Books We Hope To Grab During 2023's Final Stuff Your Kindle Day, Per Amazon Reviews
Calling all romantics: If you own an e-reader, don't miss the final Stuff Your Kindle Day of 2023. This event shares a sprawling index of free ebooks, connecting book lovers with their next favorite read. But SYKD only occurs four times a year, and 2023's last one is coming up on Wednesday, December 27, meaning that it will be a few months before your next chance to cash in on some free — mostly romance — novels.
Organized by Zoe York at Romance Bookworms — who is herself a romance author — Stuff Your Kindle Day is perfect for readers who want to expand their digital libraries without breaking the bank. Rather than a traditional, retailer-driven sale, SYKD is an unaffiliated event promoting free romances, even listing them out by sub-genre to help everyone scoop up their preferred tropes.
Despite the name, this event isn't limited to Kindle users. Romance Bookworms also compiles lists for other e-reading platforms like Nook, Kobo, Apple Books, and Google Play, making Stuff Your Kindle Day a one-stop shop for all romance readers. The SYKD lists are released at the Romance Bookworms site on the day of the event, with selections for each app and device available beneath the site header "Free Books for a Limited Time." Unfortunately, this means we won't know what books are included until December 27, making it tricky to plan ahead. But if we're lucky, there are a few celebrated, don't-miss romance titles we'd love to see included.
Small-Town Romance: Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
Author Lucy Score is a perennial favorite in romance circles, and "Things We Never Got Over" aptly shows why. When runaway bride Naomi gets tricked by her sister, she ends up stuck in small-town Virginia with a jaded, 11-year-old niece she's never even met before. Fortunately, help arrives in the form of a bearded, broody, dog-loving loner named Knox, and it's not long before sparks begin to fly.
Reviewers have praised the book's characterization and deep emotional journey, and with its 4.5-star rating from over 160,000 Amazon ratings, it's clear that this contemporary romance has secured a place in readers' hearts. As one reviewer wrote, "It is a very raw and beautiful story about families and friends, their brokenness, and what it is to forgive and rise above it all and put the pieces together to make a life for yourselves and each other."
Billionaire Romance: King of Wrath by Ana Huang
In the mood for a riveting arranged marriage plotline? Author Ana Huang delivers with this story of reluctant yet addictive sexual chemistry between two high-society heirs. When billionaire CEO Dante Russo gets blackmailed into becoming engaged to Vivian Lau, the daughter of a new-money jewelry empire, love is the farthest thing from both their minds. But keeping their distance proves more difficult than either expected, and the book soon earns its spicy reputation.
"It has a perfect balance of conflict, love, and intimate scenery," wrote one pleased reviewer. "Great enemies-to-lovers type of story. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it." It's no wonder, then, that "The King of Wrath" has collected over 44,000 Amazon ratings with an average of 4.4 stars.
Sports Romance: Offside by Avery Keelan
Sports. Young love. Flirty banter. Get all this and more in "Offside," an installment of Avery Keelan's popular "Rules of the Game" series. This swoon-worthy college romance brings excitement both on and off the hockey rink, touching on fan-favorite tropes like fake dating, bad boys, and a satisfying ex-centric plotline.
As one reviewer commented, "This is one of those books that I'm still thinking about weeks later. I love the story, love the characters, and probably won't be shutting up about it for the foreseeable future." Over 17,000 other reviewers seem to agree, garnering this romance a 4.3-star rating on Amazon.
Historical Romance: Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas
If you're a fan of "Bridgerton" — the show or the books — Lisa Kleypas has a whole range of Regency-era romances ready to help you scratch the itch for similar stories. "Secrets of a Summer Night" is the first installment of her "Wallflowers" series and a perfect entry point into Kleypas' catalog, with over 75,000 Goodreads ratings gracing this novel with a solid 4-star rating.
Follow Annabelle Peyton as she tries to find a well-to-do and marriageable bachelor to save her family, all while resisting the persuasive advances of wickedly attractive Simon Hunt. The push and pull between Annabelle's desire and sense of duty will keep you flipping pages well past your bedtime.
Dark Romance: Haunting Adeline by H. D. Carlton
The first installment in the "Cat and Mouse Duet" duology, this dark romance has both historical and paranormal elements, making it a popular performer on Amazon's best-seller list. Over 73,000 readers have given "Haunting Adeline" a 4.4-star rating, raving about the novel's "eerie ambiance," relatable protagonist, and excellent writing.
But note: Even beyond the steamy sex scenes, there are very mature themes involved, from stalking to consent issues. The intensity of this story — and the obsessive behavior of its male love interest — may not be for everyone. Be sure to check the content warnings to decide whether "Haunting Adeline" is a good fit for you.
LGBTQ+ Romance: Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
You may have heard about "Red, White, & Royal Blue" thanks to its much-hyped film adaptation that was released this summer. But if you haven't read the novel yet, fingers crossed that you can grab a copy during Stuff Your Kindle Day. This LGBTQ+ romance centers on a funny and heartwarming fake-dating love story between Henry, the Prince of Wales, and Alex, the son of the American president. Described by one reviewer as "if Harry and Meghan were two dudes and got a better ending," this romance is a must-read for royal enthusiasts (and, really, anyone who's been dreaming of their own happily ever after).
Clean Romance: Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
Who said every satisfying romance has to be spicy? This lighthearted novel is the ultimate comfort read, intertwining captivating characters with an unusual plot device to build a story that'll ensnare you from beginning to end — no heat necessary. The main character, Sadie, is a portrait artist suddenly struck by a medical condition that makes her perceive faces as a jumble of mixed-up features just weeks before an important art competition. Meanwhile, she's contending emotionally with both her dreamy veterinarian and her quirky neighbor, pulling readers' heartstrings into the fray.
While "Hello Stranger" only has 3,500 reviews (but a 4.3-star rating) on Amazon, it has over 55,000 on Goodreads, proving that this sweet, low-spice romance has mass appeal.
Fantasy Romance: Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Our chances of bagging this literary blockbuster for free on Stuff Your Kindle Day may be more aspirational than realistic. But following the meteoric success of its preceding title, "Fourth Wing," we simply can't leave the recently released "Iron Flame" off our romance wishlist. This fantasy romance has everything: danger, dragons, and an enemies-to-lovers plotline that keeps readers glued to the page.
After barely surviving her first year at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail finds herself inextricably tied to Xaden Riorson, the son of her family's greatest enemy. But there are bigger threats at work in this sweeping fantasy series, striking the perfect balance between pulse-quickening romance and gasp-worthy plot twists.
How we selected products
When it came time to populate our wishlist for Stuff Your Kindle Day, we focused on variety and reader reviews. We dug through beloved categories like contemporary romance, sports romance, paranormal romance, LGBTQ+ romance, and fantasy romance to find titles that covered a span of our favorite tropes — and earned rave reviews in the process. In addition to eyeballing romance books that BookTok has gone crazy over, we analyzed ratings, plot blurbs, in-depth reviews, and sheer popularity to compose a selection that would include something for everyone — from fake-dating rom-coms and steamy billionaire romances to gentle love stories that may bring a few tears along with their happy endings.
Of course, we won't know until December 27 whether any of these coveted novels will actually be available for free on SYKD, but we can still dream. So, if you haven't read some of these buzzy titles yet, here's hoping that Stuff Your Kindle Day will offer a chance to get your hands on digital copies at a particularly steep discount (aka $0).