Cailin Riley Books

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you might already be aware of the amazing First Reads program.

The program essentially lets you read one free ebook (usually a new release) per month. Sometimes, Amazon even throws in a free additional second book or a short story by a popular author.

I’ve overall really liked most of the picks for First Reads, and I appreciate how the editors provide summaries of each option and explanations for why they ultimately recommend the book.

Here are some of my picks from the past year and whether or not I would recommend them:

The Alone Time by Elle Marr – My Rating: 2.5/5

This thriller sounded amazing and had a lot of potential but it is a) very slow to get going and b) has a wacky twist that is just really far-fetched and poorly explained.

Almost Surely Dead by Amina Akhtar – My Rating 4/5

While this isn’t the best supernaturally inclined thriller I’ve ever read, this story is well-paced and does offer a satisfying ending.

The Village Healer’s Book of Cures by Jennifer Sherman Roberts – My Rating 4.5/5

This book is a fun, historically relevant take on the Salem witch trials and it’s entirely worth reading.

Doomsday Match by Jeff Wheeler – My Rating 5/5

I really didn’t think I was going to enjoy a Mayan-themed survival story, but boy, did I. I enjoyed it so much that I went on to read the sequel.

Have you read any Amazon First Reads books? Which one has been your favorite?