Bookworms, or as others may want to call themselves—book dragons, love both paper books and ebooks! If you own a Kindle device, like the Kindle Paperwhite, or are considering getting one, you will love these eBook recommendations. These are the best books on Kindle Unlimited and they are absolutely free if you are subscribed to the service. You will learn more about how the subscription works in the latter part of this guide.
Inside this article:
- What Is Kindle Unlimited?
- 31 Best Books on Kindle Unlimited
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
- Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
- Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
- The Hobbit: There and Back Again
- The Hunger Games
- Catching Fire
- Mockingjay
- 1984
- The Stories of Ray Bradbury
- The Handmaid’s Tale
- Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes
- Stardust
- Sherlock Holmes: Complete Collection
- The Color Purple
- Pride and Prejudice
- Where the Forest Meets the Stars
- Devoted
- When We Believed in Mermaids
- If You Tell
- The Complete Works of Shakespeare
- Shakespeare’s Sonnets
- The Sun and Her Flowers
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
- A Beginner’s Guide to the Stock Market
- Bread Baking for Beginners
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Made Simple
- Potty Training in 3 Days
- How to Draw Cool Stuff
- Graphic Design: The New Basics
- The Self-Taught Programmer
- Machine Learning for Absolute Beginners
- How Does Kindle Unlimited Subscription Work?
- Can I Lend My Kindle Unlimited eBooks?
- What Is Kindle Unlimited With Narration?
- Why Subscribe to Kindle Unlimited?
- Canceling Your Subscription
- Final Word
What Is Kindle Unlimited?
Kindle Unlimited is Amazon’s ebook subscription service that gives you access to over two million ebooks, some audiobooks, and e-zines for free as part of your subscription. The subscription is paid, but the benefit is you can download as many as 10 titles at a time without paying for each of them.
You can read your Kindle Unlimited books on a Kindle reader, but you can download the free Kindle app if you do not own one. The app is compatible with iOS and Android mobile devices as well as Windows PC and MacBooks.
31 Best Books on Kindle Unlimited
The subscription gives you access to titles from all genres—from fiction books like fantasy, sci-fi, romance, murder mystery to non-fiction genres such as self-help and politics. This list comprises titles across genres, with the first half being fiction. We’ve included some of the highest-rated titles, critically acclaimed books, most popular new releases, and biggest bestsellers among them. Consider this your master list to add to your to-be-read (TBR) pile from this year forward.
1. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Yes, this epic fantasy classic by master storyteller J. R. R. Tolkien is available on Kindle Unlimited. It is one of the best fantasy books of all time. The Fellowship of the Ring is the first in The Lord of the Rings (LOTR) trilogy.
It tells the beginning of a hobbit’s journey into perilous lands in order to destroy the One Ring that corrupts all souls on Middle Earth. Frodo is joined by allies from all races; a dwarf, an elf, a wizard, humans, and other hobbits. You may have already seen the motion picture, but reading this classic is a whole different experience.
2. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
The second book in the LOTR saga is also available on Amazon Kindle Unlimited. It follows Frodo as he and Sam continue to approach the dreaded realm of Mordor. The Two Towers continues the story of our heroes after Gandalf the Grey fell into the depths of Moria with the terrible Balrog and the fellowship has broken. There is a war brewing in Helm’s Deep, and Aragorn must make a decision that will determine man’s future.
3. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
This is the last installment in Tolkien’s epic trilogy. Sauron, the dark lord, has been gathering his allies. His shadow is spreading on Middle Earth. Frodo and Sam finally make it to the outskirts of Mount Doom where they are to destroy the One Ring but it is no easy task. In The Return of the King, Gandalf returns as Gandalf the White after his ordeal with Saruman, and Aragorn, the rightful heir of Gondor, takes his place on the throne.
4. The Hobbit: There and Back Again
If you have read The Lord of the Rings trilogy, you may remember that Bilbo Baggins, Frodo’s uncle, wrote a book called There and Back Again. This is his story, of his adventures with dragons, trolls, and other fantastic creatures. The Hobbit is a prequel to the trilogy and an incredibly fun read! Gandalf the Grey, our beloved wizard, knocks on the hobbit’s door one day, inviting him to an adventure of a lifetime.
If you loved Tolkien’s classic trilogy and its prequel, you will also find several other books by him such as The Silmarillion. They are also free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription.
5. The Hunger Games
This popular and extremely relevant Young Adult (YA) book is one that adult readers have also loved. The Hunger Games is the first in Suzanne Collins’s trilogy. It tells Katniss Everdeen’s story as she is first thrown in the arena where she is to fight other teenage tributes to the death.
This dystopian sci-fi YA book is a must-read because it tackles social issues like social inequality and hunger for power and control. It has an added appeal to young readers because of a little love triangle incorporated into the story.
6. Catching Fire
The second book in The Hunger Games trilogy is also one of the best books on Kindle Unlimited. This time, Katniss must return to the arena despite winning the last competition with Peeta Mellark along with other former district winners.
Catching Fire will surprise you with a thrilling twist which is the beginning of the revolution against the Capitol. What awaits Katniss and her newfound allies in this brutal battle? She is in the dark in terms of their plan, but she must play a vital role if they are to have any chance of winning against President Snow.
7. Mockingjay
Mockingjay is the last book in Suzanne Collins’s YA trilogy. The war continues, with Katniss as the face of the revolution. However, it is not as glorious as one might expect. The road to overtaking the Capitol is paved with excruciating tasks that seem irrelevant like filming propaganda videos and rousing the people. This is not at all Katniss’s idea of fighting back, but she and her friends eventually get to the enemy’s gates with a deathly plan. Can they see it through?
8. 1984
George Orwell’s dystopian sci-fi novel, 1984, is said to have predicted much of the things that are happening in today’s society. Ironically, he intended it as a warning and not a guide to be followed. Nevertheless, it is a relevant book to read today. It tells the story of a man living in a totalitarian state where people are discouraged to think for themselves. They are under the ever-watchful eyes of Big Brother. History is being rewritten; they are taught that “war is peace” and “freedom is slavery.” How can one escape such a world? Is there any hope? The book inspired Haruki Murakami’s fantasy novel 1Q84.
9. The Stories of Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury, the author of critically acclaimed sci-fi novel Fahrenheit 451, is also a genius when it comes to short stories. This short story collection, The Stories of Ray Bradbury, is one of the best books on Kindle Unlimited. Here, you will find stories that will take you to Mars, enthrall you with tales of fire balloons and many science fiction favorites. Bradbury is well-loved for his colorful imagination when it comes to speculative fiction and this collection is surely a treat!
10. The Handmaid’s Tale
You may have heard or had already seen the TV series based on Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. However, reading the book will take you on an insanely unique journey. This is the first of a two-part series. Gilead, the world that religious extremists have created has implemented absurd laws, taking words from the bible in the most literal sense. There are very few children in Gilead. What will the men in this bizarrely patriarchal society have women do? Imagine the unimaginable.
It is undoubtedly one of Atwood’s finest literary works. Although the sequel, The Testaments, is not included in the Kindle Unlimited collection, it’s still a great idea to read the first book so you can decide if you want to purchase the sequel.
11. Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes
That’s right! Neil Gaiman’s graphic novel series, The Sandman, is available for free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription and is one of the best books you can find in the Kindle library. Although it won’t be in colored graphics if you’re reading from a Kindle device, the illustrations are still on point and nothing short of breathtaking. Meet the unforgettable characters like Death and Dream, and get to know their stories and how they interact with the world of mortals. Preludes & Nocturnes is the first volume in the series.
12. Stardust
You may have seen or heard of the movie of the same title, starring Michelle Pfeiffer. Stardust is an award-winning fantasy novel by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess. There is a wall and no one in town dares cross it. But one day, young Tristan decides to go outside and sees a star fall down from the sky. It’s a story of love, adventure, and pure wild magic. The novel won the American Library Award.
13. Sherlock Holmes: Complete Collection
A lot of classics are also accessible in the Kindle Unlimited library, and this includes Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. If you are fond of detective stories, you should not miss reading the adventures of Mr. Holmes and his ever-loyal partner in crime-solving, Dr. Watson. This eBook is a collection of 56 stories. It includes popular favorites like The Hound of Baskervilles, A Study in Scarlet, The Final Problem, and more.
14. The Color Purple
The Color Purple is Alice Walker’s masterpiece that won the Pulitzer Prize and sold over five million copies. It’s an intensely emotional novel that tackles racism and violence as well as other social and gender issues. This is a classic that remains to be an important literary work to this day. It has also inspired the movie of the same title, directed by Steven Spielberg.
15. Pride and Prejudice
Speaking of classics, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is another must-read title for bibliophiles. It tells the story of five sisters and one of the most popular literary crushes of women of all time, Mr. Darcy. Travel back in time to learn about how families managed marriage, money, and reputation centuries ago. It’s a delightful read with an extraordinary narration.
16. Where the Forest Meets the Stars
An Amazon Kindle bestseller, Where the Forest Meets the Stars, is a story about learning how to love again. It’s about Ursa, a girl who mysteriously appears in Joanna’s cabin and tells her that she came from the stars. Joanna’s neighbor, Gabriel, helps her in uncovering the child’s past, but the three of them end up on an unusual adventure that makes them realize the complexities of trust and love along the way. It is Glendy Vanderah’s debut novel.
17. Devoted
For those who love reading murder mysteries, Dean Koontz’s Devoted is a fresh and highly recommended epic thriller. It has been in the top charts of USA Today as well as the Wall Street Journal. There is an indescribable evil behind the death of his father—this is what Woody believes when he lost his dad in an accident. Now, it is after him and his family.
18. When We Believed in Mermaids
When We Believed in Mermaids is a heartwarming tale of two sisters. This Barbara O’Neal novel will wrench your heart as it tackles grief, loss, and a deluge of other emotions. It is one of the best books that have stayed in the bestseller spot for a long time on Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
19. If You Tell
Another murder mystery, If You Tell is a novel by Gregg Olsen that is based on a true story. It is one of those books that will send a shiver down your spine yet you won’t want to put it down. This story is about surviving evil and finding justice.
20. The Complete Works of Shakespeare
Yes, the Great Bard’s works are also available on Kindle Unlimited. This collection, called The Complete Works of Shakespeare, contains Shakespeare’s plays including Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and The Tempest. You will also find his other works for free with your subscription, like A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Merchant of Venice.
21. Shakespeare’s Sonnets
You can now read all 154 of Shakespeare’s Sonnets in this eBook collection. These are some of the most beautiful poems you will ever read in your lifetime.
22. The Sun and Her Flowers
For those who are yearning for contemporary love poetry, Rupi Kaur’s The Sun and Her Flowers is a heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking collection of poems. Yes, Kindle Unlimited also has some of the best books on modern poetry in its archives, so poetry lovers would also find the subscription worth it. As with other of her books, this Kaur collection includes unique illustrations that accurately depict the heart and soul of her words.
23. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Venturing now into non-fiction, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change is one of the most popular self-help books out there. Stephen Covey has successfully influenced positive change in so many lives through this book. It has been recommended by professors, professional coaches, and psychologists over the years.
24. A Beginner’s Guide to the Stock Market
Aspiring stockbrokers or even those who just want to learn stock trading at home will benefit from this simple yet valuable guide. It will teach you everything you need to know to get started and what you must avoid at all costs to avoid losing your money. Matthew Kratter’s A Beginner’s Guide to the Stock Market will save you from making the fatal mistakes that novices make when investing and trading for the first time.
25. Bread Baking for Beginners
Whether you want to start a business or just want to bake for leisure, Bread Baking for Beginners will start you on the right path to becoming a bread baking master. The guide is easy to follow and straightforward. You don’t have to worry about complex baking terms because Bonnie Ohara explains it all in the most beginner-friendly way. It covers techniques on baking kneaded bread, enriched bread, and bread that require no kneading.
26. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Made Simple
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT has been an incredibly efficient therapy method for treating mental illnesses. It has been a revolutionary approach after Freud’s traditional psychotherapy has proven to be largely ineffective for some. While CBT is not for everyone, many people suffering from anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders may benefit from the practical techniques that it teaches. Seth Gillihan’s Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Made Simple will teach you those techniques, but always remember it’s important to seek the guidance of a professional if, at any point, the activities become too overwhelming. Doctor Gillihan is a licensed psychologist who specializes in mindfulness.
27. Potty Training in 3 Days
Parents will find Potty Training in 3 Days by Brandi Brucks a gift from above! If you are finding it a real challenge to potty-train your toddler, this book will help you. It provides a step-by-step plan so you can get your little one to start using the toilet tantrum-free! These tips are safe and gentle so you don’t have to worry about your child ever being traumatized by potty training. This is one of the best books on Kindle Unlimited in the parenting genre.
28. How to Draw Cool Stuff
If you want to learn how to draw, this book is a great guide for beginners. Although it says it is mainly for students, people of all ages will find the techniques here applicable to the basic rules of drawing. Catherine Holmes’ How to Draw Cool Stuff: A Drawing Guide for Teachers and Students includes illustrated instructions, making them easier to follow.
29. Graphic Design: The New Basics
Ellen Lupton’s Graphic Design: The New Basics Second Edition is a great introduction for aspiring graphic designers. This book is co-written by Jennifer Cole Philips. It includes techniques on typography, Gestalt principles, and designing with color.
30. The Self-Taught Programmer
If you are aiming to land a career in software engineering or other fields in IT, Cory Althoff’s The Self-Taught Programmer: The Definitive Guide to Programming Professionally will prepare you for your new career path. Learn how to code in the Python programming language and how to use tools like Git. This book is a great companion when you are trying to start new programming projects to practice your skills.
31. Machine Learning for Absolute Beginners
Machine learning has taken the tech industry by storm. If you want to study how it works, Oliver Theobald’s Machine Learning for Absolute Beginners: A Plain English Introduction is a great place to start. You don’t have to be scared of technical terms because as the title suggests; everything is explained in plain English. It is one of the best practical tech books that you can find on Kindle Unlimited.
How Does Kindle Unlimited Subscription Work?
As mentioned, a Kindle Unlimited subscription gives you free access to millions of eBooks from the Kindle archives. However, to be upfront and transparent in this article, it’s important to note that it does not include all titles from the entire Amazon Kindle Library. You may find that some titles, especially extremely popular bestsellers, are only available for purchase. In some cases, the first book in a series may be available for free but not the sequel.
You also do not get to own the books. Technically, you are borrowing them and when your subscription ends, the books you downloaded will eventually be deleted from your device. You are allowed to download a maximum of 10 books at a time. There is no deadline for returning them but you cannot borrow more than 10 books simultaneously. So is it still worth paying for? Take a look at the details below so you can make an informed decision.
Subscription Types and Costs
- Monthly Subscription – $9.99/month
- Two Months Limited Time Deal – Get 2 months of Kindle Unlimited for $4.99. After two months, the subscription renews at $9.99/month.
You can do a 30-day free trial which gives you access to the best Kindle Unlimited books.
Signing Up
To sign up for Kindle Unlimited, you would need to have an Amazon account. If you don’t have one, you can easily create a new account. Go to the official Amazon website and click Start Here under Accounts and Lists from the top-right menu. Once you have an account, you can subscribe to the service.
- From the home page, hover your mouse on Accounts and Lists on the top-right menu and select Kindle Unlimited under Your Account.
- You will be asked to re-enter your password. If you have two-factor authentication (2FA), enter the code from your authenticator app or the code sent to your mobile phone.
- You may also click on Kindle Books from the secondary menu on the top of the page. Then click on Kindle Unlimited from the sub-menu.
- You will be taken to the Kindle Unlimited signup page.
- If it’s your first time subscribing, you will see the option to start a 30-day free trial. Click on that and enter your password again.
- Enter your payment information and confirm. If you are eligible for the trial, you will not be billed until the end of the 30 days.
Devices Compatible with Kindle Unlimited
Don’t worry if you don’t have the official Kindle eReader; you can read your eBooks by downloading the free Kindle app on your devices. You can install the app on your smartphone, laptop, or desktop.
Kindle Readers
Using a Kindle reader remains to be the best way to enjoy your Kindle Unlimited books. The Kindle Paperwhite is the most popular model. It is water-resistant so you can even read by the pool or the beach. Another advantage is it doesn’t use blue light so it doesn’t strain your eyes. It makes you feel like you are reading a physical or paper book, hence the name. Here are other great Kindle devices.
Kindle Oasis
It uses the same Paperwhite display plus an adjustable warm light so you can read under different lighting conditions.
Kindle Black Glare-Free
While this model doesn’t have Paperwhite technology, it still makes reading easier because of the glare-free feature.
Mac and PC
You can download the Kindle app on your laptop or desktop, both on Windows PC and MacBooks. It’s available for free on the Apple App Store and the Microsoft Store.
Kindle Mobile App
The mobile app is available for both Android phones and tablets, as well as iPhones and iPad.
Finding Kindle Unlimited eBooks
As mentioned, not all Kindle books are available on Kindle Unlimited. To find out if a title is eligible to download for free with your subscription, you need to see if it has the Kindle Unlimited logo. It is written in yellow and black, and you will usually find it at the top of the book’s photo. Here are some ways you can get to the list of eligible books. You can do this both from a browser or the apps. It’s a bit different when browsing from a Kindle device and you will find a separate set of instructions for that below.
From a Browser
- Click on Kindle Books from the top menu on the home page then select Kindle eBooks.
- Scroll down and click on any category that you want to browse.
- Once there, tick on the checkbox from the left menu that says Kindle Unlimited Eligible.
- You will now see a list of all the eligible titles including some of the best books that you can download for free from Kindle Unlimited.
From the Kindle App
- From the app’s home screen, tap on the Discover icon from the bottom-left. This will immediately show you titles including those that are eligible for free download.
- Either click on the Kindle Unlimited option from the top categories or expand the left menu and scroll down to find it.
From Kindle Devices
- From your eReader’s home screen, tap on the Store icon from the top menu.
- Under Browse categories, you will immediately see Kindle Unlimited. Tap on that and it will give you a list of all the eligible titles per category.
Borrowing Titles
It’s simple to start downloading the best books on Kindle Unlimited from any device.
- Follow the steps above on finding eligible titles. Or you can search for the title that you want.
- If it’s eligible for free download or borrowing, tap on the book. Remember, it has to have the Kindle Unlimited logo on it.
- You will see an option that says Read for free. Tap or click on it and the eBook will be sent to your device.
- Wait for the book to download.
- If you have both a Kindle reader and the apps, it will automatically sync so that it will be available on all of them.
Returning Titles
To return any of the 10 books you may have stored in your device, all you have to do is go to your library and select the Return option.
- From a web browser or the Amazon app (not the Kindle app), hover your mouse or tap on Accounts and Lists from the top menu, then click on Your Kindle Unlimited.
- Select Your Borrowed Items and it will display all the books you’ve downloaded.
- Beside each title, you will see two options: Read Now and Return.
- Select Return and confirm.
- You now have free slots to borrow more books again.
Can I Lend My Kindle Unlimited eBooks?
If you know about Amazon’s household sharing feature, you may be wondering if your Kindle Unlimited content is also eligible for sharing with your family members in your account. The Kindle service, in general, also allows you to lend some of your eBooks to friends. Unfortunately, neither of the two programs allows you to lend your Kindle Unlimited books. The books in your devices are technically considered “borrowed” by you, so it’s not possible to lend them to others. However, you can give your friends and family a subscription to the service as a gift!
Giving Kindle Unlimited as a Gift
First of all, you must have your own Kindle Unlimited subscription to gift one to a friend. Otherwise, you will not be able to access the page where you can purchase the subscription as a gift.
- Go to the Kindle Unlimited Gift Page and sign in.
- You will see three membership options: 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months.
- Select the length of the subscription you want to give to your friend or family and click Continue.
- It will take you to a page where you can enter the recipient’s email and the date when you want their subscription to start.
- Fill out the information. You can also type a personalized message to your friend.
- Click Continue to payment, confirm your payment information, and proceed to check out.
- Your friend will receive an email saying that you have given them a Kindle Unlimited subscription.
What Is Kindle Unlimited With Narration?
Some Amazon eBooks include “companion audiobooks.” You can listen to these audiobooks using the Audible app. Audible is Amazon’s audiobook subscription service that works a lot like Kindle Unlimited. If the title you borrowed includes an audiobook, you will see a headphone icon on it and a button that says “Read and Listen for Free”. You can listen to the audiobook anytime using the free Audible app.
Why Subscribe to Kindle Unlimited?
All things considered, is it worth paying for a Kindle Unlimited subscription? This depends on your reading habits and the kind of books you like to consume. As mentioned, not all titles are eligible for a free reading with the subscription. However, there are millions of titles to choose from and as you can see, we’ve included some of the best books you can find in the Kindle Unlimited library on the list above.
You may also want to consider your reading speed. How many books can you truly finish per month? Remember that you can borrow up to 10 books per month with your membership. To maximize the subscription, you must be able to read more than one book per month.
Here’s a clearer picture: most Kindle eBooks cost around $9.99 to $12.99 each. Subscription to the service is $9.99 per month. If you can read more than one book a month, you’ve already saved a lot! What more if you can read more than two? These are some of the things to keep in mind.
Canceling Your Subscription
How do you cancel your Kindle Unlimited subscription? If you find that the service is not for you, you can cancel your membership at any time. You will have access to your downloaded titles until the next billing date when your subscription ends.
- Access your Kindle Unlimited page from Accounts and Lists as mentioned in several of the steps above.
- On the left panel, you will see Manage Membership. Click Cancel Kindle Unlimited Membership under that.
- You may have to re-enter your password.
- Confirm that you want to cancel.
Final Word
Kindle Unlimited is truly a great eBook subscription service for the certified bookworm! You have access to titles from across all genres and you can download up to 10 books per month. Whether the subscription is right for you depends on how much you can maximize its benefits. But you don’t have to decide right away. Why not try it for free for 30 days to see if you will enjoy it? So sign up today and get access to the best books on Kindle Unlimited with your free trial!
