What is TBR.fyi?

Your reading list, connected to your local bookstore

The Problem We're Solving

You hear about a great book—maybe from a friend, a podcast, or social media—but then what? You might forget the title, lose track of it among hundreds of recommendations, or worse, default to buying it from Amazon because it's convenient. Meanwhile, your local bookstore might have that exact book on their shelf, just waiting for you, but you'd never know.

What TBR.fyi Does

TBR.fyi stands for "To Be Read," which is that list of books you keep mentally, in your notes app, or stacked on your bedside table. The ".fyi" is our subtle promise: we give you the information you need—the critical 'for your information' details, like where to get that book today. It's like having a personal reading assistant that connects you to your local bookstore. Here's how it works:

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Text to Remember

You're listening to a podcast or sitting at a coffee shop when a friend recommends a book. Instead of hunting for a note app, just text the title to TBR.fyi. No apps to download, no passwords to remember—just text and done. Your book is instantly saved to your reading list.

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Track Your Reading Life

Keep all your book recommendations in one place. See what you want to read, what you're currently reading, and what you've finished. Export your lists anytime you need it (for shopping, using in another app, or building something new).

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Find Books Locally

Here's the magic—TBR.fyi shows you which books on your list are available right now at your local bookstore. You can reserve them for pickup and support your community bookstore instead of defaulting to Amazon.

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Discover Through Human Curation

Unlike algorithms that push bestsellers, TBR.fyi features real recommendations from bookstore staff who've sold thousands of books, literary critics who deeply understand their subjects, and readers like you. From long impassioned advocacy for a single title to exhaustive lists of a definitive collection, and everything in between.

Who It's For

TBR.fyi is for anyone who:

  • Loves books but can use help keeping track of recommendations and ideas
  • Wants to support local bookstores but too-often finds Amazon more convenient
  • Values thoughtful, human book recommendations over algorithmic suggestions
  • Believes bookstores are essential community spaces worth preserving

What Makes Us Different

Local inventory integration

We're the only platform that shows real-time availability at your neighborhood bookstore, turning "I should buy local" into "I can pick this up today" or "I can get notified when I can pick this up."

SMS simplicity

No app needed—just text us (a title or a link or a photo, etc.) when you hear about a book. It's as natural as jotting down a note, but it actually syncs to your reading life. (Or use our web app, or click "add to my list" from any book on the site.)

Flexible curation

Our recommendations come from two key sources: bookstore staff who know what customers truly buy, and literary experts who know their subjects deeply. We don't limit them to rigid list formats—the subject matter decides how many recommendations are needed.

Community-first business model

We pay the bills through reader subscriptions and bookstore partnerships, not by steering you toward whatever has the highest commission. Your interests and your local stores come first. When you check availability, we share relevant book titles with your selected favorite bookstores to get real-time stock information. When you reserve a book, your order details go only to that specific store. We also share anonymized, aggregate demand signals with bookstore partners—showing which books their community wants, without sharing individual user data. This helps bookstores stock what their readers actually want to read.

The Vision

TBR.fyi is building toward a future where you discover what you want to read—including books you didn't know you wanted. Your local bookstore helps you get them, with no extra effort from either of you. We're creating tools that make supporting local bookstores as convenient as buying from Amazon, while preserving what makes bookstores special: the personal touch, the unexpected discoveries, the community connections. All in an app that is as easy to use as writing a grocery list.

Think of it as Goodreads, but designed for action and local impact—a place where serious readers track their reading, discover incredible books through trusted voices, and seamlessly support their local bookstore. Come for the simplicity of text-to-save. Stay for the joy of finding your next book waiting at the bookstore around the corner.