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Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about BookWish.

General Questions​

What is BookWish?​

BookWish is a social platform that connects readers with independent bookstores. You can create wishlists of books you want to read, share your thoughts through Lines and Reviews, join book clubs, take reading challenges, and purchase books from local indie bookstores.

Is BookWish free to use?​

Yes! BookWish offers a free account tier with core features including:

  • Up to 3 wishlists
  • Unlimited books per wishlist
  • Up to 30 posts per month
  • Access to book clubs and challenges
  • One home store

Premium accounts offer unlimited wishlists and posts, along with additional features.

What platforms does BookWish support?​

BookWish is available on:

  • iOS (iPhone and iPad)
  • Android phones and tablets
  • Web browser at bookwish.app (mobile apps recommended)

Who is Browser?​

Browser is the friendly cat mascot who helps guide you through BookWish. Browser appears with helpful hints when you visit new features. You can toggle Browser's hints on or off in Settings → Preferences.

How do I delete my account?​

To delete your account:

  1. Go to Settings (tap your avatar)
  2. Scroll to the bottom of the Account tab
  3. Tap "Delete Account"
  4. Confirm deletion

Note: This action is permanent and cannot be undone. All your wishlists, posts, and data will be deleted.

Reader Questions​

How many wishlists can I create?​

  • Free accounts: Up to 3 wishlists
  • Premium accounts: Unlimited wishlists

Each wishlist can contain unlimited books.

What's the difference between a Line and a Review?​

  • Lines are quick thoughts or quotes about books - short-form content similar to tweets. Perfect for sharing a favorite passage, a reading update, or a quick reaction.
  • Reviews are longer-form content with a star rating. Use these for full book reviews with detailed thoughts.

Both appear in the Share feed and on the book's page.

What is a home store?​

Your home store is the independent bookstore you want to support. When you set a home store:

  • You'll see when books from your wishlist are available there
  • You can get stock alerts when wishlisted books arrive
  • You'll see local content in your feed
  • You're supporting your community bookstore

You can change your home store anytime in Settings.

How do stock alerts work?​

When you add a book to your wishlist and have a home store set:

  1. Tap the bell icon on the book's page to enable alerts
  2. When your home store adds that book to their inventory, you'll receive a notification
  3. You can then purchase the book directly from your home store

Can I have private wishlists?​

Yes! When creating or editing a wishlist, toggle the "Private" option. Private wishlists are only visible to you.

What are reading challenges?​

Reading challenges are community goals to motivate your reading. Examples include:

  • "Read 12 books this year"
  • "Read books from 5 different genres"
  • "Read only books by debut authors"

Join challenges in the Read tab. Track your progress by logging books as you complete them.

How do I join a book club?​

  1. Go to the Read tab
  2. Tap "Clubs"
  3. Browse available clubs
  4. Tap a club that interests you
  5. Tap "Join Club"

You can participate in club discussions by posting Lines within the club.

What's the monthly post limit for free accounts?​

Free accounts can post up to 30 Lines and Reviews per month. Private Notes don't count toward this limit. Premium accounts have unlimited posting.

Can I use BookWish without setting a home store?​

Yes! Setting a home store is optional. However, you'll miss out on:

  • Stock alerts for wishlisted books
  • Local feed content from nearby readers
  • Supporting your local indie bookstore

How do I follow other readers?​

  1. Find a reader through search or in your feed
  2. Tap on their username or avatar
  3. Tap "Follow"

Their posts will appear when you filter your Share feed to "Following."

Bookstore Questions​

How do I become a bookstore on BookWish?​

  1. Create a regular BookWish account
  2. Contact BookWish support to inquire about the Bookstore tier
  3. Provide business verification information
  4. Subscribe to the Bookstore tier
  5. Complete your store profile setup

What are the fees for bookstores?​

Bookstores pay:

  • A monthly or annual subscription fee for the Bookstore tier
  • Standard Stripe payment processing fees on transactions
  • No additional transaction fees from BookWish

Contact BookWish support for current pricing.

How do I manage my inventory?​

You have three options:

  1. Manual entry: Add books one at a time through the app
  2. CSV import: Bulk upload books using a CSV file
  3. Square sync: Automatically sync from your Square POS system

All options are available in the Shop tab.

What is a custom domain?​

By default, your store is available at yourstore.bookwish.store. You can set up a custom domain (like www.yourbookstore.com) to use your own branding:

  1. Go to Shop → Store Settings
  2. Set up custom domain
  3. Configure DNS records
  4. Submit for admin verification
  5. Once approved, your custom domain goes live

How do customers purchase books from my store?​

Customers can:

  • In-app purchases: Buy directly through your store page on BookWish
  • In-store pickup: Visit your physical location
  • Store website: Purchase through your bookwish.store or custom domain

All purchases sync with your inventory.

How do I see what books customers want?​

Go to Shop → Customer Demand to see:

  • Books wishlisted by customers with your store as their home store
  • Books sorted by demand (most wished-for first)
  • Individual customer requests

Use this to inform your purchasing decisions.

Do I need a Square account?​

No, Square is optional. You can manage inventory manually or via CSV import. Square integration is available if you want to sync your existing Square POS inventory with BookWish.

How do payouts work?​

Payments are processed through Stripe and paid directly to your connected Stripe account. You control your payout schedule through your Stripe dashboard.

Can I run promotions or sales?​

Yes! You can:

  • Adjust prices in your inventory
  • Post about sales in Lines
  • Feature special offers on your store page

What if I need help with my store setup?​

Contact BookWish support:

  • Email support (available in Settings)
  • Check the Store Guide documentation
  • Review setup videos and tutorials

Technical Questions​

Why isn't the app loading?​

Try these troubleshooting steps:

  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Force close and reopen the app
  3. Restart your device
  4. Update to the latest app version
  5. Clear app cache (in device settings)

If problems persist, contact support.

How do I update my email or password?​

Email: Contact support to change your email address

Password:

  1. Go to Settings → Account
  2. Tap "Change Password"
  3. Enter current password
  4. Enter and confirm new password
  5. Save changes

Can I use BookWish on multiple devices?​

Yes! Log in with the same account on any device. Your wishlists, posts, and preferences sync across devices.

How do I report inappropriate content?​

To report a Line, Review, or user:

  1. Tap the three-dot menu on the content or profile
  2. Select "Report"
  3. Choose the reason for reporting
  4. Add any additional details
  5. Submit

Admins will review reported content.

Is my data private and secure?​

Yes. BookWish takes privacy seriously:

  • Passwords are encrypted
  • Payment information is handled by Stripe (PCI compliant)
  • Private wishlists and notes are only visible to you
  • Personal data is not sold to third parties

See our Privacy Policy for full details.

How do notifications work?​

BookWish sends notifications for:

  • Stock alerts (when wishlisted books are available)
  • Social interactions (likes, replies, follows)
  • Book club activity
  • Store updates (if you're a bookstore owner)

Manage notification preferences in Settings → Preferences.

Why can't I post?​

If you can't post, possible reasons:

  1. Monthly limit reached (free accounts): Upgrade to Premium for unlimited posts
  2. Network issue: Check your connection
  3. Account suspended: Check for moderation messages
  4. App needs update: Update to latest version

Can I export my wishlist?​

Currently, wishlist export is not available in the app. This feature is planned for a future update. You can view and copy your wishlist contents in the app.

How do I block or unblock users?​

To block a user:

  1. Go to their profile
  2. Tap the three-dot menu
  3. Select "Block User"

To unblock:

  1. Go to Settings → Preferences
  2. Scroll to "Blocked Users"
  3. Tap "Unblock" next to the user

Blocked users cannot see your content or interact with you.

What book data does BookWish use?​

BookWish sources book information from:

  • Google Books API
  • Open Library
  • User-submitted data
  • Bookstore inventory data

If you notice incorrect book information, you can report it for correction.

Account and Subscription Questions​

What's included in Premium?​

Premium accounts include:

  • Unlimited wishlists
  • Unlimited posting (no monthly limit)
  • Priority support
  • Premium badge on profile
  • Early access to new features

How do I upgrade to Premium?​

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap on your account tier card (shows "Free Plan")
  3. Review Premium benefits
  4. Select your billing period (monthly or annual)
  5. Complete payment through Stripe
  6. Your account is upgraded immediately

Can I cancel my Premium subscription?​

Yes, you can cancel anytime:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap your account tier card
  3. Tap "Manage Subscription"
  4. Select "Cancel Subscription"

You'll retain Premium benefits until the end of your billing period.

What happens if I downgrade from Premium?​

When you downgrade to Free:

  • Existing wishlists remain (but limited to 3 going forward)
  • You won't be able to create new wishlists beyond the 3-wishlist limit
  • Posts are limited to 30 per month
  • All your existing content remains visible

Can I get a refund?​

Refund policies:

  • Monthly subscriptions: No refunds (cancel anytime, no charge next month)
  • Annual subscriptions: Prorated refund within 30 days
  • Contact support for refund requests

I'm having payment issues​

If your payment fails:

  1. Verify your card details are correct
  2. Check with your bank for declined transactions
  3. Try a different payment method
  4. Contact support if issues persist

How do I update my payment method?​

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap your account tier card
  3. Tap "Manage Subscription"
  4. Select "Update Payment Method"
  5. Enter new card details

Still Have Questions?​

If you didn't find your answer here:

  • Browse the guides: Check the User Guide, Store Guide, or Admin Guide for detailed information
  • Search the docs: Use the search bar to find specific topics
  • Contact support: Reach out through the app (Settings → Support) or email

We're here to help make your BookWish experience great!