Why? Just why? There has to be a limit at some point. This is getting ridiculous. It makes me want to quit buying ebooks. Is that what they’re trying to accomplish?

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This might be a dumb question, but I'm curious 😅

I feel like there are always ebooks that become free for a day or two, or drop to 99¢, but I almost never find out about them unless I happen to stumble across them.

Do you guys have a specific website, subreddit, newsletter, TikTok account, etc. that you use for this?

Or do you just search for deals when you're looking for something new to read?

I've been thinking about this because I wonder if there would be any point in having something that just curates the good free/cheap ebooks for you based on the genres you actually like, instead of having to look for them yourself.

Would that be useful to anyone here, or am I overthinking this? 😂

Guys, where do I get free ebooks to download online? Please I need help

A few weeks ago, I made a post asking for feedback and suggestions as I started building a reading app for iOS.

The response was incredible. I received so many thoughtful suggestions, ideas, and honest opinions from fellow readers. It was genuinely motivating, and a lot of that feedback helped shape what I'm building.

Fast forward a few weeks, and I've completed Phase 1 of development!

The app is called Shelf. It's a simple, DRM-free ebook, comic, and manga reader designed for people who enjoy reading on their phones, like me.

I'm now looking for a handful of early testers who would be willing to explore the app and, ideally, use it for their everyday reading over a two-week trial.

A little context on where Shelf is right now:

This is by no means a finished product. My focus so far has been on getting the fundamentals right: importing books, rendering different formats, navigating pages, and making the overall reading experience as smooth and reliable as possible.

The goal of this initial testing phase is simple: Can Shelf's core reading experience hold its own against some of the best reading apps already out there?

I want to understand what works, what doesn't, what's missing, and whether you'd actually consider using Shelf instead of your current reader.

Once I'm confident we've got the fundamentals right, I'll move on to the fun part: giving Shelf its own personality through thoughtful design, little interactions, and a few ideas I've been wanting to explore.

A few things to know:

• Shelf is currently available for iOS only. Android is planned for later.
• You'll need an iPhone and Apple's free TestFlight app to participate. I'll provide the invitation link.
• I'm looking for people who can use Shelf for their regular reading and share honest feedback throughout the trial.
• Since it's an early version, you might encounter bugs or unfinished features.

If you're interested, leave a comment or send me a message!

And to everyone who contributed to my original post, thank you. It's been really rewarding to turn some of those suggestions into an actual app.

For people who read their own EPUB, PDF, CBZ or CBR files on an iPhone or iPad:

1. What app do you use today?
   
2. How do you usually get your books/comics into that app?
   
3. What do you like about your current setup?
   
4. What annoys you most about it?
   
5. Have you tried other reader apps before? If yes, why did you stop using them?
   
6. Do you read across multiple devices, or mostly on one device?
   
7. If you could fix one thing about your current reading setup, what would it be?

I’m researching how people actually read their own libraries on iPhone/iPad, so I’m more interested in your current workflow than feature wishlists.

Curious to hear about everyone's book-buying habits. Have you ever finished an ebook or audiobook and immediately felt the need to own the physical version?

Whether it was because of the cover art, a desire to collect it, or just a completely different reason?What was the book, and what made you want it on your shelf?

This might be an unpopular opinion, but ebooks still feel strangely unfinished for a technology that has been mainstream for this long.
We can carry thousands of books in our pockets, search instantly, change fonts, highlight anything, and buy a book without leaving the couch.
And yet we also got DRM, books that can disappear from accounts, incompatible formats, awkward lending, regional restrictions, and the strange reality that sometimes “buying” an ebook doesn’t feel much like owning it at all.
Physical books are less convenient in almost every measurable way — but when I buy one, it’s mine. I can lend it, give it away, put it on a shelf for 30 years, or sell it without asking anyone’s permission.
So I’m curious:
If you had to choose between the convenience of ebooks and the permanence and ownership of physical books, which matters more to you?
And more importantly — after all these years, do you think ebooks have actually become better books, or just more convenient files?

So I have a book in PDF form that I really wanna read, but PDF is so clumsy, I read currently in Apple Books, planning on buying a pocketbook verse.

I just figured out that PDF to EPUB converters are a thing, I feel like they will be kinda shit though. Has anyone used any, did it work well? If not, what went wrong?

I'm curious why buy e books when you can get them from the library? Personally I've had my e reader for a couple months and I get them exclusively from my library and I've considered buying some but haven't taken the plung. If you prefer to buy them can you explain why?

So I'm a big reader, but until now I've been reading on the kindle app on my android phone on someone else's library. I am looking for the best app and source of ebooks to continue to read on my phone. I am happy to pay for ebooks, but I would like to avoid amazon if possible.

My criteria are:

-ability to download ebook files offline both on my phone and PC to store them long-term

-no ads on ereader app

-ideally free ereader app in case I need to change apps for future phones

-basically as future proof as possible

I've already downloaded some free ebooks from older copyright-free stuff, but would it be accurate to say that most modern books are not available for free?

Lately, I’ve been reading way more ebooks than physical copies, and it made me curious how others feel about the shift. Don’t get me wrong, I love the feeling of holding a real book, flipping through the pages, and even that “old book smell” people always talk about. But ebooks have been super convenient for me, especially since I can carry dozens of them around on my phone or tablet without worrying about weight. I’ve also noticed that it’s easier to highlight, search for passages, and keep my notes organized when I read digitally.

On the other hand, sometimes staring at a screen for too long can be draining, and I know a lot of people still love the experience of sitting with a physical book. I’ve also wondered if ebook pricing is really fair, because sometimes I’ve seen them cost almost as much as or even more than the paperback version. Personally, I feel like ebooks should always be cheaper since there’s no printing or shipping involved.

Another thing I like about ebooks is that they make discovering new authors and indie writers easier, you don’t have to rely only on what’s stocked in a bookstore. But still, there are some special books I’d only want in print, like beautiful hardcover editions or illustrated ones.

So I’m curious: do you all think ebooks will ever completely replace physical books, or will they always just be a convenient alternative?

Love the device but fucking hate Bezos. Have a TON of content and downloaded most of it before they clamped down on that.

Tried to jailbreak my older kindle but even with YouTube tutorials, it didn’t go very well—I never got it functional to where I could understand how to navigate it (I am not a Luddite, but a middle-aged woman, so not terribly far off).

Also have an iPad, but really prefer to read e-ink.

So my questions are:

Can you direct me to a foolproof tutorial to jailbreak my Kindle

And

Where would I then buy ebooks from? Bookshop.org? I already use Libby a TON for library books….I know there are other terrific options out there….I am ready to explore.

Hi, I just want to ask if anyone else take advantage of Kindle's Assistive Reader or ebook apps with TTS options so you can multitask while 'reading' ? Obviously it will not surpass actual voice actors doing Audiobooks but for books that are not popular that you still want to 'listen' to, Assistive Reader and ebook apps with free TTS is very helpful. My only problem is finding a good enough Text to Speech voice online.

I use Google's native TTS app for a decade now, but unfortunately nothing has changed for their voice, nor have any improvements been done, in my opinion. Do you have other TTS app you can recommend I get or buy one time? (Subscriptions are too expensive!) Thank you.

Ok hear me out before everyone comes for me lol 😨. I know goodreads is basically the default app everyone uses to track books, reviews, and TBR lists but sometimes i feel like i want something that does a little more. Like, I love keeping track of what I'm reading but my biggest problem is not finding books… it is staying connected to them once I am halfway through. Sometimes I am reading a long fantasy series or a book with a lot of characters and I will forget someone's name, a relationship or some small detail from earlier chapters. The obvious move is to Google it but that is basically asking to get spoiled 😭. I feel like there is a gap for apps that help you remember what you’ve already read, keep track of details or make reading easier without replacing the actual experience. So what are some apps like goodreads that you use? i'm looking for something beyond just tracking books maybe something that helps with staying organised, remembering details or getting more out of the books you are reading.

I used to use Amazon until an update deleted everything except the stuff I explicitly got from Amazon on my Kindle, and since then my only option has been loading new books from my computer after downloading them from where I buy them.

However, it seems more and more that online bookstores are insisting that you use their proprietary devices or proprietary mobile app.

I was using a workaround to get books from Barnes and Noble and download them via the Windows Nook App, but after buying Child of the Dragon, The Dragon Has Some Complains, and Mystic, none of them are downloading, so I'm definitely never buying from them again.

Where am I supposed to buy books?

Hello, I recently started reading an epub book using Moon+ Reader on my tablet and I'm looking for something that will give me a similar experience on desktop.

• For windows OS
• Preferably something that allows me to view the epub as a spread or side by side as if it was a real book, and also have horizontal scrolling.
• Preferably something that has reading aids like a ruler, Moon+ Reader has this.
• While it doesn't *have* to, it also would be cool if it could open other formats like plain text or pdf or whatever else digital books might come in.
• Doesn't have to be free, but if it's paid I'd prefer it to be *relatively* inexpensive (i guess around 80USD or less if i *have* to give a budget) and nothing subscription based.

That's all the criteria i can really think of at the top of my head, thanks in advance!

Edit: Thank you for all the responses! I was away for a few days so i have a lot to catch up on 😅

Guys can you tell me on which website I can be able to find ebook for free and download them, also suggest me a book to read which is related to detective or crime genre. M28 here from India

As the title says, I was very happy to open my Kindle only to get bamboozled. SO many books I want are unavailable...you'd think im talking about "smut" books but no, even the "shatter me" series is also unavailable!! I should note that the absolute filthiest smut books are available to buy in stores in my country!!!! I went to many stores and I found "icebreaker" "haunting adeline" front and center....it doesn't make sense

What can I do??

beside the price, what even is the difference? 🫪

I was browsing the kindle shop, and came across some books that look interesting, though I’m not sure if posting links is allowed here.

I’m pretty sure the covers are AI, and I’ve skimmed the sample from one, but I’m just not sure, and was wondering if there was an app or maybe website I could copy paste the text or something?

I’m not super worried about the cover, as I don’t think I would hold it against some beginner writer generating one for their first book if they couldn’t afford to commission an artist, but I don’t want to buy and read an AI generated novel.

i spend about an hour on the train every morning going through heavy epubs and pdfs using moon+ reader, but scrolling on a narrow aspect ratio display is turning into a massive chore. line wrapping looks totally crammed, font scaling gets messed up with pdf reflow, and constantly flipping pages on a tiny screen just ruins the whole reading flow during my commute.

i have been eyeing the samsung z fold8 because opening it up to that wider aspect ratio seems like it would render two page layouts or larger font sizes way better without feeling squished. carrying a dedicated e-ink device is not really practical for my pocket space, so i am trying to see if that inner screen real estate actually handles long reading sessions comfortably or if screen glare ends up giving you eye fatigue anyway.

I have tried a lot to find this book on most the famous and underrated websites. I would be really grateful if someone can search for it or share if already has one.

I made a similar post on another sub asking for info about ereaders. And was given lots of ideas. Someone however mentioned that Amazon has “removed” ebooks from people’s libraries before. Probably due to licensing or similar things. Can anyone give me their own stories regarding using Amazon as a service for ebooks? Versus Barnes and noble?

Hi, I'm looking for ebooks readers that have a complete personalization and freedom, I tried to use a kindle and i HATE that they're showing me ads and changing the book covers.

Im afraid of jailbreak a kindle and turn it useless, so there is a ebook reader that gives you full freedom? I want something with full personalization and easy to transfer all my ebooks.

Hey folks!

Im working on a cloud hosted ebook management platform called HomeBranch that allows you to store, organize, and read your ebooks. It also has an OPDS server so you can access your books on your ereader.

What features would you like to see in a cloud hosted ebook library?