Monday, August 16, 2021

Bout of Books 32


Bout of Books 32 starts today! I normally set a list of books that I want to tackle but I think I’m just going to wing it this time and see how that goes as I have several books on my TBR pile that’s calling my name but I’m not sure what my reading mood will be. Lately I’ve been a mood reader so going with the flow seems to be the best bet to tackle my goal of 4-6 books during BOB 32.

I’ll be posting a blog updates on the 18th and 20th with a final roundup post on Tuesday the 24th.

I’ll try to post daily updates on my Instagram @simplyangelarenee

Do you participate in readathons? Are you taking part of BoB 32?
 

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Down The Rabbit Hole Book Box July 2021

July’s Down The Rabbit Hole Book Box includes a thrilling tale about a reporter returning to her home town to cover the murders of two preteen girls and a thrilling array of gifts taken straight from pages.


Hello Lovelies,

 

I have a thrilling new book box to share with you and it’s the Down The Rabbit Hole Book Box. This book box is a bit unique because it’s a box that’s been curated around a dark read (more about dark reads in a bit). As someone who has always loved dark, gothic novels, I was intrigued by this book box.  

Here’s a little more about the box before we dig in.

 




What is Down the Rabbit Hole Book Box? Down the Rabbit Hole Book Box is a monthly book box that sends you one dark, mesmerizing, and gripping read (either paperback or hardback) along with 4-6 individually wrapped gifts that’s been curated around the book.

 Website

Price: $34.99 (plus shipping) at the moment this is only offered in the US

Use the coupon code SIMPLYANGELA10 for 10% off your first box or a year's subscription. This code is not an affiliate code.

How is it shipped and packaged? The box is shipped via USPS and the last two months it has arrived  in a plastic poly mailer. The box itself contains shredded paper packaging that protects the items inside. Each item inside the box (other than the book and pamphlet) is individually wrapped and numbered.



What is a dark read? Per their website, they define dark books as a book without a happy ending. The books we will choose for you will have scary and dark plots, not so nice protagonists that will leave you questioning the world as it is.  There will be no books with happy endings coming from us!

Genres included (but not limited to): Southern Gothic | Dark Fantasy | Psychological Thriller | Horror | Mystery | Dark Fiction | Crime

Because of the content of the dark reads, the website does recommend that this book box is for those 18 years of age and above.

Can I find out the title of the book? Unlike other companies, Down the Rabbit Hole Book Box makes it easy to discover the title. Each month hints will be revealed on their website and Instagram. You can also email the company directly to discover the title. 

Each month you receive a pamphlet that tells you the theme of the month, a little about the author, and how to open your gifts. Because this is an Immersive Experience Book Box, it’s best to open the gifts as you read (you’ll find a little sticky tab on the page telling you which gift to open).



What is an Immersive Experience Book Box? It’s a box that’s been curated to pull the reader further into the sensory experience of the story with sounds, scents, tastes, and objects of interest from within the story. While items like candles, drinkware, and jewelry could be included, it also includes story specific items such as letters, photos and such. 



Here’s what’s in July's Down the Rabbit Hole Book Box.

 




July’s Book: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (Trade Paperback, $17.00, 2006)—my book club selected this book as the group read for their thrill-a-thon that’s coming up so it timing was perfect! I’ve heard mixed things about this one, either people loved it or hated it so I’m eager to give it a read!

July’s ThemeMama Always Told Me I Was Not A Nice Little Girl


Here’s what’s in July's Down the Rabbit Hole Book Box.



Gift 1—Metal Bookmark

Gift 2—Straight Razor Pin

Gift 3—Stainless Steel Stork Scissors

Gift 4—Mason Jar Cup with 3 bags of Southern Breeze Cold Brew Tea

Gift 5—Flower Crown with card tell the myth of Persephone

Gift 6—Letter 

My thoughts on the July box: This was a fabulous box!

 While there wasn’t a matching bookmark with a bookish quote, we did receive a lovely metal bookmark as the first gift. These are the types of bookmarks I enjoy getting as gifts in subscription boxes. The straight razor pin will go on the bookish cross-stitch pin hanger I’m planning to make. I will never say no to a good pair of scissors, especially ones that I can use in my embroidery box. I like getting tea and tea items, and the Mason jar type cup was definitely a different type of cup, but I wish that they had included an unsweetened tea as I’m allergic to stevia and sucralose (and this contains sucralose). The flower crown is cute and I can see it being used as a prop in pics or maybe wearing it to a Renaissance Faire. I also liked that they included the myth of Persephone card. I’m always happy to receive a letter as I can use it in my book journal.



Overall, I’m excited about the book and the products were fantastic. A lot of these items are useful items so I won’t have them just sitting around and I do like when useful items are included. 


Number of Items received6 (5 bookish items, 1 story specific item)







 

Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, reporter Camille Preaker faces a troubling assignment: she must return to her tiny hometown to cover the unsolved murder of a preteen girl and the disappearance of another. For years, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed in her old bedroom in her family's Victorian mansion, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Dogged by her own demons, she must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to get the story—and survive this homecoming.


Tuesday, August 10, 2021

The Decoy by Florrie Palmer

Tucked in an idyllic village in the English countryside is a group of The Armstrong’s tightknit friends. When two members of the group die in suspicious accidents, another member of the group starts their own investigation. Are the deaths accidents or something more sinister?


In the rural English village of Heronsford, Eliza and David Armstrong live in the farmhouse Eliza grew up in. Her now elderly mother lives in a small converted barn close by.

Surrounded by friends, the Armstrong’s appear to have an idyllic life. But when two members of their social group die in suspicious circumstances, a cloud falls over the village.

Are the deaths linked? And were they really accidents?

Publisher: Audible | Narrator: Lucy Tregear, Louise Jameson | Length: 6 hrs 11 mins | Genre: Contemporary Thriller  | Source: Publisher | Rating: 3 Cups 


I’m not going to reveal a lot about the plot in this book as it will ruin the book for future readers.

This is my first experience reading Florrie Palmer and I found her writing style to be a mix of chic lit, mainstream fiction, and mystery. I’m going to be upfront and say skip the audiobook; I’ll explain why in a bit but, trust me, print or e-book is way to go with this one.

The book starts slow, exceedingly slow, as the characters, their backstories, and their current situations are slowly introduced. I don’t mind backstories, but I don’t need three chapters of them. It would have been nice if they had been mixed in with the story rather than just a bunch of rambling at the start. Several times I almost DNF’d this because the start was so slow and I had to force myself to pay attention to what was going on as none of the backstory reveals were major things.     

Another thing with this book is that it happens over a series of months and you’re quite a bit in before anything happens that’s an attention grabber. Once things finally kicked off, I did enjoy watching how things played out although the attempt at using red herrings fell a bit flat as the clues never really connected.

The book is slow and, sadly, the narrators didn’t help the feeling of slowness this book had. They weren’t bad but they were really mellow and easy to tune out. I had to really force myself to pay attention and I found myself rewinding often, as I wasn’t paying a bit of attention to what was going on. The narrators just weren’t my cup of tea. I ended up borrowing a copy from Kindle Unlimited and found it was able to hold my attention better than the audio version.

Overall, this isn’t going to be one of my favorites—even when I became invested in what was going on, it was easy for me to become distracted by other things going on around me.  I would put the book down for weeks without giving it a thought and only pick it back up when a review reminder popped up on my calendar.

This is more of a fiction novel that’s built around the mundane lives of the Armstrong family and their friends. If it had been billed as a fiction novel with a side of mystery, I would have been more prepared for the pacing of it. If you’re not interested in reading about everyday struggles (money problems, work issues, marital issues, family issues) then you’re not going to be able to get into this book.

I gave it a 3-Cup rating because I did like the way the mystery was solved.  



Have you read any good mysteries lately?

 

Friday, August 6, 2021

Friday Favorites: On My Telly: The Deceived

In this edition of Friday Favorites: On My Telly, I’ll be talking about The Deceived, a modern gothic thriller that’s kept me on the edge of my seat. If you want to know why I’m hooked on this show and why you should be watching it, keep on reading…



The Deceived
is a story about a young Cambridge student, Ophelia, who has an affair with her professor, Dr. Michael Callaghan. Discovering she’s pregnant, she goes to tell Michael the news only to discover he’s gone back to his hometown in Ireland. Deciding to track him down, she arrives only to discover Michael’s wife, Roisin, has died in a mysterious house fire. Convinced to stay at Knockdara House, his creepy ancestral home, Ophelia soon finds herself surrounded by Roisin’s things and wearing her clothes. As though that’s not creepy enough, strange noises are coming from Roisin’s office, her ghost keeps popping up in the garden, a psychic issued dire warnings, and there’s something off about Michael. 



 

 Dark, thrilling, and addictive The Deceived is a psychological thriller that’s been keeping me on the edge of my seat and constantly has me asking questions.

There’s a lot going in this four-part mini-series. Michael’s played around before. His wife has been aware of his misdeeds so when she dies in this mysterious fire at Knockdara house, the villagers are questioning how the fire started. When Ophelia arrives, it’s obvious to everyone she’s Michael’s new fling even though she pretends to be Roisin’s literary agent. As the days pass, and odd events start happening, you start questioning whether it’s paranormal, gaslighting, or if Roisin is still alive and, if she’s alive, whom did they bury.

This mini-series definitely has Jane Eyre, Rebecca, and The Wife Upstairs vibes, which is right up my alley. It also has a dark gothic atmosphere complete with a creepy ancestral house in the midst of a wild Irish wood.  

If you enjoyed the three books mentioned above, like dark academia, thrillers, or enjoy being an armchair sleuth, I think you’ll really enjoy this one. I have one episode left and I’m eager to see how things are wrapped up and if my predictions are correct. 



What have you been watching?

 

Thursday, August 5, 2021

Pause by Kylie Scott

What happens when you wake up from a coma to discover your husband has been unfaithful and the stranger that saved you has been by your side throughout the ordeal? Sounds intriguing, right? If you want to learn more about Pause, keep reading…



When Anna wakes up from a coma after a car crash, she discovers life has gone on without her. Her husband has been unfaithful—with her best friend—and she’s been long since replaced at work. While her old life is a distant memory, her new life feels like an empty shell. Then she meets the stranger who saved her life during the crash, and he changes everything.

 

Leif Larsen—tattooist, joker, and player—has his own scars thanks to the crash that put Anna in a coma. Helping her move on from her failed marriage, and create a new life, sounds like a perfect distraction. So when he needs a new roommate, he invites Anna to begin her new life with him.

 

Although their lives may have been put on pause, together they just might find a way to heal.

 Series: Larsen Bros #2 | Publisher: Audible  | Narrator: Andi Arndt | Length: 6 hours 17 minutes  | Genre: Contemporary Romance  | Source: Publisher  | Rating: 4 Cups

When Anna wakes up from a coma, she discovers that her husband has been cheating on her with her best friend (who also happens to be her boss). Needless to say, her world’s been turned upside down. Wanting to create a new life for herself, she’s surprised and pleased when an offer comes from Leif, another victim of the wreck and the man who saved her. Leif’s been in need of a distraction and helping Anna seems like the perfect fit plus it doesn’t hurt that they’re both attracted to each other. While the two could be perfect together, they have a lot of healing to do.

Kylie Scott’s writing is raw and realistic. The plot and characters seems as though they’ve been plucked from the real world and the reader’s been invited in to watch them heal and figure out who they are.

Anna and Leif were so good for each other. They’re both going through a lot of things—and some of them occurred before the wreck—so there’s a lot of healing, a lot figuring out who they are, learning to trust, and soul searching going on. We get to see a lot of their emotions on the page and I love that, especially with this type of book.

The romance in this one is a slow burn romance, which is exactly what this book needed. They needed to heal and to trust each other. While Leif was there for Anna during her coma, they don’t really know each other and they allowed themselves that time before jumping into a relationship.

This book is very much an emotion/character driven book so there are not a lot of outside things going in and I didn’t mind that. It gave me the chance to watch the characters grow.

Pause is the second book in the Larsen Bros series and while you technically don’t need to read the first book in the series, Repeat, I would recommend reading them in order as there seems to be a lot that happens in the first book that attributes to the way Leif acts. I didn’t read the first book (honestly, I completely forgot that I had the audiobook) and I wasn’t lost as the book does explain what happened but I would have liked to have known more of the backstory.

Andi Arndt narrates this book brilliantly but I would have liked a male narrator for Leif. Lately I have been enjoying dual narrators as I find it enhances the listening experience.

Overall, another great book from Kylie Scott. It was the perfect starting over romance. 


Larsen Bros Series

Repeat #1

Pause #2


 

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Down the Rabbit Hole Book Box (May & June 2021)

It’s time to get thrilled and chilled! Down the Rabbit Hole Boxes have arrived and these boxes were full of some pretty spookily amazing gifts and treats. If you want to see what was in the May and June Down the Rabbit Hole Boxes then keep reading!


Hello Lovelies,

 

I have a thrilling new book box to share with you and it’s the Down The Rabbit Hole Book Box. This book box is a bit unique because it’s a box that’s been curated around a dark read (more about dark reads in a bit). As someone who has always loved dark, gothic novels, I was intrigued by this book box.  

Here’s a little more about the box before we dig in.

 




What is Down the Rabbit Hole Book Box? Down the Rabbit Hole Book Box is a monthly book box that sends you one dark, mesmerizing, and gripping read (either paperback or hardback) along with 4-6 individually wrapped gifts that’s been curated around the book.

 Website

Price: $34.99 (plus shipping) at the moment this is only offered in the US

Use the coupon code SIMPLYANGELA10 for 10% off your first box or a year's subscription. This code is not an affiliate code.

How is it shipped and packaged? The box is shipped via USPS and the last two months it has arrived  in a plastic poly mailer. The box itself contains shredded paper packaging that protects the items inside. Each item inside the box (other than the book and pamphlet) is individually wrapped and numbered.



What is a dark read? Per their website, they define dark books as a book without a happy ending. The books we will choose for you will have scary and dark plots, not so nice protagonists that will leave you questioning the world as it is.  There will be no books with happy endings coming from us!

Genres included (but not limited to): Southern Gothic | Dark Fantasy | Psychological Thriller | Horror | Mystery | Dark Fiction | Crime

Because of the content of the dark reads, the website does recommend that this book box is for those 18 years of age and above.

Can I find out the title of the book? Unlike other companies, Down the Rabbit Hole Book Box makes it easy to discover the title. Each month hints will be revealed on their website and Instagram. You can also email the company directly to discover the title. 

Each month you receive a pamphlet that tells you the theme of the month, a little about the author, and how to open your gifts. Because this is an Immersive Experience Book Box, it’s best to open the gifts as you read (you’ll find a little sticky tab on the page telling you which gift to open).



What is an Immersive Experience Book Box? It’s a box that’s been curated to pull the reader further into the sensory experience of the story with sounds, scents, tastes, and objects of interest from within the story. While items like candles, drinkware, and jewelry could be included, it also includes story specific items such as letters, photos and such. 


Hey Lovelies, there were shipping issues with both of my Down the Rabbit Hole boxes, which is why the May & June boxes are just now posting. The May box was stuck in Kentucky with DHL for nearly a month before it finally arrived. The company that handles the assembly and shipping of the boxes forgot to ship out my June box. I contacted DTRH, who are amazing to deal with, and they got in touch with company the ships the boxes and my box was sent out the next business day on July 12.

 

If you are a subscriber, just note that the boxes generally ship out around the 21st of each month and take about 7-10 business days to arrive. If you don’t receive a shipping notice or if your box hasn’t arrived reach out to DTRH and they will gladly look into it for you. 


Here’s what’s in May’s Down the Rabbit Hole Book Box.

 



May’s Book: Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough (trade paperback, $16.99, 2017)—I’ve been hearing so much about this book (and the NETFLIX series) and I was very happy to receive it in May’s box.

May’s ThemeNo theme this month 




Gift 1—Daisy Friendship Bracelet Set

Gift 2—Death’s Door Coffee

Gift 3—Bruno Visconti Notebook

Gift 4—Watch

Gift 5—Satin Sleep Mask, Hair band

 

There’s also a themed bookmark included 

My thoughts on the May box: May’s box was definitely a bit different content-wise but it was still a fun box to open and I’m so excited to dig into the book that was chosen.

 

The notebook and satin sleep set (eye mask, hair band) are items that I will use and I love that the sleep set came in a nice little drawstring bag, which will sit nicely in my nightstand. The bracelet set is cute but I will probably pass it on to a friend’s daughter. The watch is a nice quality but I’m not a watch wearer (I have too much electricity in my body and I kill watch batteries) so I’ll pass this along to someone. I’m not a coffee drinker so, again, I’ll pass this along.

Number of Items received: 5 Gifts (all bookish gifts) plus the book

OverallThis box was an odd mix of items but it was interesting. I’m excited to use the sleep set and the notebook is the perfect size to keep on my nightstand.



Here’s what’s in June’s Down the Rabbit Hole Book Box.

 




June’s Book: Confessions by Kanae Minato (Paperback, $16.99)—originally published in 2008 and translated in 2014, this is both a new-to-me author and book and it looks rather intriguing. At 234 pages, I imagine this will be a quick read.

June’s ThemeI have no idea. They either didn’t have a pamphlet this month or forgot to add mine in, which I’m guessing is the case seeing as I had some issues with my box.




1-Black Change Purse

2-Milk Carton Water Bottle

3-Teatulia Oolong Tea (3 packs) & Vienna Fingers (3 packs)

4-Mini Alarm Clock

We also received a matching bookmark, this time it has a lovely tassel.  

My thoughts on the June box: This was a fun little box to open and a bit different from the previous boxes.

The change purse, with a matching rose accent and keyring, is the perfect thing to toss a credit card and a bit of cash in, which I’ve been doing a lot lately for quick store runs. The milk carton water bottle is adorable, I’m not sure if I’ll use it a lot but it will make an adorable piece of décor in my kitchen. The tea and cookies were a nice addition. While I don’t like receiving a lot of snack items (cookies, etc.) I do like them every so often and I never say no to tea. This was the smallest alarm clock but it’s a nice quality and had a loud alarm.

While this was a smaller quantity then some of the more recent boxes, I really enjoyed unboxing this one. There were a lot unique items that I wouldn’t pick up for myself and I do think the change purse will come in useful. I’ve been using a small cardholder (that I worry about losing) when I do quick store trips so this is a bit bigger and I feel like I’ll be more comfortable with this size. 

Number of Items received: 4 Gifts (all bookish gifts) plus the book

Overallthese were both really unique boxes with fun items. While some of the items weren’t for me, I did enjoy the majority of the items and the way they correlated with the books.  I will say that I do missing receiving the story-related items as I like to use them in my book/reading journal. 

One of my favorite things about the Down the Rabbit Hole box is the presentation. Everything is uniquely packaged and carefully arranged. The items are nice quality and I often find most of them to be useful. The boxes themselves are gorgeous and make for great storage boxes or gift boxes. 










Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

Louise is a single mom, a secretary, stuck in a modern-day rut. On a rare night out, she meets a man in a bar and sparks fly. Though he leaves after they kiss, she’s thrilled she finally connected with someone.

 

When Louise arrives at work on Monday, she meets her new boss, David. The man from the bar. The very married man from the bar…who says the kiss was a terrible mistake but who still can’t keep his eyes off Louise.

 

And then Louise bumps into Adele, who’s new to town and in need of a friend, but she also just happens to be married to David. David and Adele look like the picture-perfect husband and wife, but then why is David so controlling, and why is Adele so scared of him?

 

As Louise is drawn into David and Adele’s orbit, she uncovers more puzzling questions than answers. The only thing that is crystal clear is that something in this marriage is very, very wrong, but Louise can’t guess how wrong―and how far a person might go to protect their marriage’s secrets.

 


Confessions by Kanae Minato

After calling off her engagement in wake of a tragic revelation, Yuko Moriguchi had nothing to live for except her only child, four-year-old Manami. Now, following an accident on the grounds of the middle school where she teaches, Yuko has given up and tendered her resignation.

 

But first she has one last lecture to deliver. She tells a story that upends everything her students ever thought they knew about two of their peers, and sets in motion a maniacal plot for revenge.

 

Narrated in alternating voices, with twists you'll never see coming, Confessions explores the limits of punishment, despair, and tragic love, culminating in a harrowing confrontation between teacher and student that will place the occupants of an entire school in danger. You'll never look at a classroom the same way again.

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

A Duke in Time by Jenna MacGregor

What happens when a recently widowed woman discovers she wasn’t her husband’s only wife? She falls for his brother, of course. There’s a lot going in Janna MacGregor’s latest historical romance. Keeping reading to discover more about A Duke in Time…



Katherine Vareck is in for the shock of her life when she learns upon her husband Meri's accidental death that he had married two other women. Her entire business, along with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be a royal supplier, is everything she's been working for and now could be destroyed if word leaks about the three wives.

Meri's far more upstanding brother, Christian, Duke of Randford has no earthly clue how to be of assistance. He spent the better part of his adult years avoiding Meri and the rest of his good-for-nothing family, so to be dragged back into the fold is…problematic. Even more so is the intrepid and beautiful Katherine, whom he cannot be falling for because she's Meri's widow. Or can he?

With a textile business to run and a strong friendship forming with Meri's two other wives, Katherine doesn't have time for much else. But there's something about the warm, but compellingly taciturn Christian that draws her to him. When an opportunity to partner in a business venture brings them even closer, they'll have to face their pasts if they want to share each other's hearts and futures.

Series: The Widow Rules #1 | Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks | Genre: Historical Romance | Source:  Publisher | Rating: 2.5 Cups 

I’ve always found Jenna MacGregor’s romances to be unique but this one definitely takes the cake.

When Katherine shows up for the reading of her late husband’s will, she’s surprised to discover her husband has two other wives, one of whom that’s pregnant. Shocked and betrayed, Katherine needs to figure out a way to keep her husband’s bigamy a secret to keep her textile business and save her chance at becoming a royal supplier. Christian has been cleaning up his younger brother’s messes for as long as he can remember and while he was determined to wash his hands of his brother’s mistakes, he can’t allow three women to be ruined. There’s also something about Katherine that’s calling to him and Katherine’s feeling the same tug. The only thing left to do is sort out past secrets.

I can’t remember reading a historical romance where the husband had three wives, so I was intrigued to see how this was going to play out and how things would be handled.

Katherine and Christian were good together. He’s dealing with some things after returning from war, she has some secrets from her past that could destroy her future. They are also sorting out the mess Meri (his brother, her husband) left behind, and it was a right proper mess. Then there’s their joint business venture they went in to, so they have a lot going on and it allows them to slowly grow closer. I also liked their charitable work and how it was portrayed in the book.

It’s obvious from their first meeting they have an attraction and chemistry but, at times, Christian ran hot and cold and Katherine just ran. This was not an instalove story or a slow burn but somewhere in the middle. What I found a little odd was the sex aspect. Katherine is portrayed as having very little knowledge in this area yet when the sexy fun times rolled around she was very forward and very knowledgeable, which came across as out of place given the way she acted through most of the book.

This book was different—very different—from what I was expecting. I found the interaction between the three wives to be a little off. I guess I was expecting some cattiness amongst the women but they got on swimmingly and were instantly best friends. Then there’s the random bequests Meri left his brother that shows up at odd times throwing the timing of the book off and offering no context.

The thing that annoyed me the most with this one was Katherine’s secret. The entire book is built around the secret that she deems life shattering, yet when the big reveal came about it was so minor it wouldn’t even have been a blip on the radar. I was expecting something major and was letdown.

Overall, this wasn’t a bad book but it wasn’t one that wowed me. I liked the relationship between Christian and Katherine. I like the work Christian did for veterans as well as Katherine’s work ethic. The rest of the book just didn’t work for me. There were a lot of odd interruptions that caused pacing issues.

This is the first in the series, and it does set up the next book (I think each wife is getting their own book), but, sadly, I don’t really have the desire to continue this series. 


Have you read this book? If so let me know your thoughts. 


 

Monday, August 2, 2021

Boxy Charm FantaSEA (July’s Boxy Charm Base Box Review)

My Boxy Charm Basic Box for July arrived and…it seems to be throwing it back to the OG Boxy, which was one of my favorites. So, did Boxy Charm get it right? Let’s see!

There is a lot going on with this month’s Boxy Basic. If you’re new to Boxy, I’ve left all the information in the box down below.  Just to give you a quick bit of info, Boxy Base is a $24 (plus tax, shipping is free in the continental US) monthly beauty box that features 5 full size beauty items and has a guaranteed value of at least $175.

It’s been about a year since I’ve reviewed Boxy Charm on the blog—that’s mostly due to the boxes arriving late, normally they arrive in the middle of the next month. Occasionally, Boxy Charm is late with shipping due to Covid restrictions but the majority of the time, my boxes (it doesn’t matter where they’re from) get stuck in Kentucky with DHL. If a box is shipping through DHL, I know that it will be two or more weeks late, apparently it vacations in Kentucky before finding its way to Ohio.   

 

Getting back to the Boxy Charm Base Box, this is what I received in my July FantaSEA box.



Alamar Cosmetics Brighten & Bronze Complexion Trio (Shade: Fair/Light, MSRP: $25)—I’m always happy to get a palette that has complexion products in it, especially one that can be used as setting powdered and bronzers. It just makes grabbing products easier when you’re in a hurry. This one contains a brightener, a bronzer, and a deeper contour shade.

I tried the brightener under my eyes and I just didn’t like the way it looked with the bits of mica in it; I much prefer the Ofra banana powder if I want something to brighten my under eye area. If I go in with a fluffy brush, I can use this as a setting powder to brighten up my foundation that’s just a shade too dark. The middle shade is great to set my foundation with when my foundation is too light and it also gives me a lovely sun kissed look. It does work as a light bronzer but I prefer mine to be a tad bit darker. The contour shade is the perfect bronzer for me.

I have exceedingly dry skin and I’m happy to report this trio didn’t dry out my skin or highlight the dry patches. They blend perfectly and sit nicely on my skin. I wore this for 8 plus hours while I was running errands on a 90degree day and I’m happy to report it stayed lovely all day.

The Lyfestyle Co. Detox Hair Serum (MSRP: $79)—this has a very earthy scent, which I don’t mind as it does seem to dissipate quickly, and it seems to be a dry oil when I applied a drop to my hand. I haven’t tried this yet as I’ve been testing out a new shampoo and conditioner but I will try to give an update either in next month’s beauty wrap up or on Instagram.

MudMasky Vitamin-Infused Eye Serum (MSRP: $63)—this, my friends, is a massive eye serum. It’s an entire fluid ounce (normally they’re half an ounce or under) and seems to be packed with nourishing ingredients. I have a few more eye serums to get through before I open this one. Again, when I use this I will try to remember to make an update either on the blog or on Instagram.

Grande Cosmetics Grandeglow Plumping Liquid Highlighter (Shade: French Pearl MSRP: $25)—I’m not a fan of liquid highlighters but I did try this one out. I don’t like this as an over the foundation highlighter; no matter how I apply or blend it, it removes my foundation. If I apply it as a highlighter under my foundation, it gives a subtle, lit from within glow. My favorite way to use this is by mixing it in with my moisturizer if I want a glowy skin look without makeup or adding it to my primer for a glowy makeup look. Both ways wear beautifully all day.

Billion Dollar Brows Brows on Point Micro Pencil (Shade: Taupe, MSRP: $16)—If I’m using a brow pencil, it’s usually a BDB pencil so I’ve very happy to have received this one in my box. I was a bit worried when this said taupe, as the shade’s usually a bit too cool toned but this one’s the perfect color and not at all ashy looking.

 

MSRP Value of July’s Boxy Basic: $208

Rating: 4.5

(1 point for the complexion trio, hair serum, eye serum, and brow pencil. Half point to the liquid highlighter.)

Did the box fit the theme: FantaSEA? I don’t really see where this box had much of a theme. If someone would have showed me the items and asked if I could guess the theme I would have had to say random shop down the beauty aisle.



My overall thoughts: I’m not going to lie, I was a little shocked by the size of the box. It was super small—I think it seems smaller than the original size when they first started but it’s been so long it could actually be the original size—and it’s black on the inside rather than the red they switched to, which makes me think it could be the original box. Normally the Basic boxes are twice the size of this one so I wasn’t really sure what was going to be inside. There were a lot of smaller items in this box (liquid highlighter, brow pencil, hair serum), normally the items have been a bit bulkier.

The products themselves are items that I was happy to receive and I know that I’ll use them. It’s been a minute since the Basic Box has impressed me, not that I was getting bad products but rather products I wouldn’t use.

The complexion trio, eye serum, and brow pencil are items that I know I’ll use. I’m a bit hesitant with the hair serum as this is a scalp treatment and I normally don’t like the feel of products applied directly to my scalp but I gave this a point as it’s something different. Normally, most of the haircare in Boxy Charm is from the same two brands so it was nice seeing something new.

My only half point in the box is the liquid highlighter—I will never be a fan of liquid or cream highlighters—but I did like this when I used it give me a glowy look when mixed with my moisturizers and primers. The only problem with that is I’ll have to make myself remember to reach for it. I’m going to put this in my drawer with my skin illuminators and hope I remember to use it. 

Overall, this was the highest rated Boxy Basic I’ve received for quite a while. I like that we’re seeing brands that’s not normally in Boxy (like MudMasky) but they feature in their sales. I also like that I’ll use everything in this box (just have to post a reminder about the liquid highlighter). It was on the smaller side but it was full of amazing products (and a nice mixture of hair, skin, and beauty) and I feel as though the monetary value as well as the use value was there. 

BoxyCharm Base Box is a $24 (plus tax) monthly beauty box containing 5 full-size beauty items. The boxes often include makeup, hair care, skincare, hair tool, beauty tools, and more often from prestige brands. With the Base Box Subscription, you’ll be able to select 1 product of your choice each month.  The Base Box has a guaranteed value of $175 or above.  

There is an in-depth beauty quiz to fill out, including your shade of foundation and concealer, to help ensure your box suits your taste and your skin type. After your box arrives, you’ll be able to review your products, which helps Boxy Charm curate future boxes to your preference. You’ll also earn charms for each item you review which can be used to purchase products from the Charm Room.

As a Boxy Charm subscriber, you’ll have access to their Pop-up and Add-on sales, which allows you to buy products for up to 70% off the MSRP. It’s the perfect way to buy bougie makeup products and not feel guilty.

Boxy Charm does offer a Premium Box as well as a quarterly upgrade to the Base Box. To subscribe to either, you have to have an active Base Box subscription and will be put on a waitlist, which is often only a month if that.

Find out more about Boxy Charm HERE

The above links are affiliate links and if you subscribe via the links I receive a small Boxy Charm credit I can use to redeem items.