Where to Find eBooks and Audiobooks Online

I’ve always been a big proponent of reading and now is a great time to up your reading game with eBooks and Audiobooks. For me, so far during this quarantine reading has been: 

• A way to distract myself from the stress of the day 
• A source of inspiration when reading about others overcoming challenges 
• A way to connect with others by reading books together and sparking discussion 
• A way to get information and perspective 

Like everywhere else, my lovely local library is closed for the time being. So today I’m sharing some of the best ways to find e-books and audiobooks. Some of these resources are free, some are relatively cheap, and they are all a great way to access a larger library collection. And if you’re looking for some good new titles to read, check out some of my favorite books here.  

Find eBooks and Audiobooks at Libraries! 

• Local Library
  • Most libraries have some form of digital library these days. Typically, libraries provide digital resources through a third-party app like Overdrive, Libby, or Hoopla. These usually have both eBooks and audiobooks that you can check out. Search for any of these apps on your library website or look for “digital resources” or “eBooks”. 
  • A couple of tips:
    • For the most popular titles, there is almost always a wait. You can usually put a hold on it and you will be notified when it is available. 
    • A great thing about digital resources is that they automatically expire when they are due back. So, you don’t have to stress about returning them or incurring late fees. 
    • For eBooks, there is typically an integration with Kindle/Amazon which allows you to easily read the book on your Kindle, which I find very useful! 
• Other Libraries 
  • If your library does not offer digital resources or there is a huge waitlist for every book you want, you can typically find ways to access other libraries. There are two main ways to do this: 
    • In-State Libraries 
      • I’ve found that often there are other library collections that will allow residents of the state some kind of access. This takes a bit of sleuthing- think of some big libraries in your state and take a look at the requirements for getting a library card. 
    • Non-Resident Libraries
      • There are a number of libraries that allow non-resident access for a fee. One example is the Brooklyn Library which has a fee of $50/year. 
    • Quarantine specific tip: In both cases, make sure that they offer digital cards/access as you won’t be able to get the card in person right now! 
• Your Home Library 
  • This is also an awesome time to reread books from your own collection! I love rereading a book and having a new and different reaction to it. Sometimes I find myself empathizing with a character in a completely different way of seeing something in a new light based on my experience. We are always growing and evolving so even if you have read something before, it will likely hit you in a new way. 

Free eBook and Audio Book Resources:

Audible is currently offering a collection of free titles. These are primarily for students, but there are some classics for everyone as well (i.e. Harry Potter!) 

Librivox is a site with free public domain audiobooks. There is a wide range here from very obscure to classics. You can also volunteer to be a reader of a book so folks everywhere can enjoy hearing your voice! 

Project Gutenberg has over 60,000 free public domain ebooks available to download. This is a great place to find many classic titles. If you get a little overwhelmed with the big catalog you can look at the top 100 most popular downloads to get some inspiration.

YouTube actually has a number of audiobooks available for free. It might be hit or miss, but I’ve been surprised by what you can find here! Note, sometimes these are electronically generated recordings which can be…a bit challenging to get through! 

Amazon First Reads if you have an Amazon Prime account you can get one free book a month through the Amazon First Reads program. This gives you access to books before they are published. There are only a handful of options each month, so it is relatively limited but is a great way to discover new authors. 

Spotify has a collection of audiobooks available. You can sign up for free or pay for a membership to take off ads. I find it a bit difficult to navigate the collection of books available but there seems to be quite a few. I would search for “audiobooks” and then look through the playlists and find a category that sparks your interest. There is a playlist called “Audiobook of the Week” that could be good to follow for new ideas. 

Other Ways to Access eBooks and Audiobooks: 

Bookbub is a daily email newsletter that has a curated list of discounted books (typically under $2) each day. You can set your book category preferences, so your daily list is most curated to your interests. It’s hard to find specific books through this, but it is a great way to get some inspiration and find new titles that you might have missed otherwise. 

Audible is a favorite for audiobooks. They have a huge collection and have a monthly membership model. This option is best for folks that are fans of audiobooks and are looking for specific titles. 

Scribd is another monthly membership site with audiobooks, digital books, and sheet music(!). The membership allows for unlimited downloads per month so is a good option if you get through a lot of books each month. 

Independent Bookstores: 

Many bookstores are struggling during this time. If you have a favorite local bookstore, it’s definitely worth looking up or calling them to find out if they are delivering books or have digital books available for sale. If you don’t have a specific bookstore in mind, you can also support independent bookstores through a site like Indiebound or Bookshop.

There you have it! I hope this guide helps to support your reading journey at all times, but especially during this time of quarantine. Let me know what you’re reading these days in the comments below! 

And if you have a hot tip on where to find books that’s missing for this list, please let me know and I’ll add it in. 

Xo 

Louisa 

This post is part of my Quarantine Journal Series. Read more about my intentions behind it here.