A question I get (and I ask of others) a LOT is where I get my books. Here’s my line-up. Lemme know if you have a great idea. Clearly, there are never enough books!
Library: I use and abuse our library membership. What did we ever do before we could put books on hold and roll up for our book loot?! Absolute gold mine. I am giddy when I get the email alerts that my requests are in.
Libby app (link your library membership number): I cannot praise this app enough. Blue listens to audiobooks through Libby before bed every night. I listen to them in the car when I (rarely) am solo. The app offers a ton of ebooks and just like a library, users can place a hold on media. LOVE!
Book of the Month Club: What I like about BOTM is the choices. These are often books made available before they hit ‘zon, Target, libraries, etc. So yay, me! And I like the choice selection because the month’s selections are about a handful – no more. For anyone who gets overwhelmed with options or goes down an online book shopping rabbit hole (me), this is ideal. Pick from a small selection and done! Don’t like the options this month, no biggie. Skip. Here is my referral link.
Amazon: duh. No explanation needed. Amazon runs a 3-for-2 sale every once in a while or $5 off $20 book purchase near the holidays that I take full advantage of.
Target: Target book prices rival Amazon and they seem to ride along with the book promotion schedule as Amazon. Yay for readers!
Book Outlet: The prices on Book Outlet are often better than Amazon (!). The site doesn’t always have the newest stuff, but I like this option because they have a TON to choose from. I have gotten a ton of board books here, countless Step-In-To-Reading type ‘level’ books here (so inexpensive) and plenty of novels on my TBR list I house on Amazon but for less than Amazon prices. At least once per week they run a 15% off or 20% off everything sale – bonus! Here is my referral link. You get $10 off a $25 purchase.
Books A Million: Tons of discounted books (and lots of other goodies) with a more current selection than Book Outlet and I sure love curbside pick-up. If you need it today/tomorrow for a good price, this is a great spot! Check it out here.
Evan-Moor: I get a TON of the kiddo stuff here because it’s a one-stop shop. I make the kids do workbook learning six days a week in the summer and during breaks from school. Yes, a tyrant. But at least their materials are cute. Here are a free samplers and activities, but check out the whole site while you’re at it. I’m sure your kids will thank me.
Gal pals and other fellow readers: I am allll about the catch-and-release. Read a book and get it in other peoples’ hands. My girl Debbie and I trade off women’s fiction, fiction and memoirs. My cousin Kathy and I trade off thrillers. My aunts and cousins on my mom’s side are all book fanatics and we host our Word Herd gatherings where I gobble up such a hodge podge of literary goodness. My mama shares my love of holiday romances, so we pass back and forth. My MIL is also an avid reader and she passes along so many books I’ve never heard of (which I love) and fall mostly in the non-fiction category. My older sister reads a full gamut of books and passes along a ton of amazing options. My brilliant friend Beth hosts an incredible book club and picks the best books and has her own little lending library.