There are some moments that call for flowers, others for chocolates, and some even call for a card. But then there are those moments that quite clearly call for a gorgeous book-shaped box filled with a really good read, thoughtful surprises, and a handwritten message.  

That's exactly why we created our special Care Packages. They are the perfect gift to share with those you cherish most! We loved creating these special care package boxes because we believe books are like medicine for the soul. Take a great read, add a touch of OUABC magic, and you’ve got perfection in a box! 

Because sometimes you need to send someone something a bit more personal to show you care or just because you know they need it! So, sit back and relax because we’ve got boxes for every occasion, from birthdays, graduations, happy couples, and teacher appreciation to self-care days and difficult breakups, and even for those moments when finding the right words feels especially hard.

The Birthday Box

There is a birthday present, and then there is an entire book-shaped birthday celebration arriving at your door. Whether your BFF, MIL, or book club bestie is celebrating their birthday, or you're buying yourself an early birthday gift, The Birthday Box is the ultimate collection ready to celebrate any Birthday Bookworm!

It’s all about the box, and this one is packed!

• a paperback copy of Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore

• a personalized, handwritten birthday card

• a bottle of "confetti cake" glitter nail polish to help the birthday bookworm sparkle

• a birthday cake scented candle topped with wax sprinkles

• a 100-piece puzzle featuring a "mystery message" for the recipient to reveal

• a 2-in-1, water-resistant garment/duffel bag which includes a shoe bag and a shoulder strap, perfect for all the adventures the next year brings

Our team carefully packs everything inside a robin's egg blue book-shaped box! This one is an easy choice for anyone’s special birthday celebration, which includes that annual occasion when buying yourself a present feels entirely justified. Yes, we fully support ordering one for yourself. Birthday rules.

The Breakup Box

Sometimes, sadly, that happily ever after gets put on hold or needs to wait a bit, and what you really need is revenge, self-care, comfort, and possibly a mug filled with your ex's tears. The last 6 words were definitely typed with a smile!

The Breakup Box is the perfect companion for those totally over the dating scene and in need of a box of revenge, self-care, and comfort, or for everyone who just wants a hilarious opposite-of-a-romance box all to themselves! This could become a thing; I just need a new trope suggestion! 

The box includes:

• a paperback copy of The Best Way to Bury Your Husband by Alexia Casale

• a personalized, handwritten breakup card

• a custom-designed garden trowel, perfect for planting or...burying other things ;)

• a friendship necklace set which includes two halves of a heart which reads "I hate everyone but you" when put together

• a "Fries Before Guys" waterproof sticker

• a "Tears of My Ex" 11oz ceramic mug perfect to remind you that you're the one who should be cried over

• a custom-designed yoga mat that reads "Yoga because yelling at people is frowned upon" in a custom bag because sometimes deep breathing is required to keep you from committing crimes

It all arrives in a coral-toned, book-shaped box, complete with a personalized card inside. Send it after the breakup or when your friend has officially sworn off dating for the foreseeable future!

The Graduation Box

Graduation deserves considerably more than a “Congrats!” text followed by a celebratory emoji (not that we’re judging). Our Graduation Box is the perfect way to celebrate your recent high school or college graduate. Next to their degree or certificate, this gift might just be the second-highest honor they receive!

Inside you’ll find:

• a paperback copy of Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon

• a personalized, handwritten graduation card

• a custom-designed 11oz mug reading "Certified Responsible Adult"

• a mint green disposable camera to capture the memories

• a "You Did It!" celebration confetti popper to ensure the celebration is a blast

• a custom leather tasseled bookmark that reads "On to the Next Chapter"

• a custom "Letters to My Future Self" writing kit including 12 notecards and accompanying envelopes to ensure their future self isn't TOO distraught by the wonderful world of adulting without a pep talk from themselves of the past

All of these gorgeous goodies arrive inside a mint book-shaped box, carefully packed and ready to gift. This one is particularly fun for that slightly terrifying moment when graduation is over, and the wonderful world of adulting officially begins. At least they'll have a mug confirming they are now a Certified Responsible Adult, whether they feel like one or not.

The Happy Couple Box

Engagement? Wedding? Anniversary? Tuesday? We are fairly flexible when it comes to reasons for spoiling your favorite couple. This one is perfect for newlyweds, newly engaged couples, couples celebrating an anniversary, or even as a just-because gift for two. The Happy Couple Box has date night written all over it and includes:

• a paperback copy of The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

• a personalized, handwritten happy couple card

• a set of 35 exclusively designed scratch-off Date Night Cards to make planning a date night so much easier

• a set of date night streaming dice to help you quickly choose what to spend your night cuddled up and watching instead of fighting over the remote

• a wooden body massager to offer a deep, soothing massage for your whole body

• a custom-designed "Love Grows Here" flowerpot and wooden trivet to ensure your love continues to blossom

Everything comes packed in a daffodil yellow, book-shaped box. Send it to celebrate the engagement, the wedding, the anniversary, or simply because your favorite couple deserves a night together that doesn't begin with, “So…what do you want to do?” They will thank you as the next several date nights are officially sorted.

The Self-Love Box

You absolutely don’t need an occasion to remind someone to take a little time for themselves. And yes, that someone can be you. We actually think that sometimes the very best time to send a care package is when there is no occasion at all.

We all need a moment to remember that self-care is the best care, and The Self-Love Box does a phenomenal job of reminding everyone to do just that! 

Inside, you will find:

• a paperback copy of The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

• a personalized, handwritten self-care card

• a set of 30 exclusively designed affirmation cards to remind yourself that you're simply the best

• a The Midnight Library-inspired scented candle, with notes of citrus and sandalwood to help you relax

• a gold candle snuffer to elevate your candle-burning experience

• a facial ice roller to help alleviate stress and remind you that skin care is self-care

• a pair of cozy cloud socks to keep you comfortable from head to toe!

Everything arrives inside a navy blue book-shaped box, ready for a little much-needed me-time. Send it to the friend going through a stressful patch, someone starting a new chapter, the person who is always looking after everyone else, or yourself when “I really should take some time for myself” has been on repeat for several weeks.

The Sympathy & Solace Box

And then there are those occasions when knowing what to send, or even what to say, can feel incredibly difficult. Grief and loss are part of life, and sometimes the best thing you can do is remind someone they are not alone. The Sympathy & Solace Box was created with exactly that in mind.

It includes:

• a paperback copy of My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

• a personalized, handwritten sympathy card

• a pair of "I Am Loved" fleece socks to stay toasty and calm

• a lavender and chamomile shower steamer to create a relaxing atmosphere and encourage a calming moment

• an adorable, teapot-shaped tea infuser to steep a warm cup of your favorite beverage

• a wood slice tealight candle holder to bring peace and comfort

• a gorgeous, neutral-tone fleece knit blanket that is the perfect weight to wear as a shawl or keep across your lap

Everything is carefully packed inside a sage green book-shaped box. This is one of those gifts for the times when there isn't much you can say, but you still want someone to know you're there. You can send it soon after a loss, but it can be just as meaningful later, when the cards and flowers have stopped arriving, and a reminder that someone is still thinking of them can mean so much.

The Teacher Box

How do you thank the person who spends their days teaching, encouraging, probably explaining something for the fifth time, and somehow still turns up the following day? Well, if you’re asking us, then the answer is: Preferably with books. And coffee.

Teachers play such a big role in our lives, and we can’t think of a better way to say thank you than with a gift made just for them.

The Teacher Box includes:

• a paperback copy of The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

• a personalized, handwritten teacher card

• a pack of exclusively designed book sticky notes to keep track of their endless to-dos

• a custom-designed "Chaos Coordinator" insulated travel mug because hot beverages are a necessity

• a "Teach From the Heart" gold necklace with a small heart charm to remind them of the good they bring into the world every single day

• an exclusive "Because of a Teacher" hand lotion to offer a small moment of serenity in their busy days

• a "Teacher Things" canvas tote bag to ensure they are always ready for the next teaching moment

These gifts come beautifully packed inside a lavender purple book-shaped box. It is perfect for Teacher Appreciation, the end of the school year, graduation, or simply when you realize “thank you” deserves something a little more substantial.

Which OUABC Care Package Should You Send?

Sometimes You Don't Need a Reason

The lovely thing about a care package is that it can celebrate big moments and show up for the smaller ones in between. A birthday or graduation gives you an obvious reason to send one. A friend going through heartbreak might need a surprise at their door. Someone who has been looking after everyone else might deserve a Self-Love Box. And sometimes you simply spot something and immediately know exactly who needs it.

Each OUABC Care Package pairs a paperback book with gifts chosen for the occasion, all tucked inside one of our signature book-shaped boxes. Add the personalized, handwritten greeting card, and you have a gift that feels considerably more personal than clicking “send” on another gift card.

Browse our Care Packages, choose the one that feels right, write your message, and let us take care of the rest. Because whatever the occasion, and even when there isn't one, there is almost always a good reason to send someone a little more love. Preferably with a book included.

Keep on Reading!

If you’re new to Once Upon a Book Club and wondering how our signature reading experience works, then take a look at How Does Once Upon a Book Club Work? A First-Timer's Guide. 

And if you’re choosing a gift for another bookworm (or simply curious about your own reading personality), why not find out What Kind of Reader Are You? A Gift Finder Quiz. Fair warning: you may end up adding a few things to your own wish list along the way.

FAQs

What can I send a book lover for their birthday?

The OUABC Birthday Box is designed for birthday bookworms. It includes Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore, a personalized handwritten birthday card, birthday cake candle, confetti nail polish, a mystery-message puzzle, and a water-resistant garment/duffel bag.

What can I send a friend who is going through a breakup?

The OUABC Breakup Box combines humor, comfort, and self-care for someone navigating a breakup or taking a break from dating. It includes The Best Way to Bury Your Husband by Alexia Casale, a personalized card, a friendship necklace, a mug, a yoga mat, a garden trowel, and a waterproof sticker.

What is a thoughtful sympathy gift for someone who has experienced a loss?

The Sympathy & Solace Box was created for someone experiencing grief or loss. It includes My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman, a handwritten sympathy card, a blanket, fleece socks, a shower steamer, a tea infuser, and a candle holder. You can send it soon after a loss or later, when other messages of support may have slowed down.

Do all OUABC Care Packages include a book?

Yes. Each OUABC Care Package pairs a paperback book with gifts selected for the occasion, all packed inside one of OUABC’s signature book-shaped boxes.

Do I need a special occasion to send an OUABC Care Package?

No. While some Care Packages are built around occasions such as birthdays, graduations, or anniversaries, others work well when someone simply needs support, self-care, or a thoughtful surprise.