How to Stuff Your Kindle or E-Reader Any Day of the Year
A huge thanks to the newsletter subscriber who suggested this topic! If you have a question you’d like answered on my blog, please ask me a question.
Every book girlie dreams of a Beauty and the Beast–style library, but our bank accounts tell a different story. As an author, I wholeheartedly support buying an author’s book at full price, but—also as an author—I run sales on my ebooks for a reason, and I’m just as happy to have a reader pick up my book at a discounted rate. I get it! There are lots of enticing books out there, and readers may not want to (or may not be able to) pay full price on every title they want. The great news is: you don’t have to go broke to grow your e-book library. With some insider tips, you can snag discounted ebooks for Kindle for $1.99, $0.99, and even for free—and with any luck, you’ll discover new-to-you authors you end up loving.
Why Free or Cheap Books Are Worth It
Indie romance books are often priced per dollar for every hundred pages for the digital version—so a 400-page full-length novel will be roughly $4.99. Understandably, a book listed under $2 might make you hesitate at first—why would an author offer their book for such a low price?
Authors plan promos and sales to gain new readers, bump up sales (and, in turn, Amazon ranking), and encourage loyal fans who may have already purchased the physical book or read it on KU to grab a digital copy. The price is no reflection of the quality of the book! You’ll also find traditional and self-published books for under $1.99. These prices may be permanent or promotional, but either way, they’re an attainable price point.
For readers, these ebook deals are perfect for experimenting with romance authors risk-free. Cheap ebooks online also let you build your TBR and give you that just-walked-out-of-the-bookstore-with-a-fat-stack feeling—without the credit card bill to match.
The Origin of Stuff Your Kindle Days
Stuff Your Kindle Day started in 2014. Indie romance author Zoe York thought it up as a fun way to help other self-published authors promote their books while also helping readers discover titles. Authors offer their books for free for a limited time, and romance book lovers can go wild “stuffing” their Kindle (or e-reader) with new stories.
These days, you’ll find Stuff Your Kindle days or book blasts happening regularly and organized by a variety of groups. Many are geared toward romance, so if you’re hunting for steamy discounted romance books, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to score amazing reads. Some events are advertised on social media or through newsletters, making it easier than ever to participate. Here is a centralized list of some of the most popular ones.
Where to Find Free or Cheap Books
Amazon Kindle Store
With so many books available, you’ll never run out of Kindle book deals romance lovers will adore. Keep your eye on daily deals and countdown deals, and if you’re looking for a particular price point, use the price filter. You can also sign up for Kindle newsletters to stay updated on how to find free books on Kindle.
Other E-Book Retailers
Kobo, Apple Books, and Google Play Books also have promotions under $1.99. Using price comparison tools (like Luzme) can help you track when an e-book you want to buy goes on sale.
Author Newsletters & Social Media
Newsletter subscribers often get first dibs on free or discounted romance books. My newsletter subscribers are the first to know about freebies, discounts, and giveaways—in fact, they get my novella, Match Made in the Maldives, for free just for signing up (and so can you!).
Following favorite authors on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok is another way to stay in the loop for steamy discounted romance books and other Kindle book deals romance readers love. Hot tip: Authors often run promotions on holidays, anniversaries, or special events, so you’ll definitely want to pay attention that time of year!
Ebook Deal Newsletters for Romance
If you’re a romance reader, I highly recommend signing up for the Red Feather Romance newsletter and bookmarking The Book Queen. They feature free and discounted ebooks for Kindle, so you can quickly find the best books on Stuff Your Kindle Day (or any day!) without sifting through endless listings. Those two are my go-to. Other ones to check out: Hello Books, BookBub, Bargain Booksy, Free Booksy, Red Roses Romance, Book Cave, and Hidden Gems Books.
Tips for Smart Buying
I have made the mistake of going wild with downloading books on a Stuff Your Kindle Day, only to realize that those books weren’t all the best fit for me. It’s not really the worst thing ever—if I’ve downloaded the book for free, I can just remove the download. But a little research before you buy the book (or get it for free) can mean no disappointment later on! So if you want to grow your TBR mindfully, be strategic with which books you download. As with any book, check reviews and ratings to avoid romance books with tropes that don’t suit you. That means you’ll grow your TBR without cluttering your Kindle.
Bonus Tip: Ways to Get Even More Romance Books for Free
If you love free books, let me introduce you to: ✨the library!✨ Sign up for your local library’s card and use the Libby and Hoopla apps to borrow digital books and ebooks for free.
Also, if you love the thrill of a free or heavily discounted book, then you should probably check out Kindle Unlimited. You pay a nominal fee per month and get access to thousands of KU titles. My spicy small-town Ireland romance is on there! While the books you read with KU aren’t technically free, you can read as many KU books as you’d like and it costs you about the price of a paperback! There’s also no shortage of romance books on Kindle Unlimited, so you’ll always have something great to check out.
Free or cheap romance books aren’t just possible—they’re everywhere. With some savvy browsing, your Kindle or e-reader can always have your next great read on it, any day of the year. ❣️