So, you have been thinking about getting an eReader but aren’t quite sure if you should bite the bullet or not. There are some great reasons to get an eReader, not least of which is helping reduce paper consumption as well as clutter. They mimic the look and feel of a paperback book, are easy to travel with, and will help encourage you to read more.

If you’re like me, you just can’t seem to find the time to sit back and read. Whenever you do have fleeting moments to yourself, you probably prefer to shut your brain off and watch mindless TV or scroll endlessly through your phone. But immersing yourself in an engaging book can be great for the body, mind, and soul.

Once you get started, you’ll wonder why you ever stopped reading. And with an eReader, all those books you have been eyeing can be purchased and loaded on the device for much less than the hardcover price. Once loaded, you can read at your leisure without heavy books weighing you down or creating a mess of your living room shelves.

After you finally grab that eReader on sale, here are 6 eBooks worth buying and adding to your selection. We chose these books based on what’s popular, including many titles that appear on the 2023 Rakuten Kobo Book Report as being top sellers this year. We also looked at reader reviews and considered books our team has read and loved.

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
$21 for Kobo, $21 for Kindle

The most talked about book this year has been Britney Spears’ The Woman in Me, a candid, raw examination of the entertainer’s troubled life and career. Known as The Princess of Pop, Spears rose to fame at a young age. She quickly found her every move, her look, and her personal life scrutinized by the public and media, so much so that it led to a mental breakdown. She spent years under conservatorship where so much of her life was controlled, yet she still had to perform. Today, Spears is finally free, and one of the first things she did was pen this book about her life. Praised for both its candor and humour, The Woman in Me will appeal to even those who aren’t fans of Spears’ music. You have probably heard of all the most shocking passages and reveals already, but reading the book for yourself from cover to cover adds another level of raw emotion to the experience. Rakuten Kobo’s report indicates that The Woman in Me was one of the most popular audiobooks of the year.

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
$17 for Kobo, $17 for Kindle

Sadly, we lost Friends star and fellow Canadian Matthew Perry this year in a sudden and tragic death. The memoir he wrote, released just this year, has become a New York Times bestseller. Rakuten Kobo’s Book Report says it was among the top sellers for the year in Canada, helping contribute to a 20% spike in the biography and memoir genre (it was also among the top three most popular audiobooks). Fans and those who can relate to Perry’s personal struggles have been snagging copies to read his most intimate thoughts. In the raw and emotional book, Perry discusses his struggle with drug and alcohol addiction, his inspirational road to recovery, and his desire to be remembered as someone who helped others, not just as “that actor from Friends.” Typical to Perry’s style and that of his most recognizable character Chandler Bing on Friends, the sad stories in Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing are told in a hilarious way. It’s apparent that penning this book brought a sense of catharsis to the celebrity. You’ll laugh, cry, and want to re-watch the iconic sitcom all over again after reading.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
$14 for Kobo, $14 for Kindle

Turned into a hit Apple TV+ series starring Brie Larson, Lessons in Chemistry is a fabulous feminist book if you’re looking for an inspirational yet also infuriating story about a woman rising above. After being fired from her lab where she was employed as a glorified gopher for the “real” scientists,” the highly educated, intelligent Elizabeth Zott does what needs to be done to support herself and her daughter. She takes a job hosting a cooking show on television, hired because of her tenacity and good looks. But she uses the platform to teach women at home about the basics of chemistry. She also uses every moment to encourage them to follow their dreams. Their goals are valid, too, and they deserve to achieve them. Finally, someone’s listening. Once you’re done reading the book, the second best-selling eBook of 2023 in Rakuten’s report, kick back in front of the TV to watch the compelling characters come to life on screen in the series.

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
$17 for Kobo, $17 for Kindle

Labeled one of the 10 best books of 2022 by New York Times, selected by Oprah’s Book Club, ranking eighth in Rakuten Kobo’s list of the top-10 bestselling eBooks of 2023, and earning a Pulitzer Prize in 2023 for fiction, Demon Copperhead is a must-read for book lovers. It tells a wonderful coming-of-age story of a young boy living in unfortunate circumstances. Born to a clueless teenage single mother, living in a trailer, and dealing with metaphorical demons of all kinds in every corner, from addiction to foster care and child labour, he matures, survives, and thrives. Though the boy seems unable to find his place with people who truly want him, his sharp wit makes readers absolutely adore the character from afar. A story that’s both uplifting and heartbreaking, the book has been described as a modern-day version of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield. “It’s hard to put down,” says WhatsYourTech.ca publisher Yasmin Ranade.

Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex
$22 for Kobo, $22 for Kindle

If you haven’t yet picked up Prince Harry’s book Spare, it’s worth a read even if you aren’t particularly interested in the goings-on of the Royal Family. Rakuten Kobo’s best-selling eBook and audiobook this year, Spare is a candid re-telling of a young man born into a family of extreme privilege. It seems like a dream come true, but the constant scrutiny and hounding by the media and public made life challenging. Harry speaks openly about dealing with the loss of his mother Princess Diana at such a young age, how he coped (sometimes not in very positive ways), and being driven further and further away from his family and the type of life he no longer wanted to lead. Often considered the rebellious prince, Harry is arguably also the most relatable member of the family. He touches on even more sensitive topics, including abuse, his time in the Army, and racism directed to his now wife, Canadian actress Meghan Markle. There’s a lot to unpack through the 409 pages but reading Harry’s story might give you an entirely new perspective.

The Little Liar by Mitch Albom
$15 for Kobo, $15 for Kindle

If you’re a fan of Mitch Albom’s works, which most notably includes the heartfelt stories Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven, you’ll want to check out his latest novel, The Little Liar. A timely story given everything going on in the world right now, it centres around 11-year-old Nico, who prides himself on being an honest person. But after his hometown is invaded by Nazis, he is told he can spare his family if he does one thing: convince other Jewish residents to get on trains that purport to take them to new “home” where they will be safe. Of course, they will not be. But the naïve young boy realizes too late that he was lied to, losing his family in the process. So, he vows never to tell the truth again. The stories are told through three perspectives, including that of Nico, his brother Sebastian, and their school friend Fanni, all of whom manage to survive the death camps. A story of honesty, survival, and revenge, the book might hit too close to home for some. But it’s an important tale from an author with a knack for tugging on heartstrings and evoking emotion in his readers.

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