Back in April, I decided to up my reading game by trying out Kindle Unlimited for a month. As I’m sure you already know, I’m an avid reader – this blog is basically a book blog nowadays!
In the UK, Kindle Unlimited has a one month free trial currently when you sign up for a monthly subscription!
But I wanted to make sure that I made the most of it, so here’s my Kindle Unlimited review, whether Kindle Unlimited is worth it or not, and how I planned it:
How I Planned My Kindle Unlimited Test
At the beginning of the year, after getting back into reading again in 2024, I made myself a spreadsheet – I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s a bit of a monster! The main tab is a reading calendar that keeps me on track for upcoming books and NetGalley deadlines, but it’s also home to a long list of books I own, want to read, and really want to read.
In doing so, I realised how many of the Kindle books I wanted were actually available on Kindle Unlimited, especially by new authors I’d discovered on BookTok, plus a few favourite thriller writers like Freida McFadden.
And so, my Kindle Unlimited tab in my spreadsheet began, and grew and grew.
Read more: We Fell Apart by E. Lockhart Review (We Were Liars Sequel)
So, I created a new tab: my Kindle Unlimited list. And it grew…and grew until it had over 125 unlimited titles!
I set myself a goal of not buying any books at the beginning of the year (or requesting more on Netgalley, but there were a couple that slipped through the net!) with the goal that I would sign up for Kindle Unlimited when we went away on a road trip around the southern states of the US in April 2025. I was so excited when I reached that and could access as many of the unlimited titles from Kindle Unlimited as I liked.
The night before the trip, I was like a kid in a candy store, with SO much choice from my Kindle Unlimited list, downloading books and feeling giddy about how much reading I could pack into one month!
Read more: Book Review: Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
Even better, I discovered that, even though I’d signed up to Kindle Unlimited several years ago and used the free trial then (I didn’t make good use of it at all, I didn’t know what it was really then!), I could access another free trial now. Enough time must have passed that I was able to do so. I’ve Googled “can I get 2 free trials of Kindle Unlimited?” and can’t find a definite answer, but it seems that sooner or later they offer you another free trial, so if you’ve already done it once and not made the most of it, it’s worth checking again and planning for it!
I’m going to answer a few questions about Kindle Unlimited first before telling you if I think Kindle Unlimited is actually worth it. But for a little more context, I did that one free trial month in April then treated myself to another month (late September to late October) where I actually paid for it, to help me decide whether the cost of Kindle Unlimited was worth it. (Spoiler alert: yes, for me Kindle Unlimited is definitely worth it!)
What Is Kindle Unlimited?
Kindle Unlimited is Amazon’s unlimited subscription service for eBooks. For a set monthly fee (£9.49 in the UK at the time of writing), you can borrow and read as many books as you like from a library of over 4 million titles.
You actually don’t need a Kindle device either – you can download the free Kindle app on your phone, tablet, or laptop to access your books!
Is Kindle Unlimited Free for Prime Members?
No – Kindle Unlimited isn’t included with Amazon Prime. However, Prime members do get access to Prime Reading, which is a smaller library of rotating titles you can borrow for free. If you’re finding Prime Reading too limited, Kindle Unlimited is the next step up.
Read more: Where to Find Books to Read
For anyone who’s not an Amazon Prime member, don’t forget you can get so many 99p Kindle books every month! I keep that list up to date on the 1st of every month and throughout the month where I can too, so check out what amazing books you can get there.
How Much Does Kindle Unlimited Cost in the UK?
At the moment, Kindle Unlimited costs £9.49 per month, after your one-month free trial.
You can also sometimes find special offers for 2 or 3 months free (especially around Prime Day or Black Friday), so it’s worth keeping an eye out on the Kindle Store for deals.
What I Read During My Free Trial Month
During my one-month free trial for my Kindle Unlimited review, I made it my mission to get my money’s worth (even though it was technically free!). I read a mix of thrillers, romantasy, and BookTok favourites, including a couple of Zodiac Academy books and other series I’d been meaning to start for ages.
Here’s what I read:
| Book | Author | Price (Kindle) |
|---|---|---|
| The Housemaid’s Secret | Freida McFadden | £3.99 |
| Quicksilver | Callie Hart | £9.99 |
| Exodus | Kate Stewart | £4.99 |
| Filthy Rich Fae | Geneva Lee | £5.49 |
| One Dark Window | Rachel Gillig | £5.99 |
| Wordslut | Amanda Montell | £7.99 |
| Credence | Penelope Douglas | £3.79 |
| The Awakening (Zodiac Academy) | Caroline Peckham | £6.99 |
| A Touch of Darkness | Scarlett St. Clair | £4.19 |
That’s £53.41 worth of books – all included in my free month. Pretty good going I’d think!
The only mistake I made here was starting a couple of new series rather than finishing ones I should have done – they were just too tempting!
What I Read During My Paid Month
After loving my trial, I decided to treat myself to another month for my birthday (29th September). I already had a huge TBR list, so I picked a few of those, but I decided to focus on getting through as many of the Zodiac Academy universe books as I could – that included the Zodiac Academy ones and Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac. I probably shouldn’t have started the Crowns of Nyaxia series here as it means I’ve got yet another series on the go that I need to get to now – check out the Crowns of Nyaxia reading order here to see how many I need to get through!
Here’s what I read between 26th September and 26th October:
| Book | Author | Price (Kindle) |
|---|---|---|
| The Serpent and the Wings of Night | Carissa Broadbent | £4.00 |
| Flawless | Elsie Silver | £5.49 |
| Ruthless Fae | Caroline Peckham | £6.99 |
| Painted Ladies | P. R. Ellis | £2.99 |
| On Wings of Blood | Briar Boleyn | £11.99 |
| The Bond That Burns | Briar Boleyn | £12.99 |
| The Reckoning | Caroline Peckham | £6.99 |
| Dark Fae | Caroline Peckham | £6.99 |
| Savage Fae | Caroline Peckham | £6.99 |
| Vicious Fae | Caroline Peckham | £6.99 |
| Broken Fae | Caroline Peckham | £7.99 |
That’s a total of £76.40 worth of books in one month — for £9.49!
How Does Kindle Unlimited Work?
When you sign up, you can borrow up to 20 books at a time from the Kindle Unlimited library. When you’re done, you simply “return” them digitally to borrow something new.
You can access your borrowed books across devices through your Amazon account and the Kindle app, and you can download them to read offline (perfect for travelling or holidays).
Do You Still Need to Pay for Books with Kindle Unlimited?
You only need to pay for books not included in the KU library. Every title clearly says whether it’s part of Kindle Unlimited in the Kindle Store. If it’s not, you’ll have to buy it separately, but apparently KU members can sometimes get discounts on purchase prices (I haven’t seen this yet, but I’ll keep an eye out!)
What Books Are Included in Kindle Unlimited?
There’s a massive range: from indie new authors and BookTok favourites to classics, non-fiction, romance, thrillers, and fantasy. Popular genres include:
- Romantasy (e.g. Zodiac Academy, Crowns of Nyaxia)
- Thrillers (like Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid series)
- Contemporary romance (Elsie Silver, Lucy Score, Tessa Bailey)
- Fantasy series that would otherwise be pricey to buy individually
Read more: Best Romantasy Books & Series You HAVE To Read Now
Sometimes even new authors and new release books go straight to Kindle Unlimited, for example, The Cinnamon Spice Inn is on Kindle Unlimited already, as is The Spiced Cocoa Cafe by the same author that was only released last week!
I have a few posts coming up that highlight books in different genres that are included in Kindle Unlimited, so keep an eye out for those!
My Favourite Unexpected Benefits of Kindle Unlimited
Reviving expired NetGalley books:
I had several old eARCs from years ago that expired before I could download them. Many of them are now available through Kindle Unlimited, so I’ve finally been able to finish them properly.
Rereading “real” editions:
I reread On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn on Kindle Unlimited before starting its sequel. I’d originally read the NetGalley ARC, but wanted to read the final, published version before reading The Bond That Burns, and it meant the author earned royalties from my read-through!
Perfect for travel:
Kindle Unlimited is brilliant for road trips, plane journeys, or holidays. Does anyone else remember trying to pack 10+ books into their suitcase when going abroad?! With Kindle Unlimited, you’ve got no luggage weight limits, just endless reading.
Cons of Kindle Unlimited
Of course, I’ve got to highlight a few things that might not work in favour of Kindle Unlimited!
- Kindle books disappear when your subscription ends. If you’re halfway through a book when your KU runs out, you’ll lose access (this happened to me with Broken Fae – tragic!)
- Not every bestseller is included. You’ll still find lots of indie or mid-list authors, but newer or traditionally published books might not appear for a while. I’ve got a few fave authors on my list whose other books are on Kindle Unlimited, so I’m sure they’ll appear at some point, but you won’t get to read them alongside everyone else when they’re released.
- Easy to get overwhelmed. With millions of unlimited books, the choice can be a bit much if you don’t plan your reading in advance. I know not everyone reads like this though!
Can You Cancel Kindle Unlimited Before the Free Trial Ends?
Yes, you can cancel any time before your free trial or billing date, and you’ll still have access until your month ends. Just go to “Manage Membership” in your Amazon account.
Is Kindle Unlimited Worth It in the UK?
For me – absolutely!!
During my free trial and one paid month, I read £129.81 worth of books. That’s about 13x the cost of the monthly subscription.
If you read as much as I do, or tend to binge-read series (Zodiac Academy, Crowns of Nyaxia fans, I’m looking at you), it’s very worth it.
But if you’re more of a casual reader who finishes a couple of books a month, it might not save you money, though it’s still an amazing way to discover new authors, explore indie fantasy, or enjoy unlimited titles during holidays or downtime.
Read more: Top 10 Incredible Book Series – All the Best Books to Binge
Kindle Unlimited isn’t a replacement for owning your favourite books, but it’s a brilliant companion for any avid reader. Personally, I’m not really a trophy books kind of person. If I really enjoy a book on Kindle Unlimited that I know I’ll want to read again and again or loan out to friends, I’ll buy a copy afterwards. But generally, I’m just happy to borrow them!
It’s also a clever way to push through long fantasy series without spending a fortune, or waiting for your local library to get the stock in (if they even have it, that is!)
My Kindle Unlimited Review
So is Kindle Unlimited worth it? For me: yes, yes, YES.
But not every month. There are so many books I already own that I need to read, and there are books that are unlikely to ever be on Kindle Unlimited. So I need to plan a month where I’ll ONLY read Kindle Unlimited books to really make the most of it.
But even if you’re not sure, the 1 month free trial makes it an easy experiment. Just make sure you’ve got your Kindle charged, your TBR list ready…and are ready for a few late nights of reading!
My Favourite Books on Kindle Unlimited
And just to finish off the post, here’s a few of my favourite books plus a few on my TBR, that you can find on Kindle Unlimited. Click on each book to download it, but make sure to sign up for your Kindle Unlimited free trial here first!
And don’t forget to pin this post for later!
