How to Use the Pagebound App: A Step-by-Step Guide for Readers

If you’ve been feeling burned out by Goodreads (been there) or just craving a calmer, more reader-first place to track your books and actually talk about them, let me introduce you to Pagebound.

I started using Pagebound after one too many moments of thinking, “Why does this feel so loud and not very helpful anymore?” What hooked me immediately was how intentional the app feels: no algorithm chasing trends, no influencer energy—just readers talking to readers.This guide will walk you through exactly how to get started with Pagebound, step by step, so you can decide if it’s the right fit for your reading life.

---

Listen to Our Podcast Episode

---

Step 1: Create Your Pagebound Account

You can sign up on the web at pagebound.co or download the app from the App Store or Google Play.

One thing I appreciated right away: you don’t need to overshare. Pagebound is designed to be anonymous-first, which makes the space feel safer and more honest. Choose a username that feels bookish and comfortable—this isn’t a platform built around personal branding or follower counts.

---

Step 2: Import Your Reading History (or Start Fresh)

You have a few options here, and none of them are wrong.

Option A: Import from Goodreads
If you’ve been tracking your reading on Goodreads for years, you can export your data as a CSV file and upload it directly to Pagebound. The import only takes a couple of minutes. Ratings, shelves, and dates usually come through smoothly (rereads may vary depending on your data).

Option B: Import from StoryGraph
If you’re coming from StoryGraph, Pagebound also supports imports from there.

Option C: Start From Scratch
Honestly? This can feel incredibly freeing. If you’re in a reading reset era or redefining your taste, starting fresh is a great option.

---

Step 3: Add a Book That Isn’t in the Database

Reading something niche, indie, or brand-new? Pagebound makes this easy.

As long as the book exists on Goodreads, you can paste the Goodreads link into Pagebound and the book will appear in the database—usually within 30 seconds. This is one of my favorite features because it doesn’t penalize you for reading outside the mainstream.

---

Step 4: Set Up Your Reading Taste Profile

Instead of forcing you into rigid genres, Pagebound asks you to pick five books that define your taste.

This is huge for mood readers and genre-fluid readers (hi, it’s me). You might pick a cozy mystery, a romance, a book club novel, a wild card—whatever actually represents you. Pagebound then connects you with readers who overlap with your taste, not an algorithm guessing what you want next.

---

Step 5: Join Book Discussions While You’re Reading

This is where Pagebound really shines.

Every book has its own forum, and you can post thoughts by page number as you read. That means:

• No waiting until you finish the book
  
• No pressure to write a polished review
  
• No accidental spoilers
  

It feels like a low-key, ongoing book club with readers who are on the same journey as you.

---

Step 6: Explore Reader-Curated Lists

Think of Pagebound lists as Spotify playlists for books.

When you’re on a book’s page, you can see every list real readers have added it to—hyper-specific, niche, and genuinely helpful. I use lists constantly when I want a certain vibe without trusting an algorithm to get it right.

You can also save lists to come back to later, which is dangerous for the TBR (but in a fun way).

---

Step 7: Try Your First Reading Quest

If you enjoy reading challenges, Pagebound’s Quests are delightful.

There are:

• Main Quests (larger genre or theme explorations with tiered badges)
  
• Side Quests (smaller, niche challenges with sparkly completion badges)
  

Everything is human-curated, and the gamification is lighthearted—not stressful. I’ve discovered authors and subgenres I never would’ve tried otherwise.

---

Step 8: Customize Your Experience

Pagebound is meant to fit your reading life, not the other way around.

You can:

• Follow readers without worrying about follower counts
  
• Pin quests or badges to your profile
  
• Use the app daily or just check in when you’re reading something new
  

There’s no pressure to perform or post constantly, which I find incredibly refreshing.

---

Step 9: Support Pagebound (Optional, but Meaningful)

Pagebound is self-funded, which means no venture capital and no sudden paywalls.

If you’re able and want to support the platform, there’s Pagebound Royalty, a $10/month subscription, plus a one-time contribution option. Supporting Pagebound feels a lot like supporting an indie bookstore—you’re helping keep a reader-first space alive.

That said, the free experience remains fully usable.

---

Step 10: App vs. Web — Which Should You Use?

• The app is great for daily check-ins, quick posts, and reading on the go.
  
• The web version is perfect for longer discussions and list browsing.
  

The app is currently available in 70+ countries, and the web version works everywhere.

Is Pagebound Right for You?

If you miss the quieter, more thoughtful corners of the internet—and you want a place where books are discussed without algorithms or influencer pressure—Pagebound is absolutely worth trying.

It’s especially great for:

• Mood readers
• Genre-fluid readers
• Book club readers
• Anyone in a “reading reset” season

I always tell readers: you don’t have to commit forever. Just try it, explore, and see how it feels.

Related Posts

• Looking to Buy Books and Save the Enviroment? Check out our PangoApp Guide
• How to Set Reading Goals and Stick to them?
• How to build your Book Collection
• Why I Ditched the Kindle Colorsoft for an iPad Mini

💭 Let’s Chat

Have you tried Pagebound yet? I’d love to know what you think.

Drop your five taste-defining books in the comments—or come join my Substack community for more reading tools, library tips, and bookish deep dives.