The Backstory subscription

The ultimate treat for book lovers. Each month the recipient will receive a paperback book hand-picked just for them by one of Backstory's friendly and knowledgeable booksellers. We'll include a handwritten note explaining why we think they'll love it. Our picks are tailored to each subscriber based on a simple survey we send them when they redeem.

Each month the lucky child will receive a hand-picked book just for them. Since we tailor our selection to the individual, our kids subscriptions are suitable for all ages. (We do not do a combined book + magazine subscription for kids because our magazine contains grown-up themes.)

Just follow the prompts to checkout. If it is a gift, you can choose for us to post or email a voucher to the recipient directly or to you. You can also choose to pick up the voucher from the bookshop. The voucher has all the details of how the subscription works and how they can contact us to kick it off.

Buying a subscription

What does the price include?

A paperback copy of a book chosen specially for the recipient each month by one of our booksellers, wrapped in our blue paper with a postcard on why we think they’ll love it. The price includes delivery, but the recipient can also choose to collect their books from our bookshop instead.

Does the subscription have to start immediately?

No! You or the gift recipient can redeem the voucher at any time. We will choose the first book the month after the subscription is redeemed and then monthly. 

I’m thinking of buying a subscription as a gift and I want to keep it a surprise. How do I do that?

That’s easy. Just choose to have the subscription voucher emailed or posted to you, then you can give it to the recipient whenever you choose. When the recipient fills in our survey, they can choose the address they want their books delivered to.

What if I want to give a subscription to someone who doesn’t live in the UK?

We can send our subscriptions all around the world. We have had subscribers in Milan and Mississippi! 

The person I want to give a subscription to only likes non-fiction (or crime, or romance). Is this subscription right for them?

Yes! Our small and friendly team of booksellers have very varied tastes. When the recipient fills in the survey about books they like to read (and ones they don’t), we match them up with the team member with the closest tastes. So we can pick out books we think are a great match, whatever the recipient’s tastes. The recipient also gets to choose whether they want ‘mostly their favourites’ or to have a few curveballs thrown in by our booksellers if they’re up for trying something new and great.

I want to give a kids subscription. How young or old can the child be?

We have two kids surveys, one for pre-schoolers and one for older kids. Because our subscriptions are all individually chosen, our kids subscription is right for kids of any age, from babies to young teenagers. 

The recipient is a voracious reader. What happens if you send her a book she has read before? 

This happens less often than you’d think, but it does happen. It’s easily solved. If the recipient lives close to our bookshop, they can just pop in and exchange the book. If they live further away, they can post it back and we will send them two books the next month.

What happens if they don’t like one of the books? Is there a way for them to provide feedback?

Our six booksellers think of their subscribers as their pen-pals. We send hand-written notes with our choices each month – explaining why we’ve picked them out – and we always include a pre-paid reply postcard, which we encourage subscribers to use. We love it when subscribers tell us their opinions of a book, or let us know whether we’re on the right track or not. We always review feedback postcards before choosing the next month’s pick – and we even display our favourite subscriber postcards in the shop! 

What if I don’t know the recipient’s address?

That’s easy. Just choose to have the voucher posted or emailed to you. When she redeems it, the recipient can choose which address she wants her books posted to. 

How much is delivery?

Delivery is included in the price of the subscription. If you’re purchasing a subscription to be sent to the EU or the Rest of World, the price for the subscription is higher to factor in that cost. You can also choose to pick up your book from our bookshop each month. 

Redeeming your subscription

How do I redeem my subscription?

To redeem a subscription, simply email us at books@backstory.london. Tell us who bought you the subscription and give us the code on your voucher. Then, we’ll send you our survey so you can tell us what books you like. Once you’ve filled out the survey, we’ll match you with a member of our team and they will choose and send your first book at the start of the following month.

Why did I miss your email?

Our emails to Hotmail, Microsoft and Btinternet accounts are often sent to 'junk' or 'spam' folders. We are working on a fix. In the meantime, please use an alternative email if you have one. If not, please check your junk folder!

When will I get my book?

Once you redeem your subscription, we will send you an email letting you know when we will choose your first book: this will usually be in the first week of the following month (so, for instance if you fill in your form on 8th January, we’d pick your first book in early February and you’d likely receive it by 15th February). From then onwards, we will choose every subsequent book at the beginning of every month. Each one should be with you by the 15th or so of the relevant month. If you haven’t received your book by then, please just drop us a note at books@backstory.london.

What if I've already got the book?

If you live close to our bookshop, just pop in and exchange the book. If you live further away, you can post it back to us (71 Balham High Road, London, SW12 9AP – please include your full name) and we will send you two books the next month.

What if I need to skip a month or two?

No problem. Just email us at books@backstory.london with your full name.

What if I need to update my address?

No problem. Just email us at books@backstory.london with your full name.

What if I want to update my preferences? (Eg: to include more non-fiction, to stop receiving crime, etc.)

If it’s a short bit of feedback, feel free to pop it on a subscriber postcard or email us at books@backstory.london. You can also request a new survey if you want to more comprehensively update your preferences. 

I have my book sent to me each month, but I didn’t receive it this month. What happened?

Each month the book should be with you by the 15th or so. If you haven’t received your book by then, please just drop us a note at books@backstory.london and we’ll get straight back to you.

My subscription is about to end/has just ended, but I want to keep it going. How do I renew?

Yippee! Please drop us an email at books@backstory.london and we’ll give you a cheeky discount code to renew your subscription, or to give a subscription to someone else. 

I have another question

Please feel free to email books@backstory.london