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Reading can be an expensive hobby. Hardcover new releases are nearly $30, with paperback books ranging from $10 to $20 depending on the title. Because I read nearly 100 books each year, here’s how I’ve learned how to maximize my reading for free across every medium.
1 Local Library Cards
The biggest resource I use is my local library. My library has a large catalog of physical, audio, and ebooks across platforms like Libby and Hoopla. I use all of these formats to read, so it’s a great system to have a steady stream of books at my disposal.
While there can be gigantic wait times for popular ebook and audiobook titles, there’s typically an abundance of offerings for physical books. A trending book might have a 100-person wait on Libby, but I could get the physical book the same day with a quick trip to the library. This year, I’ve saved nearly $600 alone by checking out books from my local library!
2 Book Newsletters
Another great resource is to sign up for free ebook newsletters. I currently subscribe to Freebooksy which sends an email every day with free ebooks available on Kindle, Kobo, Google Play, and Nook. These books tend to lean heavily toward self-published authors and cozy mysteries, but I’ve found some amazing reads by scrolling through the newsletter each morning.
There are other book newsletter websites like The Fussy Librarian, too.
3 NetGalley
If I’m eager to read a book before its official release date, I turn to NetGalley. This website and app offer free access to upcoming ebooks and audiobooks. With a free account, you can request access to new titles.
You’re not always guaranteed a copy, though. Also, you must review the titles within the deadline provided. Otherwise, you’ll be less likely to receive future review copies. I struggle to meet these deadlines, so I’m not too active on NetGalley, but there are some titles that are always available if you’re in a bit of slump and want to try something new!
4 Stuff Your Kindle Days
Amazon frequently hosts Stuff Your Kindle/E-Reader Days, where authors will make ebook and/or audiobook versions of their books available for free. These days happen every few months and are typically organized based on genre. There are romance days, fantasy days, and more genre-specific days always popping up.
One upcoming day later this year will feature horror books available for free. It’s best to do a quick Google search to find out when/what kind of Stuff Your Kindle Day is happening. BookBub typically has a great rundown of what’s happening over the next couple of months with Stuff Your Kindle Days. They typically last anywhere from 24 hours to a week depending on the event. It’s a great way to support indie authors and find new books to read.
5 Fable Classics
The book tracking app Fable offers free ebook versions of classic books right on the app as long as you’re part of a book club. The app also has features for highlighting in multiple colors and adding reactions to certain paragraphs.
The only downside is that you have to use the app to read the books rather than transferring the ebook version to a Kindle Paperwhite or similar device. I don’t use this feature often because I can’t read on a phone screen for extended periods of time, but it’s nice in a pinch if I left my Kindle at home or don’t have a copy of a classic yet from the library. I recently left Goodreads for Fable and vastly prefer the extra features!
6 Little Free Libraries
One of my favorite things to do is visit local little free libraries near me and swap out my old books for some new ones. Little Free Library is a program that allows people to construct their own small library outside of their home or business.
People can visit the library and take a book, leave a book, or just check out the collection. The Little Free Library app has a map that shows the closest little free libraries to your location. I’ve found tons of new hardcover books for free at these libraries. I always make sure to donate the books I’m done with to other little free libraries, too.
7 Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg is a website that hosts more than 70,000 ebooks for free. Its catalog is mostly classic literature, but there are some audio and music files interspersed. I used Project Gutenberg in college to read Frankenstein by Mary Shelley for free.
You can either read the books directly on your web browser or send ebook files to a Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and more. There are also books in more than 20 languages if you’re looking to start anew or brush up on some language learning.
8 Free Trials for Book Subscriptions
I try to take advantage of free reading subscriptions when I can, too. I’ve signed up for occasional free trials of Audible, Kindle Unlimited, and Scribd. However, once these free trials end, I rarely renew the subscription because I find the monthly costs really add up. I recently tried out all of Amazon’s reading subscriptions and found that while the trial period was great, I’m better off without a reading subscription.
Over the past decade, I’ve discovered ways to keep reading even when I don’t want to shell out an arm and a leg for a book haul every few months at Barnes & Noble. With a mix of checking Amazon, using my local library, signing up for book newsletters, and so much more, I’m able to stave off reading slumps for good!
