Bookworm Reads

I like the layout and design of the app, it’s very colorful and fun. I also like the whole worm aspect which makes the app feel less stale than most book tracking apps. However, there is a heavy social aspect which is cool but there’s no option to go private or just simply not partake in the social media part. I’m not a huge fan of sharing my opinions to everyone and having it appear on a timeline where others can see it just because I’m afraid of having my review be so exposed and open to comments from anyone (which is probably PTSD from twitter). However, I haven’t seen any major hatred/fighting on the app because the community is so positive and new, so this fear is mostly irrational. I would still like the ability to go private, at the very least in reviews or book ratings. I also don’t think I’ll ever use the book club feature, but that’s to be seen in the future. I think this app has great potential and can continue to improve.

I first downloaded it cause the app icon was so cute , and I was not disappointed. The aesthetic of it is very fun and fresh. The community aspect of it is wonderful, I love chatting with all the other worms , and getting recommendations! You can create as many book shelves as you want, and they have book challenges you can join, or you can make your own. The creators are very active on the app itself, and respond in a timely manor when it comes to help questions. They are always asking the worm community for ways to improve the app, and that alone is 5 starts to me. It’s very inclusive , they clearly care about their users, and it feels like I just have a bunch of new besties. I’m very excited to see what else they come up with, for this already amazing app.

I don’t think I’ve ever written an app review but because this is so promising I feel like it’s worth pointing out what’s effective/ineffective so far. For starters, the aesthetic and interface are a fun and vibrant change from Goodreads. I really dig the colors and worm customization (sounds silly but it’s fun). I also appreciate how the navigation borrows from other social media platforms thus feeling familiar, accessible, and intuitive. Because it kinda operates like Twitter or a message board, I feel like it’ll be easier to organically build community. On top that, the half-star review system is a pleasant change from Goodreads. With all that said, it looks like the app is still figuring itself out, which is cool but I hope it doesn’t take years of development! I’d love to be able to select different editions when choosing a book to place on my shelf. As of now, it seems like the cover that’s displayed is arbitrary. I’d also like more flexibility/customization in setting my own reading challenges up. Finally, I’d really like some sort of stat system in my library similar to StoryGraph or even something like Letterboxd. I’ve always wondered why Goodreads and the likes are so boring and out of date in comparison to something like Letterboxd, and I don’t see why this app can’t be for literature what that platform is for film in its own unique way.