I've been aggressive in removing Google from all aspects of my computing experience. When purchasing an e-ink reader/tablet earlier this year, avoiding Android was high on the list.
I ended up with the Onyx BOOX line, which is Android, though a somewhat de-googlified variant. Google Play ... won't actually work, which I'm fine with. I've installed Google Play Services, though I'm aware of a third-party alternative. App stores are F-Droid, APK-Mirror, and Aurora. I'm trying to minimise use of non-free software as well. Not entirely successfully but within reason.
The stock e-reader, Fennec Fox, EinkBro, Termux, and Pocket are my principle apps. Pocket is the only one of those that's not reasonably available from F-Droid (there's a very old version there, very badly broken --- the current version on Aurora is only badly broken.)