What Is Kindle Unlimited? – The Ultimate Guide & What To Read

In 2020, I got really serious about reading, and it was all because of Kindle Unlimited. After getting a free trial, I fell down the rabbit hole of KU. Since then I have read well over 100 Kindle Unlimited books, which makes me the perfect person to answer “What is Kindle Unlimited?”

This post contains affiliate links. Access to titles mentioned and the length of the free trial offer may change at any time.

What is Kindle Unlimited?

Kindle Unlimited is a monthly subscription service through Amazon that gives you access to more than 4 million digital eBooks (and more!) that you can read on a kindle or on any device with the free kindle app.

Unlike some other services, there is not a limit to how many digital titles you can enjoy each month. If you can read 10 or even 50 books a month, you can!

There is a limit to how many digital titles you can “borrow” at one time, which is currently set at 20. Meaning, if you can have 20 different kindle unlimited books on your device at any time, but you will need to return one before you borrow another one.

Although there is an additional monthly fee to use Kindle Unlimited, you can usually find a free trial offer to try it completely free. Right now you can a 2 month free trial, but even better you can get 3 free months of Kindle Unlimited for only $0.99!

Try 3 Months of Kindle Unlimited for $0.99

Do You Need a Kindle to Read Kindle Unlimited Books?

Short Answer: No. You can use a free kindle app on any smart device.

For a long time, I accessed kindle books through a free kindle app on my iphone. However, once I started reading on a kindle paperwhite, I’ll never go back. In fact, I’ve discovered I like prefer the convenience of my kindle paperwhite (small, light, easy to hold, can read in the dark, and holds multiple books) over reading print books now.

Access to Millions of Books for Adults & Kids

I have fallen in love with reading romance novels (pun intended). The bulk of my Kindle Unlimited experience is in the world of romance, but there are literally millions of options for adults and kids in both fiction and nonfiction.

Keep reading for some of my recommendations.

Access to Magazine Subscriptions

You can browse magazines with Kindle Unlimited. I haven’t tried any magazines myself, but I imagine that for the best reading experience you would want to use the kindle app or a Amazon Fire, which both display color images (unlike the kindle paperwhite, which is only black & white).

Popular Magazine Options Include:

• USA Today
• People
• Rolling Stone
• Food Network
• Real Simple
• Taste of Home
• Consumer Reports
• Homes & Gardens
• Good Housekeeping
• Cosmopolitan
• HGTV Magazine
• Women’s Health

Access to Thousands of Audiobooks

If you prefer audiobooks, there are thousands of titles included on Kindle Unlimited. Audiobooks can easily be added to your Audible app to enjoy. Look for the headphones symbol to see which books also include audio narration.

Unmissing by Minka Kent is a thriller my husband and I both enjoyed listening to on audio. Lydia has been missing for 10 years until she manages to escape, makes her way back home to her husband, and his new wife answers her knock on the door.

Want even more audiobooks? Get 4 months of Audible for $5.95 a month plus a $20 credit!

Discount Offer and Free Trial with Zero Risk

Although the 3 months for only $0.99 is the best offer right now, you might be more interested in a completely free trial for 2 months.

Right now you can get a 2 month free trial to Kindle Unlimited, which gives you plenty of time to explore and enjoy the service. There is zero cost for the free trial. Sign up now!

The free trial will work for all new customers, and possibly past customers. I used KU in the past, and was able to take advantage of this offer. Current subscribers will not be able to get additional months free.

Immediately after you sign up, you can go into your settings and turn off the auto renewal by canceling your subscription, but still keep access to Kindle Unlimited for the full free trial. This will also work for the $0.99 offer. This just might be the best thing about KU, making the free trial and discount offer completely risk free!

To Turn Off Auto Renewal:

• Go to Amazon.com (It can’t be done in the app.)
• Go to your account
• Under Memberships & Subscriptions, select Kindle Unlimited
• On the left hand side, select to be reminded by email before your renewal or select to cancel your membership

Try 3 Months of Kindle Unlimited for $0.99

5 Kindle Unlimited Hacks

1. Cancel Your Free or $0.99 Trial Right Away, But Keep Access – As described earlier, you don’t need to wait to cancel your subscription. After you cancel, you’ll continue to have access to the Kindle Unlimited library until the date your trail was initially supposed to end.
2. Past Customers Can Get Additional Free Trials and Discount Offers- Anytime you see an offer for a free trial or discount, click on it! You just might be able to get it. I have done at least 3 different free trials. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, so always try.
3. Cancel to Get a Discount – Sometimes when customers cancel their free trial or paid subscription, Amazon will offer a discount to continue. For example, once I was offered 3 months for $0.99 per month.
4. Turn Off Your Wifi to Keep Books Longer – This is best Kindle Unlimited hack! Right before your free trial is set to end, load up your kindle with the maximum number of books you can borrow (currently 20). Then turn your kindle on airplane mode, and Amazon can’t take the books back. You can also do this using a kindle app, but you’ll need to put your device on airplane mode every time before you open the app.
5. Look for Box Sets – You can borrow even more books if the series you are interested in comes in a box set. Instead of borrowing each individual book, you can borrow the box set and it will count as only 1 borrow.

Popular Books on Kindle Unlimited

What is Kindle Unlimited kids’ selection like? There are lots of popular book series like Big Nate, Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja, The Hunger Games, and Harry Potter. Plus you can find all the books pictured above.

There are too many popular adult fiction and nonfiction books to mention them all, but all of the books in the images in this post are on Kindle Unlimited (subject to change).

My sister-in-law recently read the thriller The Housemaid by Freida McFadden on vacation in just 24 hours. She said, “It was so good! Wow. What a twist!”

The Take Over by TL Swan is part of an open door (spicy) romance series that I loved. Each can be read as a standalone. The Take Over is my favorite out of the entire series. It is funny while also dealing with issues of grief.

Colleen Hoover has been dominating the best sellers lists these days. Calling her books wildly popular doesn’t even scratch the surface. She has 6 books currently on Kindle Unlimited.

I read Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover, and really enjoyed it. The book focuses on grief, the guilt of loving again, and learning to forgive. It was an open door romance.

Try 3 Months of Kindle Unlimited for $0.99

My Favorite Romance Novels on Kindle Unlimited

These recommendations are all open door romance novels, which means there are spicy details in the intimate scenes. You’ve been warned!

A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn – In this romcom, Lottie was walking through a wealthy neighborhood hoping to find a rich man, when that is exactly what happens. Huxley asks her to move in with him and pretend be his finance. I am a sucker for books with forced proximity and fake dating!

Scandalized by Ivy Owens – Written by Lauren of the Christina Lauren writing duo, Scandalized was such a fun read. A one night stand between childhood friends turns into so much more when Georgia realizes that Alec is actually a celebrity star.

The Summer We Fell by Elizabeth O’Roark – Is an angsty, second chance romance between Juliet and her boyfriend’s best friend, Luke. It jumps back and forth between the past and the present as the mystery of their story unfolds.

Before I Ever Met You by Karina Halle – After escaping a dangerous marriage with her 7 year old son, Jackie starts over as the assistant to her dad’s best friend. This is slow burn, workplace, age gap romance (but not the icky kind because she is 25).

Heartbreak Warfare by Hearther M Orgeron & Kate Stewart – Scottie goes off to war, and is taken prisoner. When she is finally able to return home to her husband and son, she can’t stop thinking about her fellow POW solider. This is a darker romance (check triggers). It is a book I still think about years later.

The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori – In this mafia romance, Elena’s sister is arranged to marry Nicolas, but the connection between Elena and Nicolas isn’t something he can ignore. Nicolas is an alpha, possessive man to the extreme, which sound horrible in real life, but I loved it in this book. LOL

Visit my Amazon Storefront for More Book Recommendations.

Want even more audiobooks? Get 4 months of Audible for $5.95 a month!

Now that you know what is Kindle Unlimited, don’t miss out on the 3 months for $0.99 offer. Sign up now, and you might just find your next favorite book.

Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon partner, I will earn commission on your free trial at no cost to you. The length of the free trial, special offers, and access to titles mentioned may change at any time. Images by Amazon and Rebekah Hoffer.