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The App: A chilling psychological thriller. Kindle Edition

• Do not tell anyone outside of your family about the app.

• Send the link to one person who is close to you.

* Do not throw your phone away.

* Always narrate while streaming.

• If you break any of the rules, we’ll kill a member of your family. Then we’ll kill you. Marty is sent a picture of his wife, who is shopping with her mother in Oxford Street.

• Print length 357 pages
• Language English
• Publication date October 28, 2022
• File size 1197 KB
• Page Flip Enabled
• Word Wise Enabled
• Enhanced typesetting Enabled
• See all details

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Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BH1VP4RF
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ (October 28, 2022)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 28, 2022
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 1197 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 357 pages
• #515 in Horror Fiction Classics
• #623 in British Horror Fiction
• #1,841 in Horror Suspense

About the author

Stuart james.

Available now - The App, brand new psych horror - No1 Best Seller in Amazon Horror Fiction Classics and British Horror Fiction!

Author of world wide number 1 best selling thriller, Turn The Other Way, and International Book Award Winner for The House On Rectory Lane.

ABOUT MY BOOKS

What authors have said about my thrillers.

Caroline Mitchell, NY Times bestselling author of The Perfect Mother, The Secret Child and Truth And Lies: A great read packed with twists and turns.

John Marrs, author of The Good Samaritan and The Wronged Son: Fans of Mark Edwards will very much enjoy.

Definitely a writer to look out for.

Lisa Hall, author of The Party and Between You And Me: Tense and thrilling, with an ending you won’t see coming.

Jennifer Jaynes, USA Today bestselling author of Disturbed and Malice. Great job. Well crafted, deliciously twisty and kept me glued to the pages.

L A Detwiler, USA Today bestselling author of The Widow Next Door: The author is gritty, raw and dark in his writing. He is also extremely talented. I would highly recommend this read if you love a dark thriller in the same vein as Stephen King. My book of the month.

Natasha Harding from The Sun newspaper wrote about my thriller: A spooky read that will grab your attention from the very first page.

Reviewers on Amazon and Goodreads have said Stuart James has written some of the scariest thrillers they’ve read in years.

My thriller, Turn The Other Way, went world wide number 1 on 5 platforms and was chosen by Barnes And Noble as one of their top Halloween reads.

The House On Rectory Lane, won The International Book Award in horror fiction in 2020.

Apartment Six released 29 January 2020.

Stranded released 19 October 2020.

Selfie released 12 August 2021.

Creeper released 27 December 2021.

The Macabre released 10 June 2022.

The App released 28 October 2022.

www.stuartjamesthrillers.com

Current work in progress.

I'm currently working on Creeper 2, which continues the dark adventures of Billy and Declan.

Thanks so much for following me and please feel free to get in contact.

I promise I will always respond.

Twitter @StuartJames73

Facebook Stuart James author

Instagram Stuart James Author

Bookbub @StuartJames

Customer reviews

• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 43% 31% 16% 7% 2% 43%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 43% 31% 16% 7% 2% 31%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 43% 31% 16% 7% 2% 16%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 43% 31% 16% 7% 2% 7%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 43% 31% 16% 7% 2% 2%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers find the book to be a good, amazing read with likable characters. They describe the thrill ride as crazy, enjoyable, and adrenaline-pumping. However, some readers have issues with the language, saying it's stiff, has bad grammar, and annoying details. Opinions are mixed on the story quality, with some finding it heart-pounding suspense and compelling, while others say the ending is confusing and a letdown.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the book amazing, brilliant, and a page-turner. They say it keeps them interested and on the edge of their seats. Readers also mention the pace doesn't let up.

"...The App is a fantastic read , a rollercoaster that doesn't let you get off, and when it finally stops, you can't move because the ending plays over..." Read more

"...Don't get me wrong, it is definitely a good book and has scary parts but I guess I just expected to be more creeped out based on the reviews...." Read more

"...Other reviewers stated the same thing. Still a decent read ." Read more

"This book was such a good read until the ending . So disappointed...." Read more

Customers find the characters likable. They say the story barrels ahead with great characters.

"...The characters are likeable , the story is freaky and the fluff to up the page count is nonexistent...." Read more

"...are some errors, typos, and some holes in logic, the story barrels ahead with great characters , exciting twists, and adrenaline pumping action...." Read more

"...The pace of The App was unrelenting. The characters were so real , you could feel their desperation and hopelessness oozing from the pages...." Read more

"...Marty, as the protagonist, is very likable and tenacious as he does whatever necessary to keep his family safe...." Read more

Customers find the thrill ride crazy enjoyable, creepy, and entertaining. They appreciate the perfect balance of thrill and fear. Readers also mention the book has exciting twists and adrenaline-pumping action.

"...There's a ton to love about The App. The thrill ride was crazy enjoyable , full stop...." Read more

"...barrels ahead with great characters, exciting twists, and adrenaline pumping action ...." Read more

"...I'll not be spoiling anything. Just read it. The perfect balance of thrill and fear ." Read more

"This book kept me throughly entertained from the very first page until the last page. Highly recommend if you like high action reads" Read more

Customers find the idea unique, fantastic, and interesting. They also appreciate the dimensional characters and setting.

"...What a hidden gem to find!This is a very unique idea for a story tied into some morality tales about the way the world works today...." Read more

" Very creative idea , but lots of logic holes. Also author includes so much annoying details and dialog...." Read more

"...Compelling plot, multi dimensional characters, interesting setting . I highly recommend this book. It was so good." Read more

"This book was very different but intriguing . I finished it in less than a day! Definitely worth a read" Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the story quality. Some mention it's heart-pounding suspense, a pure thriller, and compelling. Others say the ending is confusing, and the execution lacks.

"...The characters are likeable, the story is freaky and the fluff to up the page count is nonexistent...." Read more

"...However, I found that it was a bit repetitive and I was very confused with the ending . That is why my rating isn't higher...." Read more

"The story was very fast moving and hard to put down, with one of the most insidious and evil villains I have ever encountered in a book...." Read more

Customers find the language stiff, with bad grammar and annoying details. They also say the book is confusing and repetitive.

"...While the beginning of the book can be a tad confusing , things clear up as you continue to read...." Read more

"...However, I found that it was a bit repetitive and I was very confused with the ending. That is why my rating isn't higher...." Read more

"...Although there are some errors, typos , and some holes in logic, the story barrels ahead with great characters, exciting twists, and adrenaline..." Read more

"...wanted to end the book and did it in an abrupt, anti- climactic, confusing , non- creative way . The meat of the book deserved so much more." Read more

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Fireflies & Free Kicks Fiction Reviews

Reading from the beaches to the fields.

The App-James-Horror-Thriller-Available Now

Plain ol’ horror is not usually my thing, but when I saw the description for The App by Stuart James, I knew I had to give it a try.

I am so glad I did. It was the perfect choice for the time of year. (This review is being written the weekend of Halloween).

Not only is it a solid horror/thriller, but it is also a searing commentary on social media and how careless people have become.

That said, it’s not preachy. The message is clear in the actions and reactions of the characters.

The setup is simple. People get a message from a friend, stating that if they want to win some money, they just have to click a link, download an app, and follow the instructions.

Sounds easy enough.

But you know from the genre that there is going to be so much more to it.

I don’t want to give anything away – look at the blurb for more info.

And while the horror aspects will satisfy any lover of the genre, I found myself more pulled in by the thriller aspect. Especially when it comes to the focus on social media.

I should probably throw in here that I currently work with people in cybersecurity. As such, my days are often spent finding the latest threats and summarizing them for shareholders and customers.

One of the most common threads of every data breach and cyberattack is human error. And that usually translates into “someone clicked a link that they shouldn’t have,” often from a text message or email.

So, when I saw that was the method for The App, I was intrigued…to say the least. Let it be a lesson to NEVER CLICK A LINK!!!

Anyway, the writing was sharp, the story was plotted well, and the action was consistent. My only complaint involves the backstory of the madman behind the misery of the app.

I thought it was plausible and quite detailed. However, it took me a while to figure out how it was fitting into the overall story. That’s a minor gripe, but still.

I don’t know that I’m a convert to the horror genre, but I definitely will be looking for the next book by Stuart James.

Buy Links – https://geni.us/ECGl2m

One Reply to “The App-James-Horror-Thriller-Available Now”

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Breaking up with Goodreads: The best book-logging apps for 2024

Fed up with the Amazon-owned book app? Check out these alternatives.

When Karen Ben-Moshe, a 43-year-old public health program manager in San Francisco, learned that Amazon owns Goodreads — the app she used to log her reading habits — she started hunting for an alternative.

“I just don’t love the monopoly Amazon has on our lives and our spending,” Ben-Moshe said.

Goodreads, which was acquired by Amazon in 2013, is one of the most popular book review apps. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.) But as the app faces criticism for its buggy, outdated tech and poor content moderation, other options are rising in the ranks.

Some don’t like that Amazon uses Goodreads data to inform its book-selling business, while authors allege the app doesn’t do enough to combat bad-faith “review-bombing” and author harassment. Goodreads vice president of marketing and editorial Suzanne Skyvara said the company has expanded its customer service team and added a feature that pauses review submissions during “unusual activity” such as review-bombing.

If you want a less contentious or more privacy-friendly home for your to-be-read list, here are our CliffsNotes on four of our favorite book-logging apps for Goodreads defectors. (Keep in mind that any time you search a linked database — such as Google, Apple Books or Amazon — inside one of these apps, that company will receive information about your query.)

Port over your Goodreads lists

Ben-Moshe ended up switching to StoryGraph, a Goodreads-like app that doesn’t share data with Amazon.

Compared to Goodreads, StoryGraph, which has versions for iOS and Android, puts less emphasis on social reviews and more on personal metrics and automated recommendations. After I filled out its (quite detailed) recommendation questionnaire, the app generated a spot-on list on suggested reads. (First up is “Parakeet” by Marie-Helene Bertino.) Its “stats” tab generates monthly or yearly analyses of your reading habits, with fun breakdowns like mood and genre. And its colorful graphs are more shareable than Goodreads’ annual snapshots.

If you use book apps primarily to connect with other readers , StoryGraph may not be for you. However, the app does have user profiles, and you can invite friends to “buddy read” (go to a book’s page, tap the three dots and select “start a buddy read”). Or, visit the “community” tab to view active “readalongs.”

StoryGraph is free, but you can pay $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year for advanced features. To upload your Goodreads data, visit StoryGraph on the web. Go to your profile icon at top right, choose “Manage account,” then “Goodreads import.” Upload your .CSV file and select “Import my Goodreads library.”

LibraryThing

If you want to log music and movies alongside your books, check out LibraryThing.

LibraryThing has bare-bones apps for iOS and Android, but it works best on the web. Search for past and future reads to add them to your personal library, or pull titles from Amazon, Overcat or the Library of Congress. You can also add movies and music from Amazon’s database.

LibraryThing, which is free to use, says it has about 3 million users. Detailed book pages include links to relevant discussion threads, as well as crowdsourced suggestions for similar reads. If you share your location on your profile, the site will connect you with local friends, bookstores and libraries.

Reading List

Looking for a book-logging tool with no social component? Try Reading List, available on iOS. You can add books and leave reviews for your eyes only.

This app is no-frills, but still includes some sought-after features like month-by-month statistics and the option to “pause” a book without messing up your metrics.

The “buy online” link on Reading List allows you to buy from independent booksellers through Bookshop.org.

Reading List works without an internet connection, but you’ll need one to add new books from the Google-powered search bar. A selling point for privacy buffs: The app’s developer says he doesn’t store or share user data. Reading List is free, and you can pay $2 a month, $14 a year or $34 a lifetime for additional features.

Easy wins, good habits, better living.

Unlike other book-loggers, BookWyrm is decentralized, meaning it’s owned by its users rather than one entity. (The social media platform Mastodon is probably the most popular example of a decentralized online network .)

BookWyrm is a collection of communities , but the largest is bookwyrm.social with about 15,000 users. Making an account is simple, so you can start tracking and reviewing books right away.

One unique BookWyrm feature is the “books” tab — a feed that shows activity from other users if they’re engaging with a book on your shelf.

BookWyrm is free and web-only. It’s clunkier than other options, but perfect for readers who want a homegrown online hangout.

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Pocket-lint

I listen to my favorite audiobooks with these 7 apps, and my wallet is grateful.

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Key Takeaways

• Audiobooks are booming, with a $5.3 billion market in 2023, expected to reach $35 billion by 2030, mostly driven by Audible and now Spotify.
• Libro.fm offers DRM-free audiobooks and supports indie bookstores, while Everand grants access to popular bestsellers at a great price, making them both appealing Audible alternatives.
• LibriVox provides free audiobooks of public domain classics and Libby provides free audiobook access through your local libraries, ideal for educators and budget-conscious listeners.

Audiobooks are the fastest-growing area in book publishing, worth $5.3 billion in 2023, and growth over the next seven years is expected to reach $35 billion by 2030. The unique market has steadily risen as the next frontier for writers and publishing houses. What once was thought to have diminished, after "books on tape" seemed obsolete, has actually seen a year-over-year increase over the past 11 years , with a compounded resurgence during the COVID-19 pandemic .

While Audible might seem like "the end all be all" of audiobook apps and convenient smartphone listening, it's simply the biggest name; there are numerous competitors that might better meet your needs. Don't let the name back you -- and your preferences -- into a corner.

Audiobook service models differ in offering options to either stream or purchase audiobooks, extra features and mediums, app interfaces, and cost. I was a college librarian for eight years and have tried my fair share of free, low-cost, discount, and premium audiobook apps. Below are my favorite seven audiobook apps.

How to get free books on your ereader

Whether you use a Kindle, Kobo, or Boox, you can get free books on your device through most local libraries.

Shares profits with independent bookstores

Libro.fm is a fantastic solution for listeners looking for a substitute for Audible. It offers over 450,000 titles for a membership fee of $15 per month , with a portion of the membership going to an independent bookstore of your choice, and you get one credit each month towards a title of your choice. You can also buy more credits or bundles of credits for à la carte shopping too.

One of my favorite aspects of Libro.fm is its audiobooks are all DRM-free. DRM-free means without digital rights management licenses that are common on apps like Audible and Spotify, which prevent users from actually owning the media file they purchase with credits. All Libro.fm purchases are accessible for audio file download.

I switched to Libro.fm as my app to use when purchasing audiobooks versus streaming, for 2024, and I'm thrilled with the experience. The recommendations are original, timely, and enjoyable to browse. I actually enjoy using the app to find my next read, and the listener control buttons are intuitive and accessible.

7 reasons to ditch Audible for Libro.fm for your audiobooks

Audiobook fans looking for an alternative to Amazon should consider trying Libro.fm, especially if you're sick of Audible's bloated interface.

Free and accessible, with the best search interface and collections

Libby app by Overdrive, to give its full name, is my most used audiobook app. The Libby app is the most affordable and convenient way to keep up with audiobooks and try out titles you're not 100% sure you'd like to buy. Libby is a free audiobook service provided through participating public libraries ( over 22,000 in the US ) and includes both ebooks and audiobooks.

And you can add multiple library cards to one Libby account. For instance, I have three library cards, an incredible free ecard for New York State residents through the New York Public Library, a card from my local county library system, and one from my local academic library.

This is my secret weapon to keep up with BookTok and Bookstagram without breaking the bank.

The concept is a shared digital library between library patrons curated by librarians that allows you to loan titles for seven, 14, or 21 days and then automatically return or renew if no one is waiting for the title. While Libby does have some limitations to the amount of loans you can check out at once and the number of holds you can place on one card at a time, when you have multiple cards, it's not an inconvenience. Recent releases and bestsellers often have waiting periods, but place a hold and get your place in line if you don't mind waiting.

After using the Boox Go Color 7, I'm closing the book on Kindle

This device is my ideal blend of a tablet and an e-reader

The Libby app interface allows you to search, sort, and filter and has some of the best linked metadata of any audiobook app. The listener controls are easy to understand, the categories, genres, and collections are fun to explore. I've listened to hundreds of books on the Libby app over the past 10 years, it's my favorite place to burn through romance books and memoirs. If I end up loving them, I might purchase the book on another app for repeat listens, but this is my secret weapon to keep up with BookTok and Bookstagram without breaking the bank.

If you haven't checked out your local library lately, this is your sign to do so. And if it's not possible for you to visit your branch in person, check their website or give them a call. Libby and apps like it were designed to be an extension of your physical library, but one that never closes. Most public librarians would be happy to help you set up a card and walk you through any questions that pop-up.

Depending on your location, you may also or alternatively have access to hoopla -- another audiobook app through your local library.

3 Everand (previously Scribd)

Includes ebooks, sheet music, and magazines on top of audiobooks.

The Everand platform contains over 400,000 audiobooks that you can stream and download to your device for offline listening for just $12 per month . This app first came to my attention around May 2020, when my best friend and I would spend hours separately walking wooded trails around our houses and talking on the phone to stay sane during the first round of social-distancing. When we weren't on the phone, she was burning through audiobooks on a new app, Scribd. I was set in my Libby and Audible alternating ways and wanted to know all about it.

Scribd went through a rebranding and divided into multiple platforms last year: Everand, Scribd, and SlideShare. The audiobook area is covered by Everand. With Everand, you get access to much more than just audiobooks, you'll get ebooks, audiobooks, podcasts, magazines, newspapers, and even sheet music. The only limitation you might encounter is popular or bestselling titles. You may get a flag that you've listened to a quota of those for your month, but to save it and come back in three, four, five days, until your month refreshes.

5 essential reading apps I recommend to all my bookworm friends

Whether you just want to document your reads or have a friendly competition going, these apps are a Bookworm's best friend.

This is a great middle ground between folks familiar with Audible but find they don't care about purchasing titles to return to and the Libby app, as most of the time a title that you may have to wait for on Libby, will be available on Everand. The app is user-friendly and has similar listener controls modern audiobook fans like to see: sleep timers, speed, and chapter controls. And, a note on its longevity, my best friend continues to use this app as her main audiobook app, four years later, with no plans to change that.

Challenging Audible in the streaming wars

Spotify premium.

Last year saw Spotify Premium enter the audiobook game and take the challenge to Audible. Spotify's catalog now includes over 200,000 titles for streaming for subscribers or 375,000 titles to purchase directly. Much like Audible, Spotify has come under fire from creators hoping to see more transparency about authors deals and payments. Despite this, in its first quarter, it experienced a huge success, netting the No. 2 spot in audiobook providers .

Future improvements seem to point to Spotify aiming its AI recommendation algorithms, which succeed so well across the music platform, such as Daylist and DJ, into its audiobook platform for a more interactive user-friendly platform.

There are multiple levels of membership available for Spotify Premium. All give you access to 15 hours of audiobook listening time, a nice bonus if you're already paying for one of the individual ( $11 ), duo ( $15 ), family ( $17 ), or student ( $6 ) monthly tiers.

6 ways to get Spotify Premium for free

If you're finally finished with an ad ruining your perfect playlist, here's how to get Premium benefits for free.

Spotify Audiobooks

The $10 monthly subscription provides access to 15 hours of audiobook listening time on the ad-supported service.

You can also buy individual titles from the Spotify Web Player store to stream and download to your app device for offline listening. If you haven't used Spotify for music or podcasts, the app interface is easy to use, intuitive and great listener controls. One slight knock to its membership models: If you prefer fantasy, science fiction, or historical fiction, you may find 15 hours doesn't get you through a single title, as they tend to be lengthy listens.

5 Spotify Premium features I use to maximize my subscription

Whether you’re new to Spotify or just want the best bang for your buck, these features can match music to your mood, build your catalog, and more.

Brings you the best deals for single purchases and bundles

Chirp is for thrifty bargain hunters, and is my favorite app and store for directing parents of voracious audiobook listeners. When your habit is as expensive as audiobooks, being able to find titles on sale is key. I used to fly through series as a teen, and if audiobooks were as accessible as they are now when I was 15, I would have needed to pick up a second part-time job. Anyone looking for a deal, but especially for parents or teens with a big reading habit, can find a solid solution with Chirp.

Chirp includes entire series, single title, and genre bundles at the lowest prices. It offers both limited flash sales and deep discounts on all its materials with its business model. All titles are available for purchase without a monthly subscription or membership -- a rarity in the audiobook app world.

Can you get any free Kindle books free with Amazon Prime?

Not too surprisingly, Amazon wants to give you every excuse to get hooked.

Chirp is simple and streamlined. Just buy the book you want and be done with the process. I will note, that they are not DRM-free guaranteed titles, in comparison to Libro.fm or LibriVox, but you can spend a lot less on a title from Chirp than if you tend to use Audible and don't want to buy another credit or waste a credit on a title you're not 100% on yet.

Free public domain books read by volunteers, great for teachers

LibriVox is the ultimate tool for educators and anyone who enjoys classics and works in the public domain. The public domain refers to materials whose copyright has run out and are now available for adaptation, release, and production without intellectual property rights attached.

You may recall a certain famous mouse making headlines when Steamboat Willie entered the public domain or how we saw the horror film Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey splash across screens last year? That's all because of the public domain and copyright.

Generally, copyright on written works will last the lifetime of the creator plus 70 years -- for materials published after 1978 -- but there are plenty of exceptions . Each year, more titles enter the public domain. You may recall a certain famous mouse making headlines when Steamboat Willie entered the public domain or how we saw the horror film Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey splash across screens last year? That's all because of the public domain and copyright. The same applies to written works, and this year we saw materials from 1928 enter the public domain.

This tiny e-reader is my favorite travel companion

The Boox Go 6 is small enough to bring with me wherever I go.

LibriVox is made up of free titles in the public domain, adapted into audiobooks and recorded by volunteer readers. The recordings are really well done, especially when you take into consideration this is a volunteer effort. These are especially useful to organizations with limited budgets that still want to offer accessible content in another form other than the written word. It's filled with classic adaptations that make a great supplement to classrooms, and is a service I've used in the past as a college professor and one I recommend to any educator.

Huge catalog and lots of membership tiers

Audible is the current king of the audiobook market, with an estimated 63% of the market share . You can search for almost any title and find an audiobook version, dramatized abridged version, or spatial audio version to try out. The addition of the Audible Plus plan on top of the Audible Premium Plus opened up the app to more streaming and one-time listening users, similar to Everand and Spotify's models. Audible has custom app controls and if you own the title as an eBook, WhisperSync is an awesome feature to match up your progress across formats.

I tested the Dolby Atmos titles on Audible at the start of the year and thought they impressed and opened up a new way to listen to adapted works in particular. Audible offers multiple tiers of membership and allows members to pause on months it doesn't think they'll need to add credits too.

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In the market for a new e-reader? These are the best we've tried and tested in 2024.

Audible Plus

The $8 monthly subscripton gives you unlimited access to Audible's Plus catalog. The catalog has thousands of audiobooks, podcasts, and Audible Originals.

Audible Premium Plus

The $15 monthly subscription includes one monthly credit to buy audiobooks and gives unlimited access to Audible's Plus catalog. Premium Plus also gets you 30% off additional titles purchased through the Audible catalog.

While cancelling is a bit of pain and the app interface is bloated with deals and advertisements, it makes sense that it's the most popular audiobook app, it's convenient and was the first mainstream membership model of its kind.

I listened Audible's Dolby Atmos audiobooks to see if sound was better

The collection might be limited, but what's there is worth it.

Q: What's the best audiobook app to use?

Best doesn't necessarily work with services that are so varied and meet users' needs in different ways. I recommend you use a combination of the above audiobook services to get the best outcome. Personally, I use Libby and Libro.fm as my main apps. But I work in Chirp for deals, Audible (for the exclusives), and LibriVox into rotation when looking for fun classics for my partner's eighth grade English class.

Spotify is my major music service, and I've enjoyed the audiobooks I listened to there as a good bonus, but I likely won't use it for individual purchases over Libro.fm. And Everand is a beautiful app for quick access to popular titles at a membership price that's hard to beat, but for my purposes (preference for purchasing), I'll stick with Libro.fm. Whichever service you choose from the list above, you should have a good experience.

Independent Book Review

A Celebration of Indie Press and Self-Published Books

The 17 Best Book Apps for Every Kind of Reader

Which book apps are you using? Check out some of our most recommended options for reading, social media, logging, kids, and more.

by Jaylynn Korrell

Technology and books: Friends or enemies?

If there’s one thing that book lovers love, it’s books! More of them. No matter how they find them. Ebooks, audiobooks, paperbacks. The more chances to read the better. And with the right book apps, they can be totally free!

You don’t have to worry about feeling like you’re betraying your beloved paperbacks! Think of these apps as an extension of your love of literature or a portal into even more literary engagement!

But not all of these book apps are simply for reading books.

There are apps that allow you to browse & buy brand new titles, read reviews, log your reading, track your patterns, and even keep your kid reading. The options are all endless so long as you have the right digital resources.

So check out these awesome book apps !

(everything on independent book review has been selected by a very picky group of people. as affiliates we may earn a commission on items you purchase through our links.).

There’s no better place to start than my absolute favorite cheap & free eBook app! BookBub’s got unbeatable deals with author updates, handpicked recommendations, and truly some of the best indie & big-five books available. If you haven’t tried BookBub yet…you’re welcome.

• Amazon Kindle

The Kindle is definitely one of my favorite e-readers , but it’s also a great app to have on your phone or iPad. Not only can you find & download nearly every eBook on the internet, but it’s extremely readable as well. You’ll always have access to your favorite books with the Kindle app, and the app will keep track of where you left off on a different device and save it in the cloud so you’ll never lose your place.

Ummm…you’ve heard of Goodreads already? No surprise! This is the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations. Readers can search their database of books to find people’s honest reviews before buying anything. Or, they can join the conversation and write their own reviews !

• Serial Reader

Classic books are classics for a reason. People have loved reading them forever. But a lot of people find them difficult to get through, even if they end up loving them. Serial Reader gives readers a more digestible way to read Classic books by dividing them up into 20 minute sessions. You can read an unabridged 20 minute portion of these books daily with this free book app, and slowly but continuously check some classics off of your “to be read” list.

Find yourself too busy (or homebound) to take a trip to the library? Check out this extensive digital document library! Book apps like Scribd provide readers with access to over 170 million documents, while also allowing people to upload their your own documents. It allows readers to keep a number of useful audiobooks and ebooks in one place: a truly great learning and sharing resource for readers and writers.

Finding this app was a game-changer for me. If you’ve got a library card, you’ve probably got access to Hoopla (or Libby ). Hoopla allows you to access books found in your library’s database, as well as audiobooks, comic books, and even movies. So much free content!

Looking for somewhere to read original works of fiction ? Wattpad has over 90 million subscribers who are reading and uploading fiction works and connecting with other readers and writers. This may just be the place to find your next favorite author before their writing career takes off. These are not always published books like you’d find on Kindle, so you’re finding some real hidden gems here.

Love poetry? Check out these gifts for poets & poetry lovers !

There are ways to read books without opening your eyelids or flipping a page. Audible the dominant force in audiobooks. This app offers monthly membership subscriptions or individual purchases so that you can listen to new, old, and bestselling audiobooks while doing household chores. Try a free trial !

How long does it take you to read? This book app is a valuable tool in helping you reach your reading goals by tracking your reading progress, maintaining an organized catalog of your completed books, and helping you set monthly or even yearly reading goals. It even provides you with personalized stats in real-time so you can track your progress. People who are trying to develop a good reading habit will like this!

Blinkist caters to those who don’t have the time or maybe even the interest to read an entire book. With this book app, you can get a summary of thousands popular nonfiction books in 15 minutes or less. So if reading isn’t your thing but you want the information from some of the best nonfiction books, Blinkist is the way to go.

Have you ever wished for a better way to pick the perfect next book? StoryGraph might be the way to do it. This app takes tracking to the next level by taking into account your mood and the mood of the books you’re usually reading (emotional, lighthearted, relaxing, etc). You can also view how your stats progress overtime to give you more insight on what books you should pick up next.

Unlike Blinkist, Summary Z provides a short summary of fiction books as well as nonfiction. So if you’ve got work to do for class and could use a refresher on a novel, check this one out! Summary Z is a great reference.

Poetry lovers, unite! Apps like Poetizer allow people to read, write, publish, and buy poetry. Poetry collections can be delivered to your doorstep and then promoted on your personal Poetizer platform. It’s an excellent app for writers & poets.

After you read a really great book, it’s hard to not want to talk about it with everyone you come in contact with. Having the community to do that with is rare. But it doesn’t have to be! Litsy is a place to share blurbs , reviews, your favorite quotes, and more. It’s my preferred social media account for book lovers !

• BookClub by Book Movement

Make your book club experience a lot easier by downloading this essential bookclub app. This app is excellent for those looking to simplify every aspect of being in a book club, from setting up meetings to picking your next book club book . Look up top book club books of the week or use their discover tool, and don’t forget to ask good book club questions !

Book apps aren’t just for adults. Kids book apps like Epic exist just to engage readers 12 and under. Epic is the largest digital library just for kids who love to read . It has over 40,000 kids titles to choose from, and they have audiobooks and learning videos available too. This app is free for educators and students to use during the school day.

• Aardvark Book Club

A book subscription box is a great way to gain access to new releases easily. Aardvark Book Club’s app allows subscribers to choose three new released books from a curated list of 4-5 newly published books to have delivered to their doorstep each month. Then you can discuss your favorites on their app in their discussion community. It’s just like having a bookstore and a book club in your pocket!

So which of these book apps will you be downloading? Let us know in the comments, and tell us if there are any you think we missed!

About the Author

Jaylynn Korrell is a nomadic writer currently based out of Pennsylvania. In addition to her writing and reading for Independent Book Review, she curates lists at GoodGiftLists.com .

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