I wanted to start this blog post by telling you just how much I love to read, but then I realized that several great names before my time have already put these thoughts into words perfectly. And why should I try to reinvent the wheel? So, I’ll start this post by sharing with you some of my favorite famous quotes about reading.

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” C.S. Lewis

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book!” Jane Austen

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Dr. Seuss

“Do not read, as children do, to amuse yourself, or like the ambitious, for the purpose of instruction. No, read in order to live.” Gustave Flaubert

That being said, let’s dive in…

Since becoming an avid reader, there have been many resources I’ve stumbled upon that I wish someone had told me about sooner. There is so much more to reading that just going to the library (or Amazon) and picking out a book! Today I’m sharing with you six resources that I have found to be extremely helpful (and exciting) as a reader.

Goodreads

My good friend Patricia told me about Goodreads.com in 2016, and since then I have never been the same! I mean, sure, I had heard of Goodreads before, but I didn’t really know what it was. Once she informed me that it was literally the best resource for readers, I was intrigued.

It turns out that Goodreads is an incredible website where you can create a profile to help you keep track of the books you’re reading, rate/review books, and best of all discover new books! I especially like the fact that I can follow my friends on Goodreads and see what they’re reading. It’s like Facebook for bookworms (but better).

Audible

Raise your hand if you spend a lot of time in the car (both hands raised over here)! I can’t even tell you how many hours I spend in the car each week. It’s kind of ridiculous. In fact, a few years ago I found myself super frustrated because I was sitting in traffic. I had a million things I needed to do, and I felt like I was just sitting there rotting.

And then it dawned on me: Instead of wasting all that precious time in the car, I could be multitasking and doing something productive while driving the same route to and from work each day. I could be reading!

Of course, it’s not safe to drive while reading an actual book, but that’s exactly what audiobooks are for. My favorite place to get audiobooks is Audible.com. Honestly, they’re a little bit overpriced (in my opinion), but it’s worth it if you’re constantly driving around town.

My favorite Audible book to date is Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen, narrated by the lovely Rosamond Pike (who plays Jane Bennet in the 2005 film adaptation). Trust me, her voice for Mr. Collins is an absolute treat.

Spotify

Speaking of audiobooks, did you know there are a bunch of audiobooks on Spotify?! My husband and I started investing in Spotify Premium back in 2015, and I honestly don’t think I could live without it at this point. Having all the music in the world at my fingertips for $10 per month is totally worth it to me. PLUS, as I’m about to share, they have MORE THAN MUSIC!

I don’t even remember when I first discovered audiobooks on Spotify…probably back in 2014 or 2015? Ever since then, I have enjoyed devouring my favorite classics chapter by chapter as I drive to and from work.

To find audiobooks on Spotify, just open up the app and go to “Browse.” From there, you will see a list of genres. Scroll all the way down until you see “Word.” Once you click on it, you will see all sorts of playlists with audiobooks on them. (They even have one dedicated to solely to Jane Austen!)

iBooks

If you have an iPhone or iPad (and love to read), you need to know about iBooks. iBooks is an app that allows you to purchase, download and read ebooks. The best part about iBooks is that almost every single classic novel you can think of (in the public domain) is free. FREE!

That means if you haven’t discovered Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Leo Tolstoy, Charles Dickens or any of the other classic novelists I’ve told you about, now you can do it without spending a dime.

Kindle Unlimited

I have a love/hate relationship with Kindle Unlimited, but I have to recommend it to you because it has helped me discover some really good books.

If you haven’t heard of Kindle Unlimited, it’s a service created by Amazon where you spend $10 per month and have access to thousands of ebooks. I have read some really great books with Kindle Unlimited, including: Arabella by Georgette Heyer, The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien, The Lost Heiress by Roseanna M White, A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter.

My only problem with Kindle Unlimited is that it has tricked me into starting a few book series, only to have me discover that the first book in each series is all that’s included in the subscription. For example, I got absolutely hooked to the Hawthorne House series by Kristi Ann Hunter. I read the first book within a day or two, and then I went to download the second book but it wasn’t included. I was super bummed. This has happened to me several times. I know it’s a marketing scheme, but it’s frustrating!

One thing I really do love about Kindle Unlimited is that there’s no commitment. That means I can purchase a month at a time on an as-needed basis.

OverDrive

Love library books but can’t always get to the library to check out a book? No problem! OverDrive is an app where you can login to your local library (you’ll need a library card, of course) and check out their digital selection of ebooks and audiobooks. Pretty convenient, if you ask me.

What are some of your favorite resources as a reader? I’d love to know! Leave me a comment below.

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