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Now Reading

Now Reading is the fastest screen for managing books you are actively reading. Instead of going back through Library or opening each book detail page first, it gathers the current reading list into one place for quick actions.

Now Reading

When this screen is most useful

It is especially useful when:

  • you want to resume a book immediately
  • you want to end the session you just finished
  • you want to add a session note without opening the full book detail page
  • you are reading several books at once and want a focused in-progress view

When the app starts, it can open Now Reading first if there is at least one visible active reading item.

Layout

In the current implementation, the screen is organized like this:

  • one featured card for the first item
  • a grid of cards for the rest of the in-progress books
  • a visible count for the total and remaining items

If there are no current books, the screen shows an empty-state message.

What you can do from each card

Each card gives direct access to:

  • opening the book detail page
  • starting a session
  • ending a session
  • quickly adding a session note

The featured card also shows recent activity time, the last progress value, and an elapsed-time badge while a session is active.

Starting and ending sessions

The session toggle button changes behavior depending on the current state.

  • if there is no active session, it starts reading
  • if there is an active session, it ends reading

Ending a session leads into a progress input step.

  • entering 100% triggers completion rather than a normal session end
  • entering less than 100% ends only the session
  • sessions shorter than one minute may not be kept as normal records

After completion, the app can suggest a book note. After a normal session end, it can suggest a session note.

How the add note button works

The Add Note action in this screen is based on session notes, not book notes.

Important behavior:

  • if an active session already exists, the note is attached to that session
  • if no active session exists yet, the app starts one first and then opens the note editor

In other words, notes from Now Reading are closer to "a note for this reading time right now."

Difference from Book Detail

Book Detail is the full management screen for one book, while Now Reading is more like a quick dashboard for books currently in progress.

Use them like this:

  • choose Book Detail when you want the full history, notes, and metadata
  • choose Now Reading when you want fast reading controls and quick session notes

If you want the session storage rules and completion policy rather than the screen behavior, the Reading Session page is the better reference.