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Getting Started with BookWish

Welcome to BookWish, where readers discover books and connect with independent bookstores in their community. Whether you're a reader building your wishlist, a bookstore owner managing inventory, or an admin overseeing the platform, this guide will help you get started.

What is BookWish?​

BookWish is a social platform that brings together book lovers and independent bookstores. Create wishlists, share your reading journey, discover books through your community, and support local bookstores - all in one place.

For Readers​

  • Build Your Wishlist: Create multiple wishlists to organize books you want to read
  • Set Your Home Store: Connect with your favorite independent bookstore
  • Share Your Thoughts: Post Lines (quick thoughts) and Reviews about books
  • Join Book Clubs: Read and discuss books with fellow readers
  • Take Challenges: Stay motivated with reading challenges
  • Discover Books: See what your community is reading through the Share feed
  • Shop Local: Buy books directly from indie bookstores
  • Track Your Reading: Keep private notes about books

For Bookstores​

  • Manage Inventory: Add books manually, import CSV files, or sync with Square POS
  • Custom Store Website: Get your own bookwish.store subdomain
  • See Customer Demand: View what books your customers are wishing for
  • Process Sales: Use the built-in point-of-sale system
  • Handle Trade-Ins: Manage book trade-ins and buybacks
  • Stock Alerts: Notify customers when wishlisted books arrive
  • Build Community: Connect with local readers

For Platform Admins​

  • Monitor Activity: Track platform health and user engagement
  • Moderate Content: Review and manage reported content
  • Verify Stores: Approve bookstore accounts and custom domains
  • Manage Users: Handle user accounts and permissions
  • View Analytics: Access platform-wide statistics

Meet Browser​

Throughout BookWish, you'll see Browser the cat - our friendly mascot who helps you discover features and navigate the app. Browser appears with helpful hints when you visit new sections and can be toggled in Settings if you prefer to explore on your own.

Choose Your Path​

📚 For Readers

Start building your wishlist and connecting with other book lovers.

Get Started →

🏪 For Bookstores

Set up your store profile and start managing inventory.

Get Started →

⚙️ For Admins

Learn how to manage and moderate the platform.

Get Started →

Need Help?​

If you can't find what you're looking for in the documentation:

  • Check our FAQ for common questions
  • Visit the appropriate user guide section
  • Contact BookWish support for assistance

Let's get started on your BookWish journey!