These photos are from Novel Edition’s Instagram account, @NovelEditions. It’s full of beautiful photos of books, and you should follow it.

Dear fellow Canadian Book Nerds: How many of you look at book subscription boxes online, and wish that exchange rates and international shipping didn’t threaten your bank account’s existence? I felt this way for a long time until I discovered Novel Editions: an amazing Canadian-based book box subscription. I’ve been receiving boxes from them since January, and each month they keep getting better and better. The most recent boxes, from June and July, are solid examples of its improvement.

The June Box 

The June box, which was themed “Evolution,” was my favourite to date. I had no idea what to expect from such a quirky theme. Would it be science-fiction? Some weird fantasy? A family-saga that spanned generations? I definitely didn’t guess that it would be a story that jumped from the present-day to 40,000 years ago.

The Last Neanderthal by Claire Cameron was the featured book for the June box. This book, which was released in May, tells the story of two different women: Girl, one of the last Neanderthals on Earth, and Rosamund Gale, an archaeologist working to excavate a site before her due date (she’s pregnant). The story explores both women’s lives, and examines their similarities, despite the time that’s between them. Claire Cameron did an incredible amount of research before writing this story, and portrays Neanderthals in a whole new light. Rather than showing Girl as a hairy cave-dweller, she personifies her, and gives her a personality that we, as humans, can relate to.

The June box also included a package of hair ties from ManeMessage (which remind me of outer space because of their rad colours), a beautiful print from BirchBliss, and a bath bomb from Buck Naked Soap Company. I was incredibly excited to see an item from Buck Naked included in a Novel Editions box, because they are a local company from the community I live in, and use all-natural, sustainable ingredients. Three cheers for the June box from me!

The July Box

When I found out the theme for July’s box was “Whimsy” I was thrown for another loop. I found myself, once again, scrounging the internet to try and figure out what newly released novels would fit this one-word description. Alas, my search came up short, because I received my box before I could make a final guess.

July’s featured book is Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman. I had never heard of this book before, or the author. Turns out it’s Gail Honeyman’s debut novel, which just goes to show how great Novel Editions is at introducing its readers to new, emerging authors.

Eleanor Oliphant is billed as a socially awkward character, and a bit of a loner: she works a typical 9-5 during the week, and spends her weekends in her apartment eating frozen meals and talking to her mum on the phone. She follows a rigid routine, and seems to not have much time for recreational activities, or developing relationships with other people. That is, until she meets Raymond, the IT guy in her office. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine has everything you’d want from a carefree summer read.

The July box also included an adorable makeup bag from The Gifty Room, washi tape from Ginko Supplies, pink lemonade lip balm from Northern Dlights (which smells amazing), and two types of iced tea from New Moon Tea Co. — Beat the Heat and Beach Day (hibiscus/orange/lemon grass and green tea/ginger/dandelion/lemon, respectively). This box was perfectly curated to be enjoyed in the summer!

Novel Editions currently has a sale on past boxes (April, May, June and July). You can use the promo-code “SummerReading” from now until Friday, July 21 at 11:59pm EST to receive 10% off these past boxes.