Kindle Unlimited is one of those subscription services that will only be worth it if you either read a lot and/or the selection has tons that cater to your taste. I've been on and off subscribing to Kindle Unlimited since I still have many bought books that have not been read yet.
Anyway, when I first subscribed, I didn't know where to start exactly so I thought of writing this list in case you have just gotten the subscription or if you newly received a Kindle device that comes with a few months free and you're looking where to start. I've also linked the books in case you're interested. Without further ado, ere are some of my personal recommendations:
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
This is one of the best books I've read this year. I went into this without any expectations (I did not even read the complete summary) so I was kinda blindsided of how much this broke me. This book took me into slightly unexpected events and I found myself hoping for something better for the characters at the same time knowing things were just about to get worse.
The book is set in two time periods: one is during Sage's life. Sage is an insecure baker who loves to hide in the dark and away from other people. She meets this old man who made a request that was going to test just how far Sage's morality will go. Another is in Minka's life during the Holocaust especially during her time at Auschwitz.
You'll have to see and experience how those two timelines intertwined but I'm pretty sure, it will also break your heart as it did mine.
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The Harry Potter (7-Book Series) by J.K. Rowling
Re-reading the Harry Potter series as an adult is an experience for keeps. I know the author had some controversial takes, but the Harry Potter series will still go down in history as legendary work of fiction.
You must know this by now but this entire series follows Harry Potter's journey from his 11th birthday up until his final year at Hogwarts when he finally faces his worst enemy, Lord Voldemort.
It is important to know that you have to read this not as through adult point of view necessarily, but from Harry Potter's point of view as he ages. Keep in mind that this is a children's book - just so you'd fully enjoy the experience as it is. It's not the complex storyline that most adults crave, but it surely is beautifully written. My personal favourite is the third book which is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
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The Spanish Daughter by Laurena Hughes
Good ol' family drama is always good, isn't it?
On her way to claim her inheritance, Puri and her husband were ambushed and her husband did not survived. Alarmed by the threat to her life, Puri decided to assume her husband's identity to meet with her siblings and try to find out who is responsible for the attack.
This is definitely a slower paced book since it goes through everyone who could possibly be suspects to the ambush. Take some patience with this one because I think the big revelation is worth it in the end.
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Knockemout (3-Book Series) by Lucy Score
If you're looking for light, fun and romantic reads then make sure you don't miss this three-book Knockemout series by Lucy Score.
This is a small-town romance that involves three love stories: one is a city girl who suddenly had all the biggest responsibilities left behind by her dark sheep of a sister, a policeman who tries to go back to normalcy after a traumatic experience and the third one is about a love that is supposed to be in the past, but was never truly left behind.
To be honest, I was iffy with how much strong intimate scenes in the first book so take note of that whether that is something you like or not. The first two books do have many rom-com or romance novel stereotypical characters and elements which I personally do not mind. The second book is much better and the third one comes out today and it's about the pair that were supposed to be just on the sidelines but I think still had the strongest chemistry of all (I just know this is going to be m favourite part in the series).
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Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins-Reid
Most of us are guilty of constantly asking ourselves, what if? I think the endless possibility is what makes the idea of parallel universes really amusing.
In this book, we see two possibilities of Hannah's life at the crossroads after her accident. Will she get pregnant? What will happen if she goes back to the guy she fell in love with in high school and never had the closure? Is it really better if she made different choices?
This is another light read and it's the lightest read among all the TJR books I've read and that is saying something. However, I would still recommend this because it had a good romantic take at the concept of "in another life". It does made me realise that whatever choice we make, in the end it's really about how we live with it that determines whether it's the good or the bad one.
Addendum: There is an over-mention of cinnamon rolls in this book that even I, a self-proclaimed cinnamon roll addict, found a little annoying.
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Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
If you're a big historical fiction fan, here's another good one to read.
Pino Lella lived a relatively privileged life but that did not stop him from seeing the horrors of the war was causing. When the need arose, Pino helped and lead in the escape of many Jewish refugees. However, at an unfortunate turn of events, Pino was recruited a Nazi general driver and had to see for himself from the side of the enemy the darkest parts of it all.
The book has claims of being based on a true story, but there are also complaints of inaccuracies so read this book with a grain of salt. As a work of historical fiction, this is very well-written and even though there are times when flickers of hope may linger, it is mostly a dark story all throughout fitting for one of the darkest times in world history.
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The Light Through the Leaves by Glendy Vanderah
A mother accidentally left her daughter behind and just minutes passed, she was lost.
After this incident, Ellis did not only lost her daughter but she also lost herself and her family as she became so distant she left them thinking that would save her other children from the mess that she's become. Miles away, Raven grows up isolated from the world under the care of a woman she knows as her mother. Things changed when Raven grew up and met three strangers who showed her that the world is much bigger than what her "mother" has made her believe.
Will their two fates ever cross again?
This book made me feel really strange emotions (but not in a bad way) as the story progresses. I was sad, happy, sad again and most of the time disturbed by how twisted Raven's situation got. It's really worth the read.
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The Keeper of Happy Endings
This is not a story of magic but it does feel like one.
Here's another dual timeline book that's worth the read. Soline came from a family generation of bridal dress makers in Paris. It was rumoured that their dresses guaranteed happy endings. Then, things took a turn when World War II brought a series of seemingly unending unfortunate events. Years after, Soline is moved to America and leases one of her properties to Rory who found some of her belongings and the two women developed the most unlikely of friendships.
This is a medium-paced historical fiction that I would also consider a light read. It's not heavy and it's not overly romantic.
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