Customer Reviews (500)

chloe reeds • 2025-03-22T17:01:50-07:00

Love this app but there is a lot left to desire. My main issue is the entire system with the reading streak. I have a 500+ day reading streak on Kindle but the only way to match that on Fable is to manually enter each day ive read in the app. No thank you! I also dislike that when I view a book it doesn’t automatically list all the other books by the author/in the series in the same page. I have to go back and search for the specific book. Otherwise I really enjoy the layout of the app and the feed. I think a lot can be done to make this app more user friendly but overall if you’re looking to get away from more mainstream reading tracking apps this is a great option

Craniumgarage • 2025-03-22T13:14:54-07:00

Still lacking in so many areas.. If there isn’t a book in the system, you can submit a request.. nice, but you want me to give you the goodreads information so you can add it? So basically you are telling me just go back to goodreads

87871687 • 2025-03-22T11:41:02-07:00

Ok I love this app, and I admit I am a real nerd for tracking my reading stats. But every year the beta tells me I’m a sappy Romantic because Fable files EVERYTHING as a Romance. Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, even Sci Fi, are bound to have a romantic element. But please track the book under its dominant genre, so that the stats can be accurate. Drives me nuts.

Summary of Key Insights

Fable: Books & TV is generally well-received, particularly for its engaging community features, aesthetically pleasing design, and the ability to track both books and TV shows. Many users appreciate it as a modern alternative to Goodreads. However, the app suffers from several persistent issues including glitches, a less-than-ideal search function, limitations in data syncing and importing, and feature gaps that prevent it from fully replacing established platforms like Goodreads or StoryGraph for all users. The recent controversy surrounding AI-generated content, while addressed by removing the feature, has damaged trust for some users. The app's strengths lie in its social aspects and user interface, while its weaknesses involve technical stability, search functionality, and data management. Overall sentiment is positive, but a significant number of users express frustration with specific issues that need addressing.

Quantitative Metrics:

  • Overall Rating (Based on Score Distribution): Approximately 4.1 stars (weighted average).
  • Score Distribution:
    • 5-star: 41.8%
    • 4-star: 25.8%
    • 3-star: 14.8%
    • 2-star: 7.4%
    • 1-star: 10.2%

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Unspecified, but likely encompassing recent app updates and user experiences.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment Analysis: Categorizing reviews as positive, negative, or neutral based on language used.
    • Keyword Extraction: Identifying frequently mentioned words and phrases related to features, issues, and requests.
    • Thematic Analysis: Grouping user feedback into common themes (e.g., glitches, search functionality, community features).

Key User Pain Points

  • Glitches and Instability: Frequent crashes, loading errors, and general unreliability of the app are major sources of frustration. Impact: Disrupts user experience, leads to data loss, and discourages regular usage.
  • Search Functionality Issues: Difficulty finding specific books or editions, limited search options (e.g., can't search by author or series), and poor search result relevance. Impact: Makes it challenging to add books to lists and discover new content.
  • Data Syncing and Importing Problems: Incomplete Goodreads import, syncing issues with Kindle, and inability to import from other platforms like StoryGraph. Impact: Prevents seamless transition from other apps and requires manual data entry.
  • Limited Customization: Inability to edit past reading streaks, limited shelf customization, and lack of dark mode. Impact: Reduces user control and personalization options.
  • Book Catalog Limitations: Missing books, incorrect book information, and difficulty adding books from indie authors. Impact: Frustrates users who can't find the books they're reading or want to track.
  • AI Controversy: While addressed, the previous AI-generated content caused serious concerns among users regarding biases and ethical considerations. Impact: Reduced user trust, leading to account deletions and negative reviews.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Dark Mode: A dark mode option is highly desired for improved readability in low-light conditions.
  • Improved Search: Enhanced search functionality, including the ability to search by author or series, and improved search result accuracy.
  • Enhanced Data Tracking: Ability to track total pages read, track rereads, and track different formats (physical, ebook, audiobook).
  • Ability to Edit Past Reading Days: Users want to be able to retroactively add or edit reading days to accurately reflect their reading habits.
  • Author Pages/Series Information: Users want to be able to click on an author's name to see all their books and easily view series information.
  • Movie Tracking: Expanding the TV show tracking feature to include movies.
  • Web Version: A web browser version for easier searching and adding books to lists.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Engaging Community Features: Book clubs, social feed, and interactive discussions are highly valued.
  • Aesthetically Pleasing Design: The app's clean, modern, and visually appealing interface is a major draw.
  • Ease of Use: Many users find the app intuitive and easy to navigate.
  • Book and TV Tracking: The ability to track both books and TV shows in one place is appreciated.
  • Goodreads Import: While imperfect, the ability to import Goodreads data is a helpful feature for new users.
  • Unique Features: Reading streaks, personalized stats, and the "Scout" recommendation tool are popular.
  • Responsive Support: Some users reported positive experiences with Fable's customer support.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Fix Glitches and Improve Stability: Address the most frequent crashes, loading errors, and other technical issues to ensure a reliable user experience.
  • Enhance Search Functionality: Implement more robust search options, improve search result accuracy, and allow users to search by author, series, and other criteria.
  • Improve Data Syncing and Importing: Fix issues with Goodreads import, add support for importing from other platforms (e.g., StoryGraph), and ensure seamless syncing with Kindle.

Medium Priority:

  • Implement Dark Mode: Add a dark mode option to improve readability and reduce eye strain.
  • Allow Editing of Past Reading Days: Enable users to retroactively add or edit reading days for accurate tracking.
  • Develop Author Pages/Series Information: Create author pages with a comprehensive list of their books and provide clear series information.
  • Expand Tracking Options: Add the ability to track total pages read, track rereads, and track different formats (physical, ebook, audiobook).
  • Address Catalog Limitations: Streamline the process for adding missing books and ensuring accurate book information.

Low Priority:

  • Develop a Web Version: Create a web browser version for easier management of lists and libraries.
  • Improve Shelf Customization: Offer more options for customizing shelves and organizing books.
  • Add Movie Tracking: Expand the TV show tracking feature to include movies.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • AI-Powered Book Recommendation Engine (Ethical Implementation): While the initial AI implementation was problematic, there's still an opportunity for a well-designed, ethical AI recommendation engine that prioritizes diverse authors and avoids biased suggestions.
  • Book Data Aggregation and Enrichment Service: A service that automatically pulls in book details (page count, series information, etc.) from various sources to reduce manual data entry for users.
  • Enhanced Book Club Management Tools: A platform that offers more robust tools for managing book clubs, such as collaborative reading schedules, discussion prompts, and voting features.
  • Cross-Platform Reading Tracker: An app that seamlessly integrates with various e-readers, audiobook platforms, and library services to automatically track reading progress.
  • Personalized Reading Challenges: A system that creates custom reading challenges based on user preferences, reading habits, and goals.

Trends and Observations

  • Goodreads Replacement Desire: A significant number of users are actively seeking a better alternative to Goodreads, indicating a market opportunity for Fable.
  • Importance of Community: The social features and book club aspects are a major draw for many users.
  • Emphasis on Aesthetics: The app's visually appealing design is a key differentiator.
  • Demand for Feature Parity with Competitors: Users expect Fable to offer the same core features as other reading trackers, such as the ability to track total pages read and rereads.
  • Negative Impact of AI Controversy: The AI-related issues caused significant damage to user trust, highlighting the importance of ethical considerations in technology development.

Conclusion

Fable has a strong foundation with its engaging community features, aesthetically pleasing design, and user-friendly interface. However, addressing the persistent technical issues, improving search functionality, and enhancing data management are crucial for solidifying its position as a leading book tracking app. While the removal of the controversial AI features was a necessary step, rebuilding trust and focusing on core functionality improvements should be the top priorities. By focusing on these areas, Fable can capitalize on the demand for a modern alternative to Goodreads and attract a wider audience of book lovers.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fable-books-tv/id1488170618?uo=2