Useful links
Northamptonshire e-Library
Using the free e-library you can download e-books, e-audiobooks, newspapers and magazines wherever you are. You only need your library card number and PIN number to join the e-library. Find out more here.
- BorrowBox offers e-books, e-audiobooks, e-magazines and e-newspapers. Use your library card to join. Find out more here.
- Pressreader gives you free, same-day access to thousands of e-newspapers and e-magazines from around the world. Click here to find out how to join.
- Transparent Language Online is a free service to help you learn or improve your language skills and it offers over 100 languages. Click here to find out more.
- If you’d like to be a Virtual Library Member you must live, work or study in Northamptonshire and have a personal email address. Visit the library service website to complete an application form here.
- If you’re a member of the library already but have forgotten your PIN number, visit the library to have it re-set, or email northampton.libraryplus@westnorthants.gov.uk
If you love books there are so many options available for reading and listening. Here we share some of our favourite book-related links — from cheap or free e-books, to book-related podcasts.
About books
Fantastic Fiction
We think this is one of the best book websites, and it covers children’s fiction too. Don’t be daunted when you see it has bibliographies for over 500,000 fiction authors because you can browse in so many different ways. And the Author Book Recommendations are one of the best ways we know to find new writers to read.
Oundle Book Shop
In Oundle we’re lucky to have the oldest independent book shop in Northamptonshire. It’s a treasure trove, with super-friendly and helpful staff who really know their stuff. You can call them on (01832) 273523 or email oundlebookshop@colemangroup.co.uk
Bookshop.org
This is the socially conscious alternative to the giant online booksellers, supporting independent bookshops. Bookshops have their own shopfronts on the site and receive the full profit margin on each sale. Titles are offered at a small discount and are delivered within two or three days. So if you love your local book shop, ordering through Bookshop.org is a great way to give them your support.
For reading suggestions
For children:
- The Book Trust has a great website with lots of reading suggestions for children from every age group, from 0-1 year, through to ages 12+. The website is easy to use and you’ll find everything from reviews of new books, booklists for every age group, and a Bookfinder, which is searchable by age.
- LoveReading4Kids UK is another website where you can find book recommendations by age group – and order the books too.
For grown ups:
- The Independent has published a list of the 30 best new books to read in 2025 here.
- Read The Guardian & Observer’s Best Books of 2024 here.
- What Should I Read Next? is a website we’ve discovered only recently. It allows you to enter the title of a book you’ve liked and will then analyse a huge database of readers’ favourites to provide book recommendations and suggestions about what to read next.
- Our Oundle Crime book group regularly write book reviews for this website. So if you enjoy mysteries and thrillers and are looking for something to read (or a new author to try) take a look here.
Free (or very cheap) e-Books
Kobo
An e-book reader and shop app that’s very user-friendly and has a good selection of free books too. Just download the app to sign up and then browse their ‘Free eBooks’ by genre.
BookBub.com
It’s an American website but it works in the UK. They’re not a bookshop but they pull together special offers and free books from lots of e-book and e-audiobook sellers. It’s free to register and set your preferences for the types of books you like to read and they’ll email you with offers, which can start from as little as 99p. Just remember that by default it searches for American booksellers, so when you register make sure you switch to UK ones.
Project Gutenberg
The best place to find old books that may even be out of print. Volunteers all over the world are scanning in copies of long-forgotten, out-of-copyright books. If you want to read a book on a PC or laptop download it as plain text or read it online (HTML). For smartphones or tablets you want the EPUB version.
Podcasts
Of course there are loads of book podcasts but here are a few suggestions.
And for children:
