Quick Summary
- Readwise Books combines e-book purchases, reading and progress tracking in one app.
- The store provides millions of titles from major publishers, initially for US users, with print and some audiobook options.
- The app is in invite-only beta; some reading-related AI features depend on publisher permission.
Readwise is moving beyond shows and read-it-later tools with a new app called Readwise Books. The product combines an e-book store with reading statistics and social features, placing it in competition with parts of Amazon’s Kindle and Goodreads services. TechCrunch reported the launch on November 2. The app is currently in an invite-only beta and is initially available to users in the United States.
What Readwise Books combines
- E-book store and in-app reader
- Reading statistics and session history
- Library organisation and social features
- DRM-free EPUB uploads
- Optional text-to-speech and integrations
A store, reader and tracker in one place
Readwise Books can let users buy, read and track books from a single app. The company says its store includes millions of e-books from the major publishing groups and other publishers. Print books are also available through a fulfilment arrangement with Bookshop.org’s distributor, while some audiobooks are supported. The initial geographic focus is the United States, with the company saying additional countries may follow.
The reading tracker goes beyond recording a start date and a completion date. It can show how many words a person has read, reading pace, depth, immersion and the number of sessions. The company describes the approach as a way to make reading habits visible without relying on streaks or reminders. Readers can also upload DRM-free EPUB files, use text-to-speech and track some reading activity outside the Readwise app.
How it differs from Kindle and Goodreads
Amazon’s advantage is its end-to-end ecosystem: it sells books, provides reading apps and devices, and provides a large catalogue through Kindle and Kindle Unlimited. Goodreads adds social reviews and reading lists. Readwise is not launching a dedicated e-reader, so it will need to attract people who are comfortable reading on phones, tablets or computers and who want more detailed information about their habits.
The company is also trying to build a community around reading rather than only sell individual titles. Users can share progress with friends, organise books and use a public API to connect their reading data to other services. Readwise has also announced an MCP server that can let compatible assistants work with a user’s reading history. Those integrations may appeal to technical readers, but mainstream adoption will depend on catalogue coverage, app reliability and the price of books.
Publisher permissions shape the advanced features
Readwise says some advanced features will use AI to provide session recaps, definitions, translations and answers about the part of a book a reader is currently viewing. Those features depend on permission from publishers. At the time of the launch report, HarperCollins was the only publisher that had opted in. The restriction means the availability of these features will vary by title rather than being universal across the store.
The Books app itself will remain free during the beta, while some advanced features in the wider Readwise ecosystem already require a subscription. The company has not disclosed a final launch date or a complete international pricing plan for Readwise Books. Its challenge is to persuade readers to use a new platform when they already have Kindle libraries and Goodreads histories. Better reading statistics may attract enSoiasts, but a broad catalogue and dependable access will be essential.
Readwise’s decision to launch a store is a larger commercial step than adding another reading tracker. It must now manage catalogue access, payment processing, publisher relationships and customer support alongside its existing software. Readers may also want to know whether books they buy can be exported or read in other applications. The company supports DRM-free EPUB uploads, but purchases from a store may have different restrictions depending on publisher terms. Its open API and integrations could appeal to readers who want control over their data, while the invite-only beta gives the company time to test the buying and reading experience.
Readwise Books is still invite-only, and its initial catalogue is focused on the United States. Readers outside that market may have to wait for publisher and payment arrangements to expand. The app’s open API and detailed statistics are differentiators, but long-term adoption will depend on book availability, pricing, export options and whether readers can keep control of their purchased library.