Kindle Unlimited is it worth it?

[Deskisamess]

I found it was pretty easy to get a huge KU wishlist set up before getting the deal. But I stopped after the free time because I found I didn't like feeling like I was reading with a timer.

There is no timer with KU books. You can borrow 10 at a time, and keep them as long as you need.

Our public library has a 7-21 day checkout for digital books. I rarely need the 21 days to finish a book. I can read 2-5 (fiction) books per week depending on what's going on in my life.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

There is no timer with KU books. You can borrow 10 at a time, and keep them as long as you need.

The timer is the monthly charge and the pressure to make it worthwhile. “As long as you need” could turn out to be quite pricey. Works for some, but for others it’s like a gym membership where you’re not going, but always have good intentions so you don’t quit.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

I do a similar search. I love new (to me) authors, and I find a lot of new authors that I want to read, as well as established authors older stuff (who I sometimes haven't even heard of!)

I've found so many authors that I could have 100 or more books downloaded from KU if Amazon would let me. So any more, I have a wish list for KU, when I find a book that interests me, I make note of it in my wish list. It has become my TBR list.

I totally agree. In fact, I approach it with the same strategy and enjoyment as you outline in your post.

[sufue]

I've been a KU subscriber for more of the time than not, but always when I could get a Prime Day or other good deal on the subscription. (This is what has caused the occasional brief pause in my membership - waiting for a good deal.) What I like about KU is that if I find a new indie or Amazon-published author I like, I can binge read a whole series for free - well, technically not free, but already paid for. I also like the chance to try some new authors/series risk-free.

And it's not completely true that well-established or traditionally-published authors are never on KU. Sometimes they are doing new series that they are self-pubbing, or they are writing in a new genre with a different publisher, or sometimes they will get the rights back to early titles that have been out of print, and decide to self-pub those. And often those will be on KU.

I guess the biggest exception, off the top of my mind, is JK Rowling, whose Harry Potter series, once it was finally available in e-book, is on KU. But mostly it's true that famous authors or books aren't on KU.

With that said, at full price, I would never do KU, but at the discount prices that come from time-to-time, it's worth it to me.

For the OP, since rumors are abounding that Prime Day will be in mid-October, maybe it's worth a free trial until then to see if you like it, and then get a discounted subscription for Prime Day if you do...

And as others above have said, without KU, eReaderIQ and patience are your friends! And yes, I pay a small amount to eReaderIQ through Patreon each month, since I value the website so much, so that's kind of like a subscription for me too .

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

I love KU. I've found new authors I enjoy, and genres I've not read before. A lot of "Religious fiction" authors are in KU, and KU is a great way to weed out the decent authors from the ones who believe that anyone who can type can write a book.

Anyone who can type CAN write a book! Just not necessarily a good book! BTW I love KU

[issybird]

Originally Posted by sufue

What I like about KU is that if I find a new indie or Amazon-published author I like, I can binge read a whole series for free

I hadn’t thought of it, but that’s another reason KU isn’t for me; I don’t like to binge read. When I find a series, I stretch ‘em out - and the more I like it, the longer I stretch them. Even when it’s a series that’s current, I’m generally a book or two behind. A side benefit to that is that I’m not champing at the bit when a new book comes out. I totally get paying full price when it’s a book you have to read right now, but I never find myself in that position as I tend to have one in reserve.

I have a friend who refuses to read the last book in a series she’s enjoyed. She likes knowing she’s still got one left.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

Anyone who can type CAN write a book! Just not necessarily a good book! BTW I love KU

I would go beyond that and state that words and sentences don't even matter. Pressing any sequence of keys - for a long enough period of time - will eventually result in a book.

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!

Anyone who can't type can also write a book.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I would go beyond that and state that words and sentences don't even matter. Pressing any sequence of keys - for a long enough period of time - will eventually result in a book.

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!

Anyone who can't type can also write a book.

The million monkeys theory of authoring?

[sufue]

You and your friend both have way more patience than I do !!!

I am totally bummed when I finish a series I like, but would never have the self-control to read slowly or leave any reasonably-priced/KU or library-available title unread. (Sadly, most of my most favorite authors aren't popular enough to be available from either of the two libraries I belong to.) Instead, I binge read really fast, mostly to find out what happens. Then if the series is really good - usually if the writing is really good, not just the plots - I'll reread slowly, to enjoy it more.

With that said, since I have a huge TBR pile, I only have probably four or five authors that I ever even think about buying at full price, and even for those, I mostly don't. I do have that much self-restraint, although very occasionally it slips - usually if I get some sort of credit or gift card and can rationalize the purchase. But if the titles are reasonably priced or at the library, they're getting read!

Originally Posted by issybird

I hadn’t thought of it, but that’s another reason KU isn’t for me; I don’t like to binge read. When I find a series, I stretch ‘em out - and the more I like it, the longer I stretch them. Even when it’s a series that’s current, I’m generally a book or two behind. A side benefit to that is that I’m not champing at the bit when a new book comes out. I totally get paying full price when it’s a book you have to read right now, but I never find myself in that position as I tend to have one in reserve.

I have a friend who refuses to read the last book in a series she’s enjoyed. She likes knowing she’s still got one left.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by DNSB

The million monkeys theory of authoring?

That and indie authors.

[darryl]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

That and indie authors.

And tradpub authors?

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by DNSB

The million monkeys theory of authoring?

That was tested. Oddly all the chimps (rather than monkeys) favoured a similar selection of a few keys so an infinite number of monkeys may not work to recreate any Shakespeare.

[Paperbackstash]

I love KU, been subscribing for years. When friends ask me if it's worth it for them, I know many of them only read one book every month, or every month, so I tell them at full price it's only worth it if you read several books a month or are interested in the titles. I have discovered a lot of new authors and series from there and use it often. It's saved me money instead of purchasing these books.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by Paperbackstash

I love KU, been subscribing for years. When friends ask me if it's worth it for them, I know many of them only read one book every month, or every month, so I tell them at full price it's only worth it if you read several books a month or are interested in the titles. I have discovered a lot of new authors and series from there and use it often. It's saved me money instead of purchasing these books.

It's not about just the number of books you read, but it is also the number of books you start but never finish because while they SOUND interesting, they suck in some way. Not having to buy books like that saves a lot of money.

[DuskyRose]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

There is no timer with KU books. You can borrow 10 at a time, and keep them as long as you need.

Yes, except that I would still need to feel like I read enough to pay for it at full price.

Since I jump around a lot, I didn't feel like keeping to the KU list each month, and read enough to make it come up even.