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Summer vacation season is upon us. As you’re packing your swimsuit and sunscreen, don’t forget to pack your e-reader with plenty of summer reads. Luckily, Amazon just dropped its June First Reads lineup.
Prime members who also happen to be bookworms can maximize their monthly reading with the Amazon First Reads program. Similar to Book of the Month, every month, Amazon First Reads drops a new collection of discounted titles. However, unlike Book of the Month, these books are totally free for Prime Members. Here’s everything you need to know about Amazon First Reads.
What is Amazon First Reads?
Amazon First Reads is a monthly program in which eight editor-selected books are offered free to Prime members. Members are allowed to choose one book per month, which is then added to their library. Non-Prime members can still join in on the fun, but they have to pay $1.99 per book.
Featured Amazon First Reads books are totally free at checkout for Prime members.
Credit: Screenshot: Amazon / Mashable composite
Some months, like Prime Day’s July (or June) and Black Friday’s November, offer two free books. And in others, you can select a free short story with your one free e-book.
To select your book, visit the Amazon First Reads home page to browse the options. As a Prime Member, you’ll see the option to “read now for free ” when you go to purchase the titles. Once you make your selection, it’ll automatically be added to your Kindle library.
Which books are featured in Amazon First Reads?
Among the eight to ten books selected each month, the book editors at Amazon provide a variety of genres for every reader. The books are typically new or soon-to-be-released books — many of the books are published under one of Amazon’s publishing imprints, so they’re exclusive to Amazon’s shelves.
In addition to the eight full-length books offered each month, there’s typically a short story available, too, exclusive to read through the Kindle Store. You’ll find familiar names in the First Reads collections. Past authors include Abby Jimenez, Rebecca Yarros, Lee Child, Fredrik Backman, Alice Hoffman, and Dean Koontz.
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Kindle Unlimited members are able to read most of the previous First Reads picks for free, so if there are multiple each month that you want to add to your digital bookshelf, consider a Kindle Unlimited membership.
June 2026 Amazon First Reads books
The June First Reads deals include a short story from Lisa Unger and ‘A Single Captive Flame,’ the first book in a new fantasy series.
Credit: Screenshot / Amazon
June’s First Reads lineup is fairly extensive — Amazon must know everyone is putting together their summer reads. The June deals feature eight novels, one novella, and one short read. Plus, Amazon is letting readers pick not one but TWO books this month — all totally free.
This month’s short read, The Same Room, comes from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger. The suspenseful short story details private investigator Rae Donovan, who, after a long estrangement from her father, discovers he may have had a secret life. In the wake of her father’s death, Rae sets out to find answers, no matter what it costs.
But there are plenty more books to choose from, including a rare fantasy pick, A Single Captive Flame, which is the first book in the Rise of the Firebird series.
Here are all of the First Reads deals for June 2026:
Do you need a Kindle for Amazon First Reads?
All of the books selected are technically purchased through the Kindle Store. But does that mean you need a Kindle to read them?
Nope! No Kindle e-reader is necessary to read books collected through First Reads. All books purchased through the Kindle Store are available in the Kindle app, which can be read on a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
However, if you’re asking if you should get a Kindle, that’s a different question. While a Kindle is not required to enjoy the bounty of the Kindle store, it is our favorite e-reader brand if you’re in the market.
