I got for gifts have bright colors inside which I love.

I ordered on two separate occasions and the shipping time was comparable to what I've gotten from other Etsy shops. It took between one and two weeks from the time I placed the order until my package arrived. And they come in the cutest envelopes! Not that that's an important selling point, but I enjoy it.

The shop restocks weekly with previews on Instagram a few days before the items go on sale. The Weasley's flying car print sold out before I could order one, so stalking Instagram is important this time of year. If anyone wants to send me a gift, I'm also coveting the blood spatter print that's back in the shop right now.

Our reviews of other Booksleeves:

StoryHero

Do you use booksleeves? Which brand is your fave?

Product Review: Book Sleeves

Have you ever seen a bookish product and known immediately that you had to have one? I met a book friend for lunch about two years ago and I couldn't help but be curious about what looked like a small padded pillowcase with a book in it sticking out of her purse. When I asked her about it, she started raving about how great her book sleeve was. As someone who always has a book in my purse or backpack, I was immediately sold on something specifically designed to keep them safe as I went about my day.

Today, I'm going to review the two different kinds of book sleeves I've tried and tell you which one I think works the best.

Book Beau vs StoryHero

 When I was first looking into getting a book sleeve, everyone recommended getting a Book Beau. Unfortunately, they were so popular that the Etsy store would immediately sell out as soon as the new products were stocked. I tried for a few months to get one and was never able to. Then the store did a Kickstarter campaign and I was able to order one of each size. They have book sleeves available in three sizes: the mini for ereaders and mass markets (6" x 8.5"), the indie for trade paperbacks and smaller hardcovers (7.5" x 10"), and the XL for standard hardcovers (8" x 10.5").

Honestly, I'm super disappointed with these. They work but they were shoddily made for the Kickstarter. The fabric (which isn't even the one what I ordered) is permanently wrinkled and my seams have split. They're also super thin. They'll protect your books but not as well as other products. Since I ordered them through the Kickstarter, they were supposed to be water resistant but I found out quickly that my Indie size isn't. My water bottle broke in my purse and soaked everything. Instead of repelling the water, the book sleeve absorbed it and ruined the book. It made me so mad!

The most irritating thing to me though was that they don't run true to size. I use my "XL" one to protect trade paperbacks and manga volumes because it's not big enough to use on the larger hardcovers. It's the same width as my Indie size but has the length of the XL. I tried to get a refund/replacements but the store owner never responded to my emails. I'll never buy their product again. I know lots of people who have had good luck with them. I just wasn't one of them.

After my terrible luck with Book Beau, I started researching other book sleeve stores on Etsy and I came across a store called StoryHero. I LOVE these book sleeves so much!

They are really well made! Like perfectly well made! They each have a padded body to protect your book from taking a beating in your bag. They have a water resistant inner lining that actually works. Remember when I said my water bottle broke in my purse? I had span of about a month this last summer where I broke or had a leaking water bottle at least every other day. My StoryHero got wet but my book was perfectly dry. One thing I love about these book sleeves compared to others you can find on Etsy is that they come with a flap closure so your book is protected on all four sides and each sleeve comes with a pocket!

I frequently have my book in my sleeve as well as my iPad mini, a bookmark, post-its, and a pen in the sleeve. Depending on the size of the book, I can also fit a manga volume or my iPad in the main sleeve too. I've had my floral StoryHero for about a year now and it's still in top condition. And I used it commuting every day for six months of that.

You can get your book sleeve in one of two sizes: Original Story or Epic Story. The Original Story is approximately 10" x 8" which works perfectly for paperbacks and ARCs and can easily fits books up to 500 pages. It will also fit smaller hardcovers and is the perfect size for an iPad mini! Even if I don't have a physical book with me, I've taken to using mine to protect my iPad in my bag.



The Epic Story size is approximately 11" x 9" and works perfectly for the larger hardbacks (most adult hardcovers). I easily put my 624 page copy of Obsidio and a manga volume into the main sleeve and still had room to put my iPad in the pocket.

Also, the shop owner, Becky, has been a dream to work with! She ships fast and makes each sleeve to order. She restocks the store every Friday and has some great fabric choices. I really can't recommend her book sleeves enough! I use my small book print StoryHero every day.

Do you have a book sleeve? Which brand do you have?

December Subscription Box Review: Owlcrate and Whimsify

I'm trying something new this month and cross-posting the entire review on Instagram. Look for two posts, one for each box, during the day today. Or, you know, just read it all now. Let me know which format you prefer for unboxings.

The December Owlcrate theme was Seize the Day.

The items in the box, which are all Owlcrate exclusives, are supposed to inspire you to take on the new year.

The box contained a Harry Potter-inspired tote bag designed by @bookwormboutique. I'm so excited about this color because I've only ever gotten black totes in boxes before. It's also a bit bigger than my other totes and the fabric is a nice weight. Plus you can never have too much Harry Potter.

Probably my favorite item in the box is the custom weekly planner designed in collaboration between OwlCrate and @bluestarpress. There are a few pics of it on my Instagram already and you'll see more in an upcoming blog post.

I'm also loving the Dreaming Tree candle from @novellyyours. It has a crisp apple scent and such great color.

And I love the way the double-sided bookmark ties in to the color story. It has quotes from The Serpent King (green side) and The Perks of Being a Wallflower (blue side) and was designed by @littleinklingsdesign.

I love the colors on the Percy Jackson magnet designed by @inkandwonder.designs. Mine has a little nick on the bottom which kind of sucks though.

The wooden ornament inspired by Everything Everything isn't getting packed up with the Christmas decorations so you'll probably see it again on Bookstagram soon. It was created by @juniperandivydesigns.

The book is Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills. It has an exclusive cover, which also matches the color theme, and if you take the jacket off the design is repeated on the book itself. It came with a letter, a signed bookplate and a patch. I don't always get into YA Contemps, but this one sounds really good. It's about a girl in her high school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The December Whimsify theme was Ruthless.
It includes items inspired by favorite villains and anti-heroes.

This month's candle is Lady of Casterly Rock inspired by Cersei from Game of Thrones and created by @flickeringfandoms.

I love the idea of The Darkling bubble bar by @geekandwonder. It's kind of a cross between a bath fizzy and a bubble bath. This one smells really good too. It's Woods and Amber, Vanilla, Apricot and Berries.

 

I love the ‘Monster Melter’ hot cocoa mix from @faithfullycharmed23. Such a cute way to package hot chocolate. I haven't tasted it though because I need it for the photo challenge.

You've already seen the exclusive quote bookmark by @littlepapermama inspired by Ronan from The Raven Cycle on Instagram. This is one of the series I hope to read this year because all my bookish friends love it.

I'm not totally sold on the Shatter Me-inspired Warner print by @dasstark . Does anyone else think he looks like Robert Patinson?

I do love the Delores Umbridge ‘I Must Not Tell Lies’ button by @ohsogeeky. It looks like a pink doily which is pretty perfect for her.

The book is Renegades by Marissa Meyer. I'm a little bit disappointed that there are no extras included with the book, like bookmarks or postcards or buttons. But this is a much bigger book (by a best-selling author) than has been in the previous boxes. And I am really excited to read it.

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November Subscription Box Reviews

Today I'm unboxing and reviewing both the Owlcrate and Whimsify boxes from November. 

The November Owlcrate Theme was:

 Castles, Courts and Kingdoms

I was pretty excited about this theme and it didn't disappoint.

The first thing I saw when I opened the box was this Harry Potter hat. There may have been an audible gasp. I love this item - it's nice and thick and goes with the black scarf I already have. Because I'm picky about that kind of thing.

Also in this pic is the Grisha-inspired brooch (though I keep wanting to call it a badge because of the shape) from Juniper and Ivy Designs. There were three different designs and mine is Heartrenders.

I love getting notebooks and notepads in these boxes because I know I will actually use them. And this one is so pretty. The notebook design by Stella Bookish Art features a quote from A Court of Mist and Fury.

One of the other items I know I'll use are lip balms. I love the one from Geekfire Labs that came in the Caraval box earlier this year. They also made this one inspired by Game of Thrones. It smells like blackberry and mint.

The elven bread soap from Fizzy Fairy Apothecary is so pretty. I love the bright green color! (The one you can order from her shop has a slightly different color and scent.)

The book this month is The Glass Spare by Lauren DeStefano. I haven't heard that much buzz about this book, but it has such a cool premise. The heroine has the power to turn people into gems. It came with a signed bookplate, gem tattoos and has an exclusive cover.

The Whimsify theme was

 Secrets and Spies

I love the concept but a lot of the box just didn't work for me.

This month's candle is from Novel Heartbeat. It's called Steal Your Soul and was inspired by This Savage Song. The box insert doesn't say what the fragrance is but I'm getting sandalwood or amber plus a floral note. Mine has a big dent in the lid - you can see it in the picture - which is a little bit frustrating but at least it still closes.

The superhero stickers from Studio Adorkable are super cute. They made the Stranger Things bookmark from last month's box too. It bugs me a little bit to see vendors repeated so soon, but the cuteness mostly makes up for it.

This print designed by Whimsify features a quote from Kiss of Deception by Mary E Pearson. I like the quote but I'm kind of meh about the design.

I feel the same way about the A Court of Thorns and Roses bookmark actually. Though I might be more excited if I were a fan of the series. It's designed by Dreamy and Co, which is another vendor that has been in the box before (twice, I think.)

Like I said, I'm a fan of lip balms. This one's strawberry. It comes from Literary Apothecary Shop and was inspired by Pretty Little Liars - I love the A on the label.

And here's the item that really disappointed me: the Flame in the Mist pouch features a design by Evie Bookish, who I love. But instead of being printed on the bag, it's a vinyl transfer. It looks like you can peel it right off because the edges are lifted off the bag. When I first unpacked it I thought it was a separate item, like a sticker sitting on top of the pouch. The fact that the design has a white background and the pouch is kind of a gray-cream just makes it more obvious. If this were done with printed canvas it would have been gorgeous.

I am pretty excited about this book though. It's Rosemarked by Livia Blackburne and the heroine is a healer. It came with a signed bookplate as well. This is another title I haven't heard much about. One of the things I've enjoyed about getting subscription boxes this year is discovering new books. Now I just have to find time to read them all!

I'm seriously thinking about cutting down to one box next year, but which one should I choose? One of these or should I try something new? What's your favorite book box?

Subscription Box Review: October Whimsify Box

This is my second unboxing for October. Scroll down to Monday's post for the October Owlcrate. I'm trying to decide if they should be all one post, though I would probably have fewer photos then, or if all the unboxings should be Instagram only. If anyone has a opinion, tell me in the comments.

The October Whimsify Theme was
Underdogs

Have I mentioned that Whimsify has a candle in every box? This month's is by Liber deStella. It's inspired by Neville Longbottom (yay!) and has a masculine scent with an overlay of roses. I wonder if that's what he smells like after hugging his grandma?

White tea bath salts from The Soap Librarian are inspired by Jane Eyre. I'm not a bath person but these smell really good and I love how they actually look like tea.

Art print featuring Wylan from Six of Crows designed by Tara Spruit. So, confession: I DNFed Six of Crows (but I do think Wylan looks pretty.) That means you'll probably be seeing a SoC themed giveaway in 2018 when I've collected enough merchandise.

Strange the Dreamer notebook inspired by Lazlo Strange. I love this design by Dorothy Reads. And I'll definitely use this one since I take notes when reading review books.

This box has had such great bookmarks so far! I love the Stranger Things bookmark by Studio Adorkable. So cute! I've only seen the first episode but season two is getting so much buzz that I may have to pick it up again soon. 

I almost missed the button in the bottom of my box. It's from Gogoghost and represents the Losers' Club from It. It's a little manhole cover!

This month's book is Nyxia by Scott Reintgren. This one's been on my radar for a while and I'm looking forward to reading it.

Whimsify is also doing a photo challenge this month, which is one of my favorite things about subscription boxes. You can see those pics over on my personal Instagram. (Link in the sidebar.)

Subscription Box Review: October Owlcrate

I'm thinking of moving these unboxing posts, and maybe some other bookish product reviews, to Instagram only. What do you guys think? Do you like seeing unboxings on the blog or should we stick to book reviews? For now, though, you can find them in both places. Check out our Instagram for more pics of the items in the box.

The October Owlcrate Theme was

Find Me in the Forest

Owlcrate did an excellent job assembling the box again this month. I love how everything has a delicate, botanical feel. Here's what was in the box:

THERE'S A MUG IN THE BOX! The Forbidden Forest mug was designed by Cara Kozic and inspired by Harry Potter. There's so much detail on this mug but it's hard see in a photo. It's got the flying car and Aragog, Hagrid's house and Buckbeak, a unicorn and a centaur. I kind of wish they had chosen just one of those pairs to make a strong graphic statement, but the intricate art fits with the rest of the theme.

Sherwood Forest tea from Riddle's Tea Shoppe inspired by Robin Hood. It says it tastes like blueberry pie, but I wouldn't know because I can't find my tea ball. *facepalm* I love that there's tea to go in the mug though.

Woodland Coaster by artist Kristin Askland. It says, "All good things are wild and free" and has a sleeping fox on it. This also goes perfectly with a mug and tea. This box makes my gift-basket-building heart so happy!

Cabeswater candle from In the Wick of Time inspired by The Raven Cycle books. (I really need to read these. They're some of Rose Red's faves.) The candle smells like moss and mint. I think it has an herbal feel which fits nicely with the theme.

Where the Wild Things Are magnetic bookmarks by Craftedvan. These are so cute! But I left them out of the close up photo. *facepalm again*

Princess Mononoke art print by artist Audra Auclair. I love how well the print coordinates with the rest of box. I'm going to have a start a gallery wall for art prints soon.

The book is Wild Beauty by Anne-Marie McLemore. It has an exclusive cover (the original is here and the Owlcrate version at the top) and comes with a signed bookplate, letter from the author, and a seed packet. I thought the seeds were an original addition. I haven't read the book yet, but I've heard the prose is really unique and lovely.

Last month Owlcrate also started including a booklet in the box. This one has a Q&A with the author and one with the candle maker, plus a puzzle and the prompts for the photo challenge. Having those early is my favorite part since I can't put the items in the box away until I finish all the photos. Fairyloot has been doing this for a while and I like the idea.

Subscription Box Review: September Whimsify Box

Today we're talking about the September Whimsify Box.

It's a little tricky to know when to post a review this month. The box shipped late because of Hurricane Irma and all the crazy weather in the U.S. this month could have delayed it reaching its destination. So if you don't want to be spoiled, don't scroll down.

This month's theme was:

Queens: Good and Evil

Here's what's in the box:

Queen Levana candle from Flick the Wick
I'm loving getting to shop all the different candle shops via this box. (Whimsify includes a candle in every box.) Maybe by the end of the year, I'll be able to tell you which one's my favorite. This is my first candle from Flick the Wick and I like the jasmine, sandalwood and amber scent. It's just that there was a glittery lavender candle in the June box, so I wish they'd chosen a different color.

Queen Elsa print by Little Inklings Design
This print features a quote from Let It Go, so the song gets stuck in my head every time I look at it. But it's pretty. I'm thinking of framing it for my daughter's room. She has some other princess art hanging above her desk.

Aelin sticker by Whimsify
 It looks red in this photo but it's really more orange like in the first one. I'm going to have quite the collection of Sarah J. Maas merchandise - maybe I should finally read her books?

Queen of Hearts cookie from Sweet Baketique
I haven't eaten the cookie yet because it's just so pretty. My daughter loves sugar cookies so I'm sure when she sees it it will get tasted.

Heartless inspired backpack by Evie Seo
I love the artist. I love the design. I don't love the fabric. It has a crosshatch texture that looks a little like a bandage to me. And if you look through the back of the bag, you can see the design on the front. I think the white is the right choice for this design, but this particular fabric might have worked better in black.



Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust
This book's been called a feminist Snow White retelling. It alternates between the princess's and the evil queen's POVs. I have a lot of retellings in my TBR pile right now and I'm thinking I should do a theme month. (Any tips on how not to get your princesses mixed up during a retelling binge?)

So here's the thing: I really wish this box had a coherent color story (like the August Whimsify or the September Owlcrate.) The book cover makes such a strong statement. Between the cover, the backpack and the cookie, you have the start of a black, white, and red theme that would have made for gorgeous unboxings. Plus I would have loved it if the candle were black. But that may be my personal preference more than a real criticism. I like the items individually and it's not like I'm planning to keep them all together forever.

What items do you like to get in subscription boxes?