When I posted my first last birthday book haul, I knew this isn’t the end. It really isn’t.

I’m in Pune, have a lot of time at hand, can’t read much, don’t have any inspiration to write (though the idea list is growing longer by every passing hour), so I was spending time browsing Rs 49 store on Bookchor.com, as one does.

Now, here’s the deal. I do that very often, keep adding titles to cart but somehow, the best ones are gone within hours. For example, a while back, there were Karin Salughter and Roald Dahl books for Rs 49. I couldn’t believe it, added them, to check later once I have 13 books (I’ll explain the math in some time) and got busy with life. When I came back a couple of hours later, the books were gone.

Not this time. I wouldn’t let that happen, I thought. And placed the order on 15-August-2026 (Celebrating Independence Day :P). Of course, I ordered it for my home address, not here in Pune, because I already have load of stuff to carry home. The books arrived on 22-August-2026 but I wasn’t home to haul.

Let me summarize the purchase. 

Total Books Purchased: 12

Total Price: Rs 672

Bookchor Coins: Rs -2

App Discount: Rs 50 

Total to Pay: Rs 620 

Per Book Price: ~Rs 51.66

Timeline

15-August-2026: Order placed

16-August-2026: Got a message to checkout (quality check completed), order dispatched

22-August-2026: Parcel arrived.

Unboxing

I did the unboxing when I came back from Pune. While the quality-check video gave me an idea, some books were too poor in quality and are barely on the “readable” mark and I’m not too happy about some book’s condition.

Disappointed: 3 books

Happy: 10 books

The “13 Books in Cart” Scenario

Those who are regulars, know that I cancelled one of my orders with Bookchor.com because of the delivery fee. I’m very cheap that way. Delivery should always be fee unless it’s an emergency. So, after having spent three months on the bookstore, here’s what I have learned. 

1. I tend to visit Rs 49 store the most
2. 13 books come to 637 and qualify for free delivery (Anything over Rs 599)
3. We can apply some coupons such as App50 that brings down the price by Rs 50. 
4. I usually end up with Rs 45 per book which is great. Unless I order something from other stores with higher prices. In this order, there was one book that cost Rs 95, that’s why today’s haul has slightly higher per book price.

Another Bookchor Haul: 12 Books for ₹620

So, remember that Bookchor hauls I bought last month?

Apparently, I wasn’t done.

Because shortly afterwards, another batch arrived. Twelve books this time, for ₹620. That’s about ₹52 per book, which is still firmly within my “how am I supposed to say no to this?” range.

And this lot was particularly interesting because it had a few books I’d been wanting to read for ages, along with some completely random finds that somehow ended up coming home with me.

Let’s get into it.

Blessed Trinity by Vanessa Davis Griggs

I’m starting with one of the books I’m least certain about.

It’s contemporary fiction with family, relationships and an inspirational angle. Not necessarily my usual first choice, but the premise sounded interesting enough to give it a chance.

At ₹49, I’m perfectly happy to experiment.

Execution: The Plot to Kill Hitler by Andy Marino

This one caught my attention because it’s historical, military and centred around an assassination plot.

Now, I know I tend to say I don’t want too many historical books, but there’s an important distinction here: I do like military and espionage fiction.

I love Jack Reacher, after all.

So this isn’t completely outside my reading zone. It’s just a question of whether the historical setting will keep me interested.

Snowflakes and Starlight

Three romance authors, Christmas stories and a nice chunky paperback.

Sold.

I’m always happy to have a seasonal romance anthology around, especially because these are the kind of books you can pick up when you’re between heavier reads and just want something warm and uncomplicated.

It’s Not the End of the World by Judy Blume

Judy Blume is one of those authors whose books I’ve somehow managed to keep encountering without actually reading enough of them.

This is YA, which isn’t really my primary reading territory these days, but I’m curious. And again, for ₹49, curiosity is allowed.

False Premises by Leslie Caine

This one was a particularly good find for me.

Mystery, crime and a series to boot. And importantly, it isn’t immediately giving me the kind of gruesome crime vibe that makes me want to put the book back on the shelf.

I like crime when it’s about the mystery and investigation rather than an elaborate description of somebody’s unfortunate demise.

So this one is definitely staying.

Time for a Change by Erica James

Now we’re back in very familiar territory.

Erica James, contemporary women’s fiction, relationships and life changes. Basically the sort of book I can see myself picking up when I want something absorbing but not emotionally exhausting.

This was one of the books in the lot that made me think, “Yep, this was worth buying.”

Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding

FINALLY.

This is probably the book I was happiest to see in this haul.

I’ve somehow managed to reach this point in my reading life without reading Bridget Jones’s Diary, which feels like a fairly significant gap in my chick-lit education.

It’s one of those books that has been sitting in the cultural background forever. Bridget Jones is practically synonymous with chick lit, and considering how much I enjoy contemporary romance, women’s fiction and slightly chaotic female protagonists, I have absolutely no excuse.

This one is going near the top of my reading pile.

Rescued by Henry F. Billings

This was one of those “well, let’s see what it is” purchases.

It’s a very short book, and it doesn’t immediately scream my usual reading taste. But bargain-book shopping isn’t always about carefully curating every single title.

Sometimes you throw a ₹49 book into the basket and figure it out later.

This may eventually be one of the books that gets passed on, but for now, it gets its chance.

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

This one is interesting because Audrey Niffenegger wrote The Time Traveler’s Wife, which I obviously know of, so I was curious about another novel by her.

However, this is much more gothic in tone, and that’s not really my natural reading territory.

Still, I’m curious enough to give it a try before making any decisions.

Loose Ends by Barbara Raskin

Another contemporary women’s-fiction pick.

I didn’t know much about this one before buying it, but that’s part of the charm of these Bookchor hauls. You find an author you’ve never read, read the blurb, think “Hmm, could be good,” and suddenly it’s ₹49 and in your basket.

We’ll see.

Learning to Love by Debbie Macomber

And of course, I wasn’t going to leave a Debbie Macomber sitting there.

I’ve picked up quite a few Macomber books over time because I know what I’m getting: accessible contemporary romance, relationships, everyday-life drama and generally easy reading.

This one is exactly the sort of book I like having around for a lighter reading mood.

A Painted House by John Grisham

And then there’s John Grisham.

Except this isn’t the John Grisham I normally associate with courtroom battles, conspiracies and page-turning legal thrillers.

A Painted House is much more of a family story and historical/literary novel, set in rural Arkansas in the 1950s.

Which is actually why I’m curious about it.

I love Grisham’s thrillers, so I’m interested to see what happens when he steps away from that formula. It may turn out to be exactly my thing, or I may spend the whole book waiting for somebody to yell “OBJECTION!” 😂

Either way, I’m glad I picked it up.

So that’s 12 books for ₹620, bringing this haul to roughly ₹52 per book.

And honestly, I’m pretty happy with it.

There are definitely a few books here that are outside my usual comfort zone, but there are also some very strong matches: Bridget Jones’s Diary, Time for a Change, False Premises, Learning to Love and A Painted House are all books I’m particularly curious about.

And that’s what I like about these bargain hauls. I’m not paying ₹500 or ₹600 for one book and hoping I love it. I’m paying roughly ₹50 and getting to take a chance on twelve different stories.

Some will become favourites.

Some will be perfectly decent.

And a couple may eventually be donated to make room for something better.

For ₹620, I’m completely okay with those odds.

Now I just need to stop buying books.

Until the next Bookchor sale, obviously.