TBR tracker
A TBR tracker that doesn\'t make you feel guilty
Your "to be read" pile is a wishlist, not a chore. Literal is built for capturing every recommendation, surfacing what matches your mood, and finishing more of them.
What a good TBR tracker should do
Add a book in two taps
See a recommendation, search, tap "Want to read". Done. Not a five-step database entry.
Sort by your mood, not theirs
Custom shelves let you split your TBR by mood, format, or priority — "fall vibes", "audiobook commute", "next on Kindle".
Surface what to read next
Filter your TBR by length, genre, or what your followed readers loved.
Survive a long backlog
A 200-book TBR shouldn't feel oppressive. Literal's UI is built for browsing, not just storing.
Sync across devices
Add a book on your phone, see it on web. Real-time sync, no manual export.
Capture from anywhere
Hear a podcast recommendation, search and add. Read a review, tap to want. Friction-free.
How to use your TBR well
- 1
Move your existing TBR over
Use the Goodreads importer or Storygraph importer — your "Want to Read" shelf comes across whole. - 2
Split it into themed shelves
A flat 300-book TBR is unmanageable. Make 5–10 themed shelves: "next 5", "for travel", "audiobook only", etc. - 3
Follow readers whose TBR overlaps yours
See what they're actually finishing — the books that move from their TBR to "Finished" are the ones to prioritise. - 4
Run periodic culls
Some books on your TBR have been there for years. Move them to a "Maybe" shelf or remove them. The TBR should reflect what you actually want now.
Why Literal's TBR works
Followed readers shape recommendations
Your feed shows what people you trust are finishing. The next read often comes from there.
Custom shelves are unlimited
No premium tier locks the number of shelves. Build the structure that fits your brain.
Search is fast
Type "anxious", filter by your TBR — find that one book a friend recommended last month.
Year-in-books shows your TBR conversion
See how many TBR books you actually finished. Tune your TBR-add habits accordingly.
Move TBR → Reading in one tap
No re-entry, no menu chains. The flow is built for daily use.
Free and ad-free
No usage limits. A TBR of 50 or 5,000 — same product.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I import my Goodreads TBR?
- Yes. The Goodreads importer brings your full "Want to Read" shelf — and all custom shelves — across.
- Is there a limit on how many books I can add?
- No. Free tier, no caps.
- Can I sort my TBR by date added or by author?
- Yes — multiple sort options on web and mobile.
- Does Literal recommend books from my TBR?
- We surface what your followed readers are reading, and what's popular on books you already loved. Not algorithmic recommendations from a recommender model.
