I have always loved to read. In 2022 I made it a goal to read 52 books (read more about that journey here!). A few years ago a friend told me about an app called Libby. Libby is a free app that gives you access to audio and digital books via the library. At first, I wasn’t interested because I thought I wasn’t an audiobook person, I was a podcast person.

But after a while, I would have already listened to my favorite podcasts and had to wait a week for a new one to be released. I hate the quiet and am not super into music, so I decided to give audiobooks a try. It would be like a super long podcast I could sink my teeth into and listen to all the time! I also found that I was able to fly through books this way. When I am home, I put my AirPods in, turn on a book, and walk all around the house doing chores. I listen in the car, while cooking, and while working on a puzzle or embroidery.

I like to listen to books that are light and typically fall into the chick-lit variety. It is hard for me to fully listen to a nonfiction story or a book that I need to pick up every detail. It is also a perfect way to read the books that I don’t necessarily want to purchase or don’t want to commit to sitting down and actually reading.

I follow a few different book clubs and bookstagrams on Instagram, and when I see a book that I want to read, I save the post and search for it in Libby. If it is a newer book, I add it to my queue and typically have to wait a few days. If it is a backlist book, then I typically can borrow it immediately or just wait a short time. I don’t mind waiting because I always try to have multiple books lined up. If a book is ready for you to borrow but you aren’t ready for it, then you can pass on it but remain on the waiting list.

I am grateful for a way to incorporate reading into my everyday life that is free and allows me to be mobile. It makes my day so much more fun and creative. Plus, it adds an extra boost of accomplishment whenever I finish another book!

Some of my most favorite Libby reads are: