Coloring and Classics Subscription Box Review (February & March 2021)

Hello Lovelies,

 

I’m back again with the Coloring and Classics Box.  Adult coloring books and activity books are great stress relievers as well as great items to use while carving out a little ‘me time’. Because I’m such a fan of adult coloring books and activity books, I was eager to give this box a go.

 

Before I tell you what I received in my Coloring and Classics Boxes for February and March, let me tell you more about the box. 

What is Coloring and Classics? It’s a monthly subscription box that contains one hardcover book in your chosen genre, an adult coloring book, and an adult activity book.

There are two options: a Coffee option, which will contain 12oz of premium hand roasted coffee in your choice of ground or whole bean and a No Coffee option.

There are seven genres to choose from: Acclaimed Fiction, Acclaimed Nonfiction, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Romance, or Sci-Fi.

Your first box will contain a pack of colored pencils. Each box is 2 to 3 times the value of what you pay.

Cost: No Coffee Option: $18.99 (shipping included) Coffee Option: $30.99 (shipping included)

How it is packaged: The box is a sturdy cardboard (there’s no outer packaging) and on the inside. The items were wrapped in lime green tissue paper.

Is a product card included? There was no product card included but most of the items did have prices listed on them. 

Website: Coloring and Classics or Amazon (not affiliate links)

February’s Coloring and Classics Box

 (I selected the No Coffee option and Romance Genre)

1-All The Rivers by Dorit Rabinyan (hardback, $27) this is a 2017 release and one that I’ve not heard of although this does look like it’s going to be a solid read.

2-Hidden Word Sudoku ($6.95)—I do like Sudoku and this one looks fun because it’s words rather than the standard numbers although this one is slightly disappointing because the book is 113 pages but there’s only 33 puzzles (the rest is solutions and a long introduction). Because this is pocketsize, I will probably toss this in my handbag to have something to work on when I waiting.

3-A Touch of Asia Coloring Book ($9.95) normally I wouldn’t gravitate towards these smaller rectangular coloring books because they’re a little awkward to store but this is such a gorgeous book. I love that the motifs are taken from artwork (each piece is referenced in the back of the coloring book) and the patterns look very calming. The paper is a heavy, crisp white but it is rather slick feeling so I’m not sure there’s much tooth to this paper although it is one-sided, which will be great for certain markers.

 

And we have yet another Chupa Chup lollipop that’s cherry flavored.

 

Total MSRP of February’s Coloring & Classics Box: $43.90

 

My Thoughts on the February Box: this was an okay box. Nothing really strikes my fancy and screams ‘this is amazing, I can’t live without it’ but it was still a nice little mix of things I wouldn’t have normally picked up myself.

 

March’s Coloring & Classics Box

1-If You Leave Me by Crystal Hana Kim (hardback, $26.99)—this is such a gorgeous cover but, sadly, the book just doesn’t appeal to me so I’ll be passing this along to a friend or adding it to the little free library in town.

2-Color Me Masks ($8.99)—this contains 16 masks to color and, while it’s a cute idea, this is something that would be more appealing to kids.

3-Fresh Freestyle Crossword by Todd McClary ($8.95)—I do like a good crossword puzzle and this one is filled with modern-themed puzzles so it looks like it will be a fun one to work over a cup of tea in the morning.

Of course, there’s yet another Chupa Chups lollipop, this time the flavor is strawberry.

 

Total MSRP of March’s Coloring & Classics Box: $44.93

 

My Thoughts on the March Box: this isn’t my favorite box. I’m only keeping one item (the crossword book) out of the three. This box was supposed to be a book, an activity book, and a coloring book for adults and I don’t really count a kid-type masks to color book as a coloring book for adults. While the book’s not something that would appeal to me, I’m not overly bothered by that because it’s something that’s a bit of a grab bag type.

Overall both the February and the March Boxes were a bit of a bummer and I’m hoping that something changes with the type of content. I know that this is a bit of mixed bag because, other than choosing the genre, there’s no way to specify what you’d like to see in the box, but I’d like for the content to be something that’s geared for adults. I’ve noticed that the quality of coloring books and the activity books have been slipping lately. I’m going to change the genre I selected and see if that changes the quality of items I receive. 

What I would like to see in future boxes:

-I would like to see a tea option for us non-coffee drinkers.

-It would be nice to have a subgenre offer

-I would like to see additional coloring implements included in each box (such as sharpeners, pencil cases/pouches, blenders, burnishers, and such)