‘I can’t be without it’ – Avid reader swears by Kindle that’s cheaper for Prime Day

I’ve read 69 books this year and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without a Kindle Paperwhite, which is now on sale

I’ve read 69 books this year and counting, which I admit is quite a lot of books. I’ve pretty much always got a few stories on the go – an audiobook, trusty paperback and of course an ebook. One of the most popular ereaders on the market has dropped in price this week for Prime shoppers.

It took me a while to grow on the idea of ebooks; I was worried about the lack of a paper smell and how they’d feel in my hands. Now that I have a home library with twelve shelves, over a thousand books and a concerning lack of shelf space, I find myself buying ebooks more often than physicals these days.

The first ereader I ever owned was the Kindle Paperwhite, which is slightly larger than the original Kindle and has a screen that mimics paper. It stands out for having adjustable warm light, which is incredibly handy at night when the bluish tint makes my eyes hurt.

The Paperwhite weighs 211g, a weight that I can manage easily with one hand, which makes it a great option for reading. I’ve dropped paperbacks on my face many times, so there is an undeniable comfort in knowing that’s not about to happen. When I’ve dropped my Kindle, it’s light enough that it doesn’t hurt.

It would usually cost £169.99 for the ad-free Kindle Paperwhite (now down to £134.99) or £159.99 for the ad version (now down to £119.99), but the price has dropped for Prime Day, which is happening right now. The ads show up when the Kindle is locked, typically giving suggestions for other books, while ad-free just puts the cover of the latest read as the lock screen.

One of the biggest advantages of a Kindle is its compatibility with the Kindle Unlimited library, which I have been using this month. I’ve read Ashley Poston’s The Dead Romantics, Jennifer Dugan’s Anderson in Bloom, and Clair Delune’s Et si c’était toi ? poetry collection. It would’ve cost me £13.60 to buy each ebook, so the £9.49 e-library has saved me some money. Kindle devices are also compatible with Audible if using Bluetooth headphones.

One of the biggest downsides of my Kindle is that it isn’t compatible with Libby, which is a completely free online library where anyone with a library card can browse their local libraries’ online catalogues. You do have to wait for holds to become free, as with physical books, but this is a good way to read books that I don’t have a sense of urgency towards, or if I’m on the fence. I’ve read over 50 books using Libby since I first discovered it, so it is a shame that Kindles aren’t compatible.

Luckily for me, Kobo devices are compatible, and I’m a little bit spoiled in the all things reading department. I have a Kobo Clara Colour (£169.99), which I also use and love. It’s slightly smaller than the Kindle, but I don’t mind that. I have the Kobo remote (£24.99), which also makes for an easy reading experience.

Kobo also have a reading library similar to Kindle Unlimited with Kobo+, which does work out cheaper for those who want ebooks and audiobooks. I haven’t tried it yet, as I have a lot of books already in my library that I’m making my way through.

I will say the Kindle Paperwhite has a significantly longer battery life. I have to charge my Kobo once every three books, while my Kindle always seems to have battery. Now is probably the best time to buy a Kindle, as the Prime Day Sale means, as long as stock lasts, the prices are down until June 26.