We want to share with you our love of books and reading, and help you discover books and authors you may not have come across. We aspire for our subscriptions to provide a little sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of life, and a gentle reminder to put your feet up and enjoy a little time out with a book.
About us
What could be nicer than relaxing with a book that’s been chosen just for you? It’s our mission to deliver perfectly curated book selections to all our subscribers, taking the stress out of deciding what to read next.
Meet the team!
Marianne Chala
Owner & Director
I'm the Director of The Willoughby Book Club, and I'm so proud of our team and the service we offer.
My career has taken me on a meandering path through bookselling in the UK and Ireland, and I am so excited to be able to bring all my experience to bear at The Willoughby Book Club, offering curated reading subscriptions. Access to books and reading is one of my favourite soapboxes, and I love being able to donate a book for each subscription we sell.
When I'm not messing about with books I like painting and am inspired by the natural world and geometry. Of course I also love reading too, and always return to E F Benson and P G Wodehouse.
Alisha Chauhan
Dispatch Administrator
I’m the Customer Service Administrator here at Willoughby, but I also take photos, videos and plan our social media each month. It’s been over 6 years since I started at Willoughby and have tried my hand at many things from packing books to social media!
I’ve always loved reading, ever since I was little. There’s even photo evidence of me reading at family parties. I tend to read a mix of most fiction genres, but I do have a special place in my heart for any kinds of folklore or magical realism-infused stories.
Aishah Morshed
Operations Administrator
I've been Operations Administrator here for three years and can often be found with my big ol' pair of headphones on as I busily run around the office. My colleagues are thankful for this, as I've long been banned from using the office speaker due to my 'unique' taste in music.
I'm a big fan of re-reading my favourite books. Some of my favourite books to re-read are To Kill a Mockingbird and The Hunger Games- books that really hold up to a second, third, or fourth re-read!
Olivia Turner
Book Selections Specialists
I'm one of Willoughby's Book Selections Specialists and I've been a part of the team for just over 5 years now.
I love reading lots of different things- weird fic, translated, introspective. Some of the best books I've read recently include: Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa, Big Swiss by Jen Beagin, and A Touch of Mistletoe by Barbara Comyns.
I also study Italian and can be found shouting random phrases at everyone in the office (which I'm sure they greatly appreciate).
Chloe Winder
Book Selections Specialist
I’m one of the Book Selection Specialists here at Willoughby, and have been here for about 9 years now. I originally started picking books for the Crime subscriptions, but now I pick a bit of everything for everyone and I really enjoy the variety.
I’ve always loved reading and remember saving up my pocket money when I was younger to buy the latest Goosebumps book, which I would read in one day and then I'd have to wait to buy another one! Nowadays, I read pretty much anything from crime & psychological thrillers to general fiction and even children’s books. I wish they would put illustrations in adult books!
Nicola James
I'm Willoughby's Wrapping and Packing Assistant and I've worked at Willoughby for almost three years now.
I'm the office's chief snack provider and am obsessed with anything sporty. I aim to go Wimbledon every summer, as it's my highlight of the year! I've recently joined the Benjamin Myers fan club, having recently read and loved The Offing and The Perfect Golden Circle. I can't wait for what this year's reading will bring.
The team often refer to me as a 'machine' for how quickly I work, regularly timing me to prove how speedy I am!
Our philosophy
A love of reading is at the core of what we do.
Sharing this joy with our community of book lovers is a privilege and a pleasure.
Our Willoughby customers enable us to donate books to great causes, enriching lives with books and literacy.
Giving back
We’re proud that for each Willoughby Book Club subscription sold we donate a brand-new book to Book Aid International to work toward their vision of a world in which we all have access to books and education.
We’ve donated more than 50,000 books- that’s nearly 70 pallets of books so far. Initiatives we’re particularly proud of supporting include:
Book drops to care homes during Coronavirus
Educational book shipments to refugees arriving in the UK to aid with language learning
Books donated to Buddy Bags for inclusion in their support packs for children in emergency foster care
Sustainability
Books are central to what we do, but we're also on a journey to make our subscriptions as sustainable as possible.
Since 2019 we’ve worked hard to make our subscriptions plastic free. All our stickers are printed with biodegradable inks, and our fully recyclable packaging comes from sustainable woodland and is made of predominantly recycled pulp. We are proud to support the local community by using local suppliers.
We regularly audit our workplace to ensure we’re working as efficiently and sustainably as possible, and in addition every Willoughby team member has 8 trees planted on their behalf per year in a sustainable covenanted woodland.
Our subscriptions
We curate subscriptions for all ages and tastes of reader.
Whether your interests lie in cooking up a feast for friends and family, or getting to grips with a grizzly crime thriller we’ve got you covered.
Our team of book selections specialists personally select each and every title we send to match your reading tastes.
How we fit into your life
A Willoughby Book Club subscription is the perfect option for any occasion.
Whether you’re looking for the perfect birthday gift for the book lover in your life, an unusual wedding gift, or a thoughtful gift for a retirement we’ve got options for you.
Schools & corporate gifting
We’re delighted to have provided subscriptions to schools and academies across the UK.
Whether you’d like your pupils to continue reading in the summer months, or you have children who would benefit from a little more focused encouragement with reading we’re here to help.
From Christmas gifts to pick-me-ups for work from home staff, our subscriptions are the perfect option to treat and inspire your staff. If you’re not sure about the reading tastes of the recipient the perfect option is our gift box, which contains everything they’ll need to set up their own subscription at their leisure.
#thewbc
#willoughbybooks
Our subscribers are the lifeblood of Willoughby!
We love hearing about you, what you’re reading, and what’s on your TBR shelf.
We also love seeing the creative ways you’ve reused your book wraps.
Please use the hashtag #willoughbybooks on Instagram or Twitter for your chance to win spot prizes throughout the year.