I'll Read What She's Reading — "KINDLE UNLIMITED Recs" (August 27, 2025)
Brief Overview
In this lively episode of I'll Read What She's Reading, Reggie, Kennedy, and Michaela focus on their top recommendations and discoveries on Kindle Unlimited. With a mix of books they’ve devoured, titles on their TBRs, and some hype (and pet peeves) about popular series, the hosts provide a genre-diverse guide for fantasy, romance, and a few "other" picks. The episode is also a celebration: not only does Michaela finally get a Kindle, but the trio launches their custom-designed Kindle cases. Expect candid opinions, friendly banter, and plenty of bookish enthusiasm.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Announcements and Kindle Excitement (00:10–02:20)
- Michaela joins the Kindle club, prompting a slew of recommendations from Kennedy and Reggie (01:36).
- The group launches their own line of Kindle cases, emphasizing unique designs and upcoming availability (01:55).
- “We've never seen anything like them on a Kindle case. So we're really excited.” — Kennedy [01:42]
- Cases drop Thursday, 5pm MST.
2. Kindle Unlimited & Prime Reading Differences (02:20–04:21)
- Prime Reads vs. Kindle Unlimited: Michaela shares that Prime Reading (free with Amazon Prime) offers some but not all KU titles, commonly the first book in a series. KU subscribers get more complete access.
- “That's how they get you.” — Reggie, on readers upgrading from Prime to KU [04:21]
3. Organizational Structure of the Episode (04:24–05:30)
- Recommendations are split into Fantasy, Romance, and an "Other" category.
- They clarify which books they've actually read and which are on their wish lists.
Fantasy Recommendations & Discussion
4. One Dark Window Duology by Rachel Gillig (06:30–08:44)
- Gothic, dark fantasy vibes, unique pacing, atmospheric world-building.
- “It's in between, like, high fantasy and cozy fantasy... it's a little bit cozy-ish.” — Kennedy [07:54]
- All hosts rated it 5 stars and recommend both One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns (duology, both on KU).
5. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie (08:44–11:28)
- "Just okay," but recommended for its character-driven, plot-lite, "grimdark" vibe.
- Only books 1 and 2 are on KU; book 3 is not.
- “If you like very character-driven fantasies, I think you'll really enjoy this book.” — Kennedy [09:56]
- Polarizing, slow-paced, minimal fantasy elements apart from some wizards.
6. Anything by Carissa Broadbent (11:28–16:09)
- The Crowns of Nyaxia series, especially The Serpent in the Wings of Night and its duology structure, praised for vampires, trials, and high stakes.
- “If you're a fantasy reader and you haven't already read any of these books by this author... you need to.” — Reggie [11:30]
- Unique duology structure within a series.
- Novella Six Scorched Roses: “I've never given a novella five stars before, except for that book.” — Reggie [13:44]
- Daughter of No Worlds (War of Lost Hearts series) also highly recommended.
7. The Poppy War Trilogy by R.F. Kuang (16:09–19:22)
- Historical, Asian-inspired fantasy, brutal, little to no romance.
- “If you are a die-hard romantasy girly and you need romance, you are not going to enjoy The Poppy War.” — Kennedy [18:43]
- All three are available on KU. Kennedy’s favorite was the second book (The Dragon Republic).
8. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinnemann (20:56–22:31)
- LitRPG/sci-fi-fantasy hybrid described as "outrageous, cheesy, but entertaining."
- “Literally the most outrageous book I've ever read. There's a cat named Princess Donut, like what?” — Kennedy [22:01]
- Perfect for video game lovers.
9. Spark of the Everflame Series by Pen Cole (23:00–25:27)
- Fantastic magic system, easy to understand, "gobbleable."
- “Not the best fantasy series I've ever read, but I absolutely demolished it.” — Reggie [24:11]
- Fourth book comes out next summer; initial three books on KU.
10. Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider (25:59–28:16)
- Unread but highly anticipated by the hosts—great Goodreads ratings, lots of buzz, but no release date for book 2.
11. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (28:30–30:22)
- Necromancer-centric, possibly more sci-fi; highly rated with complex release schedule.
12. Plated Prisoner Series by Raven Kennedy (30:23–33:08)
- A completed six-book series, reimagining the myth of King Midas.
- “I love a completed series.” — Reggie [31:10]
- Allegedly starts YA, evolves to New Adult.
Romance Recommendations & Discussion
13. In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros (34:01–35:57)
- Military romance, free KU audio, “really good” characters, alternating timelines, Afghanistan setting.
- “You know it's good when you remember... the name of the male main character.” — Reggie [34:56]
14. Boys of Tommen Series by Chloe Walsh (36:12–38:41)
- Initially met with skepticism, Kennedy grows to love Joey’s story.
- “If Degrassi was a book, that's the Boys of Tommen.” — Kennedy [38:16]
- Not "feel good" reads; themes of trauma and heartwarming moments.
15. Chestnut Springs Series by Elsie Silver (39:26–42:10)
- Spicy, small-town cowboy romance. The ultimate palette cleanser for fantasy fatigue.
- “Fun, spicy, vibey read... but something about the way she writes makes you become obsessed.” — Michaela [41:14]
16. The Friend Zone Trilogy by Abby Jimenez (42:10–43:56)
- The Friend Zone, The Happily Ever After Playlist, Life’s Too Short (all on KU); fluffy, heartwarming.
- “Life's Too Short's one of my favorite romance books.” — Reggie [43:38]
- Read in published order for max enjoyment.
17. Windy City Series by Liz Tomforde (43:56–45:33)
- Interconnected hockey sports romance standalones—all on KU.
- Kennedy seeks listener advice on whether to skip the first book as recommended by “booktok” influencer Braden Lockerbie.
18. Haven River Range Series by Devney Perry (46:00–47:36)
- Mystery romance, dual listen+read available, short and fast-paced.
19. Cash by Jessica Peterson (48:01–48:34)
- Another cowboy romance, recommended as a Chestnut Springs alternative.
20. The Map that Leads to You by J.P. Monninger (48:34–49:35)
- Soon to be a movie starring KJ Apa and Madelyn Cline — ideal for adaptation readers.
Other/Thriller/Litfic Recommendations
21. Fourth Wing & Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (50:00)
- Both on KU—acknowledged as already well-known but worth mentioning.
22. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (50:18)
- Popular thriller; “If you need a good thriller... that one’s a good one.” — Reggie [50:24]
23. Hidden Pictures & The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak (50:27)
- Hidden Pictures: Perfect for Kindle due to integrated graphics; book club vetted.
24. Frida McFadden thrillers (51:03–51:32)
- Short, outrageous plots, audio-friendly, and The Housemaid movie adaptation coming December.
- “There's a time and a place for a Frida McFadden book.” — Kennedy [51:23]
25. Jessa Hastings titles (Never, Conditions of Will, Time of Your Life) (51:48–52:06)
- All on KU, highly praised by hosts.
Memorable Moments & Quotes
- “That's how they get you.” — Reggie, on Kindle Unlimited’s tactics [04:21]
- “I've never given a novella five stars before, except for that book.” — Reggie on Six Scorched Roses [13:44]
- “If Degrassi was a book, that's the Boys of Tommen series.” — Kennedy [38:16]
- “You know it's good when you remember... the name of the male main character.” — Reggie [34:56]
- “Fun, spicy, vibey read... but something about the way she writes makes you become obsessed.” — Michaela [41:14]
- “There's a time and a place for a Frida McFadden book.” — Kennedy [51:23]
Notable Timestamps
- Kindle cases announcement: 01:55
- Prime Reads vs. KU: 03:00–03:47
- One Dark Window recommendation: 06:30–08:44
- Carissa Broadbent deep dive: 11:28–16:09
- Dungeon Crawler Carl description: 20:56–22:31
- Chestnut Springs & cowboy romance: 39:26–42:10
- Rapid-fire KU thrillers & others: 50:23–51:48
Conclusion
The episode is fun, fast-paced, and packed with genuine, honest recommendations across a spectrum of genres. The hosts provide both tried-and-true favorites and wish-list picks, delivered with warm, book-club enthusiasm. Their tone is chaotic, relatable, and refreshingly candid, making it easy for listeners to build their TBRs—or at least feel validated that their own are endless too.
Don’t forget: custom Kindle cases from the hosts drop this Thursday, 5pm MST!
“I would love to get to a point in my reading journey where I maybe read a Kindle Unlimited book that... nobody's talked about.” — Kennedy [52:07]
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