Frequently asked question’s…

How do I sign up?

  1. Simply click the “Sign Up” tab in the top menu.

  2. Follow the on-screen instructions and complete the form.

  3. You’ll then be directed to the payment page. Once your payment is successfully processed — voilà! You’re all signed up.

Please note: By providing your mailing address, you are giving us permission to share it with your pen pal match. Only include this information if you’re comfortable with us doing so.

Here at Pen Pal Book Gals, we aim to make the whole process as simple as possible. We know, though, that sometimes a few questions can still linger — so we’ve put together this guide to cover all the details and make everything super clear!

Is there a sign-up fee?

Here at Pen Pal Book Gals, we’re a small local operation with one goal and passion — bringing gals together through the love of reading.

To make this possible, we do ask for a $20.00 sign-up fee each time you participate.

We don’t make any profit from this — the fee simply helps cover NZ Post charges, packaging materials, website costs, and ensures each Pen Pal Gal receives a book.

How often are Pen Pal rounds run? Why do I have to sign up each time?

Pen Pal Book Gal matches run every two months.
Sign-ups open one month, and the physical book-and-letter exchange happens the following month.

This gives everyone enough time to finish reading a book (because let’s be real — life gets busy!).

We run it this way so that:

  1. Our gals can decide each round whether they’d like to take part or skip it — no locked-in memberships!

  2. We can create new and exciting matches every time you sign up.

Will my Pen Pal Gal and I be reciprocal matches?

At Pen Pal Book Gals, we do our best to match readers with similar interests. However, we also love connecting gals from all over the country!

This means matches aren’t always reciprocal — your Pen Pal Gal might not be the same person who gets you.

We think this element of surprise makes it even more fun!

That said, when we find gals with identical reading tastes, it sometimes feels too perfect not to pair together — so reciprocal matches can happen too.

How will I stay connected with my Pen Pal Gal match?

When you write your letter, we recommend including your social media handle or contact info so your Pen Pal Gal can reach out after reading your book.

We encourage all our gals to be brave, say hi, and start those wonderful bookish conversations!

We’ve also got lots of exciting plans in the works to help these Pen Pal Gal friendships grow even further — so stay tuned!

What kind of book can I send? Can it be second-hand?

You can send any book you like — second-hand*, brand new, or even one you previously received from a Pen Pal Gal that you’d love to pass on.

We totally understand how special books can be (especially when you’re curating that perfect #bookshelfgoals collection!).

However, by signing up, we kindly ask that you’re ready to part with a book. That’s what makes this exchange so meaningful — knowing the book you receive has been handpicked and shared with love.

*Please make sure second-hand books are still in good condition — think of it this way: Would you be happy to receive it yourself?

What if I don’t receive a book?

Pen Pal Book Gals is built on trust, kindness, and the joy of connection — and it all works when everyone follows through by sending their book.

If you haven’t received your book, we’ll reach out to your Pen Pal Gal to follow up.

But don’t worry — we’ll make sure everyone who signs up receives a book. You can rest assured you won’t miss out!

What else do I send besides a book?

We ask that you include two mandatory items:

  1. A book

  2. A letter

Anything else is entirely up to you!

You might want to include a little treat your Pen Pal Gal could enjoy while reading — chocolates, tea, or lollies…
Or something personal — bookmarks, stickers, or a small local keepsake (just make sure it complies with NZ Post shipping rules).

Get creative and have fun with your packaging!

Please note: the only required items are the book and letter. Anything extra is optional — so please keep that in mind when receiving your parcel, as every gal’s package will look a little different.

What if I’ve already read the book I receive?

This one’s a bit tricky! We can’t always guarantee that the book you receive will be new to you (and it’d be impossible for us to keep track of everyone’s entire reading history!).

If you’ve already read it, you’ll still receive a heartfelt letter from your Pen Pal Gal explaining why she chose that book. You might even find it sparks a great conversation about your shared reading tastes!

And hey — you can always pass it forward in your next round and keep the love going.

What other incentives are there for signing up?

Aside from the joy of sharing your love of books and connecting with a fellow gal pal…

We have SO much planned!

Our vision board is overflowing with ideas — from competitions and giveaways, to spotlight series on book recommendations, online discussions, and hopefully even some in-person events!

So stay tuned as we turn our vision board into reality — one book-loving gal at a time.

We know this was A LOT of reading…

But if you managed to get through all of this and we still haven’t answered your question, then please send us a message on Instagram or email us and we’ll be happy to chat

@penpalbookgals

penpalbookgals@gmail.com