While I’m not perfect, I try to avoid Amazon for purchases whenever I can—especially when it comes to books. Don’t give your dollars to the Bezos devil! There are way better options available.
Libraries
Your local library is a great place to get books for free. But did you know you can purchase yearly memberships to other select libraries? You’ll get access to all the same collections online (audiobooks, eBooks, magazines, etc.) through Libby or Hoopla once you’re signed up. Below is a list of libraries I’ve tried and loved. There are probably more out there—pick your favorite search engine and look for “[City or County Name] non-resident library card,” and see what you find!
- Queer Liberation Library: Free!
- Forsyth County Library: $25 annually
- Monroe County Library System: $25 annually
- Durham County Library: $45 annually
- Queens Public Library: $50 annually
- Chapel Hill Public Library: $65 annually
Buying Online
Audiobooks
Libro.FM
I love Libro.FM because, as they put it:
Libro.fm is an employee-owned Social Purpose Corporation that shares profits from your audiobook purchases with your chosen bookstore, giving you the power to keep money within your local economy.
You can change which book store you’d like to support, so you can spread the love around.
Audiobooks.com
This one is simply a non-Amazon paid service. A personal note: I’ve noticed that they promote a lot of Christian literature on the site, so beware if religious stuff is a trigger. AFAIK, they’re not a Christian organization. They do have lots of non-Christian stuff, though.
eBooks and Physical Books
Bookshop.org
Much like Libro.FM, Bookshop.org allows you to select a book store you’d like to support with part of their profits from book purchases. Yay!
Save $ by Buying Used Books
When I’m on a budget, I like to buy used (or new) books from Better World Books or Biblio.