I tried tracking books on my phone, but it felt clunky and unreliable—I worried about losing my data when switching devices. When I looked at existing online solutions, they felt overly complex and bloated for what should be a simple task.
So I built MyRead: a fast, modern book tracker that's both private and persistent, running entirely in your browser.
Core philosophy: your data belongs to you. Everything is stored exclusively in your browser's localStorage, making the app fast, offline-capable, and completely private.
Key features:
- All data lives in your browser. No cloud, no sign-up required.
- Back up your entire library or move between devices using JSON/CSV files. Your data is never locked in.
- Instead of a black box, plug in your own API key (OpenAI, Google AI, or OpenRouter). The app generates detailed prompts based on your library and sends them directly from your browser to your chosen provider. I never see your data or API key.
- Clean interface for progress, notes, and ratings, plus a Tinder-like swipe UI for discovering recommendations.
Technical details:
- Stack: React, TypeScript, Vite, Tailwind CSS, shadcn/ui
- Fully client-side PWA
- Client-side prompt generation analyzing your books, wishlist, genres, authors, and past recommendation feedback
The BYOK model is central to the privacy approach—your reading data and AI interactions stay completely between you and your chosen provider.
I'll be here all day for questions and would love feedback from the HN community. Thanks for checking it out!