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December 2023

Earlier this year, something went quite wrong with my e-reader, and I decided to reconnect with paper books. In typical frequency illusion fashion, I suddenly began noticing all these sources of affordable paperback books everywhere around me. Charity shops, secondhand booksellers, library sales, book fairs, little free libraries, “take one; leave one” baskets at cafés. I never knew so many sources of cheap and zero-dollar books existed!

Okay, fine, I did know they exist. But I knew it in the dark recesses of my mind, in the places easily overshadowed by the bright lights and fanfare of slick, new-release, first-sale retail ⚡️🧠⚡️

There is no secondhand market for ebooks, mainly because you don’t really own the ebooks you buy. Most of the time, you rent them from platforms that make no guarantee you’ll get to keep a readable copy of that book forever.

But affordable sources of ebooks do exist. You just can’t stumble upon them while ordering your koala tea and kangaroo biscuits. Instead, you find them through other booklovers who love to share a good find.

Here are a few choice sources via this article on Nomad Authors:

1. Book promotion platforms (eg. StoryOrigin, ProlificWorks) — Consider this your best-kept secret, as indie authors turn to these platforms to reach new readers. As such platforms offer only limited access directly to readers, your best bet will be to subscribe to a couple of newsletters from indie authors in your genre. That puts you just a few clicks away from a massive rabbithole of books, many of which will be discounted, free, or available for review.

2. Book promotion mailing lists (eg. eReaderIQ, Books and the Bear, Book Doggy, The Book Circle, Discount Book Man) — These mailing lists are book catalogues, often curated to your taste in genre, delivered directly to your inbox. Books appearing in these catalogues tend to be on sale or available for free, either permanently or as part of a limited time promotion.

3. ARC (advance reader copy) websites (eg. NetGalley, BookSprout, BookSirens, Hidden Gems) — These sites are a great source of free books, as long as you’re happy to write a review. Although some readers love writing detailed reviews, it’s not always expected. Most of the time, a star rating and a few words about what you liked or disliked are enough. If you’re an avid reader and you tend to keep track of your books anyway, signing up for ARCs is an excellent way to keep your e-reader topped up.

To top it all off, we've rounded up a massive haul of delightful books you can enjoy over the holiday season.

Have a wonderful break! And even more wonderful reading 📚

From friends and around the way

A Triple-Dog Dare Christmas by Taylor Belle
Brandon is falling hard and fast, but is Amber worth turning away from the millions his parents are threatening to cut him off from?

The Seaside Murder Before Christmas by Shannon Symonds
Make room for some old-fashioned traditions and sleuthing as Sophie and Esther race to solve the mystery before this Christmas becomes someone's last chapter.

Just Another Stupid Boy by J. Leigh James
Paige accidentally calls the hot, bad-boy, baseball star “stupid” in public. And she gets his attention. Just not in the way she wants.

Seasoned New Beginnings by Ruby James
Eva and Isaac must risk opening their hearts to a possible future together. Can new beginnings in life include a second chance at love?

Send Wish to World by Rachel J. Green
A single dad romance that will make you believe in the power of fate. A sweet and emotional contemporary romance about love after loss and a second chance.

Books Make Great Gifts
Middle grade and YA books

Ticket to Love
Wholesome Christmas romance reads!

All Genre Book Giveaway
Book fair ends Jan 29th

Fantasy for the Holidays
Advance reader copies available until Jan 2nd

Free Cozies for Christmas
An adorable cozy book fair

Let it snow! We’re COZY inside …
A cozy mystery book fair — heaps of books!

You might enjoy this too:

Most people don’t typically think of reading when it comes to self care. For some, reading falls into the hobby category or as a way to pass the time. For others, it is an escape and a way to relax and unwind. Reading is at the top of my list when it comes to self-care. I love the feeling of sinking into a hot bath with a book and the sense of immediate relaxation washing over me. But what other ways can reading help? Let’s explore them together…

Face masks, long baths, and a good book: Why reading can be the ultimate act of self-care

By the way, reviews are a huge help to small-time indie authors. Both good reviews and bad ones help readers hone in on the books and authors they resonate with. If you’ve enjoyed one of my books, I’d love it if you would leave me a review or star rating on BookBub, StoryGraph or Goodreads.

The Guy from the Wedding – BookBub – StoryGraph – Goodreads

The Guy from the Internet – BookBub – StoryGraph – Goodreads

The Guy from the Library – BookBub – StoryGraph – Goodreads

The Guy from the Park – BookBub – StoryGraph – Goodreads

The Guy from the Flower Shop – BookBub – StoryGraph – Goodreads

Well, that’s it for now! Subscribe to my newsletter if you’d rather get these updates with pictures, sent to your email inbox. You’ll also get a little thank you gift for signing up.