Customer Reviews (138)

KrisBea • 2025-03-16T10:32:18-07:00

I’ve had several incidents where I haven’t received my bonuses and lost coins. One, I purchased coins one day and then the app asked me to create an account so I did and lost all of my purchased coins. I messaged the contact us and all I got was an automated reply “Thank you for your patience, and we’re at your service” no other response after detailing my issues. What a rip off!!!!

SidderSue • 2025-02-17T08:27:43-07:00

No one should have to pay more than $10 for a poorly written trashy story. This app and almost every other reading app charges per chapter, less then 6 very short chapters and my $10 is gone. At this rate this poorly written trashy novel would cost over $100. Stop using these horrible greedy trashy apps. Kindle is cheaper and believe me they also have trashy books.

Ewah54 • 2024-12-15T19:27:32-07:00

Very expensive. I have had to top up every other chapter with a balance os 1800+ coins that the app will not let me use.

Summary of Key Insights

The LetsRead app has a significant problem with its monetization strategy, which is causing widespread user frustration. While many users enjoy the stories offered, the high cost of coins and the fluctuating chapter prices are major deterrents. Several users report feeling scammed or that the app is a "rip-off." There are also reports of technical issues, such as coins disappearing and previously unlocked chapters relocking. The positive reviews generally highlight the engaging nature of the stories, but even these often mention the high cost as a negative. The app has an overall rating that is skewed by a large number of 5-star reviews, but a closer look reveals significant dissatisfaction reflected in the many 1-star reviews detailing negative experiences.

Key Strengths:

  • Engaging stories and diverse genres.
  • User-friendly interface (mentioned less frequently).

Key Weaknesses:

  • Extremely high cost of coins and chapters.
  • Fluctuating chapter prices based on coin balance.
  • Technical issues: disappearing coins, relocked chapters.
  • Lack of sufficient free bonus opportunities.
  • Potential for plagiarism (mentioned in one review).
  • Poor customer support (mentioned in one review).

Overall Sentiment: Mixed, but trending negatively due to cost issues.

Quantitative Metrics:

  • Overall Rating: Skewed high, needs deeper analysis.
  • Score Distribution:
    • 5-star: 62.32% (86 reviews)
    • 4-star: 4.35% (6 reviews)
    • 3-star: 2.17% (3 reviews)
    • 2-star: 6.52% (9 reviews)
    • 1-star: 24.64% (34 reviews)

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 138 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but assumed to be the lifetime of the app up to the point of data collection.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment analysis (manual assessment based on review text).
    • Keyword extraction (identified frequently used words and phrases related to cost, technical issues, and story quality).
    • Categorization of reviews based on star rating and content.

Key User Pain Points

  • High Cost of Chapters: The most frequently mentioned complaint is that chapters are too expensive, often costing over 100 coins, with users reporting needing to spend hundreds of dollars to finish a single book.
  • Fluctuating Chapter Prices: Users report that the cost of a chapter changes based on their current coin balance, with the price increasing when they have more coins. This is perceived as a deceptive practice.
  • Disappearing Coins/Relocked Chapters: Multiple users have reported losing purchased coins or having previously unlocked chapters relock, forcing them to repurchase.
  • Insufficient Free Coins: Users feel that the number of free coins offered through daily check-ins and other bonuses is insufficient to keep up with the high cost of chapters.
  • Poor Value for Money: Many users compare the cost of reading a book on LetsRead to buying a physical book or using other reading apps, finding LetsRead significantly more expensive.
  • Technical Issues: App crashes and inability to open the app.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Lower Chapter Prices: This is the most common request, with users wanting a more affordable way to read the stories.
  • More Free Coins/Bonuses: Users want more opportunities to earn free coins through daily check-ins, ads, or other activities.
  • Option to Purchase Entire Books: Users would like the option to buy a whole book at a fixed price instead of paying per chapter.
  • Fix Technical Issues: Users are requesting fixes for disappearing coins and relocked chapters.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Engaging Stories: Many users praise the quality and variety of the stories, saying they are "hooked" and "addicted."
  • Diverse Genres: The app offers a wide range of genres, catering to different reading preferences.
  • Easy to Use App: Some users find the app easy to use.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Revise Pricing Strategy: Drastically reduce the cost of coins and chapters. Consider offering different pricing tiers or subscription options. Address the fluctuating chapter price issue immediately.
  • Address Technical Issues: Fix the bugs that cause coins to disappear and chapters to relock. Implement a robust system for tracking and restoring lost coins.
  • Improve Coin Earning Opportunities: Increase the number of free coins offered through daily check-ins, ads, or other activities.
  • Implement Full Book Purchase Option: Allow users to purchase entire books at a fixed price.

Medium Priority:

  • Improve Customer Support: Respond to user inquiries promptly and effectively. Offer assistance with technical issues and coin recovery.
  • Investigate Plagiarism Claims: Thoroughly investigate and address the claims of stolen stories.
  • Enhance App Stability: Address app crashes and improve overall app performance.
  • Offer More Free Chapters Initially: Provide more free chapters to allow users to sample stories before committing to purchase coins.

Low Priority:

  • Consider User Interface Improvements: Gather more feedback on the user interface and consider making improvements based on user suggestions.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Ethical Serialized Fiction Platform: A reading app that offers serialized fiction at a fair price, with transparent pricing and a focus on supporting authors.
  • Coin Recovery Service: A service that helps users recover lost coins from reading apps that have technical issues.
  • Book Bundling Platform: A platform that allows users to purchase bundles of chapters or entire books at a discounted price.

Trends and Observations

  • Strong Negative Sentiment Regarding Pricing: The overwhelming majority of negative reviews focus on the high cost of coins and chapters.
  • Technical Issues Impacting User Trust: Reports of disappearing coins and relocked chapters are eroding user trust in the app.
  • Engagement Despite Cost: Users are willing to tolerate the high cost to some extent because they enjoy the stories. This suggests that there is a market for serialized fiction, but the current pricing model is unsustainable.

Conclusion

The LetsRead app has a strong foundation with its engaging stories and diverse genres. However, its current monetization strategy is severely damaging its reputation and driving away potential users. Addressing the high cost of coins, fixing technical issues, and improving customer support are crucial for the app's long-term success. By implementing the prioritized action recommendations, LetsRead can create a more positive and sustainable reading experience for its users. Without these changes, the app is likely to continue to receive negative reviews and lose users to competitors.

Overall Recommendation: Revamp the pricing model and address technical issues immediately.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/letsread-stories-for-wherever/id1633040270?uo=2