I'm a total bookworm, and I've got a confession to make: I've spent way too much money on books over the years. But I've found a solution that's been a game-changer for me: e-books and subscription services. They're a great way to read without breaking the bank, and I'm obsessed.
I'd tried MTS Stroki before, but their subscription prices seemed a bit steep to me. So, I was on the hunt for a better option, and that's when I stumbled upon MyBook.
So, what's the deal with MyBook? Let me break it down for you: about the service, about the app, about the books and subscriptions, about the e-reader, and about my experience and some tips for getting the most out of your subscription.
About the service;About the app;About the books and subscriptions;About the e-reader;About my experience and some tips for getting the most out of your subscription;About the Service:
MyBook is a modern online library that gives you access to a vast catalog of bestsellers and classic literature, including new releases in various genres: from fiction to non-fiction, and business books. With over 634,000 titles across more than 20 genres, you'll never run out of something to read.
The idea behind MyBook is simple: instead of buying individual books, you get access to the entire catalog. We don't sell books or force you to download them; we simply give you the freedom to read as much as you want, on any device, with a subscription.
Electronic books used to be like their paper counterparts: separate files that you'd download and store somewhere, then load onto your e-reader. If you had multiple devices, you'd end up with duplicate copies of your library, which was a real pain. And if you liked to save quotes and bookmarks, syncing them all manually was a chore.
That's why we created MyBook – a library club that lets you read not just the books you already own, but also titles from our extensive catalog.
About the App:
The app itself is easy to find in both the Play Market and AppStore. Here's how it looks in the Play Store:
MyBook Reading AppIt's super lightweight and takes up hardly any space on your phone.
MyBook Reading AppOnce you've downloaded the app, it looks like this:
MyBook Reading AppAnd here's what it looks like when you open it:
MyBook E-Book App
To access MyBook's e-library, you need to sign up on their website. The registration process is super quick and easy. You'll just need to enter your email address and come up with a password. After that, a confirmation link will be sent to your email address.
MyBook E-Book App
If you already have an account on social media, you can log in to the library using your credentials. For example, you can use your VKontakte account or other social media accounts.
About Books and Subscriptions:
Where do the books come from?
Right now, we have over 634,000 books in our collection. Out of those, 200,000 are free to read after you've registered. MyBook's catalog is constantly growing, with new publishers and authors being added all the time. We're working with LitRes to bring you the best selection of e-books.
While 634,000 is a huge number, it's still just a tiny fraction of the hundreds of thousands of books that are only available in print.
So, each e-library has its own unique book collection. Even if you love a particular author, they might not be available in every library at the same time.
What I love about MyBook is that you'll find a huge selection of popular books that have just been released. Plus, there's a ton of classic literature and books on modern psychology. If you're looking for a library with a wide range of books, this is definitely worth checking out.
Here's what the home page looks like when you first open the app:
MyBook Reading AppA bit further down, you'll find articles and book recommendations:
MyBook Reading AppI really like that you can find books across different genres here.
MyBook Reading AppMyBook Reading AppYou'll definitely find something that suits your tastes.
MyBook Reading AppI love how MyBook lets me save books I want to read for later. When I've got some downtime, I browse through the app, check out reviews and descriptions, and add the ones that catch my eye to my favorites list. That way, I don't have to spend ages searching for something to read – I can just head to my favorites and pick something that looks good.
Books I've already finished are marked as 'read' and show up in my profile. Why's that useful? Well, it's easy to lose track of what you've read and what you haven't in a big library. This way, I can keep tabs on my reading stats.
There's also a 'currently reading' category for books I've started but haven't finished yet.
I don't always leave reviews, but I always rate the books I finish. And let's be honest, reviews and ratings do influence my decision on what to read next.
One of the things I love about MyBook is the huge selection of audiobooks available. If you're not a fan of reading, this might be the way to go. I used to avoid audiobooks because I couldn't focus on them and would miss out on important details. But now I enjoy listening to audiobooks while I'm doing chores or commuting – it's way more convenient, even if it's harder to concentrate.
Another huge plus is the ability to read books offline. Even if you don't have internet access, your book is still available to read. Just download it beforehand and you're good to go.
MyBook offers a range of subscription options:
Free — books with a green icon. Once you're registered, you can dive into reading free books without needing to pay a dime.Standard — books with a gray icon. The cost of a subscription can vary, but right now it's 229 rubles a month / 2290 rubles a year without any discount.Premium — books with a yellow icon. The cost of a premium subscription without a discount is 549 rubles a month / 5490 rubles a year.
The MyBook reading appThe best value for money is the premium subscription. It lets you read all the books, including those available in the standard subscription.Canceling your subscription is a breeze. Just head to your personal account, find the info about your subscription, and turn off the auto-renewal. If you don't, you'll be charged the next month's fee automatically.
When you cancel auto-renewal, you can still use the e-library during the paid period. However, after that, access to the books will be blocked.
About the app:
For example, you pick a book that catches your eye and click the 'Read' button. Next thing you know, you're already reading.
MyBook Reading AppI'm a big fan of the customization options in this reading app – you can adjust the font size, color scheme, and all sorts of other settings to make it feel just right for you. There are so many options, it's a bit overwhelming, but in a good way.
MyBook Reading AppThe table of contents is super handy, too – it lets you jump straight to the chapter you want. And when you reopen the app, it takes you right back to where you left off, which is really convenient.
MyBook Reading AppOne of my favorite features is the ability to highlight passages that catch my eye. It's especially useful when reading self-help books and you want to save those nuggets of wisdom for later.And when you're flipping through pages, the animation that simulates turning a physical book is really cool. It adds a nice touch of realism to the experience.
MyBook Reading AppAs for the audiobook player, it's pretty standard – but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It gets the job done, and that's what matters.
MyBook Reading App One of the things I love about this app is the ability to adjust the reading speed. You can slow it down or speed it up to your liking.
MyBook Reading App You can also get additional information about the book or report any issues you might have.
MyBook Reading App Plus, you can open the table of contents and see how long each chapter is going to be.
MyBook Reading App My Takeaways and Tips for Getting the Most Value Out of My Subscription: I'm really enjoying the content in this library. I prefer reading modern fantasy and new releases. By paying 549 rubles for the subscription, I'm saving over 5,000 rubles a month that would have gone towards buying physical books.
Plus, there's a huge selection of audiobooks that you won't find anywhere else. And it's got a convenient reader and profile stats: how many books and pages you've read, how much time you've spent reading, and even your reading speed. Sometimes it's fun to track your progress.
The MyBook Reading AppI've got to say, the interface is super user-friendly – navigating my account is a breeze.
The MyBook Reading AppIt's also super easy to keep track of when my subscription's about to expire and cancel or top up my account if needed.
The MyBook Reading AppYes, the subscription costs are a bit steep, but it's still way cheaper than buying physical books. Here's a pro tip: if you want to get a better deal on your subscription, I've got some tricks up my sleeve:
When you sign up for this service, you get two weeks of free access to both the premium and standard subscriptions. That's plenty of time to dive in and read or listen to books without spending a dime.If you can swing it, I'd recommend buying a three-month or yearly subscription upfront. It's definitely the better value in the long run.You can find promo codes online that give you a 50% discount on your subscription purchase. It's worth a shot!Another trick is to register two accounts and buy a gift certificate for a subscription. If you don't have any active promo codes, you can use this method to switch between accounts – one account gets to use the subscription first, and then the other.I'm thoroughly impressed with this e-library – from its design to its functionality. I've compared it to other libraries, but it still stands out as one of the best in my book.
Let me highlight the key perks:
It's got a vast collection of books across various genres;There are some really interesting book and podcast recommendations;The reading interface is super user-friendly;There are tons of audiobooks to choose from;You can track your reading stats;The interface is clean and easy to navigate;You can read books offline;With promo codes, it's a steal!The best part? I don't see any major downsides.
The Verdict:
In short, if you're looking for a top-notch reading app with a massive and constantly updated content library, this is the one you need. You'll find a huge selection of books in various formats, including audiobooks, podcasts, and more. I highly recommend giving it a try.