u/what-the-hell-1

Would you borrow books instead of buying them? Looking for honest opinions

Hello, fellow book lovers!

Original books keep getting more expensive, and half the books I buy I only read once. So I've been thinking about a small book-lending subscription in Lahore, and this sub feels like the right place to ask before I put any money into it.

The idea:
- Every month, original books (not reprints) are delivered to your door, wrapped like a letter.
- You request specific titles or let us pick based on your taste.
- When you're done, a rider collects them and drops off your next box.
- Every book carries a little "passport" where each reader leaves a one-line note for the next, so a borrowed book comes with a trail of readers before you.
- Optional: write real handwritten letters to a penpal who loves the same books, using pen names. Letters go through the library, so no addresses are ever shared.

Rough pricing: around Rs 1,500 a month for 2 books, more for 4 or 6, plus a refundable deposit. If you love a book, you can keep it at a member discount.

I'd love to know:

1. Would you use this, or do you prefer owning books or PDFs?
2. Does the price feel fair?
3. Is the book passport cute or pointless?
4. Penpals: fun or awkward?
5. What would make you sign up without thinking twice?

Brutal honesty welcome!

Assalam o Alaikum everyone!

I'm a reader from lahore working on a small idea, and I'd really value moms' opinions before I put money into it.

Kids outgrow books so fast, and good original children's books are expensive. Meanwhile screens are taking over reading time. So I'm thinking of a children's book-lending subscription:

- Every month, hand-picked books for your child's age and interests are delivered to your door, wrapped like a little gift.
- When they're done, a rider collects them and drops off the next box.
- You can request specific books, or let us choose based on what your child loves.
- Kids colour a reading map and earn little rewards for finishing books and returning them on time.

There'd also be an optional penpal side for kids aged 7 and up: they write real handwritten letters to another child of a similar age, using a pen name. Letters go through the library and are read before being passed on, no addresses or phone numbers are ever shared, and nothing happens without a parent's approval.

Rough pricing I'm considering: around Rs 1000-1500 a month for 2 books, more for 4 or 6, plus a small refundable deposit.

I'd love to know:

1. Would you use something like this for your kids? Why or why not?
2. Does the price feel fair?
3. Would the penpal idea excite your child, or worry you? What would make you feel safe?
4. What age group would you want it for?
5. What would make you sign up without thinking twice?

Please be honest, even if you think it won't work. JazakAllah for reading!

Hi everyone! I'm a reader in Lahore and I've been toying with a small idea. Before I put any money into it, I'd love honest opinions from people who actually read.

The idea: a book-lending subscription. Every month you get hand-picked books (original copies, not reprints) delivered to your door, wrapped like a gift. When you're done, a rider collects them and drops off your next box. You can request specific books or let us choose based on what you like.

There'd also be an optional penpal side: members write real handwritten letters to each other using pen names. Letters go through the library, so nobody's address is ever shared. Kids' plans too, with letters only between kids of a similar age and with parents' approval.

Rough pricing I'm considering: around Rs 1,500 a month for 2 books, more for 4 or 6, plus a refundable deposit.

I'd really appreciate your thoughts:

1. Would you use something like this, or do you prefer buying/PDFs? Why?
2. Does the price feel fair, too high, or too low?
3. Does the penpal idea sound fun or awkward?
4. Is the refundable deposit a dealbreaker?
5. What would make you sign up without thinking twice?

Be brutally honest, that's exactly what I need. Thanks for reading!