Loading summary
Reggie
Foreign.
Kennedy
Hello and welcome back to. I'll read what she's reading. I'm Kennedy.
Reggie
I'm Reggie.
Kennedy
I'm Michaela. And today we have a special episode for you guys. Today we're talking about all things Kindle Unlimited. This is the second time we've done this episode, but we have two very exciting reasons why we decided to do a Kindle Unlimited episode. First, Kayla, would you like to share with everyone?
Reggie
Share with the class. Share with the class.
Kennedy
I got a Kindle long time coming.
Michaela
Yeah. So I'm gonna be taking lots of notes from them. And if anyone else has any Kindle recommendations, send them.
Kennedy
Send them my way.
Reggie
You wanna know, I have a rec for you. Do you need a Kindle case?
Michaela
I actually do. Oh.
Reggie
Oh, how convenient. Cause I have a great suggestion. Sorry, I just decided that's how I was gonna se.
Kennedy
That's great.
Reggie
Our next announcement that Kennedy said, if you haven't already guessed, releasing Kindle cases.
Michaela
They're so cute.
Kennedy
They're so cute.
Michaela
So cute.
Kennedy
It's been a long time coming.
Reggie
Yeah. We have a merch shop. In case you didn't know, I'm wearing a T shirt of ours from it. And yeah, we have just decided that Kindles were the next step Kindle cases. And so that's part of the reason why Michaela got a Kindle. And we're so excited for you guys to have one on yours if you like the designs as much as we do.
Kennedy
Yeah, we're really excited. We got a few different designs in the works, but these first two, we're obsessed. We've never seen anything like them on a Kindle case. So we're really excited.
Michaela
Yeah.
Kennedy
They drop this Thursday at 5pm Mountain Standard Time. So run your little booty to all read what she's reading dot com. Grab yourself a Kindle case. So, yeah, we're excited. Hopefully you guys are excited too.
Reggie
They're so cute.
Kennedy
Yeah, we're really excited.
Reggie
There's more where that came from for sure.
Kennedy
Yes.
Reggie
So.
Kennedy
So here we go. Kindle Unlimited, for all you Kindle peeps. There are so many books on Kindle Unlimited, it's kind of crazy.
Reggie
Like you said at the beginning of the episode. We've done an episode of this before about a year ago. But it's crazy how often like. Like these are current things on Kindle Unlimited. Some of the things we've talked about in the past episode are no longer included on Kindle Unlimited.
Michaela
Yeah.
Reggie
So things definitely come and go.
Kennedy
Yes.
Reggie
These are more of the current things that we're seeing on there.
Kennedy
Also, while we were doing a little bit of research for this episode, Michaela found out something that's kind of interesting. I didn't know about this. Yeah, maybe you all did know. I didn't know.
Reggie
I didn't know either.
Michaela
So I don't have a Kindle Unlimited account quite yet, but I got the app and it had some options. Not all of the options, but had quite a few of Kindle Unlimited that were on Amazon. Prime Reads. What. Is that what they called it?
Kennedy
I think so, yeah.
Reggie
Prime Reads. Kennedy and I were looking on our apps and where we both have a Kindle Unlimited subscription. It didn't have the option for Prime.
Kennedy
Reads because I think all of the Prime Reads are in Kindle Unlimited. But if you don't pay for a Kindle Unlimited subscription, but you have prime. Yeah, you'll have access to some, but not all the Kindle Unlimited reads.
Michaela
From my research, it was showing, like, a lot of the first books in series were on Amazon or Prime Reading, but if you wanted, like, the second or third book in series, they didn't have those for Prime Readings, which. And they were on Kindle Unlimited. So it seems like there's pros and cons, but I feel like it's nice if you are wanting to start, like, a series and it's included in Prime Reading and then Kindle Unlimited, and then you're like, okay, I might as well.
Reggie
Just buy Kindle Unlimited. That's how they get you.
Kennedy
Or also, you could rig the system, because sometimes if you read the first book in the series, it's really popular on the Libby app. But then sometimes the second book in a series ebook isn't as popular. Audiobooks on Libby are very popular, but ebooks are less popular. But we're not here about Libby. We're here about Kindle Unlimited. We're here about Kindle Unlimited. So we have it broken down into kind of three categories. We have a fantasy category, we have a romance category, and. And then we have an other category which will include, like, you know, sci fi, thriller, litfic, kind of all of those. Because I don't know if you guys know this, but we mostly read fantasy and romance, so that's why we're experts. But who wants to kick it off? Oh, also, I should mention some of these books we have read and some of these books we haven't read. So we'll. We'll let you guys know if they're books we have read or not. And if we've read them, we can kind of Give a little bit of insight and if we haven't read them, we'll tell you why we want to read them. Let's go first. We going. We doing fantasy first?
Reggie
Let's do fantasy.
Kennedy
Sure.
Michaela
Michaela, you go first. What? I'm going first.
Kennedy
You're going first. Okay.
Michaela
I'm a newbie to all of this, so my recommendations may not be amazing, but I. I tried. Okay. There was a lot. It was a little overwhelming with the Kindle recommendations.
Reggie
There's seriously. I was just telling my sister in law this the other day because she just barely got Kindle Unlimited. I feel like there's so many more books now than there were like two or three years ago or whatever it was that I got my Kindle Unlimited subscription. So there's lots of options out there.
Michaela
Yeah, I feel like we're. I also am newer to it, which is great. There were a lot of like Kindle Unlimited recommendations that I haven't read yet that I would be interested in reading, which was exciting as a new Kindle reader. So.
Reggie
Okay.
Michaela
The first one, hopefully I'm not taking any of your.
Kennedy
Guys, it's okay if you do One.
Michaela
Dark Window by Rachel Gillig and I.
Kennedy
Forget the second one. Two Twisted Crowns.
Michaela
Two Twisted Crowns, both on Kindle Unlimited. We did do a book club book of One Dark Window and so good. Highly recommend something that's like different. It's more like dark fantasy, not like, like gothic. Yeah, Gothic, that's the better word for it. Which is. It was just so fun. I still think about that book a lot and always recommend it. I think it's just such a fun book.
Kennedy
So I think we all rated that five stars.
Reggie
Yeah, I think we did too.
Michaela
That one. Yeah. And it's nice that it's on Kindle Unlimited. So.
Reggie
Yeah, duologies are great. And then having both of them, both of them on Kindle Unlimited is really nice because sometimes it will be like, oh, the first two books are on there, but the third one isn't. But usually they have most of the books. But yeah, that's a great, great suggestion.
Michaela
Yeah.
Reggie
And if you don't know anything about One Dark Window, like Michaela said, it's like gothic vibes. But I feel like we say this a lot, but it's really different from a lot of fantasy books that we've read. And so I think that's a reason why we really like it. But also Rachel Gillig's like, phenomenal.
Kennedy
So. Yeah, lately I've been seeing a lot of people say they didn't like One Dark Window. Which is crazy to me because I loved it. No, I think it's just a different pace, different vibe than most fantasy books. It's almost. It's in between like high fantasy and cozy fantasy. Do you know what I mean? It's a little bit cozy. Ish. Kind of. Because it's not super fast paced. I feel like it is a little bit slower paced anyway.
Michaela
Yeah.
Kennedy
Loved it.
Michaela
I think the concept was just really fresh.
Reggie
Yeah.
Michaela
And maybe it was the time that we read it too. But anyways, if you haven't read it, check it out. Hopefully you like it as much as we did.
Kennedy
Then you can go listen to the book club episode.
Michaela
Yes.
Kennedy
While you're at it.
Michaela
Yeah.
Kennedy
Do you want me to go next? We go down the line. Okay. My first recommendation is going to be kind of a loose recommendation. I haven't finished the series and honestly it's just okay. A lot of people said it's amazing, but it's just okay. But I'm gonna say it because I know these two aren't gonna say it. And I'm recommending the Blade itself by Joe Abercrombie. It's the first Law trilogy. Unfortunately, this is the rare case that only books one and two are on Kindle Unlimited. The third is not. The weird thing about these books is it's almost like there's no plot. You don't really know what the end goal is you're following. I'm trying to remember the first book. I know you're for sure. There's three different point of views. One is a retired hitman esque type person. One is a. He's not a mercenary, but he's almost like a detective. And then one is kind of a nobleman. And eventually their stories all intersect, but it's. There's like no plot.
Reggie
It's.
Kennedy
I'm not selling this book on you, you listener. But if you like very character driven fantasies, I think you'll really enjoy this book. I really do love some of the main characters and it's set in a medieval esque times and there's like a sprinkle of magic. There's some wizards. Other than that, if you take out the wizards, there's really no fantasy element. It's almost like a medieval story. There's a little bit of humor in there. But if you're looking for something that's different, slow paced, character driven boy book. If you will, try out the Blade itself by Joe Abercrombie. I still have very polarizing opinions about it, but I did rate the first books, four stars each. They're just very differently paced than any other fantasy book I read.
Michaela
They sound very interesting.
Kennedy
Yeah.
Reggie
Like, if you're needing, like a change of.
Kennedy
Yeah. And honestly, I couldn't even tell you the major plot points because there's basically no plot. Like, you don't really know what. They're fighting a war, but there's no end goals. It's like they're just fighting a war.
Reggie
Okay.
Michaela
Vibes.
Kennedy
Vibe. Just vibes. You go for the. The fun vibes, even though it's not.
Michaela
Yeah.
Kennedy
They call it grim dark fantasy, whatever that means.
Reggie
Okay. All right. Yeah.
Kennedy
So try it out.
Reggie
All right. This is a recommendation. I'm pretty sure I recommended this the last time we did this episode. But if you have not already read. If you're a fantasy reader and you haven't already read any of these books by this author or all of her series, you need to, because they're all on Kindle Unlimited and I'm obsessed and she's not hyped enough. It's Carissa Broadbent. All of her books are on Kindle Unlimited.
Kennedy
Even the newest one. Like, not the one that now.
Reggie
Yeah. Pollen and the Kiss of Dusk.
Kennedy
Yeah. So wait, that one's gonna be on Kindle Unlimited. Interesting.
Reggie
Available on August 5th.
Kennedy
So that's exciting.
Reggie
Tomorrow. Tomorrow. Well. Well, yeah, while we're.
Kennedy
While we're recording this. It comes out tomorrow. Yeah.
Reggie
But all of her books are on there. I would recommend starting with the Serpent in the Wings of Night, which is the Crowns of Nyaxia. It's vampires. It's. It's not like it's super, super dark, but it's kind of. It's dark. It's kind of eerie. It's romance.
Kennedy
High stakes trial.
Reggie
Brutal. It's very brutal. I. So I've been, like, so excited to read her one that's just coming out, but I'm kind of tempted to, like, reread all the books again because I seriously love them so much. But then I'm like, do I have the time for that? I've just can't be reading rereading books all year, unfortunately. But they're really good. And it's nice because even though, like, the Crowns of Nyaxia books, for example, they're like duologies, but they're in. It's a series of duologies. So the first two books, you have the Serpent in the Wings of Night and then Ashes and the Star, Cursed King. Those are like a duology. So you could, like, just read the two and Then when you're ready, come to the next two books, which are.
Kennedy
I always messed up the third book. The name of the first book.
Reggie
Songbird in the Heart of Stone and the Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk. So then those. It's like they follow. You have, like, a male main character and a female main character in each little duology.
Kennedy
But I.
Reggie
But you want to read them in order.
Kennedy
Yes, you have to read them in.
Reggie
Order for it to make sense. Yeah, so it sounds confusing, but it's kind of nice because duologies are just so nice.
Kennedy
Well, and you can read the, like.
Reggie
Love of a duology, but also, like a series at the same time. So, yeah, the Crowns of Nyaxia is vampires. Like I said, there's also a novella that you can read that's called Six Scorched Roses. I've never given a novella five stars before, except for that book. I think it is literally the most perfect novella. It's so good.
Kennedy
It is very good.
Reggie
You can read it at any point in the series. But it's so great. And so, yeah, I recommend any of Carissa Broadbent's books because I've loved all of them. Her other series, Daughter of no Worlds, Actually, it's called War of Lost Hearts series. Is it a trilogy? Those are also very good. And I also ate those up. So I am a big Carissa Broadbent fan, if you didn't know that already. So seriously, give them a whirl if you haven't yet, because I seriously think that her books are so good. And, like, you know, you see everyone talking about the same books over and over, like, Fourth Wing Acotar, and I don't know, it's just. I'm like, why are we not talking more about these? I know some of them are a little bit super old.
Kennedy
Do you want to know what's crazy, though?
Reggie
I just think that, like, I don't know. I just don't know why they're not as, like, all over TikTok as I would hope that they are.
Kennedy
The weird thing is, it's like Carissa Broadbent is an under. Hyped. Hyped offer author. Does that make sense? Like, everybody knows who she is, but I don't feel like her books get talked about as much as others. Like you were saying, Reggie. But most readers, if you say Carissa Broadbent, they know who she is.
Reggie
So, yeah, she's probably just one of those authors where people are, like, meaning to pick up her books, but they haven't yet. I don't Know, I just highly recommend. That's like my number one fantasy suggestion for Kindle Unlimited.
Michaela
Yeah.
Reggie
In general, but Kindle Unlimited, because they're all there.
Kennedy
So we love Krissa Broadbent. If you haven't, go listen to our interview with her. She's phenomenal.
Michaela
She's fantastic. The Poppy War by RF Kuang. I feel like it's very polarizing in if people like it or not. I found it very intriguing and good and different. I would say it's more fiction. Fantasy.
Kennedy
Yeah.
Michaela
Or yeah.
Kennedy
Nonfiction fantasy. Like historical fantasy.
Reggie
I don't know.
Kennedy
It's just like.
Michaela
It's not super fantasy.
Kennedy
It's like a sprinkle of fantasy. Yeah.
Michaela
But I think it's still in that genre.
Reggie
Right?
Kennedy
For sure, for sure.
Michaela
So it's, it's.
Kennedy
It's good.
Michaela
I don't really know how to describe it. Besides, it takes place in.
Kennedy
Does it even say it's based on certain parts of Asia? Because. Yeah, it interweaves with Chinese history.
Michaela
Yeah, that maybe sounds really boring, but it's pretty epic, pretty brutal. And there's got some magic elements that make it really fun and high stakes. And it's a trilogy. And we actually. Well, I'm just picking ones that we've done for a book club.
Reggie
Sorry guys.
Michaela
We have done a book club book. What month was that for?
Kennedy
I don't remember. May, April.
Michaela
April something. And yeah, it was really fun to discuss. And yeah, it's just a really, really fun book if you're wanting something that's very unique and different from like regular fantasy books. Yeah, it can be brutal, it can be sad, it can be epic. Anyways. All the things you would describe as a fantasy book, but based on real history. So which I think is also makes it very unique. And there's like actual research behind what RF Kuang did. So very, very awesome. And she's very talented writer. So highly recommend.
Kennedy
I left that book feeling a little smarter because I learned so much about the history.
Michaela
Yeah.
Kennedy
One thing I will say is if you are a die hard romantasy girly and you need romance, you are not going to enjoy the Poppy War.
Reggie
Yeah.
Kennedy
No, there's no romance. No, I really, I really enjoyed the Poppy War. I personally out of the series, I liked the Dragon Republic, which is the second book, the best. I rated that one five stars and then I rated the other two. I think four. Reggie decided not to continue on in the series. Rightfully so. Rightfully so. But she does know how it ends.
Michaela
Yeah.
Reggie
Then I was kind of like wishing I would have, like, read it. But, you know, there's just so many books, so little time. It's so overwhelming.
Michaela
I will say all three of them are on Kindle Unlimited.
Kennedy
We love that. So I remember when I read those books, I was stoked because I had the physical copy, the Kindle on my Kindle and the audiobook. That's just the best way to read. Guys. Okay, this recommendation, I don't honestly know where this fits. And, you know, it might be in the other category, but I'm gonna put it in the fantasy category because it's fine. It could be sci fi, it could be fantasy, it could be. People will describe it as rpg. And you know what? One time I talked about it on the podcast, and these two were like, what the freak are you reading? But let me just say it has gained a lot of traction on TikTok, at least on the booktok I'm on. And that is Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinnemann. Now it's on Kindle Unlimited. I'm pretty sure the whole series is on Kindle Unlimited. I could be wrong, but I saw multiple of the books in this series on Kindle Unlimited. I think there's like, seven books. Do you need to read all seven? I'm not sure. Read the first one. See if you like it. If you really like video games, you will enjoy Dungeon Crawler Carl because you're following Carl. There is it's the End of the World, and then he basically has to go underground and partake in these challenges. But the way that the book is written and structured is very similar to a video game, if that makes sense at all. Yeah, the audiobook is so well done. I listened to the audiobook, but it is on Kindle Unlimited. So do a little hybrid read. Get it on audible, and then if you have Kindle Unlimited, pay for it too. It's just so different. And it was so outlandish and cheesy, but rather entertaining at the same time. I've never read a book like that. Have I continued with the series? No.
Michaela
Will I?
Kennedy
I'm not sure, but try it out if you want something a little bit different.
Reggie
I've been seeing so much more about. Like, I remember the first time we talked about it, I was like, what are you talking about? And now I'm seeing it like, it's everywhere. Like, Maude, she.
Kennedy
Yeah. Loves it. Yeah.
Reggie
Talks out on her podcast a lot. So, like, yeah, I love the. I like us seeing a lot more about it because now I'm like.
Kennedy
Once again, I. If you have the audible. Yeah. It's not for everyone. If you love video games, you will eat the book up. I'm not a video game player, but it still was fun. It was a fun read. Change of pace. Literally the most outrageous book I've ever read. There's a cat named Princess Donut. Like what?
Reggie
Sounds kind of fun.
Kennedy
It was fun.
Michaela
But my interest has piqued. Yeah.
LifeLock Ad
This episode is brought to you by LifeLock. Between two factor authentication, strong passwords and a VPN, you try to be in control of how your info is protected. But many other places also have it and they might not be as careful. That's why LifeLock monitors hundreds of millions of data points points a second for threats. If your identity is stolen, they'll fix it, guaranteed or your money back. Save up to 40% your first year. Visit lifelock.com podcast for 40% off terms apply.
Reggie
The next one I will recommend is Spark of the Everflame series by Pen Cole. I. It's so funny because I had such a love hate relationship with this book and I think a lot of it is because the only thing I really disliked about the overall series is just the female main character. But there's. I ate these books up anyways. Maybe there's people out there who like the female main character, but I know a lot of people, like really struggle with her. But in a way it kind of makes it. Even though you get really infuriated with her, I almost think it makes it. I don't know, I won't say too much, but essentially. So basically there's like, the magic system is so cool in this book. That's what I really liked. And it's also very easy. I feel like sometimes it can be really intimidating to start a new fantasy series because you're just like, oh, gotta learn a whole new magic system. A whole new, like, world. All these characters. But it's a fairly simple concept. And I just, I really. I don't know, I ate it up. Like the third book is really long and I was like, oh my gosh, like, this is such a long book, but I gobbled it up in like two days. So, yeah, you got slow burn. I'm not. I'm not making that up. It really is. It's a slow burn. It's. Yeah, like I said, very simple, very fast paced. So you have your main character, her mother disappears and she learns like this big secret about her mother's past. And so she's given this, like, opportunity to enter the dark world of descended royalty and unlock A web of mysteries that her mom has basically, like, left behind. And like I said, very cool magic system. There were things that I didn't love about it because sometimes, you know, it can feel similar to things you've read before. But I can't tell you how many people have said that this is, like, one of their favorite, like, fantasy series. So, like, there's people out there who are, like, absolutely love it. I'm not an absolute love, but, like, even though I didn't wouldn't say it's like, the best fantasy series I've ever read, I absolutely demolished it. Gobbled it up.
Kennedy
So there's only three books that. Right, the second. Right.
Michaela
Yes.
Reggie
But the fourth one comes out next summer and you can read the first, like, four or five chapters on PenCole's website.
Kennedy
It's so interesting that she, like, said it was going to come out.
Reggie
I don't know the reason why for that, but that's why I started the series because I thought that the fourth book was going to be coming out within, like, two months of me starting the series later from when I originally started. So, yeah. Wah, wah, wah, wah.
Kennedy
I'm up, aren't I? She's up.
Michaela
This is one that I have not read, but I'm really excited to read. And it's on Kindle Unlimited. It's Metal Slinger by Rachel Schindler. Schneider. Schneider. That's how you say it. Rachel Schneider. I legit don't know anything about it. I've just seen a lot of people like it.
Kennedy
She loves the COVID It has a dagger.
Michaela
It has a dagger and it looks so pretty. It has a butterfly. I just. I kind of refuse to read the back of it. But Sunken Unlimited, I've seen a lot of people really like it or have talked about it. I don't know. Maybe not necessarily like it because I usually skip videos that have it because I am just trying. Once again, if you've listened to the podcast, I'm trying not to get any preconceived notions about books. I want to just go into it for myself. I've just seen it a lot over TikTok and social media. I genuinely don't know what it's about. I'm guessing it's about a metal slinger.
Kennedy
No way.
Michaela
Potentially.
Kennedy
I don't know.
Michaela
So that's one that's on Kingdom Loaded. I'm really excited to read it. Fantasy book. It's rated pretty highly on Goodreads, so I. Yeah, I know. These two haven't read it either.
Kennedy
Nope. Um, but yeah, it's rated pretty highly.
Michaela
It has 4.27 stars and 74. 75,000 ratings. Holy.
Reggie
So I feel like it's pretty good.
Michaela
It's pretty good ratings.
Reggie
Yeah, Yeah, I would. That's the one I was going to say, but I'll have. I'll say another one because that's one that like I've seen so many people talk.
Michaela
But it is, it. It's not a standalone and the second book is not out and it doesn't come out till unknown date.
Kennedy
Guys, I'm tired of reading books that don't have all I need to start reading completed fantasy books because I can't keep. Yeah, I can't keep reading these first books and then having to go back and read.
Michaela
I feel like that's why I haven't read it yet.
Kennedy
Yeah, so.
Michaela
Because there's not a release date for the second one.
Kennedy
So then hopefully it'll be a duology. Yeah, we need more of those authors.
Michaela
If you're listening and you're writing books, try to keep it in a duology. Just kidding. I'm not, I'm not going to tell.
Reggie
You how to write.
Michaela
But it is favored in my opinion to read those. More likely.
Reggie
Yeah.
Kennedy
Okay.
Reggie
I'm done with that.
Kennedy
Okay. My next book, I really don't know that much about either. I feel like I've had it on my want to read for a while and I recently found out that it's on Kindle Unlimited, so. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. All I really know about it is it's about necromancers. I think there's some sort of trial in it. Not sure. I've heard it's kind of funny. I think it actually might be sci fi now that I'm sitting here thinking.
Michaela
About what I've heard about this book.
Kennedy
But we're gonna keep it in Fantasy section. Yeah, I. I don't know a lot about it. I've had a few friends read it on Goodreads and they've rated it really highly. It's got a 4.19 rating out of 172,000 ratings. So I feel like it's pretty highly rated. You know, I've seen it so often it just.
Michaela
I don't know, I just feel like.
Kennedy
Seems fun. Seems different. I. I need a. I need some sort of sci fi series. Sorry. I'm including In Fantasy. It seems like the fourth book. Are you kidding? Unfortunately does not have a release date. So once again, a non complete series.
Reggie
If you're gonna read Fantasy, that's just, like, territory, you know?
Kennedy
So I'm. I think I'm gonna dive into it maybe as the next series that I read. I'm not sure, but I've heard good things and I'm ready for something a little bit different. I don't know how I feel about necromancy per se. I don't think I've ever read a book with necromancy, so we'll see. Yeah, we'll see.
Michaela
Let me know how it is.
Reggie
Okay, so one that I'm looking forward to reading, that's on Kindle Unlimited. If I can get to it before it leaves. Who knows when it will leave? It's book one of six. If you read this series.
Kennedy
There's six books, but I think it's completed now.
Reggie
But, yes, I was going to say, I do think it just recently.
Kennedy
Yeah, got completed.
Reggie
The Plated Prisoner series, for the most part, I've seen really good things about it, and I don't know if it's young adult or new adult.
Kennedy
I think it's new adult. I'm pretty sure I had a friend that just finished it, and she ranted and raved about it, and I'm pretty sure it's new adult.
Michaela
I think it starts as young adult, though.
Kennedy
Oh, maybe.
Reggie
Okay.
Michaela
Interesting young adult section.
Reggie
Oh, okay.
Kennedy
Okay.
Michaela
I could be wrong.
Kennedy
Don't quote me on that.
Reggie
I don't know a lot about it, but essentially what I do know.
Kennedy
Do you think it's about a plated prisoner?
Reggie
I think so. It's just like a kingdom of gold. Like, the king's name is Midas, rescues this girl, and, like, she comes from the slums, and then she's put on this, like, pedestal within the kingdom. He basically just, like, takes her under his wing, and then war strikes the kingdom and, you know, all hell breaks loose. I'm sure. So. Oh, yeah. She's kept in some bars in a gilded cage. So, yeah, sounds. Sounds like it's gonna be a fun time. So, yeah. And I love a completed series. And I don't think the books are crazy long, but I could be making that.
Kennedy
The newest book, I just checked, I Think is released September 24th of this year.
Reggie
Okay.
Kennedy
So by the time you get to it, what the freak? Maybe not. Yeah, it's not Goldfinch. Yes, it is released. Well, we're in 2025.
Reggie
The third book.
Kennedy
Psych. It was released last year. Okay.
Reggie
It looks like the third book is kind of long and the fourth book, you know, books tend, you know, but I just. I think that'd be a fun one, too.
Michaela
Not ya. Oh, don't listen to me, everyone.
Kennedy
Do you know what? Sometimes things are listed as ya or, you know. Yeah, but really, they're not. Like, they shouldn't be listed as ya.
Reggie
Yeah, but yeah, yeah, yeah, they have. One of my friends just recently finished reading it, and she said she gave the series as a whole a 4.75.
Kennedy
Wow. Okay.
Reggie
She really liked it, so I'm like.
Kennedy
Maybe I'll move that up. That literally wasn't even on my radar.
Reggie
She said there were a few cringy spots, but the story was so good.
Kennedy
Okay. All right.
Michaela
So I. I've been wanting to read it.
Reggie
Yeah.
Kennedy
Now it's all Kindle Unlimited.
Reggie
When you Kindle set up.
Michaela
Here's what I need.
Reggie
Here's what I need as a reader. I just need to start a fantasy series that I can just. I want to obsess over any fantasy series. I want to be like, I need the next book. I feel like I've kind of been reading, like, oh, this one who does. Doesn't have a release date, or I'll start one. They're like, I don't know if I want to continue.
Kennedy
So we need to go read some old. Like, not older ones, but like Robin Hobb or go read the Hobbit, you know, like old that are completed. But. Yeah. Yeah, okay. Yes. We're moving on. Moving on to.
Reggie
Roman talked about fantasy. For the majority of this episode, it's just romance.
Kennedy
What first romance book do you have?
Michaela
In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarrow.
Kennedy
And guess what? It's also on audio for free on Kindle Unlimited.
Reggie
And a lot of her books are on Kindle Unlimited. They're.
Michaela
They're good. It's really good.
Kennedy
It's a good.
Michaela
Military romance. I don't know.
Kennedy
Kind of.
Michaela
Kind of fun.
Kennedy
I think that was my first military romance.
Reggie
I read by her.
Kennedy
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it was.
Michaela
Yeah, it was. It was really good. Really good.
Kennedy
Sorry, I don't know.
Michaela
He.
Kennedy
She goes out to him where he's, like, in. He's in the military, and she goes out to him. Isn't she that.
Reggie
Isn't she a reporter?
Kennedy
Yeah, she's a reporter. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I love that one. That one's good. It's good. All of her military romances are great.
Reggie
Isn't his name Nathan?
Kennedy
Nate.
Reggie
Nathan. Oh, I still remember him. See, you know, it's good when you remember that we say this a lot and you can remember the name of the male main character. Yeah. Love him.
Kennedy
That was a good one. He's the greatest. Yeah. Okay.
Michaela
She goes into politics and he joins the military.
Kennedy
Yes. And she goes to him.
Michaela
Yeah.
Kennedy
She's like negotiating or something.
Michaela
And it alternates between their early encounter and then their late encounters.
Kennedy
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Reggie
I would read that one again.
Michaela
And it takes place in Afghanistan.
Kennedy
Yep.
Michaela
And she is there on some diplomatic.
Kennedy
You know, there's some really good scenes in that book.
Reggie
Yeah, I would read that one again. I love it.
Kennedy
And like I said, you can also. You can hybrid. You can listen to it and then it'll keep your spot, and then it'll put you in the Kindle app and it'll keep you in your spot.
Reggie
And there's honestly not a better.
Kennedy
You just really enjoy.
Michaela
Her books. Yeah, I enjoy her books a lot.
Kennedy
So I don't think you could go.
Michaela
Wrong with pretty much any of them.
Kennedy
Nope, you can't.
Michaela
I. Yeah, they're. They're pretty good.
Kennedy
So I honestly, I think all of her romance books have been four stars.
Reggie
Or higher for me.
Michaela
Yeah.
Kennedy
So all of her book, not even just romance, all of her books have been four stars or higher.
Michaela
Yeah.
Kennedy
Okay. My next one, it's coming as a surprise to me as much as it is to you. The Boys of Tommen series. Oh, okay. Okay, okay.
Michaela
Here we are. Here we are. Here we are.
Kennedy
I'm sorry, I just like to say.
Michaela
On record, there is record, actually, of her bashing this.
Kennedy
Okay, let me just.
Michaela
Let me just look into the camera and apologize to all of you boys.
Kennedy
Of Tom and Lovers.
Michaela
Okay, I get it.
Kennedy
I get it now. The first two books were not for me. I think they. I just don't know if I just didn't love Johnny and Shannon. I. I don't. I actually.
Michaela
I just don't think I like Johnny.
Kennedy
And I know that's kind of. I don't know. I just. There were certain plot points of the boys of the first Boys of Tom and book that I just were weird to me didn't love. And then I got two. What was what? Redeeming and saving seven. Yes. No, no, six.
Reggie
I don't know how you keep the title straight.
Kennedy
Well, it's their numbers for their team. Six.
Michaela
And then seven's next.
Kennedy
Saving six and redeeming six, right?
Michaela
Yeah. And then it's seven, then it's 10.
Kennedy
Okay, I get it now. I love Joey. I get it. They are. But I will say they're not feel good reads. I don't finish them and feel good. I just feel depressed. So if you want to feel depressed and you want to cry and you want to have a lot of trauma. Read those books. But they're also very heartwarming at the same time. I. Yeah, saving Joey's story is just. Was way better. And I will be continuing the series. So once again, I am so sorry for bashing it. Do I think it's a little. Still overhyped? Maybe a little bit. But. But. But I. I get it.
Reggie
Yeah, I get it.
Kennedy
It's like you are too young for this. Mikayla, you may have not watched this. Reggie, did you ever watch Degrassi?
Reggie
No, but I know what you're talking about.
Kennedy
It's like if Degrassi was a book, that's the Boys of Tommen series. Do you even know what that is?
Michaela
No, Drake was on it. That's how Drake got famous was on.
Kennedy
The show called Degrassi. It was like a Canadian teen drama, soap opera esque. Yeah, there's some lore for you. Some Drake lore. Okay. Started from the bottom now you hear?
Michaela
I'll go look up Degrassi after this.
Rakuten Ad
This episode is brought to you by Rakuten. If you're shopping while working, eating, or even listening to this podcast, then you know and love the thrill of a deal. But are you getting the deal and cash back? Rakuten shoppers, do they get the brands they love? Savings and cash back. And you can get it too. Stack sales on top of cash back and feel what it's like to know you're maximizing savings. It's easy to use and you get cash back sent to you through PayPal or check. The idea is simple. The brands you love pay Rakuten for sending them shoppers, and Rakuten shares the money with you as cash back. Download the free Rakuten app or go to rakuten.com to start saving today.
Reggie
It's the most rewarding way to shop.
Rakuten Ad
That's R a K u t e.
Reggie
N rakuten.com okay, Reggie, you're up. Alrighty. I'm gonna just give a little shout out to Chestnut Springs, my good old buddies in Chestnut Springs.
Michaela
Chestnut.
Kennedy
I went to a rodeo and I said, where's Rhett? Yeah, Rhett.
Reggie
Where's Rhett?
Kennedy
The million dollar bowl, right?
Michaela
Where's.
Reggie
Pretty darn spicy. But they're just. They're. Sorry. I've been watching the Hunt and Wives, so I've had my. My Southern accents coming out. Anyways, they are just fun. Especially, like, you know, they're really short too, which is great. But are they, like the best romance books ever? Written. No, but, you know, you're gonna get some.
Kennedy
You're gonna have a darn, too. And good time.
Reggie
You're gonna have a good. You're gonna have some great Little Spice. I shouldn't say little.
Kennedy
Some cutoffs and work boots. Some whipped cream.
Reggie
Anyways, it's. It's a fun, spicy, vibey read, but.
Kennedy
There'S a few, like, wholesome moments in there.
Reggie
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Kennedy
Few and far between, but they're there.
Reggie
Yeah. They're not just.
Kennedy
Just smutty.
Reggie
Like, there's.
Kennedy
I mean.
Michaela
A little bit, but.
Reggie
Yeah. A great palette cleanser for when you're trying to read a long fantasy series and you need a little break.
Kennedy
You want to save a horse, Ride a cowboy.
Reggie
Yes. Yeah. Yeah.
Kennedy
Giddy on up down to Chestnut Springs.
Reggie
Anyways, that's what I got for y'.
Michaela
All.
Reggie
Very fun. If you haven't read any of Elsie Silver's books, you're in for a treat.
Michaela
I will say, though, I feel like Elsie Silver writes these books where you become, like, obsessed with, like, the town, in the community.
Kennedy
Oh, yeah.
Michaela
Like, something just is about it. Like, I. I can't wait to read some of her other books because of how obsessed I became with, like, Chestnut Springs. And, like, I'm really sad that that series is, like, over, at least as far as we know. I'm currently in the Wild Love.
Reggie
What. What is it called?
Michaela
What is it called? Rose Hill. Rose Hill. And it's just, like. I just. There's something about it. I just. They're spicy. They're not the best romance books you're ever going to read, but something about the way she writes makes you become obsessed.
Kennedy
I don't know.
Michaela
I don't.
Kennedy
I don't get it. But she's a wizard.
Michaela
It works. She, like, casts a spell and.
Kennedy
Yeah, it's so true. You're so right. Yeah. That's a good wreck.
Michaela
Yeah.
Reggie
In a different life, I would have married a cowboy. Yeah.
Kennedy
You know what? Me too.
Michaela
Okay, I'm ready. I'm gonna make this really quick because we talk about her way too much. It's deserved, but Abby Jimenez. Anything on Abby? Abby Jimenez?
Kennedy
Who is that?
Reggie
Haven't heard of her. Tell me more.
Kennedy
Okay.
Michaela
I would suggest.
Reggie
Doesn't she only have one series of hers? I think she only has and then Worst Wingman ever, which is a novella.
Kennedy
No, I think part of your world was on there.
Reggie
Oh, is it?
Kennedy
I think they're actually all what I thought.
Michaela
I looked and it had all of.
Reggie
Them just for the summer. And you're Truly a part of your world. The part of your old ones are on there.
Kennedy
Oh, just kidding. She's kidding.
Reggie
Okay, it's just the Friend Zone.
Kennedy
But still, those ones are great.
Michaela
Friend Zone.
Reggie
Yeah, that's a great way.
Michaela
The Happily Ever After.
Reggie
I will say the Friend Zone is my least favorite of all of her books. Maybe I should say that.
Michaela
Yeah, the Friend Zone. That's. Okay, Let me. Let me rephrase that. I don't know. I'm still talking to Southern Exit. Not all of her books are on Kindle Unlimited. It's the Friend Zone trilogy that she has. The Friend Zone. Just the Happily Ever after playlist. And Life's Too Short. Great. Little Fluffy reads so good.
Reggie
Life's Too Short's one of my favorite romance books.
Michaela
It's really, really fun.
Kennedy
Fun.
Michaela
Cute. Highly recommend reading them in that order.
Reggie
Yep.
Michaela
You can read them out of order if you want. If you want to do yourself a disservice and do that, you're welcome to do that.
Kennedy
You'll have them spoiled. They're interconnected, standalone.
Michaela
Anyways, I made that really quick because we talk about her a lot. So that's it.
Kennedy
Okay. I'm mo to a book that I want to read, and I need help from the listeners. I don't know why I'm talking like that. I'm sorry. So the next romance, interconnected, standalone romance series that I really want to read is the Windy City series by Liz Tom Ford. Okay. All on Kindle Unlimited. Pretty sure every single one is on Kindle Unlimited. Now here's the dilemma.
Michaela
Tell us.
Kennedy
Reggie, over here. No. Yeah. Reggie, over here. Yeah.
Michaela
Yeah.
Kennedy
Read the first dnf. The first one. Read the first cape. Now, in our interview that we had with, if you guys don't know who Brady Lockerbie is, she's an influencer.
Michaela
Book talk.
Kennedy
You know, she said just to skip the first one, and, you know, I very well might just skip the first one. Oh, yeah.
Reggie
So I think you would feel the same as I did.
Kennedy
Okay. Okay. So maybe listeners don't weigh in, but.
Reggie
You don't read the first chapter, and maybe you probably get a good feel for. For it.
Kennedy
But yeah, that's my. That's my next one. I've honestly never read. I've read a hockey romance, but I don't. No. I guess one of Sarah Adams is, like, ballerina, football player. So that's probably sports romance. Yeah. But I don't feel like I've dove into the sports romance world enough. I love sports. Love sports ball. I think I'd Love a sports romance. So that will be my next romance series that I start. Just let me know if Reggie's right and I should skip the first one or if I should read the first one because they're kind of long.
Reggie
Yeah.
Kennedy
But I know a lot of people love them.
Reggie
Yeah.
Kennedy
So I'm very excited for that.
Reggie
I'm right there with you. Is that on your list? I literally. You guys said my other three things I was gonna. Other things I was gonna say. I don't have any other romance ones that I'm looking at that I want to really talk about.
Kennedy
Okay. That's okay.
Michaela
Well, do we want to continue on.
Kennedy
What you want to read?
Reggie
Well, that's what I was gonna say. I want to read.
Michaela
Oh.
Kennedy
Oh, sorry.
Reggie
No, that's okay. That's okay. I'm just trying to.
Kennedy
Do you want to read Debony Perry's romance mysteries? Oh, hers are on there. They're called Haven River Ranch.
Reggie
Okay, I'll just bring that up quickly. All right. One that I want to read is these are a mystery romance. I just finished Shield of Sparrows and I absolutely loved it. So now I'm very curious about all the other things that Debbie Perry has out there. And she has a series, the Haven River Range series.
Kennedy
I think it's two books. Oh, is it just two? I think it's just two. Or at least the first. Only two are on there.
Reggie
Okay.
Kennedy
I think it's two.
Reggie
And yeah, I just. I loved the mystery elements in show of Sparrows. And also you can dual listen and read.
Kennedy
Oh, yeah, that's moving up in my TBR.
Michaela
Yeah.
Reggie
Also, they're short. Look, 284 pages. I might start those soon.
Kennedy
Yo, if you gotta hit your reading goal. There you go.
Michaela
I think I'm like five behind, so there you go.
Reggie
She's going to. I don't know if this is the first book or not.
Kennedy
When I looked up on Goodreads, I think. What's it called? Cross. What?
Reggie
They're wrong. Anyways.
Kennedy
Cross Ranch.
Reggie
Yeah. There's Crossroads and Sunlight. I don't know which one's first. It doesn't say.
Kennedy
Crossroads.
Reggie
Crossroads is first.
Kennedy
It is set on a fictional Montana guest ranch. These two stories have it all. Emotion, heat, and a whole lot of heart things. Goodreads.
Reggie
Small town romance about love lost in a Montana legacy. So, yeah, sounds kind of fun. Especially after we just did an interview recently if you didn't see with Ali Carter. And, you know, after talking about Blonde Identity and like, mystery stuff, I'm like, I need more of that in my life for sure. Like a good time for sure. So. Yeah.
Michaela
All right.
Kennedy
It's me.
Michaela
I'm just gonna say this really quickly. I mentioned this in the other episode. Cash.
Kennedy
Yeah.
Michaela
By Jessica Peterson. It's on Kindle Unlimited, and that just cowboys my entire life.
Kennedy
So that's on your under hyped tbr. Yeah.
Michaela
Yeah. Cash. I'm just excited.
Kennedy
It.
Michaela
You know, Elsie Silver can't write a billion books a year, so I needed something similar to that vibe.
Reggie
Mm.
Michaela
So why not try it out?
Kennedy
I bet you'll love it.
Michaela
I think I will, too.
Kennedy
Okay. One that I have is if you guys didn't know this KG oppa and what's her name. Oh, Madelyn Klein are starring in a movie together. But little fun fact, you probably already know this. It's actually a book, right? Yeah. Okay.
Michaela
I'm like, am I crazy?
Kennedy
So the book that is on Kindle Unlimited, that is going to be a movie is called the Map that Leads Me to youo by J.P. monager. Read the book before you go see the movie. Or don't. It's whatever you want to do or do.
Reggie
Whatever.
Kennedy
I don't know anything about this book. I'm not gonna lie. I just saw the COVID and I said, oh, that's K.J. appa and Madeline Klein. Yeah, it's on Kindle Unlimited. Let's chat about it.
Michaela
Yeah.
Kennedy
So maybe go watch the movie trailer. If the movie trailer looks interesting to you, read the book and then you can go get excited about the movie. But I always love reading a book before the adaptation.
Michaela
Yeah.
Kennedy
So I'll try to read it before the movie comes out. Will that happen? I don't know. But you go read it. If you pay for Kindle Unlimited. Sweet.
Reggie
We're now just gonna rapid fire a few things because those are all maybe ones we're more excited about or feel passionately about. Like, check those out. There's a lot more that we could. Rapid fire. Like, if you haven't already read Fourth Wing. Surprise. Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Kindle on there. The Silent Patient by Alex Mecalides. I don't know how you say his last name, but, like, if you need a good thriller and you haven't already read that one, that one's a good one. Fantastic. Fantastic. Also, Jason. How do you say his last name? Recollect hidden pictures. Especially if you're getting on a Kindle. Kind of fun. It's got pictures in it. Spooky. And he has another one that I hadn't heard about. The last one at the wedding. That's also a Kimball on the movie.
Kennedy
Okay.
Reggie
So I might need to save that for my fall.
Kennedy
Tbr. We did do hidden pictures as a book club book, so you can go read it and then go listen to the episode. That one was a fun one.
Michaela
That was a fun one to talk about. And, yeah, last one, I'll add.
Kennedy
Frida McFadden.
Reggie
Oh, how can you forget?
Michaela
They're not, like, my most favorite thriller books, but if you're wanting something very, like, outlandish. Outlandish. And, like, I feel like all of her books are really short. Usually. Like, I've only ever listened to her books.
Kennedy
Me too, actually.
Michaela
But they are, like, seven hours or.
Reggie
Shorter, which is good. I don't think I've ever listened to one. That's funny.
Kennedy
Yeah.
Michaela
Anyways, they're really just like, simple, easy books that are just. If you're wanting, like, something that's like a cloud palette cleanser and that will.
Kennedy
You kind of giggle a little at them because the. The plot twists are so outrageous. But there's. There's a time and a place for a freedom. McFadden book.
Reggie
The movie.
Kennedy
Yeah.
Reggie
Housemaid. It's coming out in December.
Michaela
It is? Ho, ho, ho. It is.
Kennedy
So I think that's it. That's great, right? Yeah, amazing. I'll add. I'll add one more author because we love her. Jessa Hastings.
Reggie
Oh, yeah.
Kennedy
Never's on there. Conditions of Will is on there, and her newest release. Yeah, Time of youf Life is also on there. So if you haven't tried Jessa Hastings, but you aren't convinced, we haven't convinced you yet. Try it on Kindle Unlimited. You got nothing to lose.
Reggie
Right?
Kennedy
So obviously, there are so many more books on Kindle Unlimited, and we could make episodes about new Kindle Unlimited releases, honestly, probably monthly. But we were just, you know, excited to share our big news about our Kindles releasing, and we thought, what better way to do that? Then share some of our current favorite reads on Kindle Unlimited. I will say one of the. I would love to get to a point in my reading journey where I maybe read a Kindle Unlimited book that I. That nobody's talked about, kind of go through the archives and find a book that sounds interesting and read it eventually. And I'm kind of getting to the point where I want to do that, because sometimes books are just over hyped for me. So eventually, when we do this episode, we'll have recommendations for you on Kindle Limited that you've never heard of. That's the goal.
Michaela
Yeah.
Kennedy
But right now, this is what you get. So hopefully you enjoyed it. Hopefully you added to your tbr. And if you didn't, that's okay, too. But as a reminder, our Kindle cases drop Thursday at 5pm Mountain Standard Time, so be ready. We hope you guys love them as much as we do, and we hope you guys have a great week of reading. We'll see you next Wednesday, guys. Bye.
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.
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]
For more, visit their website and follow for future episodes and bookish chaos.