kindle book review italiano

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How to Use the Kindle to Learn Italian

Your Kindle is a powerhouse tool for language learners . It’s a go-anywhere, learn-anytime resource that literally puts Italian at your fingertips.

There are tons of excellent Kindle resources for learning Italian—here are some of my favorites.

Kindle Books to Learn Italian

“37 ways to learn the italian language”, “italian quickly”, “read & think italian”, “practice makes perfect: complete italian grammar”, “essential italian grammar”, “schaum’s outline of italian grammar”, “italian vocabulary drills”, “italian vocabulary book”, “rick steves’ italian phrase book & dictionary”, “the complete italian travel phrasebook”, “short stories in italian for beginners”, “harry potter e la pietra filosofale” (“harry potter and the philosopher’s stone”), “il passato è una terra straniera” (“the past is a foreign country”), why a kindle is great for learning italian, how to use a kindle in your italian language program, install an italian dictionary, download materials, become familiar with kindle features, schedule kindle study time, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

These books are created with learners in mind, breaking down aspects of the language in a way that’s useful for any learner!

Author:  Larry Aiello

If you’re at all uncertain about how to begin your Italian language learning journey, this book is for you!

The book won’t teach you Italian, but rather how to learn Italian . It provides information on different learning techniques, programs to consider and how to choose the best program for you.

Written by an Italian teacher, this is a quick read that can point learners toward their personal best learning method.

Author: Language Master

If you’re an absolute beginner to the language , this is a super resource. It covers all the basics, including the alphabet, numbers and how to ask for directions. You’ll also get a good starter guide on key verbs, adjectives, time expressions and other common words.

This is a good resource for anyone who wants a quick start to fuller learning, or simply those who want to travel and need to get the basics down quickly.

As a free bonus, you’ll also get an audio resource for Italian pronunciation practice .

Authors: The Editors of “Think Italian!” Magazine

This multi-faceted addition to an Italian program packs a lot of punch, consisting of 224 illustrated pages bursting with information.

There are articles written by native speakers—complete with same-page definitions of key words, language lessons with audio, over 7,000 flashcards for vocabulary building and even interesting cultural and historical points to ponder.

Author: Marcel Danesi

Language learners often get stuck on grammar but with this guide it’s not difficult to understand the basic rules. Every learner should have a complete guide to Italian grammar , and this resource has it all.

Each grammar point comes with clear explanations and tons of exercises with answer keys that’ll help you learn from your mistakes.

Additionally, the book concentrates on useful and high-frequency vocabulary so it’s a vocabulary builder , too.

Author:  Olga Ragusa

If a full guide to grammar seems intimidating, try out this more focused resource, first.

This book is a guide to using grammar in conversational settings . It focuses on the basic rules of the language and how to apply them to everyday meetings.

It’s organized in an easy-to-follow way that introduces elements one at a time and builds on previously taught concepts for a strong foundation.

Authors:  Joseph Germano and Conrad J. Schmitt

Grammar is one of those skills that gets easier with practice. This massive volume offers lots of opportunities to practice Italian grammar and works best as a supplement to other learning methods.

There are  480 exercises with answers —a huge addition to any Italian program. Unlike many other textbook-like resources, this one also includes contemporary Italian expressions, idioms and slang.

You also get access to downloadable audio files for extra practice.

Authors: David M. Stillman, Tiziano Cherubini, Ronni L. Gordon

You can’t speak Italian if you don’t know the words to use! Build a solid vocabulary with over 2,500 essential Italian words and phrases .

More than 100 exercises help learners grasp Italian vocabulary and put it to good use. Words are organized into themed lists, centering around useful topics like food, daily life, technology, travel and much more.

A companion flashcard app provides an additional opportunity for vocabulary drills.

Author: Pinhok Languages

This reference book combines a vocabulary builder and dictionary into one.

It groups vocabulary words and phrases by topic and purposefully doesn’t alphabetize the lists so you don’t accidentally learn them in order. This means you can start with any word in any topic and study what’s important to you.

Italian-English and English-Italian dictionaries following the vocabulary portion provide additional definitions.

Author: Rick Steves

Many learn to speak Italian so they can travel. If you’re planning a trip to Italy,  Rick Steves is a great guy to curate the phrases you’ll need to know .

The book covers the basics for navigating everyday situations and conversations. Every word and phrase comes with a special bonus: phonetic spelling .

You’ll also find other useful travel-oriented information here like everything you need to know about European currency, transportation and more. You can even tear out special on-the-go practice sheets so you always have a cheat-sheet with you in case you need it.

Author: Erica Stewart, “Learning Italian”

This phrasebook does more than skim the basics: It provides in-depth material to facilitate traveling in Italy !

Learn how to order food , negotiate shopping excursions, ask for directions and get by during many other everyday situations. There are over 1,000 phrases in the book, so it covers a lot of ground.

Author: Olly Richards

This book contains eight fun short stories to strengthen your reading skills while being entertained.

The stories cover a wide range of genres from science fiction to thriller, so you’ll definitely find something you love in here.

Each story is written using vocabulary specifically geared toward beginners , so you’ll be getting targeted language.

Stories also come with a glossary of key or difficult words, a plot summary and even comprehension questions at the end of each chapter to make sure you’re keeping up.

Author: J.K. Rowling

Power up your reading practice with full-length novels. There are so many to choose from, but starting with a familiar story might be the perfect way to slide into extended reading practice.

This book is the first in the well-known series about Harry Potter, who probably needs no introduction. (In case you’re somehow unfamiliar, the Harry Potter books are a young-adult series that follow a young wizard who’s invited into the magical school of Hogwarts, where he makes friends, masters his magic, fights monsters and stands up to the shadows of his past.)

Every Harry Potter volume is available in Italian. The language is uncomplicated and the vocabulary is pretty standard, since the series is intended for younger readers, so it’s a good place to start. Remember to note the vocabulary you don’t understand so you can practice later.

Author: Gianrico Carofiglio

Reading a new-to-you book or author is a great way to find interesting genres or brilliant authors. Reading in Italian also gives you a chance to read some works in their original language!

This book is written by a bestselling Italian author whose work has sold over four million copies in Italy.  I was pleasantly surprised by this book and can say firsthand that you’re in for a treat.

This psychological thriller follows Lieutenant Chiti on the hunt for a serial rapist as he delves deeper into the world of corruption until he risks being consumed by it.

Needless to say, this is quite an advanced book for mature readers only: If your skills have progressed to the advanced stage, give it a try for a dark, thrilling ride.

You might be attached to the comfy travel pillow you grab for long flights but it may not be your best travel buddy. Not by a long shot. Your Kindle? Now there’s any traveler’s bff!

• It’s budget-friendly and allows you tailor your language program to your own goals  for some Italian to go!
• The device is simple to operate and its text size is customizable.
• It’s also adaptable and suited for learning anywhere , including on a plane, by the poolside or even in a desert. It’s practically impervious to damage, is lightweight and tucks smoothly into even a small carry-on.
• The fact that it’s designed for reading and learning just cements the deal for language learners. This is a useful tool for anyone who wants to learn a language.
• Best of all, you can save some money by using a Kindle instead of buying the paperback version! Many books are available for free with Kindle Unlimited, while others can be bought at a nice discount from the print book list price.

Having an Italian dictionary installed before you begin reading is a good idea. That way, when you’re reading and hit an unfamiliar word (as all language learners do),  looking for the definition is no trouble at all .

Peruse the options available to Italian language learners. Choose the ones that appeal to you and download them so you can access them from anywhere . Having your learning materials available makes it a snap to access learning and just get down to it.

Knowing how to use your Kindle to your best advantage sets you up for learning success, so take a minute to review its features.

For instance, if there’s additional material that’s introduced as a footnote, you’ll see an asterisk or underlined text in the material. Tap onto whichever one appears and you’ll advance to the footnote. Use the “back” button to return to your place in the book.

You can even highlight and  take your own notes as you’re reading.

A Kindle is a tool and like any other part of your language program you need to use it regularly. Schedule time in your study program to devote to the material on your Kindle.

Remember: Reading skills improve with practice, so practice often.

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

Try FluentU for FREE!

The more you practice Italian, the better your skills will become. And the more you read , the easier it’ll get.

Have fun and good luck!

If you're as busy as most of us, you don't always have time for lengthy language lessons. The solution? FluentU !

Learn Italian with funny commericals, documentary excerpts and web series, as you can see here:

FluentU helps you get comfortable with everyday Italian by combining all the benefits of complete immersion and native-level conversations with interactive subtitles . Tap on any word to instantly see an image, in-context definition, example sentences and other videos in which the word is used.

Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab, and review words and phrases with convenient audio clips under Vocab .

Once you've watched a video, you can use FluentU's quizzes to actively practice all the vocabulary in that video. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you’re on.

FluentU will even keep track of all the Italian words you’re learning, and give you extra practice with difficult words. Plus, it'll tell you exactly when it's time for review. Now that's a 100% personalized experience !

The best part? You can try FluentU for free with a trial.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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• How to read books in Italian (when your Italian isn’t so good)

Reading is an excellent way to keep improving your Italian. But… if your Italian isn’t so good, reading can be a struggle. You spend so much time looking up words that you forget what you’re reading about. (If you are like me, you forget what you’re talking about too!)

But here’s where modern technology comes to the rescue. Reading an e-book on a tablet may not be your favorite way of reading (I know I personally still prefer the printed word) but for reading in a foreign language – especially one you don’t know that well – it’s the way to go.

I personally use an iPad and I’ve been known to use all of the best known reading apps from time to time – including Kindle, iBooks, and Nook. One reason for this apparent fickleness is simply the availability of the e-book I want. But as of right now (and I reserve the right to update this opinion in the future) Kindle is the clear winner. That’s because Kindle now includes a built-in Italian to English dictionary and a link to Bing’s translator service! What could be easier? Reading is now a breeze and fun! Here’s an example of how the app works using the Italian classic Pinocchio .

In addition, some books, like the above referenced Pinocchio , also have an audible version ! That means you can listen as well as read.

Still depending on your level, reading is tough (Pinocchio is actually quite advanced). What to do? Here are my personal recommendations to make reading a fun part of your continuing education in Italian.

• Try to always read at your level or just above. Don’t bother trying to read Dante. It’s way too advanced for you. It’s too advanced for some native Italians! You want to read things that will challenge you, but not make reading painful. If it’s painful, you probably won’t learn anything, even if you manage to keep doing it.
• Look for books translated into Italian from English. Now why wouldn’t you want to read a native Italian book? You do! Just not at first. Native Italians will use references to Italian culture and idioms that you won’t be familiar with. You’re struggling right now to learn new words so let’s not confuse matters. Get the words first, and it will be easier to understand the cultural references later.
• Look for Easy Readers. There are A LOT of cheap readers available for Kindle. They’re not all the same level, so be sure to check out a sample first. If you’re an absolute beginner, I recommend this one: Easy Italian Reader by Riccarda Saggese (In this case, if you prefer a paper version, go for it. All you need to read it is included in the text and even if you don’t know a word of Italian, I bet you can still read it!)
• Look for books that include an audible version . It costs extra, but audio will help you develop an ear for spoken Italian. You can read first for comprehension, and then listen after you know what’s going on. (If all you really want to do is develop your ear, I recommend Yabla .)

How do you find books?

Start your search here: Amazon Italian Editions for Kindle

Some popular authors that have Italian translations available for Kindle:

J.K. Rowling books (Harry Potter)

Michael Crichton books (Jurassic Park)

Robert Ludlum books (Jason Bourne)

Tom Clancy books (Jack Ryan)

Lee Child books (Jack Reacher)

James Patterson (Zoo)

Search for more! Here’s a list of fiction authors with Italian language editions on Amazon .

In the native italian category is Elena Ferrante’s Amica Geniale series . These books are very popular in Italy, but Elena Ferrante is a pen name and so far nobody knows who the real author is! A nice bonus, the entire series is available in audible versions

If you like non-fiction, Alberto Angela writes some cool books about Roman history in Italian. They are very descriptive so they’re great if you want to focus on learning new adjectives.

And though, while not currently my favorites, I still use iBooks and Nook fairly often when books are not available for Kindle. One book in particulate that is available as an e-book for iBooks (but not Kindle) is:

Io Non Ho Paura – original is Italian. Includes an eBook , audiobook option , AND a movie version ! (Just remember if you buy a DVD to make sure it will work in your player – DVDs are still produced based on region. Annoying, I know. Just be aware and check the specs on your player.)

If you like Dan Brown , you won’t find his Italian editions for Kindle but here they are for iBooks .

Want more recommendations? I’ve set up an Amazon Store for My Italian Diary . As I discover new books, I’ll be adding them there, so you might want to bookmark it.

Do you know any good books in Italian? Do share! Post your favorites in the comments! If you don’t mind, let us know what level you think they’re best for.

Happy Reading in Italian!

This is a great post, grazie! I am reading (very slowly) the Italian edition of the first Harry Potter book, and while I only have it in print form, it’s a little easier because I know the English version so well. I have my Google translate app open on my phone as I read and make my way slowly through. Loved your suggestions here.

I recommend you listen to this audio books. They are free and it is done with a grate care. https://www.raiplayradio.it/programmi/adaltavoce/archivio/audiolibri/

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The Best Kindles to Take Your Library Anywhere

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more . Please also consider subscribing to WIRED

Best for Most Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021, 11th Generation) Read more

The Smallest and Least Expensive Amazon Kindle (2022, 11th Generation) Read more

For Note-Taking Amazon Kindle Scribe Read more

Best for Kids Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids Edition (2021, 11th Generation) Read more

We love Kindles here at WIRED. They're simple, reliable, and perfect at what they do—in one palm-sized device, you can bring thousands of books with you to the park or mountain, and they typically get a month of battery life per charge. You can subscribe to get unlimited books from Amazon or get free books from your local library (more on those below). But what's the best Kindle? Our guide will help you decode the differences.

Be sure to check our many other buying guides , including the Best E-Readers , Best Fire Tablets , and Best Alexa Speakers .

Updated May 2024: The Kindle Oasis has been discontinued; we've removed it from this guide. We've also added the Lamicall Gooseneck Tablet Holder as an accessory.

Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off) . This includes unlimited access to WIRED. com and our print magazine (if you'd like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

Is It a Good Time to Buy a Kindle?

It's been a few years since a new Kindle was released, but it seems unlikely that one is coming in 2024. There's no saying for sure, though, and since Kobo just released a color e-reader, we might see one from Amazon next. Thankfully these devices last a long time and don't need frequent upgrades. If you're in the market for one now, you should be happy with it for a while—I've been using the Paperwhite since it was released in 2021 with no issues. The base Kindle and supersize Kindle Scribe were released in 2022, if you want the latest device. You may be able to get a good discount if you wait for Amazon Prime Day in July or Black Friday.

Best for Most

We think most people will like the Paperwhites the best. The step-up, waterproof e-reader went from one to three models. We tried the Signature Edition ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ), but all three have bigger, 6.8-inch screens with smaller bezels. The screens are brighter overall at their max and have adjustable warm lighting, but only the Signature can auto-adjust that brightness to your surroundings—we think that should be standard across all models. Its faster page-turn rate means there's no delay while you read.

The Signature has 32 gigabytes of storage and the Standard has 16 gigs (there's no longer an 8-gig Kindle). If you mostly listen to audiobooks, you may want to go for the Signature, since those tend to take up more room. But both storage options equals thousands of books and you can always just clean out your backlog; you can remove a book from your device without deleting it entirely from your Amazon account. The 2021 Paperwhites all have USB-C charging, and the Signature supports wireless charging.

The Smallest and Least Expensive

The difference between Kindle models is not as stark anymore, so you'll probably be happy with whatever price point you prefer. This base Kindle was finally updated in 2022 and is the cheapest one at $100. It's the smallest of the lot at 6.2 inches tall and 4.3 inches wide, with a 6-inch screen (the same screen size as the Kindle Kids). If you find tablets too cumbersome to hold with one hand, consider this one.

The price increased by $10 from the last version, but it doubled the storage from 8 gigabytes to 16, and the screen is a 300-pixel-per-inch (PPI) resolution versus the old one's 197 PPI. It gets the same USB-C port for charging as the Paperwhite models, and it charges quickly. However, it's not waterproof, and it doesn't get warm lighting or auto-adjusting light.

For Note-Taking

Thanks to the included pen, you can now write on your Kindle ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends )! There's no lag, and the outcome looks very similar to your handwriting. It's already pricey at $340, but you can spend an additional $30 for the premium pen that includes an eraser on the opposite end. You can't write directly on most books like you can with certain Kobos , which is frustrating—you have to instead use sticky notes. There are now some options available with that functionality, but it's mostly crosswords and guided journals.

The enormous 10.2-inch screen is ideal for taking notes, marking up PDFs, or drawing , and there are numerous paper formats you can choose, like college-ruled or dotted. The screen size does make reading easy too, especially if you need to increase the font size, but it takes away some of its portability if you prefer to keep an e-reader in your pocket or small purse. There are 16-, 32-, and 64-gigabyte options. Since it was released, Amazon has updated it with additional brush types, a convert-to-text in export tool, and better page navigation and subfolders. Weirdly, it's not waterproof like the other pricier Kindles.

Best for Kids

The 2021 Paperwhites include a 16-gigabyte Kids Edition, which brings a bigger and sleeker screen, more lighting options, and IPX8 water resistance for the first time over the original Kindle Kids Edition. The rest of the features are pretty much the same as the new Kindle Paperwhite, except you'll get a year's subscription to Amazon Kids+ , a kid-friendly content library with parental controls. It also comes with a case and a two-year no-questions-asked replacement guarantee. If your kid smashes it just once, you get your money back.

If you're going to get your kid an entertainment device, an ebook reader that doesn't have access to social media is a safer choice. There is a web browser, but it's restricted by default (you can completely disable it too).

★ A cheaper alternative with more storage: The newest base Kindle Kids ($120) is cheaper, but this one isn't waterproof if you think that will be a problem with your kiddos. There's also no adjustable warm lighting.

For Easy Reading

If you've ever had a long reading session give you hand cramps, these two accessories might help.

• Strapsicle E-Reader Hand Straps for $21 : Attach one or both of these to the back of your Kindle—one is angled for your right hand and the other for your left—and slide your hand in. Your hands won't cramp, you won't accidentally hit the screen and flip pages, and the reader won't slip out of your hands. There are three sizes meant to hold different types of e-readers. You should see exactly which models they work with on the Amazon pages, as well as on this page on the Strapsicle website . If you use a case, these might not work, but the brand sells its own thin clear option for $14.
• Lamicall Gooseneck Tablet Holder for $28 : WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell tested this and said that while it’s not completely hands-free, it’s a super convenient and comfortable experience, particularly if you have any sources of chronic pain in your wrists and hands. She likes the Lamicall Gooseneck Tablet Holder because the clamp is easy to attach to bed frames and side tables, though there’s also a floor stand version for $70 if your furniture has a delicate finish to it. It’s lightweight enough to easily use anywhere, but has enough resistance to the neck that it doesn’t fall forward or out of the position you place it in. It does, however, wobble a bit when touched to turn the page (or bumped by a curious cat), so she tended to rest a hand on it to keep it steady from both herself and her feline roommate. If you want to go totally hands-free, add a page turner so you can really read without lifting a finger.

Do You Need a Cover?

Kindles are, thankfully, not as fragile as our pricey smartphones, but you may still want to add a cover to protect the screen if you're frequently toting it around in a bag. These are meant mostly to add some protection from minor bumps, but they're not padded for serious drops. If you get a Kids Edition, those come with a case already.

• Fabric Covers for Base Kindle for $30 and Paperwhite ($35) : These open like a book and come in some variation of black, blue, pink, or green. They're made from post-consumer recycled fabric.
• Fabric Cover for Scribe for $60 : This one flips up and over like a notepad, and you can position it into a stand too. There's also a slot for the pen if you don't want it to be attached magnetically all the time. It's also made with recycled materials.
• The Quirky Cup Collective E-Reader Sleeve for $27-$29 : I prefer these gorgeous sleeves, particularly the Sun and Moon version . They're beautiful and will protect your device when you aren't using it, so you can throw it in your bag without worry. The outside is velvet and the inside satin, with some padding in between and a zip closure. On the back is a small zip pocket. On each page, you'll see which devices fit, but if you use a bulky case, consult the measurements. There are also separate, and larger, book and iPad sleeves .

Do You Have an Older Kindle Model?

Have an old Kindle lying around—or are looking at a used one for sale—and aren’t sure which one it is? This Amazon page includes photos, specs, and release years for the entire lineup. Once you know which one you have, you may be able to trade it in for credit toward a newer model.

Most old models probably still work, just with fewer bells and whistles. We think it's best to avoid Kindles with keyboards or any other physical buttons other than page-turn buttons.

Some older Kindles lost the ability to browse, purchase, or borrow new books directly from the device. However, you'll still be able to do so on Amazon.com on your computer or phone and have it sent to your Kindle, which is a better experience anyway. According to the company, the models affected are the Kindle 2nd Generation (International), Kindle DX International, Kindle DX Graphite, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle 4th Generation, and Kindle 5th Generation.

Start Reading

If you buy every single book you want to read at Kindle, it can add up! But there are ways to save some money while reading as much as your heart desires.

You may want to subscribe to Kindle Unlimited for $12 a month. You can only choose from the Unlimited catalog, but there are millions of titles there, including audiobooks and magazines. Start out with the 30-day free trial. Since I got into romance thanks to #BookTok, this has been incredibly rewarding and I typically hate paying a membership for anything.

If you already pay for a Prime account, you're eligible for some free ebooks through Prime Reading . There are not as many options as with Kindle Unlimited, and in a lot of cases you'll see both Unlimited and Prime options lumped together, so you'll have to look closely to find the free ones. But it's still something, and there are even some magazines included.

But if you don't want another monthly subscription and don't want to continue giving your money to Amazon, take advantage of ebooks available with your library card . Browsing a digital catalog is not as magical as spending an afternoon looking over every shelf in a library, but such is the ebook life (no one says you can't read both!). We have a detailed how-to on this that you should check out, but here are some of the takeaways:

• Get a library card for your local branch
• Check your branch's website for its ebook offerings. Many use the website OverDrive .
• Download directly to your Kindle library. They'll automatically be removed when they're due back.

If you know someone else with a Kindle, you can lend books between your libraries, just as you would with a physical copy. Follow these instructions from Amazon to do so, and keep in mind not all books can be loaned.

What Else Can a Kindle Do?

Kindles have helpful features that you may want to take advantage of it. Long-press a word or phrase to see its definition , highlight it, or take notes . You can also search the entire book for that particular word or phrase or translate it to or from other languages.

Word Wise shows short definitions in small text within the lines. Unfortunately, it's not available for all books, but when it is, you can turn it on or off and choose more and fewer hints. Clicking the short definition opens a longer one from Word Wise and the New Oxford American Dictionary or Oxford Dictionary of English (you can switch between the two), plus translations, and a Wikipedia page, if applicable.

While reading, tap the top of the screen and click “Aa” to change font size or type —there's even a font called OpenDyslexic that helps make reading easier for people with dyslexia. You can control margin sizes and line spacing from that menu too.

When a Kindle is connected to a Bluetooth speaker or headphones, VoiceView Screen Reader (accessed through Settings > Accessibility ) allows you to use gestures to navigate your device and reads aloud what you've pressed. It will also read a book aloud, though it doesn't sound nearly as nice as an audiobook does.

Amazon owns Goodreads , so it syncs seamlessly to Kindles (press the three-dot menu > Goodreads ). If you have a Goodreads account, you can review the Kindle books you've read or browse your bookshelf and recommendations. Long-pressing a word or phrase, in addition to what is mentioned above, opens up an option to share quotes directly to Goodreads.

There's a web browser too if you're connected to the internet ( three-dot menu > Web Browser ). It's not the best, so I'd reserve it for emergency searches.

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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021) review: a bigger and better book

The most popular kindle gets its biggest update in nearly a decade.

By Chaim Gartenberg

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It’s been nearly three years since Amazon has updated its best (and bestselling) Kindle: the midtier Kindle Paperwhite, which is getting its biggest upgrade ever . On paper, at least, Amazon has finally built the ultimate Kindle. 

The last Paperwhite update was a relatively minor one, with just a light design tweak and waterproofing serving as the main addition. The new Kindle Paperwhite refresh, on the other hand, adds nearly every update you could imagine for a hardware refresh: a bigger screen, wireless charging, USB-C, adjustable color temperature, and additional LEDs for more consistent backlighting. 

There are actually two different versions of the new Paperwhite this time: the standard model and the “ Signature Edition ,” which adds wireless charging, a sensor to automatically adjust the backlight, and four times the storage (32GB, compared to 8GB on the regular model).

The regular Paperwhite costs $139.99, or $159.99 without lock screen ads, while the Signature Edition costs $189.99 (without ads, there’s no option to get a discount for viewing ads on the fancier model). 

I’ve been testing the Signature Edition for the last week; whether it justifies the extra cost will depend on how important those differences are to you. The additional storage and the automatically adjustable backlight are excellent additions; Qi charging is a little less useful, given that the new Paperwhite needs charging so rarely and charges much faster over USB-C than it does over wireless charging. Plus, you’ll need a pad that actually fits the Paperwhite, which can be difficult if you prefer phone-sized chargers (especially vertically oriented standing ones.) I suspect most people will be fine with the standard models, but if you store a lot of books (and especially audiobooks), really prefer the automatic backlight, or are already shelling out to remove Amazon’s onerous ads, it might be worth the extra money. 

The broad design is largely the same as the old Paperwhite: a flush-mounted touchscreen, a grippy rubberized back, a gray “Kindle” logo on the bottom bezel, and the excellent IPX8 waterproofing that was the standout feature of the last generation. They’re easy to tell apart, though, thanks to the larger screen of the 2021 model. 

As is traditional for a Paperwhite update, many of the biggest features here come straight from the high-end Kindle Oasis , with the Paperwhite getting the larger display and color temperature settings that Amazon already offers on its priciest Kindle. The main differences left are the Oasis’ unique form factor (which includes physical page turn buttons), an incrementally larger display (seven-inch on the Oasis vs. 6.8-inch on the Paperwhite), and slightly more LEDs for lighting up the screen (17 LEDs on the Paperwhite to the Oasis’ 25). 

The additions here mean that the differences between the $249.99 Oasis and the $139.99 Paperwhite are slimmer than ever. Of those, the most notable is the LED count — the extra LEDs let the Oasis light up even brighter, but it’s not a difference worth paying nearly twice as much for on its own. The 2021 Paperwhite gets plenty bright, and I only even noticed the difference by comparing them head to head in a dim room. 

The differences between the Oasis and the Paperwhite are slimmer than ever

Oddly, though, Amazon is also using the Paperwhite to debut several new features to the Kindle lineup, something that it typically does the other way around (with premium upgrades coming first to the Oasis and then later to the other models). Presumably, Amazon will have an updated Oasis down the line that brings it back to parity with the Paperwhite, but right now, Amazon’s midrange model is strangely its most technologically advanced. 

The 2021 Paperwhite is also finally Amazon’s first Kindle to come with USB-C charging, which allows for fast-charging the device and — more importantly — actually being able to use the same cables as most other modern devices. The lengthy battery life means that you still won’t be charging it that often, but it’s another big step for many (myself included) to finally be able to excise Micro USB cables from my life.  

The new Paperwhite features one of the most notable design changes for the e-reader model in its nearly decade-long history . For the first time for the Paperwhite, Amazon has increased the display from a six-inch panel to a 6.8-inch display by slightly increasing the Paperwhite’s physical size and slimming down the bezels around the screen a fraction. 

The display still has the crisp 300ppi resolution that the old model had, despite the larger size. The new design with its reduced bezels (particularly on the top of the display) looks better than ever, and the added screen space for reading is a welcome addition, as are the color temperature options for better emulating the color of actual paper. As was the case with the Oasis’ implementation of the feature, there’s still no option to have the Kindle automatically adjust temperature in response to ambient lighting, which is disappointing to see (especially since it can automatically adjust brightness). 

But by increasing the display size, Amazon might have made the Paperwhite too big. The new model is about a third of an inch taller and wider than the old model and about 26g (almost an ounce) heavier than the 2018 model. And while that may not sound like much, it’s just enough for it to be awkward to hold up with one hand, even for someone like me with relatively large mitts. I often have to brace the new Paperwhite with a second hand to comfortably read it, something I didn’t have to do with the old model. 

Amazon might have made the new Paperwhite too big

It’s not a total dealbreaker, but the increased size and weight had me worried a lot more that the Paperwhite was going to tumble out of my hand when I was holding it. (It’s a problem unique to the bigger Paperwhite’s otherwise unchanged design. The Oasis, after all, has an even bigger display but avoids the issue by offering an asymmetrical design aimed toward one-handed use.) It still barely fits in the back pocket of a pair of jeans, but only just. 

Ultimately, given the choice, I’d rather Amazon had gone with the more streamlined design in a way that kept the physical dimensions the same (or even smaller) rather than trying to fit in an ever bigger screen. It’s a personal preference, though, and I suspect that many Kindle readers who just want more screen real estate may not be bothered by the added bulk. 

Amazon says that it’s boosted the battery life on the new Paperwhite, from the previous six weeks up to 10 weeks on a single charge (which requires using the device’s “Power Saver” mode that trades longer battery life for longer waking up from sleep). I’ve only had the Paperwhite for about a week, so there’s no earthly way for me to verify that claim, but I haven’t had any issues with battery life yet — in the six or seven hours I spent reading, I only saw the battery drop a percent or two, even in “standard” battery mode (although battery life will depend on how much you read, how many times you turn the page, and other factors like screen brightness). 

The company also says that it’s put a new and more powerful processor on the 2021 model, which helps to speed up virtually everything. Books open faster, pages turn faster, and scrolling through one’s library is no longer the interminably laggy experience it once was on the older model. 

The 2021 Paperwhite also ships with Amazon’s new Kindle software, which it debuted earlier in the fall . There are a lot of useful new additions here, including a new home layout that puts recently read books front and center, along with better integration for (Amazon-owned) Goodreads reading lists. The new software also makes it easier to jump back into whatever book you’re currently in the middle of from anywhere using the toolbar on the bottom of the screen. Additionally, there’s a new setup mode that allows you to share login information over Bluetooth from the Kindle app on your smartphone, instead of fighting against the E Ink display to type in your Amazon credentials and Wi-Fi password. 

More importantly, though, the new software makes it much easier to access the swipe-down menu. Amazon has taken a cue from literally every smartphone from the last half-decade and added a swipe-down menu accessible from anywhere on the Kindle’s OS that offers toggles for things like airplane mode, Bluetooth, dark mode, and sync settings, as well as sliders to adjust brightness and color temperature. 

The new software emphasizes the Paperwhite’s main goal: a pipeline for Amazon’s ebook store, for better or for worse. There’s more prominent placement of recommended Kindle books to buy on the homescreen now, which can’t be hidden. But at the same time, Amazon hasn’t improved things like the on-device experience for library lending services like OverDrive or Libby, which remain as clunky as ever and wholly dependent on using a smartphone or computer to actually borrow books. 

As with most Kindle upgrades, if you already own the 2018 Paperwhite, there’s not enough here to be worth shelling out the money for a new upgrade. The larger display is certainly nice but comes with its own drawbacks in the form of a harder-to-hold device. And while USB-C and wireless charging have been at the top of the list for Kindle upgrades for years, neither is worth the investment of an entirely new device. At its core, the reading experience on the new Paperwhite is still too similar to the old model to recommend existing owners rush to upgrade. 

But if you’re buying a new Kindle today for the first time or replacing an aging model, the new Paperwhite is the best hardware that you can buy — possibly the best hardware on any e-reader right now, period. But even as the Kindle’s hardware is getting better than ever, it’d be nice to see Amazon’s software reach a similar level, something that the economics of the Kindle ebook store make a very unlikely possibility. 

The end result is one of the best e-readers ever — so long as you can tolerate living within the increasingly high walls of Amazon’s library.

Photography by Chaim Gartenberg / The Verge

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The best Kindle 2024: which Amazon ereader should you buy?

Amazon's Kindle remains timeless for reading on the go

Editor's Note

Best overall

Best budget

Best for a big screen

Best for audiobooks

• How to choose
• How we test

The list in brief 1. Best overall 2. Best budget 3. Best for a big screen 4. Best for audiobooks How to choose How we test

The best Kindle is a versatile, durable, long-lasting ereader that you can take anywhere. The Kindle Paperwhite hasn't been updated in a long time, but it remains the best Kindle you can buy for reading. It's simple and affordable, yet durable enough that you can take it anywhere, even to the beach or into the pool. Yes, you can relax with your electronic books by the sand, because the Kindle Paperwhite is water resistant enough to survive a dunk.

Of course, my favorite Kindle is the Kindle Scribe, which is on sale now for Father's Day weekend in the US. The Kindle Scribe isn't just a Kindle with a pen, though it's great for journaling and taking notes as well as reading. I love the gigantic screen, which makes reading easier if you like big text, and it works perfectly for large formats like graphic novels. 

The Kindle Oasis, Amazon 's premium Kindle, is no longer available in the US and we don't recommend buying an import model. Instead, buy the Kindle Paperwhite for the same water resistance and sharp display. 

• Kindle Scribe is on sale for $100 off or more • Only in the US, for Father's Day weekend • Now $240 (was $340) / £275 / AU $629 for 16GB

Update: June 2024. The Kindle Scribe has been around for almost two years, and this weekend's Father's Day sale in the US drops the Scribe back down to the lowest price we've seen for Amazon's biggest Kindle. You can get an even better discount if you opt for the premium pen and more storage, but the base model with 16GB of memory and the included pen will satisfy most readers and note takers.

The quick list

Want to cut to the chase and find out which Kindles are the absolute best? Below, you’ll find a roundup of our choices. You can also jump to a more detailed review of each Kindle further down the page, and our price comparison tool will help you find the best deals.

The Kindle Paperwhite hits the sweet spot between price and performance: it's water resistant and has a better backlight than the basic Kindle. Battery life is excellent, too. Look for great sales on this Kindle, it's been around along time.

Read more below

The basic Kindle is just fine for most people, as long as you won't get it wet. Amazon upgraded the backlight so it's almost as bright as the Kindle Paperwhite, and the screen is just as sharp.  It also comes with 16GB of storage, which is plenty.

Whether you want to read on a big screen, or you want to write, doodle, and journal, the Kindle Scribe is a powerful Kindle for all of your reading and writing needs. It isn't water resistant, so take care, but its features put this Kindle in a whole different class, not to mention its huge display. 

The Signature Edition offers upgrades over the standard Paperwhite, including wireless charging and an auto-adjusting light. It also offers 32GB of storage, making it ideal for storing audiobooks. 

The best Kindle 2024

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Below you'll find details for each of the best Kindles in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

The best Kindle overall

1. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The Amazon Paperwhite is the ideal electronic book reader, and you can take it just about anywhere you might take a regular old book. You can read in the bathtub, or by the pool, with less worry than you'd have holding a paperback, because the Paperwhite can get wet, no problem. 

You can read in bed and the Paperwhite will adjust to a warm backlight to make your eyes more comfortable. Reading on a Kindle's ultra-sharp display is already more comfy than reading on your phone or iPad, and the Paperwhite has plenty of backlight for reading any time, day or night. 

You can also read while you travel, because the Kindle Paperwhite comes with 16GB of storage. That's enough to pack a full library, but if you also enjoy listening to audiobooks from Audible, you'll have space for a bunch of titles to go alongside your texts. 

Read the full Amazon Kindle Paperwhite review

• ^ Back to the top

The best budget Kindle

2. Amazon Kindle (2022)

The base model Kindle is no slouch, and recent upgrades have made it maybe the best bargain-priced Kindle ever. Keep an eye on that price, too, because Amazon loves to put this ereader on sale whenever it throws a Prime Day party. 

The screen on the Kindle is now just as sharp as every other Kindle display, a full 300 pixels per inch (to compare, the mighty iPad Pro is only 265 ppi). That's the best upgrade you can give a reading device, and the only feature the Kindle is lacking compared to the more expensive Kindle Paperwhite is water resistance. Don't get this Kindle wet. 

Otherwise, you still get 16GB of storage, which is plenty of space for a ton of books, magazines, and even audiobooks. The battery also lasts and lasts on Kindle devices, so you can count on a month of daily reading with this Kindle. If you want something brighter that you can also take to the beach, go for the Paperwhite. The Kindle is still great for reading during the day on dry land. 

Read the full Amazon Kindle (2022) review

The best Kindle for a big screen

3. Amazon Kindle Scribe

The Kindle Scribe is an amazing device when you realize all it can do. It's a full-fledged Kindle with the biggest reading screen, but it doesn't sacrifice that great Kindle sharpness, so text still looks super crisp. If you like reading on a screen the size of an iPad but want Kindle comfort, the Kindle Scribe is your best bet. 

You can also write on the Kindle Scribe, and Amazon has been steadily improving the writing and doodling features, adding more pen styles since launch. There's also a special section of the Kindle book store with books you can write on if you own a Kindle Scribe. The selection is mostly crossword puzzles and semi-blank daily journals, but it's growing and shows a lot of potential. 

The Scribe may seem pricey for a Kindle, but it's a great deal for a writing tablet this size, and Amazon does love to put Kindle devices on sale. If you want to take notes, especially if your textbooks are available for Kindle, this is the only Kindle to buy. 

Read the full Amazon Kindle Scribe review

The best Kindle for audiobooks

4. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

If you love audiobooks along with your reading and you can splurge a bit, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition is worth considering. For a bit more (still less than the fancy Kindle Oasis), you get twice the storage space. This Kindle Paperwhite can also charge wirelessly, if you have a bedside charger that you like, though the battery should also last weeks, just like every other Kindle. 

That extra storage space comes in handy if you like audiobooks. A long, unabridged book is usually between 100-200MB of storage space, so having tons of long books or podcast episodes can add up quickly. The Kindle Paperwhite is a great vacation and travel device, and having the extra space means you definitely won't run out, no matter how long you're away. 

Otherwise, this is the exact same Kindle Paperwhite, with the same water resistance and the same sharp display. It's not quite as bright and premium as the Kindle Oasis, but it's much brighter than the base model Kindle. 

Read the full Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition review

How to choose the best Kindle for you

The basic Amazon Kindle is a fine ereader, and will likely be enough for most people. If you like to read in the bath, or if you take your Kindle to the beach, you'll want a Kindle Paperwhite. That device can get wet, it can even handle a little salt water. 

All Kindle ereaders can hold thousands of books, but if you plan on using your Kindle for audiobooks, you should upgrade to a model with 32GB or more storage.

What about Kindle Kids, is it worth buying?

No, not if you already have a library of books for your kids, or if you have specific books in mind you want them to read. It isn't worth the premium just for the colorful cover, so make sure you'll put the Kindle Kids Unlimited library to good use, or else it's worth buying the non-Kids version. 

We're not including the Kindle Kids options on this list because the Kindle you get isn't different if you buy the 'Kids' version. If you get the Kindle Paperwhite Kids, you get the exact same Kindle Paperwhite.

How we test the best Kindles

We read. We read a lot, and we read every day. We use our Kindle devices to read books from Amazon, and we also use accounts from our local libraries to load free ebooks onto our Kindle. We also have a selection of documents and files that we use to test the clarity of the Kindle display, and the ease of transferring our own files. 

We are also avid audiobook fans, and keep a subscription to Audible that feeds us new books monthly. We use our Kindle for listening to books, and occasionally for reading and listening at the same time, depending on content. 

We read at all times of day, on the train, by the bed, in the bath, and wherever we find the time. We love to read, and we test our Kindle devices doing what we love. 

• If you're a fan of Amazon but want a bit more color, check out our list of the best Amazon Fire tablets

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Phil Berne is a preeminent voice in consumer electronics reviews, starting more than 20 years ago at eTown.com. Phil has written for Engadget, The Verge, PC Mag, Digital Trends, Slashgear, TechRadar, AndroidCentral, and was Editor-in-Chief of the sadly-defunct infoSync. Phil holds an entirely useful M.A. in Cultural Theory from Carnegie Mellon University. He sang in numerous college a cappella groups.

Phil did a stint at Samsung Mobile, leading reviews for the PR team and writing crisis communications until he left in 2017. He worked at an Apple Store near Boston, MA, at the height of iPod popularity. Phil is certified in Google AI Essentials. He has a High School English teaching license (and years of teaching experience) and is a Red Cross certified Lifeguard. His passion is the democratizing power of mobile technology. Before AI came along he was totally sure the next big thing would be something we wear on our faces.

Save over $150 on this complete Kindle Scribe bundle at Amazon

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'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form .

The best Kindles you can buy: Expert tested

Summer vacation isn't complete without a few novels in tow. But who has the suitcase space for every New York Times bestseller while they're traveling abroad? Those hefty books become a lot lighter when you read them on an e-reader, like a Kindle. Kindles can hold a near-infinite number of books, newspapers, and magazines in one compact, lightweight device. Plus, you can save lots of money when you switch from physical books to e-books. 

Also:  The best iPad models you can buy

While most Kindle tablets have a fixed amount of internal storage, many support Amazon Cloud backup or microSD cards for expanded onboard storage. Plus, many Kindle readers are waterproof up to 2 meters, so you can take your e-reader to the beach or pool and not have to worry about splashes and sprays ruining your e-reader. With anti-glare screens and auto-adjusting backlights, it's easier than ever to read your favorite books indoors and outdoors in direct sunlight.

What is the best Kindle right now? 

ZDNET rounded up the best Kindle readers available to buy right now, with the best Kindle reader overall being Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite for its excellent battery life, easy readability, and mainstream appeal. We broke down their features and price points to help you decide which is the best fit for your reading needs and budget. Keep reading below to find the perfect Kindle for you.

The best Kindle readers of 2024

Amazon kindle paperwhite, best kindle reader overall.

• Post-consumer materials
• Excellent battery life
• Waterproof up to 2 meters
• Easy to use
• Audible requires separate app
• No headphone jack
• No microSD card support

Spend any time on Reddit threads, and you will quickly realize that there is one Kindle that reigns supreme among the rest: the Kindle Paperwhite. 

I use my Kindle Paperwhite to read on the subway because of how pocketable and light it is to carry in my bag and because I can download tons of library books onto it and read them at my leisure. The battery life blows me away. I've only had to charge it two or three times since using it for around three to four months. Compared to the Kindle Oasis, the refresh rate on the Paperwhite is as smooth as butter, and reading is as enjoyable as can be with adjustable lighting, page sizing, and more. 

Also:  The Kindle Paperwhite gets a new look

The Kindle Paperwhite is a simple, no-fuss e-reader that allows you to download and store thousands of comics, novels, and audiobooks to enjoy at home or on the go. The 6.8-inch display provides 300 points per inch for crystal-clear text, and the glare-free coating makes reading more manageable by a direct lamp or in sunlight. The integrated battery can last up to ten weeks on a full charge, letting you read for almost two months before needing to plug in. It uses a USB-C cable when you need to recharge, so you don't have to worry about keeping a special charging cable handy.

Furthermore, the Kindle Paperwhite is waterproof up to 2 meters for 1 hour in freshwater or .25 meters for three minutes in saltwater. This means you won't have to worry about spills and splashes while reading at the beach, pool, or dinner table. Additionally, the Kindle Unlimited app lets you browse hundreds of thousands of titles, including Kindle exclusives. 

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite specs: S creen size:  6.8 inches |  Storage:  8GB, 16GB, Amazon Cloud |  Battery life:  Up to six weeks at 30 minutes per day |  Lock screen ads:  Yes, removable with fee |  microSD card support:  No

Kindle Scribe

Best kindle for note-taking.

• You're able to sign documents, take notes, and draw
• Robust 10.2-inch screen
• Battery life for literal days
• It's expensive
• Limited note-taking capabilities

The Kindle Scribe combines a digital library with a digital notebook. You can use the basic pen to create notes either through an app or on the book you're reading, making it convenient if you're studying for a test and want to organize what you're reading and your notes in one place. Additionally, you can upgrade to the Kindle Scribe Premium Pen to easily erase notes.

The display is remarkable, with a high-resolution 10.2-inch screen. You'll also have access to ample storage options, and the battery life will let you read the next bestseller without worrying about finding the nearest plug for charging. 

Review:  Amazon Kindle Scribe

When Matthew Miller reviewed the Scribe last year, he called it his on-the-go note-taking tablet of choice. "My desire to find something that doesn't waste paper and also provides the ability to preserve and share my notes has been met with the Amazon Kindle Scribe," Miller said. He adds that the writing and erasing capabilities are top-tier, too, especially with the add-on Premium Pen. 

One Scribe owner on Reddit said that the wider screen is "a joy to read on," while other Redditors reported that the writing software is "half-baked" with minimal note-taking capabilities. So, if you're looking for a Kindle with a great screen and some beginner note-taking options, this one is for you. 

There is certainly room for improvement. Currently, you can export notes to a PDF and email them. However, sending notes to other programs like Microsoft Word would be ideal, as it will be part of a future software update. Additionally, we found that organizing your notes on the Kindle Scribe is impossible. Overall, it's an excellent foray into the digital note-taking market, and with future software updates, it should become one of the more popular models in the Kindle lineup.

Kindle Scribe specs:  Screen size:  10.2 inches |  Storage:  16, 32, or 64GB |  Battery life:  Up to 6 weeks at 30 minutes per day |  Lock screen ads:  Yes, removable with fee |  microSD card support:  No

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

Best kindle reader for travel.

• Wireless charging capable
• Water resistant
• Cloud storage backup
• Accessibility options
• A bit on the heavy side
• Some owners on Reddit say that the extra storage is unnecessary

The best part of having an e-reader is taking dozens, if not hundreds, of books with you while you travel for work, errands, family gatherings, or vacations. Ayman from @aymansbooks on TikTok is one of BookTok's most successful accounts, with over 900,000 followers. She creates content and memes about novels and recommends the books she reads on the platform. 

Ayman told ZDNET that the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is her Kindle of choice. Whether she's at the DMV, sitting at a cafe, or waiting in a line, she always takes along her Paperwhite Signature Edition and pulls it out when she has a spare second to read. "I love how I can easily highlight and make annotations as I'm reading; it feels just as though I'm reading a physical book," Ayman said. 

Review:  Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is built with travel in mind. It supports USB-C and Qi wireless charging, so you don't have to keep a special charging cable for a single device. The internal battery can also last up to 10 weeks on a full charge, allowing you to enjoy your beach reading even if you forget your charging cable.

The screen features an anti-glare coating for better visibility in direct lamplight or sunlight and an auto-adjusting backlight to suit dim rooms. With 32GB of internal storage, you can store tens of thousands of titles on the tablet. However, some Reddit owners say extra storage is unnecessary, given how many books the Kindle Paperwhite already holds. The water-resistant tablet is excellent for reading by the pool, on the beach, or anywhere accidental spills may happen. Additionally, it has a screen reader function for blind and visually impaired users and supports Bluetooth headsets for audiobooks.

When former ZDNET contributor Jason Cipriani reviewed the Signature Edition, he said: "If you opt to spend a little bit more for the signature edition, you're gaining some notable features in wireless charging and a light sensor, improving even more on an already reliable experience." 

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition specs:  Screen size:  6.8 inches |  Storage:  32GB, Amazon Cloud |  Battery life:  Up to 10 weeks at 30 minutes per day |  Lock screen ads:  Yes, removable with fee |  microSD card support:  No

Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus

Best non-kindle e-reader.

• Up to 1TB microSD card support
• Good battery life
• Alexa built-in
• On the heavy side

Since an e-reader like the Kindle is usually a single-purpose device, spending a ton of money on one may not always make sense. Fortunately, the Amazon Fire 8 Plus is an exceptionally affordable Kindle-capable tablet. For just $120, you can get an 8-inch tablet with 32GB of internal storage, which you can expand with up to a 1TB microSD card. The internal battery lasts up to 13 hours, allowing you to listen to audiobooks or read all day before needing to plug in. Moreover, since the Fire 8 Plus is closer to a typical tablet, you can download apps like YouTube to turn it into an entertainment hub for kids and adults.

Also:  Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus

With Alexa built-in, you can use voice commands to launch apps, play music, and even make video calls to friends and family. This is an excellent way to keep in touch with your book club or reading circle in a post-COVID world. Alternatively, you can switch Alexa off to prevent misuse of your Fire 8 Plus camera and microphones to gather information about you and your family. Most Reddit users prefer the Fire 8 Plus over the Fire 8, given its negligible price difference. 

This tablet is for casual browsing, streaming, mobile entertainment, or even for your little one. "At $120, the latest model is not the cheapest of the Fire tablet bunch, but it's certainly a compelling option for its sharp visuals, enduring build quality, and exceptional battery life," Kerry Wan writes in his review of the tablet. 

Amazon Fire HD 8  Plus specs: S creen size:  8 inches |  Storage:  32GB or 64GB |  Battery life:  12 hours |  Lock screen ads:  Yes, removable with fee |  microSD card support:  Up to 1TB

What is the best Kindle?

The best Kindle e-reader is the Kindle Paperwhite. You can choose between 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB of internal storage to download thousands of comics, novels, and audiobooks. Additionally, you can opt for cloud storage syncing for near-infinite storage space for your digital library. The screen features an anti-glare coating for better visibility in sunlight and flush bezels for better handling. Plus, the integrated battery can last up to six weeks on a full charge, allowing you to read as much as you want worry-free.

*Lowest price at the time of writing. Please note that prices may vary based on retailer and available promotions, sales, or discounts.

Which is the right Kindle for you?

When shopping for a new Kindle reader, aside from price, you should also consider how much storage space you'll want or need for your digital bookshelf. The Kindle Paperwhite has 8GB of storage, which is enough for hundreds of books, audiobooks, PDF files, and graphic novels. On the other hand, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition has 32GB of storage, which allows your digital bookshelf to store almost 14,000 titles. Furthermore, no matter which model of Kindle reader you use, many support either microSD cards up to 1TB or cloud syncing for near-infinite storage.

Below is a table that outlines which Kindle corresponds to specific needs:

Factors to consider when choosing a Kindle

• Price: The Kindles and Kindle alternatives on this list range from $120 to $340. With more features, like drawing capabilities, strong battery life, and large storage, you will pay a higher price. 
• Storage capacity: The point of a device like a Kindle is to store as many books in one compact device as possible. We looked at Kindles with wide storage capacities that can hold thousands of titles. 
• Extra features: Some Kindles are kid-friendly or offer customizable displays and more. Lots of models offer water resistance and have anti-glare features so you can read in whatever environment you're in -- whether that's on the sandy beach or in a bathtub. 
• Battery life : The e-readers on this list should last you a few days, and ideally a few weeks, before recharging. 

Also: How to buy books on Kindle

How did we choose these Kindle readers?

ZDNET only recommends products we have used and can speak to. We do this by spending a few weeks constantly using the products we write about and evaluating them for performance, battery life, usability, special features, and more. Then we write a product spotlight or review of the product and add it to one of these best lists. Each month we evaluate which products still deserve a spot on this list, and switch out older models with newer models. 

What's the point of a Kindle?

If you have only ever read books through physical copies, not digital e-readers, you might think buying a Kindle is a waste of money. There's the argument that you don't even need the Kindle e-reader when you can download the app on your phone and read digital books and magazines from there. Sure, that's a good point. But many readers see having the Kindle app on a phone more distracting, while a Kindle whose sole purpose is to function as an e-reader is distraction-free. 

Then there's the fact that carrying paperbacks while you travel, commute to work, or lug around in that small bag of yours can get heavy, and sometimes we don't have the space for every book we'd like to read. A Kindle is slim, lightweight, and easy to plop into a purse or even put in your coat pocket. 

Holding a physical book is not the same as holding an e-reader, but for certain use cases, like portability and space optimization, a Kindle e-reader reigns supreme. 

Can I bring my Kindle to the beach?

Yes, you certainly can. Many readers enjoy taking a Kindle to the beach instead of a paperback book, thanks to select Kindle models' waterproof build and glare-free display. If your beach bag is too heavy for a thick book, a thin Kindle could be a splendid alternative. Plus, you don't have to choose between two or three books to read -- you can bring them all on your Kindle. 

How many books will 32GB hold?

It all depends on what kinds of books you want to download, as different media files have different sizes. For example, a single comic book issue file can be as small as 650MB, while a graphic novel can be up to 1.5GB. On the other hand, plain-text files like novels, nonfiction titles, and even school textbooks have fairly small sizes, allowing you to have up to 13,500 books in your digital library with 32GB of storage space.

However, longer titles like War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy will have a larger file size than something like F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. If you like longer reads, you'll probably store fewer books, though you should still be able to download and store thousands of titles.

You can even download audiobooks from the Kindle app, though the audio files are quite large. This means that a 32GB Kindle will only hold about 150 audiobooks, depending on the length of the recording.

What's the difference between the Kindle Paperwhite and a regular Kindle?

The Kindle Paperwhite boasts a bigger display, warm light adjustment feature, longer battery life, waterproof build, and higher price tag.

Do Kindles offer audiobooks?

All Kindles offer text-to-voice narration through Alexa. But if you want to buy an audiobook specifically, you'll have to use Amazon's Audible. Audible is integrated into all newer Kindle models. 

Does a Kindle need Wi-Fi?

For certain things, like downloading new books and accessing the internet, yes. But if you have already downloaded the book you'd like to read on your Kindle you can read it without a Wi-Fi connection. I take my Kindle on the subway, where there's no Wi-Fi connection, and have no problem reading my favorite titles. 

Do I need a Kindle to read Kindle books?

Nope! Whether you have an iOS or an Android, you can download the Kindle app from the App Store or Google Play store and start reading on it. This allows you to buy and download digital books to your phone or tablet.

Also: The best tablets you can buy: Apple, Samsung, and Amazon compared

Can I get Kindle books for free?

You can get Kindle books for free. Whether you're looking to fill out your library or to finally get around to reading those classics that were assigned back in your high school English class, it's pretty easy to find free Kindle books. Lots of classic literature is in the public domain, which just means that they are no longer protected by copyright laws and can be provided for free. If you're looking for new titles, you don't have to spend a fortune. And many free Kindle books can be found on none other than Amazon itself. All you have to do is go to Amazon and search "free Kindle books." 

Also: How to get (great) free books on Kindle

You also can find thousands of titles for very low prices, sometimes as low as 99 cents. However, these are often self-published works. And while self-publishing is a great way for writers to get their work in the hands of readers without going through literary agents and publishing houses, it also means that sometimes the work isn't entirely up to snuff. So if you're tempted to buy that ultra-low-priced title, make sure you read reviews first so you don't end up buying something you won't like.

Are there alternatives to the Kindle worth considering?

If you don't like the idea of a single-purpose tablet taking up space in your home but still want the ease and portability of a digital library, you're able to download the Kindle app to just about any tablet on the market. Here is a short list of Kindle alternatives that I thought were great:

Meet the experts

ZDNET sourced external industry experts for this article. Here is more information about them:

Ayman Chaudhary : Digital creator ( @aymansbooks ) on TikTok with over 900,000 followers. She creates content and memes about novels and recommends the books she reads on the platform. 

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🏆2024 Book Awards

Enter the 2024 kindle book awards.

The 2024 Kindle Book Awards are Sponsored by…

Celebrating Our 13th Annual Kindle Book Awards!

Click to see the 2023 Winners! 

Each Category Winner Will Walk Away With $600 in Cash & Prizes.

2024 Kindle Book Awards (Details):

**See our Recommendation by ALLi (The Alliance of Independent Authors). There’s so many awards out there, we’re so glad there’s a watchdog keeping track of the scams.

Important: process–how you will be judged:.

• All 2024 Kindle Book Awards submissions will be pre-screened by KBR staff and our amazing review team. We will initially read the “Look Inside” sample (90% of your phase 1 screening score) and Amazon book description (10% of score). We’re looking for books with a compelling book description, but more importantly, books that “grab us from the beginning” and make us want to continue reading. The screening process is an indication of your potential buyers experience with your book, as subjective as that is. Book covers will only be judged to settle a tie, with the exception of those who enter the “Book Cover Awards”.
• Your sample is enough for us to get a feel for the quality of writing and professionalism, and to get us excited about your book. Your book description should be compelling with zero typos. We recommend that you fix any typos on your book page and book file before submitting. We WILL NOT accept an updated file after it has already been submitted.
• If your book passes the “screening” process it will become a “Semifinalists” (20 max per category) and one of our judges will read the manuscript in its entirety.
• NOTE: Advertising on our site will NOT help you win. Our reviewers/judging team care nothing about ads. They only care about finding the best Kindle books. That’s our quest, our passion. Of course, as always, literature is subjective and we hope you understand that.

CATEGORIES : The following genres & sub-genres are welcome (Min 25K words)

• Mystery/Thriller
• Sci-fi/Fantasy
• Literary Fiction
• Horror/Suspense
• Non-Fiction
• Reader’s Choice Award
• Book Cover Award (Promotional Award Only )

AWARDS: Eight Winners will receive $600 in cash & prizes.

• $200 Cash to Each Category Winner [Compliments of The Kindle Book Review ($200).
• $200 in group promotion from The Kindle Book Review (As determined by The KBR) .
• $200 Reader Giveaway compliments of The Kindle Book Review to be promoted in 2025 (Group promo for winners only. Date decided by The Kindle Book Review. Great exposure!)
• Priceless: All Semi-finalists, Top-5 Finalists, and all 8 Winners will receive a custom 13th Anniversary Contest Badge. The Book Cover Award Winner receives a Winner’s badge, promotional awards, and bragging rights (*No cash prize to Book Cover Award Winner, and no semi-finalists or finalists in this category).

HOW MANY BOOKS CAN I SUBMIT?: Authors can submit up to 3 titles max.

Important dates (mark on your calendar & watch your email/spam):.

• Submissions Accepted starting: January 2nd, 2024
• End Submissions: May 15, 2024
• Announce Category Semi-finalists: Sept. 1, 2024
• Announce Top-5 Category Finalists: Oct. 1, 2024
• Announce 10 Winners: Nov. 1, 2024

LANGUAGE: All books must be written in the English language.

How can you help glad you asked, rules & conditions:, what not to do: 1. do not email us or inquire about your status/results. we will not respond to inquiries. if you are having trouble loading your kindle file see notes above regarding formatting. mark your calendar so you know when to check our site for results..

2. Do not send doc files, jpg, or unformatted Kindle files (unless specifically requested by The Kindle Book Review). 3. Do not worry if your Kindle file does not load. If you pass the initial screening and make it into the “Semifinals” we will contact you if there is a problem with your file. Initial screening is based on YOUR Amazon sample, and book page–this contest is initially judged on the “reader’s” experience (see above for details), so we are more concerned about the sample the reader reads while visiting your Amazon book page. Only top-20 category semifinalists will get a full reading.

If you are not on our author mailing list, you can subscribe here . Please share The 2024 Kindle Book Awards with your author friends and/or fellow reviewers. Then, c onfirm your subscription and ch eck your email/spam for future notifications and confirmations.

It all started in 2012…., wool. our first kindle book award winner read hugh’s story here ., see 2022 winner’s page by clicking here, see 2021 winner’s page by clicking here, see 2020 winner’s page by clicking here, see 2019 winner’s page by clicking here, see 2018 winner’s page by clicking here., see 2017 winner’s page by clicking here., see 2016 winner’s page by clicking here., see 2015 winner’s page by clicking here., see 2014 winner’s page by clicking here..

Thanks for visiting the 2024 Kindle Book Awards official page. Best of luck, from our staff & reviewers!

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Home / Book Marketing / Ultimate List of the Best Book Review Blogs

Ultimate List of the Best Book Review Blogs

Book reviews are one piece of the book marketing puzzle . An important piece that some authors find impossible. This article is designed to help you get those initial reviews to bring in and sales and, you guessed it, more reviews.

In this article, you will learn:

• Why book reviews matter
• How to get your book reviewed by blogs the right way
• What to look for in a good review blog
• The best book review blogs for your genre

Table of contents

• Verified purchase reviews
• Does Amazon put a lot of weight on verified reviews?
• The mentality of the Buyer
• Different Types of Book Review Blogs
• Professional Book Reviewers
• Easily Understand Amazon's Book Review Do's and Don'ts
• List of the Best Book Review Blogs by Genre
• 1. Guilty Pleasures Book Review
• 2. Jeri’s Book Attic
• 3. Kindle Book Review
• 4. Reads all the Books
• 5. Literary Titan
• 1. Jeri’s Book Attic
• 2. Guilty Pleasures Book Review
• 3. Fang-Freakin-taskic- Reviews
• 4. Early Bookish Birds
• 5. Kindle Book Review
• 6. Christian Book Reviews
• 7. Reads all the Books
• 2. Raven and Beez
• 3. FanGirl Confessions
• 4. Kindle Book Review
• 5. Christian Book Reviews
• 6. Reads all the Books
• 7. Jessica Map Reviews
• 8. Dream by Day
• 2. Kindle Book Review
• 3. Romancers Rehab
• 4. Totally Booked
• 2. Early Bookish Birds
• 4. Chapter in My Life
• 2. Fang-Freakin-taskic- Reviews
• 3. Raven and Beez
• 8. Jessica Map Reviews
• 9. Aces High Joker’s Wild
• 10. Cat Pollock Writes
• 5. Jessica Map Reviews
• 3. Reads all the Books
• 4. Jessica Map Reviews
• 1. Raven and Beez
• 2. Christian Book Reviews
• 4. Fictional Fates
• 7. Fictional Fates
• 1. FanGirl Confessions
• 4. Mundie Kids
• 2. FanGirl Confessions
• 3. Reading for Sanity
• 1. Christian Indie Book Reviews
• 2. Redeemed Reader
• 3. Mom of Wild Things
• 4. Dream by Day
• 1. Kindle Book Review
• 1. Rachel’s Reading
• Here are a few Instagram handles for you to check out:
• Book Review Blog Table
• The Right Way to Ask
• Digital Book:
• Paperbacks:
• How to Respond if They Say No or Don’t Respond:

Reviews and Amazon Ranking

You’ve probably noticed Amazon has two kinds of reviews. Some have a little “Verified” tag and some don’t. Amazon implemented the verified status to show the book was purchased from Amazon so people can’t just give their book to all their friends and get dishonest or biased reviews. Of course, readers who get the book as a prize or from signing up for your newsletter can still review it, but Amazon doesn’t give as much weight to those reviews in its algorithms. Which leads us to our next tidbit…

Yes, they do. Even if two books are selling at the same rate, a book with more positive verified reviews will rank higher than one with fewer reviews . You can still hit number one if you’re selling enough copies compared to the other books in your category , say during a promotion .

Which brings us the next piece of this crazy puzzle:

There’s no doubt the publishing world changed dramatically in the last ten years. With it changed the way readers find books and make purchasing decisions. According to this post from Written Word Media readers are most likely to buy a book if it has 30 or more reviews with an average rating greater than 3.5 stars on Amazon .

For this post, I created a survey for readers. I set out to see how much weight bibliophiles put on book reviews. I got several responses from people 60-years-old and older who don’t look at reviews at all. So if you’re targeting older readers, reviews may not be as important for the readers…but, they’re still important for the algorithms.

So beyond getting reviews from your email list , are there other ways authors can get more reviews?

Enter book review blogs…

There are two main types of book review blogs:

• Professional (aka Paid)
• Blogs (aka Free)

Professional reviews are ones that are paid for and cannot count toward Amazon’s ranking. You can put them in the editorial review section which can help if you don’t have any other reviews.

Kirkus – The Kirkus Review used to be the be-all end-all of editorial reviews. It carried a lot of weight in publishing. But more recently it seems they have lost their edge. Readers aren’t looking to editorial reviews as much as they once did.

IndieReader – Similar to Kirkus is  IndieReader , who focuses on indie authors. Both are expensive and don’t give you as much in return as they once did.

Are Professional Reviews Worth It?

That really depends. If you just get the professional book review, and then sit on it, or don't even promote it, then you can't expect it to have a positive return on investment. However, if you add it to your Editorial Review section of your book's sales page on Amazon correctly, or use it in your book marketing tactics , then you can absolutely have a positive effect.

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Blogs that Write about Books in Their Genre

Authors and readers have filled the web with book review blogs. These bloggers are dedicated to reading and spreading the word about the books they read. They will usually review your book in exchange for a copy while others buy the books they read.

As I mentioned earlier, verified reviews hold more weight on Amazon. However, non-verified reviews hold just as much weight to most readers, so don’t discount a blog that requires you to send them a copy. These people are not getting compensation for their reviews (that would be unethical and against Amazon’s terms of service) so giving them a copy allows them to read more books.

This is also why a lot of the blogs listed below have additional things on their site.

Watch Dave's video below that explains when and how you can give your book away in exchange for a review using direct language from Amazon's policy.

Now that you are clear on the Amazon book review rules, let's jump into those blogs that review books for authors.

Later on, I'll explain the right way to ask a blog owner to review your book.

Some on review blogs this list are a little tricky to navigate, but I wanted to include a variety. Sadly, a lot of the really well laid out review blogs are overrun with requests and no longer accepting new ones.

When looking through this list of book review blogs, make sure to look for reviews with:

• books in your genre
• reviewers who give detailed feedback
• are accepting new review requests
• constructive feedback if they did not like a book

Note: The genre lists of book review blogs below are sorted by genre for your convenience. They are numbered in no particular order.

Use the Links Below to Jump to Review Blogs for Your Genre:

Paranormal / Urban Fantasy

Contemporary

Erotica / BDSM

Mystery / Thriller / Suspense

Sci-fi / Fantasy

Young Adult

Middle-Grade

Children's Books

Graphic Novels

Non-fiction

Bookstagrammers

Romance book review blogs:.

In no particular order, here are worthwhile blogs that review romance novels:

GPBR also has a lot going on for authors and reviews contemporary mainstream, erotic and dark romances, paranormal romances and romantic suspense. As well as reviews, GPBR also has opportunities for guest posting, author interviews, and an active Goodreads following.

While primarily a romance review blog on the surface, this website has a lot to offer. They review books in multiple genres and it has a lot of opportunities for authors. Including guest posting and author interviews. Check out the contact page for more information.

This site has so much for authors. They have reviews of course, but they also have book awards and readers choice specials. Because this is an entire team you’ll have to check out their “Get Reviewed” tab to see which reviewers are a fit for you and your book. Some genres only have one reviewer so those might have a slower turnaround. Keep that in mind as you make your request.

This blog is broken down into middle grade, young adult, and adult based on who the reviewer would recommend the book too.

Literary Titan is an organization of professional editors, writers, and professors that have a passion for the written word. Literary Titan reviews romance, and all of its sub-genres, as well as fantasy, mystery, horror, science fiction, memoirs and poetry. Literary Titan also conducts author interviews, and recognizes talented authors with their Literary Book Award where recipients are announced monthly.

Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Book Review Blogs:

These blogs will review your paranormal or urban fantasy books:

This site is all about horror and the paranormal but if you have a strong romance plot sub or otherwise, I’d avoid these ladies. They are very clear about their preferences in their review policy. The genre’s they read include paranormal, urban fantasy, horror, speculative fiction, science fiction (limitedly), and epic fantasy.

Nada reads YA, NA romance, fantasy, thrillers. So if your book falls into one those categories this is the blog for you. With a search bar and a beautiful layout, this site is also an excellent place for your book.

This one is all about Christian books. That’s all they do. While Rachel might be a good fit if you have Christian themes or book on Christian living, CBR is the place for books where Christianity has a more prominent role.

Contemporary Book Review Blogs:

These blogs will do book reviews for contemporary books:

This two-woman show reviews books in the following genres fantasy, science-fiction (including steampunk and zombies), young adult, middle-grade, contemporary, dystopian, horror, and a HELL YES to graphic novels (of the mentioned genres).

This fangirl reads YA, NA & adult, fiction, contemporary, psychological thrillers, murder/mystery, graphic novels, and children's books. She’s also open to other genres so have a look at her blog and see if she might be a good fit.

Jessica accepts the following genres thrillers, mysteries, true crime, historical fiction, horror, general fiction, YA, and fantasy.

Samantha’s blog Dream by Day is a one-woman show. What sets her apart from others on this list is her love literary fiction. She also read mysteries and things but finding a reviewer who enjoys literary books was tough. She also has an Instagram where she shares book reviews giving you two opportunities. Her Insta following is small (for now) but as bookstagram grows in popularity so will this feed. She’s got the gorgeous photo thing down to a science.

Erotica / BDSM Book Review Blogs:

If your genre is erotica or BDSM, these book review blogs are worth checking out:

Romancer’s Rehab is a great little blog with a clear-cut rating system you can count on. Be sure to check this one out if you write erotica or other romance-related plots.

Totally booked only reads mobi files so that’s something to consider as you move forward. However, they share your review everywhere they are on the internet for maximum exposure. Definitely check them out.

Mystery/Thriller/Suspense Book Review Blogs:

For suspense, thriller and mystery book review blogs, these are your best bet:

Sharon is all about mysteries and crime. She’ll read crime fiction, true crime, thrillers/psychological thrillers, and mysteries (darker/noir). This dark themed blog goes right along with the books she reads. In her bio, Sharon mentions she’s in a few book clubs . Offering copies to the group might get more bang for your… time.

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Sci-fi/Fantasy Book Review Blogs:

For all the sci-fi and fantasy authors, these are the book review blogs for you:

This site is all about horror and the paranormal but if you have a strong romance plot sub or otherwise, I’d avoid these ladies. The genre’s they read include paranormal, urban fantasy, horror, speculative fiction, science fiction (limitedly), and epic fantasy.

This is an incredibly fun themed site that I just had to include! If you write science/tech-heavy fiction, or spy/secret government related books, this one is for you. The reviews titled “Travel Documents” and posted like a secret file make this one a blast for readers and authors alike. If you’re interested in having your book reviewed by Aces, you’ll have to head over to their facebook page.

This is another author turning to book reviews to help her fellow authors. I love seeing authors reaching out to readers and offering up books they enjoyed. We can’t possibly write enough books for most readers so share the love and write reviews. This is also a science fiction based blog.

Horror Book Review Blogs:

Here are blogs that will review horror books:

Historical Book Review Blogs:

Here are your historical book review blogs:

Young Adult Book Review Blogs:

These websites will review YA books:

Joel of the Fictional Fates website is strictly a young adult and middle-grade reader. He enjoys books in the following genres: fantasy (high, urban & fairy tale retellings), historical fiction, science fiction (sci-fi), contemporary, action/adventure, dystopian, paranormal, and mystery/crime. Note: Joel doesn’t have an eReader yet! So he prefers physical copies.

Middle-Grade Book Review Blogs:

For middle-grade, these blogs will do reviews:

Children’s Book Review Blogs:

If you write children's books , here are websites that will do book reviews:

Mundie kids a great place for MG and Children’s book authors to get some exposure for their books. They are not accepting unsolicited reviews at this time but put it in your calendar to check back in a month or so.

5. Realm of Books

Realm of Books is a great review site for middle-grade and children's book authors. It contains a relatively large volume of detailed, engaging reviews across a variety of genres, and they do accept requests for reviews.

Graphic Novel Review Blogs:

For graphic novels, here are your book review blogs:

Reading for sanity has multiple reviewers and accepts a variety of genres including graphic novels.

Christian Book Review Blogs:

These book review blogs will review Christian books:

This one is all about Christian books. That’s all they do. While Rachel might be a good fit if you have Christian themes or book on Christian living, CIBR is the place for books where Christianity has a more prominent role.

Another great blog that accepts Christian books. They suggest your book be accessible by local libraries so if you’re on Amazon only this may not be the blog for you. If you are on Kobo or Overdrive the library can order your ebook on request.

This blog has expanded from its original book focus to one that encompeses more family and parenting. However, Bethany’s love of reading still shines through and could be a happy home for both children’s books and adult fiction.

Dream by day is a great blog browse the reviews to see if your title would be a good fit. She enjoys a wide variety of books including christian titles and also offers author interviews.

Non-fiction Book Review Blogs:

These non-fiction book review blogs are worth checking out:

Memoir Review Blogs:

Finally, if you wrote a memoir and need reviews, here are book review blogs for you:

Rachel accepts young adult (All Genre), biography, true crime, memoirs, Christian living, non-Fiction (especially if it’s about cults), middle grade, adult fiction, thriller/mystery, comics, graphic novels, history, travel, and feminist literature.

I couldn’t write this post without making a note about bookstagramers. Instagram is a unique social media platform , but one not to be dismissed by authors. The hashtag on Instagram (#bookstagram) is an amazing place to find book reviews and reviewers that are engaged with readers. Most of these blogs had no comments. And I couldn’t find ones that did. I settled for active with more than 1k followers (if they listed their followers) and blogs that were accepting review requests.

With bookstagram you would be sending a physical copy of the book (most of the time) so they can photograph it for their feed and if all goes well you can offer to do a giveaway. They host it on their page and select a winner and you send out a book. (again keep in mind media mail and international shipping costs). The buzz around the give away will help your sales and the Instagrammer can grow their following. It’s that win/win I was talking about.

@ Jennyblogsbooks

@ cakefacerreader

@ inquisitivebookworm

@ 9racereads

For even more book review blogs, please check out the table below. And if you know of any blogs that are missing, please reach out!

How to Get Your Book Reviewed by a Blog

Once you’ve found a book review blog that’s a good fit, you need to dig a little deeper. The first thing you need to check is whether or not they are accepting review requests.

If you want to stand out among the other review requests these bloggers get, look for a way to help them. If someone says “Please review my book” and someone else says “Please review my book, and I’d like to write a guest post for your site” which one do you think will get a yes? The second. If you write a post, that frees up a week of this bloggers time, you’ll be ahead of the game. They might not accept guest posts, so just be looking for a win-win opportunity as you do your research. If you’re website savvy you might offer to help them fix a glitch. Or you could feature their site in your newsletter. Put yourself in their shoes and try to be helpful.

How to Respond if They Say Yes:

If they say yes, you’ll most likely need to send them a copy of your book .

Most reviewers accept ebooks, but some don’t. Make sure you find out before you ask for the review.

Please use some kind of third-party to deliver ebooks. As a reviewer, I’ve received PDF copies of books and they are a pain to get on a Kindle or iPhone. You can also choose to enact DRM on your books, which will help with ARC’s especially.

• BookFunnel – Bookfunnel is an amazing tool to help distribute your books. For $20 dollars a year you can have one pen name , 500 downloads a month, and store 5 books. This is great for beginners. If you want to step it up a notch and use Bookfunnel for collecting email subscribers as well, you can do so for $100 a year.
• Instafreebie – Instafreebie (now Prolific Works) is another option for delivering your book to bloggers. Their free version might be a good option for those just starting out.
• StoryOrigin – When you use StoryOrigin, not only do you join a community of other authors, you basically have all the not-so-fun back end of things taken care of by using them. They help you build your email list, find reviewers, deliver lead magnets and more. Be sure to check them out!

Some reviewers require paperbacks. Bookstagrammers (book bloggers on Instagram covered later) need the physical copy for their pictures and others just prefer the physical book. Whatever the reason, be prepared for this. If you don’t want to send out paperbacks, look for how the book should be delivered in the “Review Policy” section of the blog. Most reviewers who want paperbacks will tell you right there.

NOTE: When mailing paperbacks to reviewers, select media mail at the post office. It’ll save you some money. Also, mailing things internationally is expensive. Keep that in mind when researching reviewers.

• NetGalley – If you are traditionally publishing and have not signed a contract yet, ask them to add at least 100 galley copies to the contract. These will be digital copies of the book you can send to reviewers through NetGalley. If you’re not traditionally published you can still use NetGalley, but you won’t have to worry about a limit on how many you’re allowed to give away.

Move on. Do not respond negatively. If they respond with no, thank them for their time and move on. If they don’t respond you can send one follow-up (unless noted otherwise on their site) then move on. Don’t waste time being upset.

The bottom line here is you need reviews. Amazon rankings and reader buying decisions are affected by them. But don’t freak out about negative reviews. Remember your book isn’t for everyone and when people leave a review saying why they didn’t like it, it will help your ideal readers find you and keep others who would leave negative reviews way.

So do your research, plan your ask, find a win/win, and get your book into the hands of the right readers to get more book reviews .

Dave Chesson

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

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20 thoughts on “ Ultimate List of the Best Book Review Blogs ”

Great info! Thank you. I just published my first book and did not see Self-Help/Relationships as a genre. Who could I contact?

For book review blogs…hmm..I’m not sure.

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Posting an Amazon Book Review from Your Kindle

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One of the nice things about Amazon.com in general, and about the Kindle Store in particular, is that customers participate heavily in contributing content to the site. Reviews, lists, and other comments give you many different perspectives on a product so that you can make an informed decision about whether to purchase it. You may already have created some reviews on Amazon.com yourself using your computer. Now you can add reviews with your Kindle as well. To do so, follow these steps:

Press the Menu button.

The menu pops up.

Move the five-way controller down until the Shop in Kindle Store option is underlined.

Click the controller to select Shop in Kindle Store.

The Kindle Store Home screen appears, with the Browse section at the top.

Type the book title in the text box at the bottom of the page, move the controller to the right to highlight the Search Store button, and click the controller to locate the e-book or other content you want to comment on.

The Product Detail page (the page with a brief description, price, and Buy button) appears.

Select Customer Reviews on the Product Detail page.

The Customer Reviews page appears.

Select Write a Review at the top of the Reviews page.

A page entitled My Rating and Review appears.

Choose a star rating from one to five, as shown in the following figure.

When you click the controller, the Kindle screen flashes to indicate that your rating has been accepted.

Select Title and, in the text entry box that appears, type a title for your review.

The text entry box closes.

Click Review and then type your review in the text entry box that appears.

Select Submit to submit your review and your star rating.

After you submit a review, you can’t edit it, though you can create a new review to revise your opinion. Be careful when you write your comments to make sure they are accurate and not full of typos or anything else that would embarrass you.

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Best Kindle 2024: Our pick of the best Amazon e-readers tested and reviewed

If you’re in the market for an e-reader, Amazon’s Kindle range is likely your top choice. Our team of reviewers has consistently been impressed with each new generation of Kindle since we first reviewed the original many years ago

However, with Amazon now offering a variety of different Kindle models, choosing the right one for your budget and needs can be a bit more challenging. In the past, you could simply buy the latest Kindle, but now there are multiple variations, each with different features.

All the Kindle models reviewed below have the same basic features. They all use Amazon’s excellent Kindle Book store, run on some well-designed software and all have a screen that has a number of LEDs around the edge to allow for night reading. This wasn’t always the case with Kindles, but you don’t need to worry about buying a new Kindle without a light now. The differences are noticeable though and range from the size of the screen, how resistant each model is to water and extras like stylus support, USB-C charging and wireless charging.

Unlike iPads and other tablets, Kindle readers generally have a very long shelf life and models are often sold for around three years without getting updated. We wouldn’t expect the 2021 Kindle Paperwhite to be updated until 2024 or 2025, although we could finally see a new Kindle Oasis this year.

To help you find the right Kindle for your budget and specific needs, we have created this guide that details the best options that we have reviewed and are still available for purchase. 

Each Kindle included in the list below has been thoroughly reviewed and used by one of Trusted Reviews’ product experts for at least a week, although often a lot more. During that time, we check all the most important aspects of an e-reader, including ease of use, portability, build quality, battery life, and display clarity and brightness, to ensure our advice is as accurate as possible.

But before you scroll down, keep in mind the Kindle app is available on most tablets and offers access to the same library of content. So if you only sporadically read books and don’t need a Kindle’s lengthy battery life it may be worth checking out our best tablet list as well.

Best Kindle: At a glance

• Best for most people – Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021) – check price
• Best premium option – Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition – check price
• Best for travellers – Kindle Oasis – check price
• Best for kids – Amazon Kindle Kids Edition (2022) – check price
• Best affordable option – Amazon Kindle (2022) -check price
• Best for writing – Amazon Kindle Scribe – check price

How we test

We use any Kindle we review as our main e-reader for at least a week when reviewing it. During this time we will check its battery life with regular use and how much it discharges on average after an hour with the screen on. On top of this we will check battery recharge times, max brightness levels and how easy it is to read in a variety of different conditions, including outdoor sunlight. We check performance, ease of use and build quality to ensure it is pleasant to use and rugged enough to survive use on the go, or with small children.

• Excellent screen
• Durable design
• Not much support for content that isn’t from Amazon
• Physical buttons for flipping pages would be welcome

• Great screen
• Wireless charging is a handy extra
• Switch to USB-C
• The cheaper model is the better buy for most people

• Big and sharp display
• Page-turning buttons are great
• New “warmth” display setting is nice on the eyes
• With the Paperwhite being so good, the oasis is a hard sell
• Lack of USB-C is annoying
• Minimal updates from the previous model

• Excellent value
• Two-year guarantee including accidental damage
• Easy-to-read front-lit screen
• Only available in blue and pink
• Lots of big books aren’t free

• Compact size sets it apart from the larger Paperwhite and Oasis
• Very sharp display makes reading a pleasure
• The switch to USB-C is welcome
• Access to Amazon Prime’s ebook and audiobook ecosystem
• Slight price increase
• Misses out on a waterproof body
• Feels a bit cheap

• Great to write on
• Pen included
• Sharp display
• The software is lacking
• No handwriting recognition
• Sharing notes is tricky and limited

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021)

The best option for most people.

With a durable design, easy to read display and an impressively long battery life, the Kindle Paperwhite (2021) is Amazon’s current flagship e-reader and a fantastic option for most avid readers.

A hefty upgrade from its predecessor, the Paperwhite now features a larger screen, a 20% faster user interface and a much welcome USB-C port. Now 6.8-inches and paired with slimmer bezels, this larger screen offers a more comfortable reading experience and looks better to the eye too. 

What does remain the same as its predecessor is the monochrome E-Ink screen, which isn’t surprising as it’s much kinder on your eyes and feels closer to reading actual paper than a typical LCD or OLED screen. With that said, its lack of colour means the Kindle isn’t ideal for comics or cookery books. 

Constructed from smooth, matte plastic, the Paperwhite is lightweight and easy to hold in one hand, making it comfortable for extended reading sessions. Despite its portability, it still feels durable, and thanks to the IPX8 water-resistant rating it should survive an accidental drop in the bath or pool too. 

Like all of its hardware, you really do need to be part of the Amazon ecosystem to make the most of the Paperwhite. If you don’t plan on ever using the Amazon Kindle Store or Audible’s audiobook service, or you prefer to borrow books from local library apps then you’d be much better off with an e-reader from a brand like Kobo. 

Amazon states that the Paperwhite can last for up to a whopping 10 weeks, with 30-minutes of reading each day but with the wireless features disabled. We found that after a week’s use with over an hour of reading each day, the battery only dropped 25%. 

If you’re happy to utilise the Amazon ecosystem then you really couldn’t do much better than the Kindle Paperwhite (2021).

Reviewer: Max Parker Full review: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021) review

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

The best premium option.

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature is, at its core, a slightly more beefed up Paperwhite. While the extra features are nice, they won’t be for everyone and that’s the reason this isn’t our number one pick.

All the features of the regular Paperwhite are present here, plus the additions of wireless Qi charging , more onboard storage and a light that automatically changes depending on your surroundings.

Wireless charging is a neat addition, and as it uses the same Qi standard as many of the best phones around, you won’t need to invest in another charger if you’ve already got one. Qi charger is a bit slow here but it’s handy for small top ups.

The additional onboard is another feature we like – although it’s far from vital. The regular Paperwhite has 8GB, while this version has 32GB. eBooks are generally very small in size, so 8GB is plenty of space for hundreds of reads, however 32GB is much better is plan on downloading long audiobooks from Audible. There are no speakers here though, so both the Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition need to be connected to Bluetooth earphones to make use of the audio features.

The automatic brightness is the least interesting addition, as it doesn’t really work that well. We tend to prefer just altering it manually. If those three features appeal, you should choose the Signature Edition.

Reviewer: Max Parker

Full review: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition review

Amazon Kindle (2022)

The best affordable option.

The cheapest Kindle is, as you can probably guess, is the most basic option in this list. If you want a device purely for reading and aren’t fussed about design flourishes then this a great choice for the price.

Compared to the Paperwhite above and the Oasis below, the Kindle is missing a few features. There’s no waterproofing, meaning this isn’t a great choice for poolside or beach reading nor does it have the warm light you’ll find elsewhere.

What it does have is a light behind the display, a feature that used to be kept for the pricier Kindle models. The amount of LEDs is only 4 (as opposed to 17 on the Paperwhite and 25 on the Oasis) so the light isn’t as bright, but it still works well enough in regular daylight based on our tests.

A big upgrade this time around is the sharper, 300PPI display which actually matches the pricier models for resolution. It looks great, and is a pleasure to read on. There’s a USB-C port for charging too – you won’t even find that on the Oasis.

For many people the Kindle is a great choice. It has access to the same books as the other models and the smaller form-factor might be a benefit to some.

Reviewer: Max Parker Full review: Amazon Kindle (2022) review

Kindle Oasis

The best for travellers.

The Kindle Oasis is a good e-reader, however it is starting to age slightly and could do with a healthy refresh, hence its place this far down on the list. Still, it remains the best looking Kindle model thanks to a metal body and is the only one to have physical buttons for flipping through pages.

It’s also the only model to offer 4G connectivity for downloading books away from Wi-Fi and it has the brightest, most accurate display light. The 4G connectivity is particularly important as, with a sim installed, it makes it the only option there that can download content without relying on a WiFi connection.

However, its use of the older micro USB port along with the high price make it hard to recommend to anyone other than those who really want wider connectivity options and a premium build. For most the high price that make this feel like an e-reader for a very specific users.

Reviewer: Max Parker Full review: Amazon Kindle Oasis review

Kindle Kids (2022)

The best for kids.

• Excellent, sharp display
• Two-year guarantree
• Free access to Kids+
• It’s literally an Amazon Kindle (2022) with a jacket
• Kindle Kids+ not a comprehensive library
• Not waterproof

While all Kindle devices can be locked down with parental controls, the Amazon Kindle Kids Edition is well worth it. Undr

It comes with Amazon’s excellent two-year worry-free guarantee (a staple of all Amazon’s Kids edition products): if the device is broken, accidentally or otherwise, Amazon will simply replace it.

Secondly, it comes with a year’s subscription of Kids+, which gives you thousands of books thrown in for free, ranging from comic books, educational titles and bigger books. That said, there are still plenty of big children’s authors whose books aren’t included, so expect to splash out on some titles to keep your kids amused.

Parental controls are built-in as standard, controllable through the web interface. For each child in your house, you can set up a profile, locking down content to titles that are suitable for their age only. Crucially, the controls also prevent children from buying books through your account. Parental controls work brilliantly and, combined with Kids+, it means you can leave children to explore and find a range of books, without the worry that they’ll download something inappropriate.

Otherwise, this is a standard Kindle 2022 you’ll find higher up in this list. It’s got a 6-inch screen and a light making reading at night or in the car easy. We found the screen to be sharp and detailed and a big improvement over the previous model. There’s a healthy 16GB storage and USB-C for charging, although no waterproofing.

Reviewer: Jon Mundy Full review: Amazon Kindle Kids Edition (2022) review

Amazon Kindle Scribe

The best for writing.

The Amazon Kindle Scribe is very different to the other readers on this list. For one, the 10.2-inch screen makes this the largest option and a good choice for those who find the smaller screens above tough to read.

It’s also the priciest model on this list and hard to recommend to anyone on a budget. But, most importantly, it’s the only Kindle you can write on. The Scribe comes with a pen and a few software tweaks to turn it from a pure e-reader to a smart, modern notebook.

The writing experience is great – the low latency ensures your scribbles are mirrored quickly on screen and the slightly textured display gives a good feeling of paper. There’s even a Premium pen option that includes an eraser and a shortcut button.

The Scribe is let down by its raft of missing features though. Notes can quickly become jumbled up in the messy software, sharing with other devices is tricky and the hardware is missing some basics like an IP rating, physical page turning buttons and a cellular option.

Reviewer: Max Parker Full review: Amazon Kindle Scribe review

We also considered…

A large tablet for kids with excellent parental controls

A good fit for a general-use family tablet

We’ve reviewed

There currently isn’t any version of a Kindle with 5G. Outside of the Oasis, which has LTE connectivity, to download books and magazines you need an active WiFi connection. The content is stored locally, however, so you can read it offline

Kindle’s all use black and white e-ink screens. Amazon doesn’t currently sell a colour screen Kindle.

Numerous companies have and do make e-readers including Kobo, Sony, Huawei and many more. We generally recommend Kindles over rivals due to the wealth of content available on the store.

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Comparison specs.

You can see a detailed breakdown of the all the devices mentioned in this guide’s specs in the table below.

Max is the Editor of Trusted Reviews, and has been a mobile phone and technology specialist for over nine years. Max started his career at T3 straight after graduating from Kingston University. Max ha…

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Kindle only asking for reviews after every single page is turned...

So I noticed that many books ask for a review the page or so after finishing the end/epilogue. When I went to test with my own ebook, though, Kindle doesn't ask until the very last page after the Acknowledgements. I'm pretty sure this is costing me free reviews, as 40-50 people have read the book without even leaving a rating.

Is there a way to force the review earlier?

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The Road To Roatan (THE ROAD TO KEY WEST Book 14) Kindle Edition

• Reading age 12 - 18 years
• Book 14 of 14 THE ROAD TO KEY WEST
• Print length 175 pages
• Language English
• Publication date June 21, 2024
• Page Flip Enabled
• Word Wise Enabled
• Enhanced typesetting Enabled
• Sticky notes On Kindle Scribe
• See all details

• Customers Also Enjoyed
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• By Michael Reisig
• Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Editorial Reviews

From the author, from the back cover, about the author, product details.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D7SH45YF
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Clear Creek Press (June 21, 2024)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 21, 2024
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 1264 KB
• Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 175 pages
• #2 in American Humorous Fiction
• #22 in Satire Fiction
• #64 in Fiction Satire

About the author

Michael reisig.

Michael Reisig has been writing professionally for 20 years. He is a former Caribbean adventurer turned newspaper editor, award-winning columnist, and best-selling novelist.

After high school and college in Florida, he relocated to the Florida Keys. He established a commercial diving business, got his pilot’s license, and traveled extensively throughout the southern hemisphere, diving, treasure hunting, and adventuring.

Reisig claims he has been thrown out of more countries in the Caribbean Basin that most people ever visit, and he admits that a great many of the situations and the characters in his novels are authentic - but nothing makes a great read like experience…

He now lives in the mountains of Arkansas, where he hunts and fishes, and writes, but he still escapes to the Caribbean for an occasional adventure.

CLICK THE "FOLLOW" BUTTON -- so you'll be kept apprised of all Michael's new books as they're released.

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