A Year in Books is the most personalised book subscription service in the world, and makes the perfect gift for bookworms everywhere. Our dedicated team of bibliophiles read over 500 books a year and are experts at helping readers find the books that are just right for them. We are continuing to welcome new subscribers to A Year in Books during the coronavirus outbreak. The reading consultations cannot take place in person at the moment, but instead are carried out by telephone or online.
Heywood Hill clients are an international bunch. Patricia Lovejoy lives in Greenwich Connecticut in the United States. As far as Heywood Hill is concerned Patricia is in a class of her own.
Patricia rang the shop in the early 1970s and asked us to send her a few books. What is remarkable about her is that forty years later Patricia still receives a book a month from Heywood Hill. Sometimes she increases her reading intake to two or even three books a month.
‘I really have adored my link with Heywood Hill’, says Patricia. ‘I love discovering books that I would otherwise never have read. Heywood Hill has consistently surprised and delighted me with their choices. Over the years I have dealt with various booksellers at the shop and got to know them and their literary tastes as they interpret mine. It has been the most tremendous fun, an adventure and a lovely constant literary thread in my life that I wouldn’t exchange for anything.’
Patricia is a graduate from Bryn Mawr College and worked in environmental protection before Harvard Business School. She then worked in New York in banking for what was then Morgan Guaranty and later Citibank. She later moved out of New York to Greenwich.
‘My favourite thing to do is to read and it makes me very happy. I love going to restaurants and socialising too. I do so just in case in the future I get lonely. But in truth I am perfectly happy unwrapping the latest parcel from Heywood Hill and just sitting and reading all day long.’
But Patricia has only been to the shop twice. In 1999 she called in with her young son Donald who she says fell asleep on the books. Patricia loved the fact that no one minded. Then she called in again in 2012 to impress upon the current generation of booksellers just how much the shop has meant to her throughout the past forty plus years. Patricia – allow us to thank you for all your support.
Find out more about our subscription service, A Year in Books.
"Heywood Hill has succeeded in reading my mind. They send books that broaden my horizons, and introduce me to new authors with admirable attention to my tastes"
HH Customer
"Honestly the best present I have ever bought"
HH Customer
"It's a dream present for fellow bibliophiles or for yourself"
Vanity Fair
Our A Year in Books subscriptions are truly bespoke. If you have any particular requirements or queries we would be more than happy to discuss the options. Please email the subscriptions team at the shop.
At what age can children start A Year in Books?
At any age! Our specialist children’s booksellers will choose age appropriate books however old the child is. These can be classic illustrated titles or more challenging reads for young bookworms. We have an upper age limit of 12 years for this subscription. If you have any further queries about A Year in Books for Children please email the subscriptions team.
The service will start at least a month after receipt of the Welcome Letter – in fact, the Welcome Letter will usually include a start date. The Welcome Letter includes an invitation to complete a Reading Consultation, which can be done online, by email, or by appointment over the phone. However, a reading consultation is not mandatory! If we do not hear from the subscriber within one month of the welcome letter being sent we will begin sending our choice of the best new books each month.
1. Select a Subscription
You can choose between hardback or paperback, or a mix of both, and how often books will be delivered. We will then send out an elegant welcome letter by email or post.
Please note that due to us working mostly from home in line with government guidelines, the posting of these will be delayed.
2. Reading Consultation
The welcome letter includes an invitation to tell us what sort of books you would like to receive. You can do this online or over the phone.
3. Chosen Just For You
Your personal bookseller will choose books especially to suit your own individual tastes, and send them to your door in our beautiful trademark wrapping.
4. The Best Bit
Throughout the year, you will build up a collection of brilliant books you might not otherwise have found, and your reading life will be enriched.
