- I'm a lifelong book lover, but it was hard to make time for reading as an adult.
- But getting a Kindle changed my relationship with books.
Like many grown-ups, I've struggled to make time for reading in adulthood.
I've loved books since I was small, gravitating toward fantasy adventure stories as a child and becoming a romance genre reader as I got older. I spent hours of my childhood lost in fictional worlds, with my sister having to call my name multiple times to drag me out of my stupor.
But as I tried to balance a full-time job, my relationship, friendships, time with family, and taking care of myself when I grew up, reading fell to the wayside.
I didn't find myself spending entire days reading anymore, only dedicating time to books like I wanted when I went on vacation once or twice a year.
A Kindle came into my life at the perfect time
When the pandemic hit in March 2020, I suddenly had nothing but time on my hands.
My birthday fell right around the time the world shut down, so my partner decided to buy me a Kindle, rightly guessing it would be some time before I could roam freely through the stacks of a bookstore again.
I was grateful but hesitant, as I had been resistant toward e-readers since I was a teenager.
Historically, I'm a reader who dog-ears pages, stains my books with salt water on days reading at the beach, and flips back to important passages after speeding through a plot too quickly.
I felt like an e-reader would take away from the relaxing rituals I had created around reading, defeating the purpose.
But the Kindle seemed like a smart choice for the time being, so I was cautiously optimistic as I downloaded my first book on the device.
The Kindle reignited my voracious reading habits
To my surprise, my Kindle quickly became one of my most prized possessions.
There is so much to love about the little device. Always having a new book to read is wonderful, and the Kindle makes taking a book with me wherever I go easier than ever. My Kindle is small enough to fit into most of my purses, and if it isn't, I can use the Kindle app on my phone. I even take it with me to the gym, which helped me get into a better workout routine.
Plus, if I love a book, it's easy to find similar works through the Kindle store. I'm also a Goodreads user, and I love how convenient it is to rate the book on the Kindle.
And to my surprise, I miss the physical sensation of flipping through a book less than I thought I would, finding joys I can only get from reading on a Kindle to fill the void. Now, I stay up late to read while my partner sleeps peacefully next to me thanks to its built-in light, and I love that I can pack an infinite number of books with me on trips.
I also find it easier to get lost in the books I'm reading because I can't physically see how much is left of it as I go. Plot twists surprise me more, and I read series often now because I can instantly download the next installment.
This year, my partner upgraded me to the Kindle (11th Generation). The Insider Reviews team has tested every model to find the best kindle for different reading preferences, and the simplicity of the 11th Gen works for me.
I'm reading more than I ever have — smashing my Goodreads reading goal without even trying.
My Kindle reconnected me with the same sense of wonder I felt when I first fell in love with reading, and I can't wait to keep fostering my love of books with the device by my side.
Check out our full review of the Kindle (11th Generation) from Insider Reviews.