A note stays with its book.
A sentence you underlined. A question in the margin. Something the book made you think. Keep the passage, its page or chapter, and your own words together, so the thought still makes sense when you return.
Write as you read a physical book, or use a passage from an ebook or audiobook. Enter the text and location yourself; you don’t need to read the book inside SideNote.
A working example.
A passage, a reader’s thought, and a response—all connected to the same book. This illustrative example uses a fictional book and readers, not anyone’s private writing.
The Lantern House
Rowan Vale
Maya · Public · Chapter 4
She left the light on, though she no longer expected anyone to arrive.
This small gesture feels like grief turning into a habit. Is the light for her, or for the person she’s lost?
Response from Eli: I read it as a promise she isn’t ready to break.
Start with one book.
A reading list and a book notebook, in the same place.
Add your book
Find a title, author, or ISBN. Keep it Want to Read, Reading, or Read in your Library.
Keep the passage
Enter a quotation or a page, chapter, or section. Both are optional; your thought can stand on its own.
Write your thought
Choose Public to start a conversation, or Private for a note that is just for you. Find it again in Marginalia; organize notes into Collections when you want to.
A thought can become a conversation.
Share a public note about a book. Another reader can respond, save the note for later, or follow you. The book stays in view, so the conversation has somewhere to begin.
Keep books on shelves and thoughts in Collections. Your reading journal can grow across books without separating a note from the book that prompted it.
Before you begin.
Is SideNote free?
Creating an account and using the current SideNote web product is free. You verify your email before signing in. Access may be restricted during the beta; signing up does not require payment.
Where can I use the book notes app?
Use SideNote in a web browser on your phone, tablet, or computer. An internet connection is needed to load and save your library and notes.
Can I take notes on physical books?
Yes. Add the book to your Library, then enter a passage or its page or chapter and write your thought. You type the text yourself; camera scanning and automatic highlight imports aren’t part of this workflow.
Can I keep a reading list?
Yes. Want to Read keeps books you plan to read. Reading and Read describe your progress; Wishlist keeps books you want to obtain. Shelves organize books, while Marginalia and Collections organize your notes.
Who can read my book notes?
New notes start with Public selected. Public information may be accessible outside SideNote. Choose Private when a note is just for you, and change its audience later if you want. Ratings are public. Changing an audience cannot undo what someone has already seen or copied.