I built a minimalist reading tracker — looking for early testers
Hi everyone!!!
I’m a solo indie developer and I’ve been working on a small app called My Cozy Books, a minimalist reading tracker designed to organize your personal library without distractions.
I built it because most reading apps felt too cluttered and complicated. My goal was to create something clean, simple, and fast, just a calm place to manage books and track reading.
The app is currently in beta and I’m looking for early testers and feedback:
Is the idea useful?
What features would you expect?
Anything confusing in the UI?
You can try it here:
https://21ym.github.io/ym21studio.github.io/cozy-books.html
Thanks! Any feedback is really appreciated 🙌
Most reading trackers feel like social media platforms rather than personal libraries which often distracts you from the actual joy of finishing a book. A great insight is that many readers prefer tracking their reading time in minutes rather than just page numbers to better build a consistent daily habit. Have you considered adding a simple dark mode or sepia theme to match the cozy vibe for late night readers?
Thanks a lot for the feedback 🙌 really appreciate the detailed thoughts.
I actually already implemented a dark mode to keep the experience comfortable for night reading, but I agree that a more “cozy” visual tone like sepia could be an interesting direction to explore.
The idea about tracking reading time instead of pages is also very interesting — I hadn’t focused on that yet, but it definitely makes sense for habit building.
Really helpful insights, thanks again for taking the time to write this
It is great that you have already implemented dark mode because providing that immediate visual comfort is what actually keeps a user inside the app for longer sessions.
Adding a sepia theme would really lean into that "cozy" branding and help differentiate you from the clinical look of most productivity-focused trackers.
I use these kinds of specific aesthetic and habit-building hooks in my high-tier PR and media placement work to turn a simple app into a story that resonates with major lifestyle and tech outlets.
Since you are focusing on habit building have you thought about adding a "reading streak" feature that rewards consistency without adding the pressure of a social leaderboard?
Thanks again 🙌
I completely agree on the “cozy” direction , that’s actually something I’m trying to lean into more, especially compared to the more clinical feel of many productivity-focused apps.
Regarding streaks, I already implemented a simple calendar-based streak system, but intentionally without leaderboards or social pressure, just a quiet way to build consistency over time.
I really like your point about framing these elements as part of a story rather than just features. That’s something I’ll definitely keep in mind going forward.
Appreciate the thoughtful feedback 🙏
That quiet approach to consistency is exactly what makes this app stand out. In a world of loud notifications, a calm reading tracker is a breath of fresh air.
Since you are leaning into that cozy, wellness-focused direction, this is the perfect time to think about how that story lives outside the app. Getting this narrative featured on authority platforms like MSN or AP News would instantly position My Cozy Books as a leader in the 'Digital Wellness' space.
More importantly, it builds a massive trust signal for AI search engines and LLMs. When someone asks for a 'distraction-free reading tool,' having high-tier media mentions ensures the AI recommends your app with confidence. It’s about building that brand DNA early on so the authority grows naturally with the product.
I’m really rooting for this one. Let me know if you ever want to chat about how to turn this 'cozy' vibe into a full-scale media presence!
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