Wouldn’t it be great if you could read more books that you want to read without spending money to buy more books? I have 5 free ways you can read more books without buying more books.

 

I have always loved reading, but I don’t always remember to make reading a priority. Having books around that I want to read has made it easier for me to make reading a priority.

I have Kindle books available on my phone to read when I find myself waiting somewhere, such as during my daughter’s gymnastics practices or in a doctor’s office waiting room.

Even when I am at home, when I catch myself mindlessly scrolling Instagram, I will often pull out a book or my Kindle app instead. I like when my kids to see me reading often. I also enjoy reading before bed as a way to wind down at the end of a day.

I use Goodreads to keep track of how many books I read. I also even use Goodreads to track my progress within a book.

Where to Find Free Books to Read

Whether you prefer to read physical books, eBooks, or a mix of both, these tips will help you discover new books or books you may have forgotten you have.

1. Read books you already own

Are there books you already own that you have wanted to read at one point and just haven’t made it a priority yet? Do you have books stored in boxes where they have been forgotten instead of being displayed on bookshelves?

One great way to save money on books is to read what you already have.

2. Borrow a book from a friend

Ask for book recommendations from friends or talk about something you read recently with a coworker. There’s a good chance you can borrow a book from a friend or coworker.

At the same time, you can also recommend books to friends and loan out your own books to people who might enjoy them. See if your friends are on Goodreads and if you can see what books they might already own.

3. Read eBooks you already own

Have you downloaded a free Kindle book from Amazon that you forgot about? Perhaps you got a free eBook when you joined a blogger’s email list.

Did you purchase a collection of online resources from Ultimate Bundles without reading all of the books in the collection? EBooks are easy to collect and also to forget about because they don’t take up space on a physical bookshelf.

4. Check your local library

My local library is part of a larger regional network of libraries. If there is a book I want to read, I can see if it is available in the library network and request that it be sent to my home library.

You can probably also borrow audio books and eBooks from your library by using your library card number, a pin number you can obtain from your local library, and a free app. My library uses the OverDrive app for lending digital books.

Plus, libraries usually have fun summer reading programs to encourage families to visit the library throughout the summer.

5. Use your Amazon Prime service

As an Amazon Prime member, you have access to First Reads which lets your choose two eBooks to read from six editors’ picks each month. These are books that have not yet been released for purchase on Amazon yet. This is a great way to discover new books.

Prime Reading is another feature of Amazon Prime. This service lets Amazon Prime customers borrow eBooks from a limited selection of titles. Some of them even have audio narration so you can listen while doing other activities.

Of course you can also use Amazon Prime to purchase books without paying for shipping, but we are focusing on free options here.

Often times when I find myself in a reading rut, I need to remind myself to check my eBook collection and search what’s available from my own public library to get out of my funk.

What are your tips to read more books without actually buying more books?