Top 10: Social Reading apps

2023. LillyPad.ai launches OpenBook – a personal AI Book Club feature



LillyPad.ai, one of AI-driven solutions for learning English, has introduced Personal AI Book Club under the title "Open Book." This groundbreaking feature not only enhances reading comprehension but also fosters engaging discussions around a wide array of texts, whether it's a beloved novel, a current news article, or a scientific paper. LillyPad.ai is committed to providing a personalized, captivating, and interactive English learning experience. The Personal AI "Open Book" Club is designed to transform the way students engage with their reading materials, transcending the typical reading app. Genady Knizhnik of LillyPad.ai expressed, "Our goal was to recreate the warm and intimate ambiance of a traditional book club gathering, where participants engage in personalized discussions and glean insights from the subtleties of what they've read."


2023. Social reading app Fable now provides personalized book recommendations



Fable, a social reading application, has introduced a new feature "For You Feed." This feature enables readers to receive personalized book recommendations, reviews, and lists, among other things. Users can also participate in book clubs that are moderated by authors, celebrities, and TikTok influencers. Additionally, Fable offers tools for creating reading lists, managing book reviews, and engaging in "social reading" through its interactive ebook reader. Through the "For You Feed," individuals can share their viewpoints about books, gather ideas for their upcoming readings, stay updated on industry news, and connect with fellow book enthusiasts. This integration enhances the user experience by introducing them to new authors and books, and also facilitates the formation of book lover communities.

2021. Social reading app Bookship adds video chat



The social reading app Bookship has now introduced secure video chat, catering specifically to the Snapchat and Instagram generation. This feature is available for unlimited users at no cost, allowing for seamless sharing of reading experiences with friends, family, and book clubs. Additionally, Bookship offers a unique "Meet the Author" program, where reading groups have the opportunity to interact with a diverse collection of authors through video chat sessions. Furthermore, the app provides various "bookish" features, including a "virtual highlighter" that utilizes the phone camera to extract quotes from physical paper books, spoiler tags, a book discovery platform, and a public discussion area called the Cafe. Members can gather within the app to participate in public readings and engage in conversations about books.


2021. Glose - gamified social book reading app



Upon first impression, Glose may appear to be just another app for purchasing, downloading, and reading books on various devices (iOS, Android, and web). However, it goes beyond that by transforming the reading experience into a multiplayer journey. With Glose, you have the ability to create a personal bookshelf, share notes with your followers, and engage in conversations with other users who share similar interests. While there are already social platforms dedicated to discussing books, such as Goodreads, Glose sets itself apart by seamlessly integrating social features with the reading experience. Additionally, Glose incorporates gamification elements to keep you motivated while tackling challenging books, offering streak rewards, among other incentives. The platform boasts an extensive collection of over 1,000,000 eBooks and audiobooks spanning various genres, including literature, romance, history, science, economics, business, and more.


2015. Scribd acquired social reading app Librify



Ebook subscription startup Scribd has recently announced its acquisition of Librify, a social reading app. The companies highlighted Librify's emphasis on the social reading experience as a compelling factor behind the deal. This news comes at a time of intense competition in the publishing industry, with Amazon, Oyster, and others vying to establish themselves as the leading "Netflix for books," offering similar products. Scribd intends to leverage Librify's social features to enhance its own platform, aiming to create a more comprehensive and engaging social e-reading experience. Scribd's co-founder and CEO, Trip Adler, expressed appreciation for Librify's focus on the social reading experience and their significant contributions to reading communities. The acquisition aligns with Scribd's existing product and reflects their commitment to further explore and develop this aspect of their platform, in response to the desires of both the company and its readers.


2014. Glose - mobile ebook reader that turns reading into social experience



Introducing Glose, a revolutionary reading app designed for your phone, tablet, and laptop. Glose aims to transform the act of reading into a collective experience by allowing users to engage in discussions about quotes with friends and other Glose users. Additionally, you can take notes, explore a feed showcasing your friends' annotations, and discover captivating books you have yet to read. The Glose team's ultimate goal is to build a close-knit social network centered around inspiring books. Furthermore, Glose serves as a new ebook store, offering a vast selection of 300,000 books from esteemed publishers, including four out of the five major publishing houses: Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette, and Macmillan. With competitive prices akin to the Kindle Store and the iBooks Store, Glose ensures a seamless reading experience across all your devices. Once you purchase a book, it becomes accessible on all your devices, granting you the freedom to read whenever and wherever you choose.


2014. Oyster adds social Book Lists to drive discovery



Ebook subscription service Oyster has introduced a new feature called Book Lists, which enables users to create and share personalized collections of titles. This feature is now available to all Oyster subscribers without any additional charges, and it can be accessed through each user's profile page. Users have the flexibility to create lists of any size and selectively share them with other Oyster subscribers or on social media platforms outside of the e-reading platform. The introduction of user-generated recommendations adds a third avenue for Oyster readers to discover new titles, complementing the platform's existing recommendation system, which combines input from an editorial team and an algorithm, as well as the freedom to browse the Oyster catalog. This new feature aligns with the current trend of ebook subscription services refining their discovery mechanisms and emphasizing them as significant advantages for readers. For instance, Entitle, another subscription ebook provider, recently enhanced its recommendation system to enhance users' ability to explore new content.


2014. Transmedia Story Stream wants to transform books into social games



Transmedia Story Stream has positioned itself as the Zynga of the ebook industry. Its innovative platform combines social video game mechanics with storytelling, enabling authors to construct, distribute, and engage fans in captivating multimedia story universes. Rather than downloading a static and lifeless ePub, readers can immerse themselves in dynamic story worlds filled with enthusiastic fans and forge connections while earning rewards throughout their reading journey. The platform introduces a gamified approach to reading, encouraging users with an enticing proposition: Don't merely read a book—play it! With Transmedia Story Stream, storytellers have the ability to create immersive story worlds that incorporate various mediums, including written word (READ), video (WATCH), audio (LISTEN), casual video games (PLAY), and live events (GATHER). The development of Transmedia Story Stream leverages the established HTML5-secure streaming platform of Pubsoft. These story worlds are accessible on any internet-connected device, be it a mobile phone or tablet.