I don’t know about you, but when I first got my Kindle, I couldn’t put it down. I carried that tablet with me everywhere; it was practically glued to my hands. I devoured book after book, and I felt unstoppable with the power of Kindle Unlimited by my side. But then I started noticing something… I hadn’t bought a physical book in nearly a year.
The Kindle, paired with the Kindle Unlimited subscription, is a fantastic, accessible option for those who don’t want to spend nearly $20 on a physical copy of a book each time they want to read. Plus, there are millions of great free books across all genres and age groups available to readers. Many beloved books are actually on KU, such as Fourth Wing, Quicksilver, Liz Tomforde’s Windy City series, Freida McFadden’s books, Lauren Roberts’ entire Powerless trilogy, The Boys of Tommen series, and more. In truth, it’s a great option for those who don’t love physical books or want to read popular stories without breaking the bank.
This is what drew me in: the possibility of having “free” books at my fingertips. I have a Kindle Fire, which is a bit larger than the more popular version, the Kindle Paperwhite, which is known for being small and portable. I prefer the Fire because the screen is bigger and resembles an actual book page.
My journey with my Kindle started in 2023, and since I was reading so much more than before, I started tracking my books on Goodreads in 2024. So, to see the change in my reading habits, I’ve taken a deep dive into my digital shelves, and this is what I’ve found: in 2025, I read 43 books, and of those, only 8 were physical books I had purchased. The rest were from KU. And in 2024, I read 45 books, and only 2 were physical. How crazy is that!
Before getting my Kindle, every book I read was one I had to go out and purchase. So, don’t get me wrong, my physical shelves are full of books, and perusing through the bookstore is one of my all-time favorite activities. But it makes me wonder how much I would’ve read had I not gotten a Kindle. I still love my physical books—the smell of the paper and how it feels beneath my fingertips is irreplaceable. Sometimes, after I’ve finished a book on KU, I’ll buy what’s deemed a “trophy” copy of the book for my shelves just so I can have it forever. But with the way book prices have steadily gone up over the years, I doubt I would’ve read as much without my Kindle.
I definitely read much faster on my Kindle as well. I’m not sure if it’s the ease and comfort with which I can curl up in any position to read in, or the lack of turning pages, but I can finish a book on KU in about two to three days, sometimes just one. Yes, I can do the same with a physical book; however, it happens much less often than when I’m reading on the tablet. There’s something addictive about reading on a Kindle that makes time fly by when you’re “flipping” through the pages. An added plus is that you can also read at night, in the dark, which is what I do a lot, and that gives me even more time to finish my book than having to stop because I can no longer see the words. I can easily fit it in my bag and take it with me anywhere without the worry of creasing precious pages. And, I can customize it with cute cases and fun stickers. The feeling is different, but ultimately the same. I am still reading and experiencing new worlds and characters that become near and dear to me, just on a screen rather than paper.
I’m not sure if there’s any scientific explanation behind this phenomenon, but from my personal experience, getting a Kindle definitely changed my reading habits, and I would say for the better. The more books I can read in the long run, the happier I will be.
Do you have a Kindle? If so, have you noticed a change in your reading habits? Let us know!
Bryanna Thompson, Pine Reads Review Writer