Get Started in 5 Minutes
Complete step-by-step guide to Reading Forest. From registration to recording your first reading, with detailed explanations for beginners.
Complete Flow Overview
Getting started with Reading Forest is accomplished through these 4 simple steps:
Choose a Plan and Register
Select a free or paid plan and create your account using email or Google account.
Enter Book Information
The book information entry screen appears immediately after login. Search by ISBN code or manually enter book details.
Enter Record
Record pages read, completion status, thoughts, notes, and more.
Save Your Data
Save your entries locally or to Google Drive.
Step 1: Choose a Plan and Register
1-1. Select a Plan
Reading Forest offers 3 plans. We recommend starting with the Free Plan.
The free plan includes most features like book registration, record entry, and graph display.
However, there's a limit on the number of books (works) you can manage simultaneously (up to 20 books (works)).
1-2. Create an Account
Create an account using one of these methods:
- Email Registration: Enter your preferred email and password
- Google Account: Log in with your Google account (no password needed)
- LINE Account: Log in with your LINE account
Finally, agree to the terms of service and your account creation is complete.
You can reset your password using the "Forgot Password" link on the login screen.
If you registered with email, a confirmation email will be sent to your registered address.
Step 2: Enter Book Information
After logging in, the book information entry screen (edit mode) appears immediately. You don't need to create a file or select "Add Book" from the menu.
How to Enter Book Information
- Search by ISBN Code (Recommended)
Enter the 13 or 10-digit "ISBN978-..." number found near the barcode on the book. The title, author, publisher, and other information will be automatically retrieved.
On smartphones: Tap the camera icon next to the ISBN input field to scan the book's barcode with your camera. It's easier than typing manually. - Enter Manually
For books without ISBN or when you want to customize, you can directly enter the title, author, page count, etc.
Book Information You Can Enter
- Title - Book name (required)
- Author - Author/Editor name
- Pages - Total number of pages (used for progress display)
- Publisher - Publisher name
- Cover Image - Book cover image (can be auto-fetched via ISBN search)
Some older books or self-published works don't have ISBN codes.
In that case, you can search by title or enter the information manually.
For more details on entering book information, see the "Book Info Guide" page.
Step 3: Enter Record
After entering book information, continue to enter your record. The record input area is at the bottom of the screen.
Information You Can Record
- Completion Status - "Backlog", "Reading", "Finished", or "Stalled"
- Page Range Read - Start page and end page (e.g., 1-50)
- Reading Date - Date you read the book
- Review/Thoughts - Your thoughts about the book
- Notes - Memorable passages or quotes
- Rating - Star rating (5-point scale)
How to Record Reading
- Click the "+" button in the record area at the bottom
- Enter the page range you read (e.g., 1-50)
- Add thoughts or notes as needed
- The record is added
Records can be created multiple times.
For example, pages 1-50, then 51-100, then 101-150... add records as you progress.
You'll be able to visualize your reading progress with graphs.
For more details on entering records, see the "Record Guide" page.
Step 4: Save Your Data
Save your book and records.
Save Options
- Save Locally - Save the file to your device (download)
- Save to Google Drive - Save to the cloud and share across multiple devices
How to Save
- Click "File" in the menu
- Select "Save Locally" or "Save to Cloud"
- Enter a file name and save
When connected to Google Drive, changes are automatically saved.
For local saves, you need to save manually.
For detailed save instructions, see the "Save Locally" or "Save to Cloud" pages.
Adding More Books
Once you've registered your first book, you can add more books using these methods:
- Select [Edit]→[Add Book] from the menu
- Or press the keyboard shortcut Alt+N
- A new book information entry screen will appear
For detailed instructions on adding books, see the "Add Book" page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it okay not to read a book immediately after adding it?
A: Of course! Books without any reading records automatically stay in the "Backlog" state.
You can use this as your reading wishlist and start recording whenever you're ready.
Q: Do I need to record reading every day?
A: No. You can record at your own pace.
Some people record only once when they finish, while others record daily.
Finding a pace you can maintain is important.
Q: Can I register e-books?
A: Yes, you can. If there's an ISBN code, you can register e-books just like printed books.
Q: Can I use both a computer and a smartphone?
A: Yes. If you log in with the same account, you can access the same data from any device.
However, unless you save your records to Google Drive, data sync between devices is not automatic.
Q: Can I edit book information if it's incorrect?
A: Yes. From the item edit screen, you can change all information including author, publisher, and page count.
Next Steps
Once you start recording your reading, try these features too: