Who wants to go to a book fair? Me, obviously.
I found myself home alone and feeling restless, so when I remembered that the first day of the Out of the Boox book bazaar was happening, I decided to check it out. The event’s advertising was impossible to miss, boasting more than 20 million books and over 100 publishers. Naturally, I was curious to see whether it lived up to the hype.
My sister also gave me an additional mission: keep an eye out for a few books from her TBR.
Exploring the Out of the Boox Book Fair
My first impression was that the fair was heavily focused on Indonesian-language books. There were plenty of children’s books, classics, modernized editions of classics, contemporary fiction, poetry collections, self-help titles, and nonfiction. English books were surprisingly rare, which immediately shaped the way I browsed the event.
One thing that stood out was how much attention publishers are now paying to book design. Many of the newer editions featured attractive covers, sprayed edges, and collector-friendly packaging. Even books I wasn’t planning to buy suddenly looked tempting simply because they were so beautifully presented.
A few books immediately caught my attention. I spotted a smaller edition of The Psychology of Money, which seemed to be attracting a lot of attention from readers interested in personal finance. Nearby were shelves filled with classics, many of them reissued with modern cover designs clearly intended to appeal to younger readers.
I also came across several books that have been sitting on my TBR for years.
The Book Censor’s Library by Bothayna Al-Essa was one of the biggest surprises. I’ve been curious about this book for a long time, largely because of its premise involving censorship, books, and the power of stories. Seeing it unexpectedly appear at the fair immediately pushed it closer to the top of my wishlist.
Another familiar face was Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan. I’ve seen glowing reviews for this series for years, and every time I encounter it in a bookstore, I stop to admire the cover. Unfortunately, the discount wasn’t particularly impressive.
Nearby, I spotted Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim. What caught my attention wasn’t just the story itself but the gorgeous green-and-pink sprayed edges. Publishers clearly understand that many readers, myself included, are helpless in the face of beautiful editions.
I also found Madonna in a Fur Coat, another title that’s been lingering on my TBR for ages. The edition on display had a much more appealing cover than many classic editions I’ve seen before, making it even harder to resist.
As I continued browsing, I noticed complete sets of Sue Lynn Tan’s Celestial Kingdom books, including Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior. Seeing an entire trilogy together is always satisfying, although the discounts still felt smaller than I had hoped.
By the time I finished exploring the fair, I couldn’t help feeling that the marketing claims had oversold the experience a little. There were certainly plenty of books, but not enough variety to match the enormous numbers used in the advertising. The event also leaned heavily toward self-help and nonfiction titles. Still, I didn’t leave empty-handed.
Books Purchased at the Fair
- The Troublemaker by Maxim Gorky
- Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley
- The Book Censor’s Library by Bothayna Al-Essa
Unfortunately, the shopping itch wasn’t fully satisfied.
Stop Two: Periplus Bookshop
Since I was already out, I decided to continue the adventure at Periplus.
The difference was immediately obvious.
Where the book fair focused heavily on Indonesian titles, Periplus felt like stepping into an entirely different ecosystem. Shelves were filled with newly released English-language books, many of which I had only recently seen online.
One of the first books to catch my attention was A Stage Set for Villains. The dark fantasy premise sounded exactly like something I would enjoy. Unfortunately, the price reminded me that wanting a book and buying a book are two very different things.
The new release section was particularly dangerous. I spotted One Golden Summer by Carly Fortune, which looked like the perfect summer read. There were also new titles from Jesse Q. Sutanto, whose success as an Indonesian author on the international stage continues to impress me.
Other eye-catching releases included:
- King of Gluttony by Ana Huang
- Rules for the Summer by Meghan Quinn
- Love Song by Elle Kennedy
- The Favorites by Layne Fargo
- New releases from Richard Osman
The romance section was especially tempting. I found myself bouncing between books by Sarah Adams, Emily Henry, Ali Hazelwood, and Liz Tomforde. Every time I thought I had made up my mind, another attractive cover would appear.
One recurring theme throughout the day was sprayed edges. Publishers seem determined to test readers’ self-control with increasingly beautiful editions. Several books looked like collector’s items before I had even read the synopsis.
I spent quite a bit of time examining books by Liz Tomforde. Both Play Along and In Her Own League kept drawing my attention. I’ve heard so many positive things about the series that curiosity eventually won. Other books that tempted me included Revolve by Bal Khabra, The Wild Card by Stephanie Archer, The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston, and Blood and Roses by Callie Hart.
One particularly difficult moment came when I discovered Between Two Kings. The illustrated sprayed edges were stunning. However, reviews suggesting that the book focused more on spice than plot made me hesitate. Eventually, after circling the shelves far too many times, I gave in and purchased In Her Own League.
Stop Three: Kinokuniya
My final stop was Kinokuniya, located on the fifth floor of the department store.
If Periplus felt dangerous, Kinokuniya felt catastrophic.
The store was larger, more organized, and noticeably more adventurous with its inventory. Books were arranged by author, making browsing significantly easier. The selection also felt more diverse, with titles from smaller publishers and indie presses appearing alongside major bestsellers.
While searching for books from my sister’s TBR, I stumbled across countless distractions. There were extensive shelves dedicated to Brandon Sanderson and Stephen King. Fantasy readers could easily spend hours here without noticing the time.
What surprised me most was the number of indie books available. Titles such as Protect, Sawyer, and No Matter What are books I rarely encounter in physical bookstores, making them particularly tempting. I also found A Match Made in Hell, a paranormal romance that has been sitting on my radar for quite some time. The cover was gorgeous. The premise sounded fun. The price, however, was considerably less appealing.
Another pleasant surprise was seeing books from B.K. Borison, Catherine Cowles, and other authors who don’t always receive prominent placement in bookstores. The fantasy section was particularly beautiful. Special editions of The Hunger Games series featured stunning sprayed edges, and Elizabeth Lim’s books looked absolutely gorgeous on display.
Eventually, I found the book my sister wanted:
The Keeper of the Camphor Tree by Keigo Higashino.
The edition was beautiful, featuring striking blue-and-black sprayed edges. Then I looked at the price. Rp600,000 = USD 33.
That was enough to make me pause immediately. After messaging my sister and informing her of the cost, she quickly decided to pass. Honestly, I couldn’t blame her.
The Final Haul
By the end of the day, these were the books that came home with me:
- A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim
- The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
- In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde
- The Troublemaker by Maxim Gorky
- Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley
- The Book Censor’s Library by Bothayna Al-Essa
Will I read them immediately? Probably not.
Do I already own far too many unread books? Almost certainly.
Will that stop me from buying more books in the future? Absolutely not.
There’s something deeply satisfying about finding a book you’ve wanted for months or even years and finally bringing it home. Even if it sits on your shelf for a while, knowing it’s there whenever you’re ready to read it feels like a victory.
And honestly, buying books makes me happy. That’s reason enough.