Reading with Intention

(From left) Basmo, The StoryGraph and Book Buddy

Book-tracking apps for all types of readers

I’ve recently started to pull myself out of a reading slump. What does that mean? Basically, since April, my reading habits had tanked – disappeared – and I didn’t finish a book until June.

Now that I’m motivated to get back into my normal reading schedule, I turned to some book-tracking apps to help reestablish reading time in my day. There are also apps out there that can help you keep track of your physical library.

Most readers are familiar with Goodreads, which tends to have a lot of cons, and the interface is out of date. But there are many book-tracking-app options to check out beyond that, including those on the list that follows. 

Basmo

Features: Aside from the basic goal settings, Basmo has options to create a digital reading journal. Snap a photo of the page, and use tools to digitally highlight sections and leave notes. At the end of a reading session, you can also record your feelings and leave any notes or thoughts from that reading session.

What: Basmo is an app that helps readers achieve their reading goals. It lets you to set daily and yearly reading goals, and it even allows you to pre-set reading times and will alert you when it’s time to read.

Price: Basmo has a free version that offers tools to help establish good reading habits, and its premium version gives readers detailed statistics.

Who: I would recommend this app for people who are focusing on establishing their reading habits.

Similar App: Beanstack

The StoryGraph

What: The StoryGraph is a website and app that work similarly to Goodreads, except they’re far more focused on tracking data such as breakdowns of the moods and genres you read, the pacing of books, page numbers, reading formats and more.

Features: I think where The StoryGraph really excels is the way in which you can search for your next read. The app will populate a certain number of recommendations based on your reading preferences, but you can also search by moods. The review option on this app has more details that you can fill out, such as trigger warnings, which I find very helpful when determining whether a book is a good fit for me. Although the community aspect of this app is not its main focus, you can connect with other users, and it has a way to buddy-read built in. There are also plenty of reading challenges to take part in.

Price: There’s a free version, but it does have a few limitations, such as a set number of recommendations the app will send you. With the premium version, you can delve a little deeper into your stats, compare different time periods and receive unlimited recommendations.

Who: Readers who are very interested in stats and mood readers.

Similar App: Oku

Book Buddy

What: Book Buddy is an app to help keep track of your physical books.

Features: Scan barcodes, search online or manually add your books. Each listing includes more information about the book, and you can create additional fields. You can categorize them and add tags to help find these more easily, keep track of which books you’ve lent out and to whom, leave star ratings and more. If you’re scanning an older book, you will likely need to change or add details – it depends on whether the person in charge of the barcode has updated the information associated with it. You can also create a wish list, export it and then share it!

Price: There are two Book Buddy apps: a free version and a plus version. There are a few things you can’t access, filter or add with the free one, but for a one-time payment, you can get the plus version. Options for sharing your library online require a monthly subscription.

Similar App: Bookshelf

As you work on tracking your reading, join the local libraries’ summer reading challenges or Novel Bay’s book bingo. Then track your reading to win prizes!