Spoiler-free notes
Share book notes without spoiling the book
Half the fun of reading is reacting to it. Bookties lets you write those reactions down chapter by chapter and share them with friends, who see each note only when they reach the same point.
Notes in a shared margin
Think of a paperback you scribble in and pass to a friend, except that your friend sees each scribble only when they turn to that page. That is a Bookties note.
Notes are short: a reaction, a prediction, a favourite line, a question. Each one belongs to a chapter. Friends can reply and react once they reach it.
How the locking works
Every book in Bookties has chapters, and every reader has a progress marker. When you write a note, it is tied to the chapter you are on. Your friend's device receives that note only after their marker passes that chapter.
This is enforced on the server, not with a blur in the app. A locked note is not on your screen in any form, so there is nothing to peek at and nothing that can slip out.
What to write in the margin
- First reactions: the line that made you laugh, the twist you did not see coming.
- Predictions, written where you made them, to revisit later.
- Questions you want to ask your friend once they get there.
- Quotes worth keeping, with a word on why.
- Notes for a reread: what you noticed the second time through.
Better than a reading journal you keep alone
Private reading journals and highlight apps are good for remembering. They are quiet, though. Shared notes turn a book into a slow conversation with people you know, without forcing anyone to read at your speed.
Your notes are yours: export them, or delete them along with your account, at any time.
Questions
Can I see a friend's note before I reach the chapter?
No. Bookties only sends you notes for chapters you have reached. You can see that a later chapter has notes waiting, but not what they say.
Can I edit or delete a note?
Yes. You can edit or delete your own notes and replies at any time.
Do notes work for non-fiction?
Yes. Chapters work the same way, and notes are often even more useful for books you want to discuss or remember.
Who can read my notes?
Only the friends you share the book with, and only once they reach the chapter. Notes are never public.
Write your first note
Add the book you are reading now, share it with one friend, and leave them something to find.
Free, with no ads. Works in the browser and on Android.