Project
UX Design
Client
Book of the Month
Feature: BOTM Exclusives
From Hidden Gems to Headliners: Launching BOTM Exclusives
Since 2016, Book of the Month has followed a consistent model of featuring 5–7 new book selections each month. However, a key business objective for 2025 was to go beyond the monthly box – to shape reading culture and assert a stronger editorial point of view.
My goal was to clearly communicate the thoughtful curation and exclusivity of our selections to readers. What started as a simple, one-off use case evolved through multiple design iterations into a more holistic and flexible feature: BOTM Exclusives.
Where We're Starting
BOTM features 5–7 new book selections each month, spanning a variety of genres. The order in which books appear on the selection page is often randomized per user to give each title equal visibility, and all selections are presented with the same visual treatment. If a book had a mentionable feature (ie debut author), it was indicated with small tags on the book’s product pages. While helpful, these tags were subtle and treated as secondary details rather than compelling selling points.
With the company's growing editorial focus, we saw an opportunity to move beyond these understated cues and spotlight books that were truly exclusive to the BOTM experience.
Our Goals
01
Drive up conversion rate to continue growth.
02
Shape culture and assert our taste in books.
03
Consistently communicate our awesomeness.
Early Intentions
The idea began as a one-time use case to highlight an exclusive early release for the upcoming month. We aimed for a bold, attention-grabbing approach—one that would visually set the book apart and clearly communicate its specialness. After several design iterations, stakeholders approved a solution: a colored background wrapper placed behind the book’s selection card to create a distinct and elevated presence.
However, not long after approval, the editorial team was able to secure yet another exclusive book in a last minute deal.
💡 What would this solution look like in the case of multiple exclusive features?
Next Iterations
While both books were considered exclusive selections, they were exclusive for different reasons—one was an "early release" (users could buy this book on BOTM before its official publication date), and the other was an "only on BOTM" selection (available only through BOTM and not through any other retailer or publisher).
We iterated using the initial solution but quickly realized it wasn’t scalable for highlighting multiple types of exclusives within the same month.
💡 How can we rethink this solution to be more flexible in the case of multiple exclusive features?
One-Size-Fits-All Approach
This led to a one-size-fits-all solution—designed to be both flexible and scalable for any future exclusive offerings BOTM might introduce. We moved away from the colored banner in favor of a more refined but still eye-catching UI: a bold border, text descriptors unique to each feature, and a header tag that introduced the new “B Exclusive” branding.
With this approach, multiple types of exclusive books can be featured in the same month using a consistent visual treatment that maintained clarity without overwhelming the page or overshadowing the standard selections. It also provides the adaptability needed to support a wide range of exclusivity types beyond "early release" and "only on BOTM."
Measuring Success
The “B Exclusive” branding was also extended to other product pages like the Book Details Page and the All Books page.
+0.7%
Overall box rate
Box rate (the percentage of new users who enroll or existing users who ship) has historically been one of the most difficult metrics to move at BOTM. While this increase may appear modest, it translates to a ~$500,000 increase in revenue annualized.
+5.14%
Pull rate for exclusive selections
We observed a strong user preference for the exclusives over the standard selections. With this insight, “B Exclusives” can now serve as a strategic tool for our Editorial team to help guide and influence user selections.