BookTok’s favorite reading gear goes beyond the Kindle
Creators at VidCon’s 2026 BookTok Meetup pointed to Goodreads, Strapsicle, Accelareader and cheeky bookmarks as reading-kit favorites.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
The Kindle had company at VidCon’s 2026 BookTok Meetup. According to Mashable, creators and readers at the event named a grab bag of reading helpers, from review apps to hand straps and bookmarks with a wink.
Mashable reported that it asked BookTok creators and book lovers at the meetup last month which products and services they rely on while reading. The answers showed how much the online reading scene now stretches past the book itself.
Goodreads still has pull
BookTok creator Ashley Duke told Mashable that Goodreads is her go-to place for checking out possible reads before buying. Duke said the site helps her look beyond a cover and read other users’ reactions first.
Mashable also pointed to StoryGraph as another option for readers who want reviews and book tracking. Kobo users may have extra reason to look at it, since StoryGraph recently added an integration with the e-reader brand, according to Mashable.
The bedside Kindle drop has an accessory
Creator Marijose told Mashable she once worried she had broken her nose after an e-reader slipped while she was reading in bed. Her fix is Strapsicle, a strap accessory that attaches to the back of an e-reader.
According to Mashable, Marijose praised the crossed-strap design because it keeps the reader’s hand secured to the device. The Strapsicle product card in Mashable’s report listed the accessory at $19.99.
A tool for readers chasing speed
Patrick Khanna, described by Mashable as a reader rather than a BookTok creator or viewer, named Accelareader as his preferred reading tool.
Mashable described Accelareader as a free online tool that uses Rapid Serial Visual Presentation, letting users paste text into the site and choose a target reading speed in words per minute. Khanna told Mashable the tool helps him read faster.
Bookmarks get cheeky
Isaiah, who posts as Zayintune, told Mashable he likes crocheted thong bookmarks for books with smuttier subject matter. Similar bookmarks can be found on Etsy or Amazon, Mashable reported.
Isaiah said he gets his from Downtowne Bookstore in Riverside, California. He told Mashable he likes calling attention to the shop because, in his view, it is welcoming to people of color and LGBT customers, and because it is not widely known.
Mashable’s product card for a crochet thong bookmark listed an Etsy price of $17.
E-readers remain the obvious staple
E-readers still came up often in Mashable’s conversations with BookTok attendees. The report said many people mentioned Kindle, with some pointing to the lower price of the base model.
Others preferred the Kindle Paperwhite, citing its adjustable light and storage, according to Mashable. The takeaway from the meetup was clear enough: BookTok readers may love the page, but the accessories around the page are part of the ritual now.
This story draws on original reporting from Mashable.