Tinder for books: no ghosting, plenty of sleepless nights

Why a book is the better date

We have nothing against love. We are only saying that with a book you know where you stand.

• A book never ghosts you. It is still there tomorrow. And in three years, on the same page.
• No small talk. A book does not ask how your weekend was. A good thriller just opens with a body on page one.
• Seeing several at once is fine. Reading three books at the same time is called a reading pile here. Nobody minds.
• Breaking up is quick. Had enough after fifty pages? Back on the shelf, no awkward chat in a pub.
• You can brag about it. Stayed up until four for a book? Tell your colleagues. They may even ask for the title.

Date or book: the difference

How swiping on books works

In Time to Read you will find it under Discover, as Today’s books. Ten books are waiting every morning, one to a page: the cover, the author, a short blurb, the stars, the number of pages and a line saying why this book is in front of you.

• Right: shelve it. The book goes on your Want to read shelf. That is the match.
• Left: pass. The page turns and nothing goes on your shelf.
• Up: already read. The book goes on your Already read shelf. You two have met.

Rather tap than swipe? The three buttons under each book do the same. It will not take all day either: ten books are soon done. After that, and this is the whole idea, you can go and read.

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Why is this book in front of me?

Not a horoscope, we promise. Your pile is tuned to what you have read and kept, the stars you gave, what your friends read and the readers in your clubs. Each card says why the book is there, for example: ‘Three readers in your club have read this.’ For more on the idea itself, read what a bookmatch is.

How do you know it is really a match?

Swiping right is easy. These are the real tests, and they work in any shop or library:

1. The first page. If you want to read the second, you are on to something. A beautiful cover is only a profile picture.
2. The missed stop. If you have read past your stop, it is serious.
3. The fifty pages. Give a book fifty pages. If it has not got you by then, let it go. You owe it nothing.
4. The friends test. If you bring it up unprompted over dinner, it is love. The others at the table may regret this.

Not in the mood to swipe?

Also fine. Under Ask you write one sentence about what you are in the mood for, and other readers each choose one book for you, with a reason, usually within the hour. Think of it as friends setting you up, but with books they have actually read. The monthly pick is one book a month, chosen for you. And in a book club you all read the same book, the only double date where everyone has done the preparation.

Shelf full after all that swiping? Then you have a TBR. Congratulations, and good luck.