Shelf 101: What Are Ream Shelves (and Why They Matter)
- authorsuccess
- Jun 19
- 4 min read
Say Hello to the New Way Readers Discover Books
Let’s face it—most online book discovery today is messy, algorithm-driven, and fleeting. TikTok might spike a book for a week. Amazon might bury your series under a pile of ads. But what if your books could live on in a curated, craveable, reader-built space that fans could follow, share, and revisit again and again?
That’s what Ream Shelves are for.
Whether you’re an author trying to sell more books or a reader trying to organize your TBR in the most emotionally devastating way possible, Ream Shelves are here to bring organization, obsession, and visibility into one beautiful place.
This is your Shelf 101 guide—what Ream Shelves are, why they matter, and how to start using them to grow your fandom and your revenue.
What Are Ream Shelves?
Ream Shelves are customizable, public collections of books on your Ream profile that can be built around:
Tropes (e.g., enemies to lovers, billionaire with a secret)
Themes (e.g., emotional damage, spice overload, he’d kill for her)
Reading orders (perfect for series or backlist guides)
Vibes or moods (e.g., books that made me cry in the shower)
They’re public, followable, and shareable, allowing authors and readers alike to curate lists and guide discovery in an intentional—and often unhinged—way.
Why Ream Shelves Matter More Than You Think
1. They Help Readers Find What They Love, Instantly
Shelves let readers find books based on the exact vibes they’re craving—whether it’s “spicy mafia romance with a soft center” or “FMCs who absolutely shouldn’t forgive him (but do).”
2. They Make Your Books Discoverable Forever
A shelf isn’t just a post. It’s a living, breathing page on Ream that anyone can follow, revisit, and binge from. Even months after your shelf goes live, new readers can stumble on it and find your book—right next to others they already love.
3. They Turn Readers Into Advocates
When your book gets added to a reader’s “Top 10 Spiciest Books of the Year” shelf, that shelf becomes a mini fan page. Multiply that across dozens of readers, and suddenly, your book is everywhere.
How Authors Can Use Ream Shelves
🧠 1. Organize Your Backlist Like a Pro
Instead of just listing your books on your profile, create shelves that guide new readers through them.
Example shelf ideas:
Start Here: Low-Spice Entry Points to My Worlds
Chronological Reading Order for the Redwood Pack Series
Books I Wrote That Will Emotionally Wreck You
Link to your shelves in your Ream page, bio, and newsletter for quick discovery.
🔥 2. Build Trope Shelves That SELL
Readers don’t just search by genre. They also search by feeling and trope. Meet them where they are.
Shelf name inspiration:
Possessive Alphas Who’d Go to Jail for Her
One Bed. No Chill.
Why Is He Mean to Everyone But Me?
Add your books—and your author friends’—to these shelves for effortless cross-promo.
🤝 3. Collaborate with Other Authors
Build shared shelves with other authors in your subgenre. This helps everyone tap into new audiences.
Example:
A group of dark romance authors builds a shelf called
“Books That Made Me Cry and Crave at the Same Time”
Then each author links to the shelf in their newsletters, posts, and bios. One shelf = endless exposure.
🎯 4. Turn Shelves Into a Sales Funnel
Use shelves to move readers through a journey:
First-time readers → “Start Here” shelf
Backlist bingers → “Spice Guide” shelf
New release promo → “All the books in this world” shelf
Then use your Ream posts and email list to guide readers from shelf to shelf, building loyalty and fandom as they go.
Shelf Naming Tips: Make It Click-Worthy
Here’s how to create shelf names readers can’t ignore:
✅ Be specific: Books With MMCs Who’d Die for Her but Can’t Communicate
✅ Be emotional: Books That Broke Me Then Healed Me, Kind Of
✅ Be chaotic: FMCs With Knives and MMCs With Issues
✅ Be memeable: He Bit Me and I Thanked Him
Shelf names should spark curiosity, recognition, or a little fear. That’s how you get clicks.
How Readers Can Use Ream Shelves
Build custom collections of books they've loved (or plan to love)
Follow shelves built by authors and other readers with their taste
Sort by trope, vibe, spice level, or character dynamic
Flex their bookish personality through shelf titles and aesthetics
Share their shelves and get followed back
Pro Tip for authors: Borrow this language to encourage your readers to create their own shelves on Ream!
Bonus: Shout out/share reader shelves that have your book on them. Readers love when an author recognizes their loyalty.
What Makes Ream Shelves Different?
Ream Shelves are:
Connected directly to creator and reader profiles
Meant to be shared like social content
Built around vibes and community, not just metadata
Fully integrated into your Ream experience—whether you're there for books, audio, comics, or chaos
Ready to Start Shelving?
Here’s your first challenge:
📝 Build a shelf titled: Books That Made Me Bark (or whimper, or scream, we won’t judge)
Then share it on Threads, Facebook, or Instagram. Tag @reamstories and use #ReamShelfie—we might just share it to our stories/profile!
TL;DR – Ream Shelves = Discovery That Lasts
Shelves let you:
Sell more books
Organize your series
Collaborate with authors
Build your fandom
Go viral with your chaos
Start building your shelves today and watch your stories get discovered over and over again.
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