The Best Kindle Unlimited Books of 2024
Today I’m sharing all of my favorite Kindle Unlimited books that I read in 2024. Kindle Unlimited is a monthly subscription that grants you access to millions of books, and while I try to avoid subscription services as much as possible, I really do think this one is worth it. Having a Kindle (as well as the app on my phone) helped me set my personal record for most books read in a year - I finished with X books read, and aim to hit 200 next year.
While some Kindle Unlimited books can be hit or miss for me, especially within the thriller and self-development genres, these are the books I could not put down, still think about to this day, recommend to everyone I know, and would re-read in a heartbeat.
the best kindle unlimited books of 2024
such a good family by caitlin weaver
5/5 stars
This unforgettable debut novel by Caitlin Weaver explores the complexities of human nature and relationships. It’s more of a domestic (family-based) drama than a thriller, but it hooks you from the first chapter. Be sure to check the TWs before as it covers heavy topics.
I found this to be gripping, realistic, thought-provoking, and haunting; it’s a perfect weekend read for those looking for a book with emotional depth, and would also be great for book club discussions.
The characterization is nearly perfect; it vividly puts you in the characters’ shoes, bringing up lots of conflicting emotions. You can’t help but think about what you would do if you were put in that situation.
Sometimes books like this can also have too many characters, but the author really hit it out of the park. Telling the story from multiple POVs adds depth, yet it isn’t difficult to follow or differentiate between characters.
From start to finish, the book is very believable and realistic; it leans into the strength of the story, rather than overdramatic twists.
While I wouldn’t describe it as a coming-of-age novel, it encompasses “the in-between stage when you’re too young to fully understand the consequences of your choices, but old enough to be responsible for making life-altering decisions” (p. 344). I’m still thinking about it days later, and know it will stick with me for a while. This is the kind of book that reminds me why I love reading so much.
“We’re all complicated… don’t sell yourself short trying not to be.” (p. 355)
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
things we do in the dark by jennifer hillier
5/5 stars
Jennifer HIllier does not miss; this is the third book of hers that I’ve read, and I swear they keep getting better and better. This is my favorite of hers so far, and one of the best thrillers I’ve read in recent years.
TW for child abuse and rape.
The heavier topics were hard for me to read, but they’re written about in a very honest way and are necessary to the plot, not haphazardly added for shock value.
The characters are complex, real, and multi-dimensional, and the author utilizes flashbacks to give them comprehensive development.
While it’s a longer thriller than you may be used to (especially on Kindle Unlimited), it’s well worth the time to read it - every subplot is addressed and answered by the end. You can tell the author really values her readers by how much she pays attention to detail in her writing.
This would be great for book clubs as there’s lots you can discuss regarding the idea of right vs wrong.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
the pelican tide by sharon j. wishnow
5/5 stars
I saw lots of good reviews for this book and thought it would be a great end-of-summer book. This is a fictionalized account of the aftermath of the real-life Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and centers around a family and the hardships they face. Lots of topics are covered, including mental health, addiction, financial troubles, entrepreneurship, and parenting.
The author did an incredible job writing this story, which is something I saw other reviews mention as well. Sometimes Kindle Unlimited books can feel a little unpolished, but this did not read like a debut novel in the slightest. Her attention to detail is great; the main character is a chef, and the author went the extra mile to include recipes at the end, which I thought was fun.
Overall, this is a beautiful story about family relationships and resiliency, and it reminded me of the heartfelt family movies I watched growing up. The characters are real and imperfect, but you really root for them. I highly, highly recommend this book, and think it will resonate on some level with most.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
no exit by taylor adams
5/5 stars
Once I started this, I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. It’s fast-paced with lots of twists and turns, some of which you saw coming but that didn’t cheapen the suspense or payoff. I thought this was good until the last page, whereas some books fall short or end up disappointing when they start off so good.
Some parts are pretty gruesome and violent - just a head’s up.
This book was adapted into a movie for Hulu; I’m not sure if it’s any good, but the book did remind me of movies like House of Wax or Wrong Turn that I watched growing up and I thought it would make a good movie as I was reading it.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
you’re too good to feel this bad by dr. nate dallas
5/5 stars
This book is written by a dentist, and covers mind, body and lifestyle - topics range from breathing to money to meditation. It is one of the most comprehensive self-help books I’ve read.
The advice he gives is practical (not woo-woo at all) and the tips are ‘easy’ to incorporate in the sense that you don’t have to change your whole life. They’re habits you can stack into your daily life long as you are motivated, disciplined, and have a plan in place to stick to them.
This is the most comprehensive and straightforward self-help book I’ve read. If you read only read one, this is the book to read.
Biggest takeaways:
Voicing a problem is not the same as fixing it - know what you are doing and be honest with yourself.
“Learn to avoid damaging thoughts and emotions altogether, instead of needing a rescue.” (p. 95)
“We like to blame a lack of resources for our stagnancy, but the thing we are lacking is resourcefulness. We do what we want to do. Do you like to pretend that you are trying?” (p.109)
“Your mind is a crowded storage shed crammed full of thoughts, ideas, emotions, trash, memories, and broken things. It’s not really usable until you clean and organize the workspace. We can enjoy the 25 good things only after we remove the 700 that are causing the clutter.” (p.163)
When it comes to decluttering items that were costly or that you saved up to buy, “the good news is that you won’t have to work so hard to eliminate it.” (p.175)
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
the silent patient by alex michaelides
4/5 stars
This is one of those books that always intrigued me but I never got around to reading. When my little cousin raved about it while she was out visiting, I knew I needed to stop procrastinating and read it.
With all the hype surrounding it, I wouldn’t say that it exceeded my expectations, but it’s a really good, really compelling thriller that I couldn’t put down. The plot is unique, and the twists aren’t easy to predict.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the author’s writing style. There’s detail but it doesn’t feel overwritten, and the pacing is great throughout. I like how the author sprinkled in Greek mythology and also included some background on psychiatry.
I can see where it fell short for some readers, but if you love psychological thrillers, this is definitely worth checking out.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
the woman in me by britney spears
5/5 stars
Probably one of the most anticipated memoirs, this feels authentically her. I have seen some criticize the simpler sentence structure, but it feels like a conversation with a friend, and her humor definitely pokes through at times, which I loved.
Detailing her life from childhood until now, it’s fascinating how she takes her larger-than-life experiences and makes them relatable by reflecting on how things made her feel in such a vulnerable way. In some ways this book reads like a time capsule on fame and media attention through the early 2010s, but it’s also very raw and real.
Some will read this because they’re fans, but I truly think this is a book everyone can learn from, especially girls and young women. Themes include boundaries, learning self-compassion, the crippling effects of shame, and navigating relationships (especially with family).
As someone who is also working through a tendency to people-please, I really appreciated what she had to say on the subject, from simply being able to relate to how she felt to the advice she shared through the lessons she has learned.
Favorite quotes:
“There have been so many times when I was scared to speak up because I was afraid somebody would think I was crazy. But I’ve learned that lesson now, the hard way. You have to speak the thing that you’re feeling, even if it scares you. You have to tell your story. You have to raise your voice.” (p. 92)
“Help is good, but not if it’s not asked for. Not if it doesn’t feel like it’s a choice.” (p. 160)
“We, as people, have to test the world. You have to test your boundaries, to find out who you are, how you want to live.” (p. 185)
“I can start over. I’ve been through a lot. The reason why I’m alive today is because I know joy.” (p. 250)
“Through the fear, I remembered that there were still things I could hold on to: My desire for people to understand what I’d been through. My faith that all this could change. My belief that I had a right to experience joy. My knowledge that I deserved my freedom.” (p. 255)
Read it here.
I also bought quite a few books this year and wanted to share the top 4 that I truly believe are worth the money.
the best kindle books of 2024
barbed wire heart by tess sharpe
5/5 stars
This is probably my favorite book of the year; I finished it in a day and can’t wait to read it again. I had read “Far From You” by this author years ago and really liked it, so after a few not-so-great thrillers last month, I wanted to go back to an author I was familiar with whose work I enjoyed, and this absolutely blew me away.
This was gritty, violent, and intense, but also captivating and real.
The writing is so good that I found myself simply enjoying the story, rather than try to guess what’s next. Part of the main character’s plan is laid out for you, but there’s the suspense that something could go wrong; instead of leaning into that or coming up with my own theories, I really let this book unfold and play out like a movie in my head.
Overall, it was much more emotionally-driven with stronger “life lesson” themes than I expected, especially regarding the big twist.
The characterization was top-tier and I’d love to see this turned into a movie or limited series.
Read it here.
can’t hurt me: master your mind and defy the odds by david goggins
5/5 stars
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s a self-help book meets autobiography. Goggins is brutally honest about his life and upbringing, and uses personal anecdotes to share advice we can all learn from.
It’s all about accountability, pushing your limits, mindset, and resiliency. It may seem harsh to some, but everything is well-intentioned and anyone could benefit from reading this.
One thing to note is that Goggins goes 150% all-in on his goals, which is respectable but may not be realistic for those who have family to care for. Yes, he fits a lot of marathon training around his speaking, but his personal relationships suffered at times. It showed me that we have to be strict and transparent about our priorities, and that we cannot prioritize everything 24/7, but pushing some responsibilities to the backseat temporarily can allow us to evolve and show up better later on, kind of like a slingshot.
Favorite quotes:
“Life experience, especially negative experiences, help callous the mind. But it's up to you where that callous lines up. If you choose to see yourself as a victim of circumstance into adulthood, that callous will become resentment that protects you from the unfamiliar. It will make you too cautious and untrusting, and possibly too angry at the world. It will make you fearful of change and hard to reach, but not hard of mind.” (p. 136)
“It’s up to you to go back through your past and make peace with yourself by facing those incidents and all of your negative influences, and accepting them as weak spots in your own character. Only when you identify and accept your weaknesses will you finally stop running from your past. Then those incidents can be used more efficiently as fuel to become better and grow stronger.” (p. 147)
“Sadly, most of us give up when we've only given around 40 percent of our maximum effort. Even when we feel like we've reached our absolute limit, we still have 60 percent more to give! That's the governor in action! Once you know that to be true, it's simply a matter of stretching your pain tolerance, letting go of your identity and all your self-limiting stories, so you can get to 60 percent, then 80 percent and beyond without giving up. I call this The 40% Rule, and the reason it's so powerful is that if you follow it, you will unlock your mind to new levels of performance and excellence in sports and in life, and your rewards will run far deeper than mere material success.” (p. 210)
“Your entitled mind is dead weight. Cut it loose. Don't focus on what you think you deserve. Take aim on what you are willing to earn!” (p. 323)
Read it here.
everything and nothing at once: a black man's reimagined soundtrack for the future by joél leon
5/5 stars
I had the privilege of interviewing Joél years ago and I have so much respect for him. This is his major publishing debut and it’s a collection of essays, released this June.
These essays are raw, powerful, and emotional; his spirit comes through each page and I truly believe everyone should read this.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“I am both greeting and grieving myself.”
“The truth will set us free, but the truth changes as much as we are willing to change along with it.”
“In a culture where hustle is rewarded by offering up more opportunities to hustle more, boredom gets to be the antihero to the narrative.”
“The truth will set us free, but the truth changes as much as we are willing to change along with it.”
“The rapture looks like our ability to let go and surrender any preconceived notions on what we think will get us free, and more time and energy spent as a collective with the ways we can find malleable solutions daily.”
Read it here.
not like other girls by meredith adamo
5/5 stars
Another debut novel released in 2024, although it did not read like a debut in the slightest. This is one of the best YA books I’ve ever read. It was much more mature than you’d expect as it covers some heavy topics (check the TWs).
I really appreciated how she did not dumb down or oversimplify the challenges of being a teenager, and it really elevated the story. This had a slightly higher page count than I’m used to for YA (442 pages), but it’s a well-rounded, layered story that doesn’t drag.
The writing is superb; the sharp, witty dialogue creates emotional connection with the reader and the main character had such a strong voice.
While this initially has the premise of a thriller, I found this to be much more about a young woman’s journey as she comes to term with how trauma affects her past, her present, and her future.
Read it here.
