9 Ways To Get FREE Books

New books are soooo expensive!!! But reading as a hobby doesn’t need to be expensive! Thanks to the good ole internet there are tonnes of ways to get free books nowadays (beyond your classic local library – although that is a FAB way!). Now I know what you’re thinking, “free is never really free” but I promise you it is possible to get books for free!! I’m a massive bookworm (I easily read over 100 books each year) but I would be bankrupt if I paid for every single book I read. I have personally used the majority of these suggestions and can testify to their legitimacy!

So let’s get into it… 9 ways to get free books!!

1. JOIN YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY

Libraries are AMAZING and often undervalued and underused in our communities! They are so easy to forget about but they are seriously amazing and we should be using them if we want to keep them!! Usually the only thing you need to get a library card is an address and then you can go wild.

2. DOWNLOAD LIBRARY APPS (LIBBY, BORROWBOX)

Can’t get to your library in person or prefer ebooks well I have the solution for you. Apps like Libby and Borrowbox connect to your library account and let you borrow ebooks. The day Libby role out the kindle connection for UK users like they have in the US is a day I am waiting on the edge of my seat for!!

3. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE TRIALS

Services like Kindle Unlimited and Audible offer free trials or heavily discounted periods. Take advantage of these to get access to books or free (or practically free). At the start of 2023 I scored a fab deal – Kindle Unlimited for 3 months for just 99p! I took full advantage of their extensive library and read a crazy 51 books. If I had bought an copy of each of these books it would have set me back £193.40. Therefore this fab deal saved me a whopping £192.41 and I got to read a bunch of good books!

4. RAID THE FREE SECTIONS

Both Apple books and Amazon have a free section!! Now if you’re after a specific book it probably won’t be on there but you can find some amazing finds. It is also a great way to find new-to-you authors to love and obsess over 🤩

5. BECOME AN ARC READER

Authors looooove reviews!! They can make or break a book success and some are willing to give you early access to a new book in exchange for a review. This is commonly known as an ARC (advanced reader copy) reader. And no you don’t have to be a bookfluencer (although this is a great way to get free books, see point 6) to get access! Simply join an authors facebook group/mailing list and look out for ARC sign ups.

6. BECOME A BOOKFLUENCER

Now this method definitely requires the most effort and you aren’t guaranteed success BUT the results could be amazing! Instagram, Youtube, TikTok are full of amazing creators in the book space who will frequently be sent books for free! You could be one of those creators. If reading is your passion, what do you have to loose? Start today and see where it takes you 🙌🏻

7. STUFF YOUR KINDLE

This crazy thing only happens 4 times a year and it is a fab opportunity to score thousands of free ebooks. On the 4 specific days, Amazon offers thousands of titles for absolutely free! All you have to do is log-on and “purchase” the free books you like the look of. No strings. No limits. Don’t you need a kindle to take advantage? Nope! Kindle now have an app which you can download (like Apple Books) meaning you can take advantage of this event and simply read the books on your phone 🥳 All you need is an Amazon account. The 2023 Stuff Your Kindle dates are 31st March, 30th June, 20th September and 27th December!

8. RAID LOCAL BOOK SWAPS

This one only really works if you’re not a crazy book hoarder like me 😂 I have always dreamt of having a Belle library so I struggle with getting rid of books. But if you don’t have that problem, this is a fab way to refresh your current selection without opening your purse. Little Libraries are popping up all over the place, where you leave a book and take a book. This is a fab idea and a great way to score new books.

9. BORROW/SWAP BOOKS WITH FRIENDS

Anyone else have that one friend who has the BEST book selection?! I absolutely love raiding my best friends collection and borrowing something I want to read or even doing a book swap. Take advantage (in a consensual, loving way) of your bookworm friends!

So there you have it, 9 ways to get free books!

Have you tried any of these before? What was your favourite book you got for free?

Happy Reading!!