Last month’s Illumicrate was aimed at book lovers, with a contemporary focus. The items weren’t really inspired by any particular fandoms though we had things designed with Harry Potter and Chronicles of Narnia in mind and two books were included also.
Check out all of the items below!
The Books
This month’s box was a little different because two books were included – This Time Will Be Different by Misa Sugiura (an exclusive sprayed edge edition with a signed bookplate) and Birthday by Meredith Russo (also with sprayed edges and a signed bookplate, though I think the sprayed edges aren’t exclusive).
Both are contemporaries and although I’m not the biggest fan of contemporaries I’m definitely still intrigued. Each synopsis will be listed below the photos:
This Time Will Be Different
Katsuyamas never quit—but seventeen-year-old CJ doesn’t even know where to start. She’s never lived up to her mom’s type A ambition, and she’s perfectly happy just helping her aunt, Hannah, at their family’s flower shop.
She doesn’t buy into Hannah’s romantic ideas about flowers and their hidden meanings, but when it comes to arranging the perfect bouquet, CJ discovers a knack she never knew she had. A skill she might even be proud of.
Then her mom decides to sell the shop—to the family who swindled CJ’s grandparents when thousands of Japanese Americans were sent to internment camps during WWII. Soon a rift threatens to splinter CJ’s family, friends, and their entire Northern California community; and for the first time, CJ has found something she wants to fight for.
Birthday
Boyhood meets The Sun Is Also a Star in this unconventional love story by award-winning author Meredith Russo!
Two kids, Morgan and Eric, are bonded for life after being born on the same day at the same time. We meet them once a year on their shared birthday as they grow and change: as Eric figures out who he is and how he fits into the world, and as Morgan makes the difficult choice to live as her true self. Over the years, they will drift apart, come together, fight, make up, and break up—and ultimately, realize how inextricably they are a part of each other.
TBR Jar
Designed by @kdpletters, this is definitely my favourite item from this month’s box because I’ve been after a TBR jar for a while! Definitely going to be putting it to good use after YALC.
Tapestry
This tapestry is aptly called the ‘goddess of reading’ tapestry and designed by @carolgarciapr. My only issue with this is I have no space to put it but damn it’s beautiful!
Page Flags
These page flags are from @heyatlascreative and super cute! I’m not a big fan of using tabs personally but I can see how these designs would come in handy for someone who was.
Booksleeve
Designed by @sparrow_and_wolf, this booksleeve would definitely come in handy for a holiday because it’s waterproof, with a zip at the top too. I love the design and I love the idea of it… just not sure it’s for me?
Bookend
Part one of Illumicrate’s bookend set (with the second coming in July’s box) I really love how cute this is! Like I love cats and books so… not really any way I couldn’t like it! It’s designed by @fableandblack.
Collectible Item
Again from @monolimeart, this month’s magnetic coin features art of Hermione from Harry Potter. It’s another gorgeous piece!
Overall
Okay so if I was a contemporary YA lover then I probably would have loved this box a lot more. I knew that it would probably be a slight issue but I’m still happy I got this box as the bookend and TBR jar will come in handy! I definitely want to try reading the two books as well, especially Birthday as I’ve seen that around a lot.
Next Month – It’s a Kind of Magic 💛
From Illumicrate themselves:
‘Our theme for July is IT’S A KIND OF MAGIC! Our featured book this month is a standalone murder mystery from an established British author. When a detective is brought in to take the lead on what seems like a tragic accidental death, her investigation throws up another, more sinister alternative – could the cause of death actually be murder…by magic? In this small town, who is keeping a very big secret? Our Illumicrate edition of this book will be SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR and feature exclusive SPRAYED EDGES!
This box is perfect for fans of Uprooted, A Discovery of Witches, Wicked Saints, The Witchlands and more! As well as including the second bookend from our set started in June, the items in this box are perfect for fans of all kinds of magic. We’ve worked with some outstanding artists and designed some amazing items including something incredibly unique we have never seen featured in a book box before! The box will also feature an officially licensed piece of Witchlands merchandise from @stdennard’s brilliant world.’
Well, I’m all for witch-inspired items! And although the book isn’t one I’d normally pick up that synopsis sounds awesome, excited to see how it is!
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