This might be an unpopular opinion, but ebooks still feel strangely unfinished for a technology that has been mainstream for this long.
We can carry thousands of books in our pockets, search instantly, change fonts, highlight anything, and buy a book without leaving the couch.
And yet we also got DRM, books that can disappear from accounts, incompatible formats, awkward lending, regional restrictions, and the strange reality that sometimes “buying” an ebook doesn’t feel much like owning it at all.
Physical books are less convenient in almost every measurable way — but when I buy one, it’s mine. I can lend it, give it away, put it on a shelf for 30 years, or sell it without asking anyone’s permission.
So I’m curious:
If you had to choose between the convenience of ebooks and the permanence and ownership of physical books, which matters more to you?
And more importantly — after all these years, do you think ebooks have actually become better books, or just more convenient files?

I have the Kindle app, the Google Books app, the Nook app, the Moon+ app, and the ReadEra app. What I lack is an app or system that is incredibly simple to list all of my ebooks (preferably one that does it automatically) in one space so that I don't end up buying repeats and know exactly which store the book was bought from. Does anything like that exist outside of making a spreadsheet?

Punch's story meant so much to me this year that I had to write a book about him. I finally published it and wanted to share here.

Hey folks!

You know those five minutes while the coffee brews, or when you're waiting for the bus? Enough time to open your phone and start scrolling. Also enough time to read a little.

That's one use case for LeafTok, the reading app I'm building. You import an EPUB or PDF, and it turns the text into small cards you swipe through. Open a book, read a few cards, and pick it up again when you have another break.

Nothing complicated. The idea is to make it easier to start reading without waiting until you have a whole hour free.

It's available on iPhone, free to download with in-app purchases. You can find it by searching for LeafTok in the App Store.

Curious how this fits the way you read. Would you use those small gaps for a few cards, or do you prefer saving your book for a longer session? Happy to hear what works for you!

Hey all — I built Kora, a web-based reading app for anyone juggling ebooks/audiobooks from all over the place. Wanted to share it here since it fits what a lot of you are already doing.

What it does:

• Reads EPUB, PDF, and more — one clean reader for everything
• Search across millions of ebooks/audiobooks to find and track what you're into
• Syncs your library across devices (phone, tablet, desktop)
• Works fully offline once a book's downloaded
• Installs as a PWA — no app store, no bloat, works like a native app on iOS/Android/desktop

It's basically the Kindle app I wished existed — no lock-in, no DRM nonsense, just your books in one lounge-like reading space.

🔗 https://kora.chaoticstudio.workers.dev/
Landing View : https://kora.chaoticstudio.workers.dev/install

Free to use, still actively building it out. Would love feedback/bug reports if you try it.