Ten Amazon First Reads I’m Never Going to Read

I have a problem. One that should be easily corrected, but it’s been years now and still the problem persists. There are times I think about fixing the issue, but I never make any progress—unless just thinking about a solution counts as forward movement. The problem is with my relationship with Amazon First Reads. Yes, we’re in a relationship. What else can it be called when something just gives and gives and gives, and I continually take and take and take? Sure, it’s a one-sided relationship, but it’s a relationship nonetheless.

I’m also very uncaring and thoughtless about this gift that’s given to me. Although it’s really not a gift since I pay for Amazon Prime, but that takes away from the story here. Each month, at the end of the month, I go to Amazon First Reads and select my “free” book for the month. I am totally careless with this decision. I look at all the genres I like and then select the one with the most and highest reviews. That’s it. I might skim the description, but most of the time, not even that. And you know what? I’VE NEVER READ ANY OF THEM.

Over 40 books—yes, that’s over three years’ worth of books—sit on my Kindle app in a special folder called “Fiction.” The folder should really be called, “Books I Think Are Owed to Me So I Got Them Even Though I Don’t Want Them,” or maybe, if I’m being kinder, “First Reads That Will Be My Last Read.”

So, for this Top Ten Tuesday, here are the most highly rated and theoretically clean (clean is subjective, and I haven’t read them, so we’ll just have to take the word of people who actually did read the book) books in my Kindle app that I’m probably never going to read, even though thousands of people said they’re the most amazing books ever.

The Keeper of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis
4.6 out of 5 stars / 105,876 ratings

An enchanting novel about fate, second chances, and hope, lost and found, by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Last of the Moon Girls.

Soline Roussel is well schooled in the business of happy endings. For generations her family has kept an exclusive bridal salon in Paris, where magic is worked with needle and thread. It’s said that the bride who wears a Roussel gown is guaranteed a lifetime of joy. But devastating losses during World War II leave Soline’s world and heart in ruins and her faith in love shaken. She boxes up her memories, stowing them away, along with her broken dreams, determined to forget.

Decades later, while coping with her own tragic loss, aspiring gallery owner Rory Grant leases Soline’s old property and discovers a box containing letters and a vintage wedding dress, never worn. When Rory returns the mementos, an unlikely friendship develops, and eerie parallels in Rory’s and Soline’s lives begin to surface. It’s clear that they were destined to meet—and that Rory may hold the key to righting a forty-year wrong and opening the door to shared healing and, perhaps, a little magic.

West with Giraffes: A Novel by Lynda Rutledge
4.6 out of 5 stars / 96,745 ratings

An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America.

“Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes…”

Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave.

It’s 1938. The Great Depression lingers. Hitler is threatening Europe, and world-weary Americans long for wonder. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to deliver Southern California’s first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. Behind the wheel is the young Dust Bowl rowdy Woodrow. Inspired by true events, the tale weaves real-life figures with fictional ones, including the world’s first female zoo director, a crusty old man with a past, a young female photographer with a secret, and assorted reprobates as spotty as the giraffes.

Part adventure, part historical saga, and part coming-of-age love story, West with Giraffes explores what it means to be changed by the grace of animals, the kindness of strangers, the passing of time, and a story told before it’s too late.

These Tangled Vines: A Novel by Julianne MacLean
4.4 out of 5 stars / 74,853 ratings

From the USA Today bestselling author of A Curve in the Road comes a sweeping and captivating tale of one woman’s journey to the lush vineyards of Tuscany—and into the mysteries of a tragic family secret.

If Fiona has learned anything in life, it’s how to keep a secret—even from the father who raised her. She is the only person who knows about her late mother’s affair in Tuscany thirty years earlier, and she intends to keep it that way…until a lawyer calls with shocking news: her biological father has died and left her an incredible inheritance—along with two half siblings.

Fiona travels to Italy, where the family is shocked to learn of her existence and desperate to contest her share of the will. While the mystery of her mother’s affair is slowly unraveled, Fiona must navigate through tricky family relationships and tense sibling rivalries. Fiona both fears and embraces her new destiny as she searches for the truth about the fateful summer her mother spent in Italy and the father she never knew.

Spilling over with the sumptuous flavors and romance of Tuscany, These Tangled Vines takes readers on a breathtaking journey of love, secrets, sacrifice, courage—and most importantly, the true meaning of family.

The Shadow Box by Luanne Rice
4.4 out of 5 stars / 67,965 ratings 

An Amazon Charts bestseller.

The Amazon Charts bestselling author of Last Day delivers a haunting thriller about how far one wife is willing to go to expose the truth and the lengths someone will go to stop her.

After artist Claire Beaudry Chase is attacked and left for dead in her home on the Connecticut coast, she doesn’t know who she can trust. But her well-connected husband, Griffin—who is running for governor—is her prime suspect.

Just before the attack, Claire was preparing for an exhibit of her shadow boxes, one of which clearly accuses Griffin of a violent crime committed twenty-five years ago. If the public were to find out who her husband is, his political career would be over. Claire’s certain her husband and his powerful supporters would kill her to stop the truth from getting out.

When one of Claire’s acquaintances is murdered, the authorities suspect the homicide is linked to the attack on Claire. As the dual investigations unfold, Claire must decide how much she’s willing to lose to take down her husband and the corrupt group of elites who will do anything to protect Griffin’s interests and their own.

The Echo of Old Books: A Novel by Barbara Davis
4.6 out of 5 stars / 59,505 ratings

A novel about the magical lure of books and summoning the courage to rewrite our stories by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Keeper of Happy Endings and The Last of the Moon Girls.

Rare-book dealer Ashlyn Greer’s affinity for books extends beyond the intoxicating scent of old paper, ink, and leather. She can feel the echoes of the books’ previous owners—an emotional fingerprint only she can read. When Ashlyn discovers a pair of beautifully bound volumes that appear to have never been published, her gift quickly becomes an obsession. Not only is each inscribed with a startling incrimination, but the authors, Hemi and Belle, tell conflicting sides of a tragic romance.

With no trace of how these mysterious books came into the world, Ashlyn is caught up in a decades-old literary mystery, beckoned by two hearts in ruins, whoever they were, wherever they are. Determined to learn the truth behind the doomed lovers’ tale, she reads on, following a trail of broken promises and seemingly unforgivable betrayals. The more Ashlyn learns about Hemi and Belle, the nearer she comes to bringing closure to their love story—and to the unfinished chapters of her own life.

The Quarry Girls: A Thriller by Jess Lourey
4.3 out of 5 stars / 57,395 ratings 

Killers hiding in plain sight. Small-town secrets. A girl who knows too much. From the Amazon Charts bestselling author of Unspeakable Things and Bloodline comes a nerve-twisting novel inspired by a shocking true crime.a.

Minnesota, 1977. For the teens of one close-knit community, summer means late-night swimming parties at the quarry, the county fair, and venturing into the tunnels beneath the city. But for two best friends, it’s not all fun and games.

Heather and Brenda have a secret. Something they saw in the dark. Something they can’t forget. They’ve decided to never tell a soul. But their vow is tested when their friend disappears—the second girl to vanish in a week. And yet the authorities are reluctant to investigate.

Heather is terrified that the missing girls are connected to what she and Brenda stumbled upon that night. Desperately searching for answers on her own, she learns that no one in her community is who they seem to be. Not the police, not the boys she met at the quarry, not even her parents. But she can’t stop digging because she knows those girls are in danger.

She also knows she’s next.

Choose Me by Tess Gerritsen andGary Braver
4.2 out of 5 stars / 47,614 ratings 

From New York Times bestseller Tess Gerritsen and acclaimed thriller writer Gary Braver comes a sexy murder mystery about a reckless affair and dangerous secrets.

Taryn Moore is young, beautiful, and brilliant…so why would she kill herself? When Detective Frankie Loomis arrives on the scene to investigate the girl’s fatal plunge from her apartment balcony, she knows in her gut there’s more to the story. Her instincts are confirmed when surprise information is revealed that could have been reason enough for Taryn’s suicide—or a motive for her murder.

To English professor Jack Dorian, Taryn was the ultimate fantasy: intelligent, adoring, and completely off limits. But there was also a dark side to Taryn, a dangerous streak that threatened those she turned her affections to—including Jack. And now that she’s dead, his problems are just beginning.

After Frankie uncovers a trove of sordid secrets, it becomes clear that Jack may know the truth. He is guilty of deception, but is he capable of cold-blooded murder?

The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman
4.3 out of 5 stars / 47,440 ratings

From New York Times bestselling author Alice Hoffman comes a heartfelt short story about family, independence, and finding your place in the world.

Isabel Gibson has all but perfected the art of forgetting. She’s a New Yorker now, with nothing left to tie her to Brinkley’s Island, Maine. Her parents are gone, the family bookstore is all but bankrupt, and her sister, Sophie, will probably never speak to her again.

But when a mysterious letter arrives in her mailbox, Isabel feels herself drawn to the past. After years of fighting for her independence, she dreads the thought of going back to the island. What she finds there may forever alter her path—and change everything she thought she knew about her family, her home, and herself.

Don’t Forget to Write: A Novel by Sara Goodman Confino
4.6 out of 5 stars / 40,466 ratings

In 1960, a young woman discovers a freedom she never knew existed in this exhilarating, funny, and emotional novel by the bestselling author of She’s Up to No Good.

When Marilyn Kleinman is caught making out with the rabbi’s son in front of the whole congregation, her parents ship her off to her great-aunt Ada for the summer. If anyone can save their daughter’s reputation, it’s Philadelphia’s strict premier matchmaker. Either that or Marilyn can kiss college goodbye.

To Marilyn’s surprise, Ada’s not the humorless septuagenarian her mother described. Not with that platinum-blonde hair, Hermès scarf, and Cadillac convertible. She’s sharp, straight-talking, takes her job very seriously, and abides by her own rules…mostly. As the summer unfolds, Ada and Marilyn head for the Jersey shore, where Marilyn helps Ada scope out eligible matches—for anyone but Marilyn, that is.

Because if there’s one thing Marilyn’s learned from Ada, it’s that she doesn’t have to settle. With the school year quickly approaching and her father threatening to disinherit her, Marilyn must make her choice for her future: return to the comfortable life she knows or embrace a risky, unknown path on her own.

When I Was You by Minka Kent
4.2 out of 5 stars / 38,400 ratings 

A stolen identity leads a woman down a dark and desperate path in a gripping novel of psychological suspense by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Minka Kent.

After barely surviving a brutal attack, Brienne Dougray rarely leaves her house. Suffering from debilitating headaches and memory loss, she can rely only on her compassionate new tenant, Dr. Niall Emberlin, a welcome distraction from the discomfiting bubble that has become her existence.

But Brienne’s growing confidence in her new routine is shaken when she stumbles across unsettling evidence that someone else is living as…her. Same name. Same car. Same hair. Same clothes. She’s even friended her family on social media. To find out why, Brienne must leave the safety of her home to hunt a familiar stranger.

What she discovers is more disturbing than she could have ever imagined. With her fragile mind close to shattering, Brienne is prepared to do anything to reclaim her life. If it’s even hers to reclaim.

Do I regret not reading these? Not really. I know they’re there if I need them—for a rebound relationship…with books.


Have you read any of these books? If so, did they hold up to the hype? Will you be putting any on your TBR?

Thank you to The Artsy Reader Girl for hosting Top Ten Tuesday!

Book descriptions from Amazon


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  1. heather Avatar

    I actually really liked Don’t Forget to Write. I often don’t read the First Reads books either.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Maybe one day I’ll get to it but I’m not going to pressure myself.

      Like

  2. Leslie Avatar

    I have not downloaded Amazon First Reads in years. I did not like many of the ones I had gotten before and figured it just wasn’t worth my time. Great post!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I really should stop because it hasn’t been worth my time. Although, I did get this post out of it!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Leslie Avatar

        Haha! It’s a good way to look out of it. lol

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Leah's Books Avatar

    I can identify with this topic to the tips of my toes! Each month I also download a book, although I thoroughly read the summary and pick one that I’m excited about … and then ignore it for eternity. However, I am such an Alice Hoffman lover that I’ll have to actually read that First Reads!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      The First Reads download is addictive! It seems like the Alice Hoffman book is something I should actually read, a I’ve gotten a lot of good feedback on that one.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Leah's Books Avatar

        I think that one is a novella, or short story – so maybe that’ll make it easier to get to!

        Liked by 1 person

  4. WordsAndPeace Avatar

    Actually I listened to a French literary podcast, they were very passionate with West With Giraffes, so I may try it

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I wish I could gift it to you!

      Like

  5. Cindy Davis Avatar

    I have never taken advantage of First Reads, but like you, I probably wouldn’t read them anyway. I have a ton of Kindle books languishing away. Several do look interesting, but again, I probably wouldn’t read them either ;) Have a great week!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I think after doing all this and reading everyone’s comments, I’m going to try not to take advantage of this anymore. I’ll just say no like you!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Haze Avatar

    I have never heard of many of these books, but the Barbara Davis books call to me! Books about books and bookish things!

    Haze
    https://thebookhaze.com/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      That’s wonderful! It seems like I helped a couple people out by hoarding these books. I only wish I could gift it to you!

      Like

  7. Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies Avatar

    Oh, we book lovers have so many problems! I’ve mostly stopped adding the monthly free books, because (like you) chances are I’ll neve read them. That said, I’ve actually read two from this list! I read the Alice Hoffman story, because I tend to enjoy her writing. It’s good, and was pretty low commitment, since it’s a short story, not a novel. I added Don’t Forget to Write purely on a whim after the cover and description caught my eye, and ended up loving it! It’s really a hidden gem. Great list!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Thank you for the recs! Maybe I’ll pull these out from the archives. I love paperbacks as long as they’re coming from the library.

      Like

  8. Kelsey Gietl Avatar

    I’m a paperback reader, so I completely forget that First Reads is part of my Prime membership. I’ve never read any of these, but from the descriptions, I might see if the library has one or two of them. I rarely purchase “mainstream” books anymore unless they’re recommended by a friend, as too often they don’t turn out to be as “clean” as I thought.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I’m glad you found some in here you might check out. Yes, clean is pretty subjective. I find it very difficult to judge based on what people say in their reviews. It’s easier to stick to books marked as religious/Christian or published by specific publishing houses.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. lindseyreads Avatar

    I haven’t read any of these, but kudos to you for knowing you’re not going to read them! There’s just not enough time to read books we know are not really our thing anyway :)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Agreed! I really need to stop getting them for this reason.

      Like

  10. smellincoffee Avatar

    I have gotten exactly 2 First Reads over the years and have read exactly none of them, so I know what you mean!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Two is not so bad though! I’m glad you were able to say no to the others!

      Like

      1. smellincoffee Avatar

        Well, it’s less a matter of self control and more just not realizing they’re there. Every so often Amazon will shove them in my face and I’ll bite!

        Liked by 1 person

  11. QuietIdea Avatar

    I’ve read Jess Lourey, not the quarry girls (it does sound good), her writing is ok.

    Top Ten Books That Should Be TV Shows (getlostinlit.blogspot.com)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Hmm..only okay. Given that it’s not something I’d usually read I think I’ll just let it sit in the Kindle app.

      Like

  12. Susan Avatar

    Ha ha. I’ve never taken advantage of First Reads and maybe that’s a good thing! I have heard great things about WEST WITH GIRAFFES, so I plan to read that one at some point. I did start reading THE QUARRY GIRLS, but I DNFd it pretty quickly. I don’t remember exactly why, though…WHEN I WAS YOU sounds like one I would like. I might have to check it out.

    Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!

    Susan

    http://www.blogginboutbooks.com

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Yes, please don’t get stuck in the dead-end First Reads relationship! 😂

      Like

  13. Stephanie Sullivan Avatar

    Great list! I tried reading The Echo of Old Books and The Keeper of Happy Endings, but I just couldn’t get into them. Thank you for visiting my site. Happy Wednesday!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Sounds like I don’t need to feel bad that I’ll probably never read them.

      Like

  14. Louise Avatar

    Hah! Great unique take on the weeks topic! I’ve spotted the First Reads programme but never looked too closely, mostly because I’m sure I’d end up with a similar problem and I have too many books on my TBR as it is!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I do not count these as TBR. I’d be overwhelmed if I did!

      Liked by 1 person

  15. 1girl2manybooks Avatar

    I never look at the first reads because I suspect I’d do exactly what you do and get some and put them in a folder and never look at them again! However I have read the Alice Hoffman one, because a friend recommended it to me. It was good – but it’s only a short story or a novella really and it felt like to me, it could’ve benefitted from being fleshed out a bit.

    Like

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Hmmm….sounds like that one’s okay just hanging out in the folder until the end of time. But I did just check the October list and found out I can get two this month 🤦🏼‍♀️

      Like

  16. Katie @Just Another Girl and Her Books Avatar

    Oh good, I’m not the only one who makes sure to get my First Reads book every month and has never read it. I’ve been getting them since we lived in Germany (I think the program started while we still lived in Germany at least) and that was almost 7 years ago so…

    I like your twist on the topic and hope you have a great week.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Oh, wow! You probably have way more than me! I did the twist because I don’t pay too much attention to hype on anything. I really appreciate your compliment!

      Like

  17. Pam @ Read! Bake! Create! Avatar

    The only one on your list that I’ve heard of is West With Giraffes, but I’ve not read it. I hope you find a way to work on your relationship.

    Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
    https://readbakecreate.com/lets-hype-these-books-ten-books-deserving-more-hype/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Me too, me too 😂

      Like

  18. Aymee Avatar

    I love Tess Gerritsen, her Rizzoli & Isles series is one of my faves!

    Here is our <a href=”https://www.longandshortreviews.com/miscellaneous-musings/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-avoided-because-of-the-hype/“>Top Ten Tuesday.</a> Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      See, I didn’t even know that. This is why it’s so good that we “talk” about these things.

      Like

  19. Rissi Avatar

    I’m guessing I have some cloud Kindle books floating around somewhere that were never read. I had a Kindle Fire and it broke, but since I don’t really like or want to read on a screen, I never replaced it. Needless to say, I should do a list like this sometime too. It might be fun to scroll my device through the Amazon account and see what was living there at its time of death. ;) Thanks so much for visiting my list AND I hope you are surprised by some of these if you read them. :)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Yes, you should take a look! I was amazed at how popular these had become, not that I’m going to read them, but it was fun to see that it started as a first read to get these authors exposure and then it blew up. I enjoy reading everyone’s TTT posts! It’s so fun to see everyone’s perspective.

      Like

  20. lydiaschoch Avatar
    lydiaschoch

    Wow, that’s a lot of books. I’ve cut down on the number of free books I download, too. There have been some gems among them, but many others aren’t my cup of tea.

    Here is my <a href=”https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-ten-books-i-read-because-of-the-hype/“>Top Ten Tuesday.</a>

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      It is. I don’t count them as TBR because I never really intended to read them. I wish I was as strong as you and said no to them but I’ll probably keep getting them.

      Like

  21. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz Avatar

    I just stopped taking my “free” books from Amazon earlier this year. I came to same conclusion—I’m never going to read the books. I deleted the ones I had from my Kindle.

    Like

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      There are some months I forgot but I feel like Amazon gets so much of my money that they owe me. 😅 I’m hoping that maybe it’s helping the authors.

      Like

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Welcome to Carla’s Book Crush where I share my favorite clean, Christian reads. I review everything from Amish and historical romance to suspense, contemporary fiction, nonfiction, and the occasional devotional. If it has heart, hope, and a message that points back to Christ, it’s probably on my shelf. I also love chatting with authors and featuring interviews that give you a peek behind the pages. Whether you’re looking for a new release, a cozy weekend read, or just something uplifting and well-written, you’re in the right place. Clean stories. Encouraging faith. Books worth reading.