Readwise has launched Readwise Books, a platform for purchasing, reading, and discussing books. The service is currently in beta and is accessible to existing Readwise subscribers or via invitation.
Cofounders Tristan Homsi and Daniel Doyon describe the platform as a social reading tool that tracks reading habits, including duration and speed. Users can view a feed of activity from friends, share comments, and post recommendations.
The platform includes features for tracking reading lists and allows users to sync their Amazon Kindle accounts by photographing book pages. It also enables users to rate and review titles within the app.
To build a competitive library, the company secured agreements with all five major US publishers. These deals cover book pricing and distribution, allowing Readwise to operate on a comparable market level.
The app is designed to run on Android, including E Ink devices like the Boox Palma. While the founders previously considered developing their own hardware, they are currently focused on software compatibility.
