Simply spend £60 or more on any of our curated book subscriptions - from a 3-Month Fiction fix to a 12-Month Bespoke journey - and we’ll include a luxurious chocolate treat and complimentary Christmas wrapping to make your gift instantly ready for under the tree!
International Women's Day
It's International Women's Day, and here at The Willoughby Book Club we'll be celebrating.
I'd like to think that in 2023 the need to highlight the importance of IWD would be less than ever. In reality, the complete opposite is true.
International Women's Day, with it's theme of 'embrace equity', is one day out of the 365 days where the issues faced by all women, past and present, are spotlighted.
So let's all embrace equity in reading, as we know that it is more important than ever for everyone to have access to, and read, books by women.
A recent Guardian article reports that only 2% of GSCE English students study a text written by a female author. There is also a real dearth of female characters in the set texts, with 69% of modern prose and drama featuring a male protagonist. The End Sexism in Schools charity (ESIS) responsible for the published report, states that the books featured on the curriculum should go further than “the voiceless victims and servants we see repeatedly in the perennially popular texts”.
As readers, and as women, these are very frustrating statistics to read. Our hope for the future is that both girls and boys are exposed to the rich, rewarding, and wide-ranging stories of female authors. Furthermore, it is essential that there is a diversity of female characters, including those who are strong, resilient and have agency and voices of their own.
Women's fiction isn't a genre in itself. To dismiss stories about half the population as niche not only discredits the hard work of women authors, but also devalues us as human beings. Books are incredible tools, that enable us to dream beyond the confines of our circumstances, arming us with compassion and empathy, and daring us to think bigger and better.
Today, let's celebrate women, and all our abilities and potential. Let's support and uplift one another and stand together in solidarity. Let's honour all our achievements, strength and resilience, and let's continue to work together toward a better future for women and girls everywhere.
I couldn't be more proud to be the owner of a small business staffed exclusively (a coincidence, not through design!) by amazing women. We have all the challenges of any other business at present, but whatever we're facing, it's with the support of a fantastic team.

For every subscription purchased, we donate a book to Book Aid International; a really inspiring organisation that supports literacy projects around the world. We cannot embrace equity without equity of opportunity, and this applies for literacy, as well as the broader issues affecting us all in the current climate of inflation.
It's important to honour those women who have preceded us, who broke down barriers and fought for the rights we often take for granted nowadays, as well as all the creators, innovators, artists and entrepreneurs who have helped shape our world.
Happy International Women's Day.
If you'd like a surprise read each month picked just for you, why not treat yourself to a Willoughby Book Club subscription? Think of us as your personal book concierges, and let us take the stress out of deciding what to read next.
Fiction Subscription
Calling all readers! Our Fiction Book Subscription is the perfect way to enjoy a book each month that has been chosen just for you, by the Willoughby Book Club team of book specialists. What could be a nicer treat than a beautifully presented book, chosen just for you arriving on your doorstep each month?
Perfect as a thoughtful gift, or as a special treat to yourself, our Fiction subscription will take you on a curated reading adventure tailored to your tastes. From thrilling mysteries and epic fantasies to poignant dramas and heartwarming romances, our selection promises an adventure on every page.
Think of us as your personal book concierges; simply tell us about your reading tastes, then sit back and let us do the rest.
We're book lovers and readers, and sharing our love of books is our passion. We can't wait to share our book selections with you! We aim to delight you with every book, and bring you on a journey of the imagination, introducing you to books and authors you may not have already encountered.
No two subscriptions are ever the same, because we know that all readers are unique.
What will my Fiction Book Subscription include?
- Free UK delivery, straight to their door
- Hand-selected books for each recipient
- Beautifully gift-wrapped books, making it an extra special parcel!
- A Willoughby Book Club bookmark with each book
- A beautiful reading notes notebook enclosed with their first book
- A special message from you included in the first delivery (optional)
- Your first fiction books will be dispatched within five working days
- Thereafter, books will be dispatched at the start of each month
- You will instantly receive a Gift Certificate to your email to gift to them (or print and pop in a card)
What we do:
- Our book specialists curate selections based on the recipient’s reading tastes, no two subscriptions are the same
- All our packaging is fully recyclable, including the stickers
- Our boxes are sustainably produced and sourced locally
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We donate a brand-new book to Book Aid International for every subscription purchase
Not sure which genre they like? Gift the Book Gift Tin where the recipient can inform us of their own reading tastes.
If you would like to set up an International subscription please select one of our International Book Subscriptions.
Read more about how our book subscriptions work