Ebook subscription service Oyster has launched a new discovery tool today called, "Book Lists." The feature allows users to curate and share personalized book lists with select Oyster users or more widely on social media. The feature, like fellow subscription service Bookmate's "book playlists," adds a level of social interaction to the book selection process and provides greater exposure to Oyster's titles and the platform itself.
"A book recommendation is more than a casual suggestion," says Oyster in an email announcement to media, "It's a personal invitation -- from one person to another -- to share knowledge, stories, and experiences."
Book Lists are available to all Oyster subscribers and can be accessed through a user's profile page. Users can browse the most popular Book Lists on Oyster to discover titles or view specific lists created for them by their friends and family. Oyster has integrated these lists with the reading experience, allowing users to dive into a title directly from a Book List.
The ebook subscription platform has invited a number of prominent authors and public figures to create Oyster's first Book Lists. Lists curated by author Lauren Weisberger, Kickstarter publishing specialist Maris Kreizman, and others kickoff the new feature.
Ellen Harvey is a freelance writer and editor who covers the latest technologies and strategies reshaping the publishing landscape. She previously served as the Senior Editor at Publishing Executive and Book Business.