Help & Getting Started

My Reading Alcove is your personal library — a quiet place to track every book you’ve read. Your library is always with you, cached on your device so you can check it anywhere, even offline.

Getting Started

Add your first book

Three ways to add a book:

  1. Scan the barcode — Open the scanner from the Add a Book page, point your camera at the back of any book, and the details fill in automatically: title, author, pages, cover art, and summary.
  2. Search by title or author — Type into the search box and select from the results. Details auto-populate from Open Library and Google Books.
  3. Import a CSV — If you’re coming from Goodreads or StoryGraph, you can import your reading history in one go (see Migration below).

Book status

When you add a book, choose a status:

  • Read — Goes into your main library, sorted by the date you finished it
  • Currently Reading — Shows in a shelf at the top of your library
  • Want to Read — Saved for later in a shelf at the bottom
  • Did Not Finish — Kept but dimmed, separate from your main collection

Status is always editable. Start a book and abandon it? Change it to Did Not Finish. Pick it back up later and finish it? Change it to Read. Life happens — your library keeps up.

Format and rating

Log whether you read a physical book, ebook, or audiobook, and rate it from 0.5 to 5 stars.

Install on Your Phone or Desktop

My Reading Alcove works best installed as an app on your device — it adds a home screen icon, opens full-screen without browser bars, and lets you browse your library offline.

iPhone or iPad (Safari)

  1. Open myreadingalcove.com in Safari (must be Safari, not Chrome)
  2. Tap the Share icon (square with an arrow pointing up) in the toolbar
  3. Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen
  4. Tap Add in the top right corner

Android (Chrome)

  1. Open myreadingalcove.com in Chrome
  2. Tap the three-dot menu in the top right
  3. Tap Add to Home screen (or Install app)
  4. Confirm by tapping Add or Install

Mac or Windows (Chrome or Edge)

  1. Open myreadingalcove.com in Chrome or Edge
  2. Click the install icon in the address bar (looks like a small monitor with a down arrow), or open the three-dot menu and choose Install My Reading Alcove
  3. Click Install — the app opens in its own window and appears in your Applications/Start menu

Once installed, your library is cached for offline access — perfect for checking your collection with no signal, like at a bookstore or yard sale.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit or delete a book after adding it?

Yes. Every book has an edit page where you can update any field — title, author, pages, rating, dates, cover art, summary, status, and format. You can also delete a book entirely if you added it by mistake.

Can I access my library without an internet connection?

Yes. Because My Reading Alcove installs as a PWA, your library is cached locally on your device. You can browse your full collection offline — no wifi needed. Handy at a yard sale when you spot a book and want to check if you’ve already read it.

What does the free trial include?

Everything — full access to all features including adding books, importing a CSV, cover art lookup, stats, and export. No credit card required to start.

What happens when my trial expires?

Your library stays intact and you can still browse it, but the app switches to read-only mode. You won’t be able to add new books or make changes until you subscribe.

How much does it cost?

$1.99/month after your 30-day free trial. No credit card required to start.

Is there a mobile app?

My Reading Alcove is a Progressive Web App (PWA). On iPhone, open the site in Safari and tap “Add to Home Screen” — it installs like a native app. On Android, tap “Add to Home Screen” in Chrome.

Can I export my library?

Yes. Go to Utilities and use the CSV export to download your full library at any time.

Migrating from Goodreads or StoryGraph

You can bring your reading history with you.

From Goodreads (desktop browser only — export not available on mobile)

  1. Log in to Goodreads
  2. Click My Books in the top nav
  3. In the left sidebar, scroll to Tools → click Import and export
  4. Click Export Library and wait for the download link to appear (large libraries may take a few minutes)
  5. In My Reading Alcove → Utilities → Import CSV, upload the file

From StoryGraph

  1. Log in to StoryGraph
  2. Click your profile → Manage Account
  3. Scroll to Manage Your Data → click Export StoryGraph Library
  4. In My Reading Alcove → Utilities → Import CSV, upload the file

Most fields map over cleanly. Cover art and summaries are fetched automatically during import where possible.

CSV import is available during your free trial — a good time to bring your library over before deciding if the app is right for you.

Questions? Email support@myreadingalcove.com