The Best Apps for Book Lovers

From finding your next favorite book to writing reviews and even ranking your favorite novels, there are apps for it all. Ready to take your hobby to the next level? Grab your phone and see if one — or all — of these apps might work for you!

Goodreads

Arguably the most well-known platform for book lovers, Goodreads was launched by husband and wife Otis and Elizabeth Chandler in 2007. Developed when Otis realized he’d rather turn to a friend than any bestseller list for book recommendations, Goodreads allows you to connect with friends, view their online bookshelves and read their reviews. You can even track your own reading progress, create goals, categorize books (Want to Read, Currently Reading, Read), get personalized recommendations and more. Goodreads’ “About” page sums up their philosophy with this simple statement: “The right book in the right hands at the right time can change the world.” As one of the largest platforms for readers and book recommendations, if you’re not sure where to start, Goodreads may be your best bet.

The StoryGraph

For the number enthusiasts, StoryGraph allows you to track your reading habits and view a wide array of charts, including your reading pace and average star rating of reviewed books. Create curated lists, set up challenges, add live reactions to specific parts of books while reading with friends and more. Using machine learning artificial intelligence that understands your reading preferences over time and recommends your next read based on themes or moods you enjoy, it’s great for those with a seemingly never-ending “to-be-read” pile. “Because,” as StoryGraph’s homepage states, “life’s too short for a book you’re not in the mood for.”

PangoBooks

PangoBooks is a platform that allows readers to sell and ship each other books. Simply browse for a book (or three) that piques your interest, click Buy and voilà — it’s on its way! Run by a small-but-mighty team of fellow book lovers, PangoBooks prides itself on providing excellent prices with responsive and personalized customer service. It even offers a great way to support a sustainable book economy. Beyond that, it’s not uncommon for your freshly shipped book to arrive with a handwritten note, bookmark or other personal touch from the seller.

Fable

It’s no secret we all lead busy, sometimes stressful lives. As readers, we know the importance of curling up with a good book to step away from it all, even if only momentarily. This idea formed the basis of Fable’s creation. Its founder, Padmasree Warrior, says, “I started Fable so that all of us can fill the micro-moments in our lives with stories. Our mission is to deliver the world’s best social experience with exceptional stories in service of mental wellness.” To this end, Fable lets you track your reading habits, create lists, build goals, learn what your favorite and most-read genres are and engage in “reading streaks,” all while building a community of fellow story lovers. In fact, Fable offers countless book clubs to explore, giving you the opportunity to join discussion rooms (some marked “spoiler-free”) and connect with readers who enjoy similar subjects. You can even start your own club!

Bookly

A “trusted book tracking sidekick,” Bookly offers a great way to stay motivated and help reach your reading goals. From logging read time and saving favorite quotes to seeing how long a book will take to finish, Bookly does more than track your reading progress. For one, it offers regular reading challenges, called Bookly Readathons. Plus, you can unlock badges, achievements and goodies at different reading milestones. For those looking to take their reading to the next level, you can even channel your inner student by creating book reports, using Bookly’s notes feature to add commentary as you read. Bookly also provides you with its own customized report chock full of statistics and data to see how your reading is improving over time.

LibraryThing

Rounding out our list of apps is LibraryThing, which goes beyond books to let you also add movies, music and even items from the Library of Congress to your digital bookshelf! Of course, you can still track your reading progress, rate and review books, view detailed charts about your online library and reading habits, find personalized recommendations and chat about all things books with fellow readers in a variety of groups and forums. LibraryThing even offers an “Early Reviewers” program, which provides more than 3,000 free, early-release books each month; after submitting your request, you may be selected to read and review your most anticipated book early!

Let’s Read!

Whether you’re a dedicated reader or want to get back into the habit, these apps may be exactly what you need to help you get — or stay — on track with your reading. The best part is, there are even more book apps out there, so we encourage you to take a look on your phone and find what’s best for you. And who knows . . . you may just discover your next favorite author. See you online!

_{The above content is shared for educational and informational purposes only.  References to any products or services, or links to any third-party websites, do not constitute an endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation of such products, services, or third parties by Brookdale or its affiliates.}