About TBR.fyi
A simple way to never lose a book recommendation again.
Someone mentions a book on a podcast, in a group chat, or across the table from you—and you can save it instantly. No notes app, no screenshots, no forgotten tabs. Everything lands in one calm, searchable reading list.
Why this exists
I was using Goodreads' "to-read" list, but I never actually checked it. It became a graveyard of 200 books I'll never read.
Book recommendations come from everywhere, and they almost always arrive when you're busy. TBR.fyi is designed to capture those moments with as little friction as possible—whether you're on your phone, at your desk, or mid-conversation.
No feeds. No algorithms. Just a place to put the books you actually want to read.
How it works
There are two ways to add books—use whichever fits the moment:
Text it in.
Send a photo of a book cover, an ISBN, a link, or just the title:
US number · standard messaging rates apply
TBR.fyi figures out the book and adds it to your list automatically.
Use the web app.
You can also add books directly here—same result, same list, no SMS required.
Once added, books show up in your TBR list. You can mark them read or unread, note whether you own them, and add context like "Recommended on Fresh Air" so you remember why you saved it.
What it is (and isn't)
TBR.fyi is a lightweight tool for capturing and organizing book recommendations. It's fast, forgiving, and intentionally simple—built for real life, not perfect data entry.
It isn't a social network. It isn't a recommendation engine. It isn't a reading tracker with stats and streaks.
🚧 Where this is at
Honest truth: this is early. I'm testing it with a small group to see if it's useful or if I'm solving a problem that doesn't exist.
Things that work:
- • Text ISBN → book appears on shelf
- • Photo barcode detection
- • Amazon link parsing
- • Title/author search ("The Hobbit by Tolkien")
- • Multiple shelves, read/unread status, personal notes
Things that could be better:
- • Long lists need pagination
- • No edition finder yet
- • Can't export to CSV or Goodreads
- • Probably other stuff I haven't discovered
If something breaks, telling me is genuinely helpful.
Feedback
If you have thoughts—good or bad—I want to hear them. You can open an issue on GitHub or just reply to any SMS.
Specific things that help:
- • "I stopped using it because..."
- • "This is confusing..."
- • "I wish it did..."
- • "I use it when..."
Things that help less:
- • "It's cool!" (but why?)
- • "You should add fifty features" (maybe, but which one matters most?)
Privacy
TBR.fyi only stores what it needs to work: your phone number (if you use SMS) and the books you add. It doesn't sell your data, scan your contacts, or do anything clever behind the scenes.
To delete everything, text STOP or open an issue on GitHub.
Get started
If you already have an account, jump back to your list and add a book. If you're new, try adding one right now—by text or directly in the web app—and see if it earns a place in your workflow.