Illumicrate - June 2019

Theme: For Book Lovers

Items: 

• TBR Jar by KDP Letters
• Goddess of Reading Tapestry by Carol G
• Page Flags by Hey Atlas
• Tea and Books Booksleeve by Sparrow and Wolf
• Reality Bookend by Fable & Black
• This Time Will Be Different by Misa Sugiura
• Birthday by Meredith Russo
• Collectible Coin

Review: 
This was my first box from Illumicrate and I only got it because the theme was for book lovers and it said that all items were usable. I always look at what books are going to be included in the box before I commit to a box and see whether I'm going to like them or not. In this case, I knew I wasn't going to like the books but I was hopeful for the items as the thing that interested me was a bookend and a booksleeve. 

This box was really packed with several items and one thing that I liked about this box was that there was no shredded paper in the way it was quite nice to actually just get to the items and book straight away. Plus it's helping the environment because there's less paper being wasted.

The first item that I came across was a tapestry, I really was not expecting it to be so big when I opened it up. It was a really nice material and the design on it was actually quite cool, it was a girl reading a book sort of misting away. This would make a really cool back drop for videos or for photos. I personally wouldn't use this because I don't really have anywhere to put it my house it's still a bomb site in the study/library as we haven't sorted it out yet.

The next item was a book jar, you are supposed to put all your TBRs in the jar and pull one out when you want to read a new book. I've been thinking of this idea for a while new and I was just thinking of using a coffee jar, then Lauren also suggested this idea may get me out of my reading slump. And then boom the book box gave me a suitable jar, which I love the colour of its turquoise. I still haven't used it, I've not had time to write all my books down on paper.

Book tabs were the third item that I got in this box, they were different to my last ones that I received. I honestly preferred these ones to my last ones as they made more sense. I also personally wouldn't use these because I never lend my books out to people but they are such a good idea.

The collectible item within this box was my next discovery. It was a magnetic coin and the design on this month was Hermione. It was a pretty design but I just didn't think it really looked like her.

I next discovered a sampler for the Paper & Hearts Society by Lucy Powrie. It looks pretty, I've not read it yet and I really don't if I will as it doesn't really seem to be the thing I'd pick up.

The next items I cam across were the books, I will talk about the minor book of the box first which was Birthday. This was a very pretty book, it was a paperback but nothing special really because you could get the exact same copy with the sprayed rainbow edges in Waterstones. Many people did not know this but because I knew which book was going to be in this box when I was in Waterstones and discovered Birthday and noticed it was going to be the same as Illumicrates, I was slightly disappointed. It's okay though if you've ordered this box and not from the UK and can't get books from Waterstones. The only difference about this book was that it came with a signed book plate and a bookmark which Waterstone copies wouldn't have come with. So this was a plus side. Like I said this wasn't a book I would like to read so if you want to see the synopsis check goodreads out.

The next book was This Time Will Be Different. It looked pretty and I liked how the cover was sort of like a coral pink, and the sprayed edges were just amazing, they were yellow which is my favourite colour. Please check out the synopsis on goodreads. This came with a signed bookplate too and was a hardback which I really liked. This book came in a booksleeve which was the next item. It was a waterproof pouch with a zip which is everything I've wanted in a booksleeve. The design on it as well was also really pretty and I loved the pastel colours.

The last item was the bookend. It was supposed to be everything that a bookworm needs to enjoy life. So there are candles, a cat, a pot of tea and a lamp so you can actually read in the dark. This was such a cool idea and I really only bought this box for this item but the design just wasn't as pretty as I was expecting it so I won't actually be getting July's box to get the other end.

Overall this box was definitely worth it as it was packed with loads of items that I liked. And it would have been excellent if those books were for me but I knew I wouldn't like them before I got the box so I was expecting this for the review. This box is 100% worth the money.