Leaving Fable? A simple spreadsheet is all you need
Fable doesn’t offer a library export, so we made the spreadsheet route painless: title and author are enough, and Shelfola works out the rest.
- Title and author (all you need)
- ISBN, for exact matches
- Status, rating and date read, if you have them
- Tags or shelves, which become tags
What changes when you leave Fable
The things readers tell us made them look for a Fable alternative, and what Shelfola does instead.
Ads unless you pay
Shelfola has no ads for anyone, and no paid tier to remove them.
Your library is hard to take with you
Import any spreadsheet. We guess which column is which, scale ratings out of 10 or 100 down to stars, and show a preview before saving.
Clubs where someone always spoils it
Clubs read with checkpoints: each section’s discussion unlocks as members reach it, and reviews hide spoilers past your chapter.
Scores anyone can skew
New accounts and pre-release ratings don’t count, and every book shows how its score was built.
Reading in step with a group
Buddy reads let everyone read at their own pace: messages are stamped with a page and unlock as you log progress, so nobody needs to wait for a milestone.
A feed full of things you didn’t ask for
The Following tab is only the readers you follow, newest first. Tag @friends and #books in posts, and mute anyone.
How to move from Fable
Fable doesn’t offer a library export, so the quickest route is a simple spreadsheet.
Make your spreadsheet
- 1Start a spreadsheet with one row per book. Title and Author columns are enough.
- 2Add ISBN, Status, Rating, Date read or Tags columns if you have them. Copy the books from your Fable lists.
- 3Save it as CSV (File, then Download or Export).
In Shelfola
- 4Create your free Shelfola account.
- 5Open Bring your books and choose Any spreadsheet.
- 6Drop your CSV in, check which column is which, then preview.
- 7Import. Undo it in one tap if you change your mind.
Shelfola vs Fable
A fair side-by-side. Where we couldn’t confirm something in Fable’s own documentation, we show a dash instead of guessing.
| Feature | Shelfola | Fable |
|---|---|---|
| No adsNo display ads or sponsored books | Yes: Never | Partly: Ads unless you pay for Plus |
| Quarter-star ratingsRate 3¾, not just 3 or 4 | Yes | Yes |
| DNF trackingA real Did Not Finish shelf | Yes: With how far you got | Yes |
| Moods & paceFind a book by how it feels | Yes: Moods, pace, content warnings | Partly: Mood-based picks |
| Easy importBring your library from another app | Yes: Goodreads, StoryGraph, Hardcover; Fable via a spreadsheet. Preview and undo | Yes: From Goodreads |
| Review-bomb protectionPile-on ratings don’t move the score | Yes: New accounts and pre-release ratings don’t count | Couldn’t confirm |
| Series & reading orderEvery series, in order | Yes | Partly: Limited |
| Spoiler-safe buddy readsRead together without spoiling each other | Yes: Page-locked chat, on its own or inside a club | Yes: Chapter discussion rooms |
| Editions & translationsOne book, every edition and language | Yes: Switch editions, progress carries over | Couldn’t confirm |
| Lists & tagsYour own shelves, tags and public lists | Yes | Partly: Lists |
| Year in books & challengesGoals, challenges and a yearly recap | Yes | Yes: Goals and monthly wrap |
| Verified author pagesAuthors claim their page and talk to readers | Yes: Verified badge and Q&A clubs | Couldn’t confirm |
| App, offline & barcode scanOn your home screen, scan a book in a shop | Yes: Installs from the browser, works offline, scans ISBNs | Partly: Native apps; scanner not documented |
| Community catalogue editingReaders fix book data, with history | Yes: Any reader can suggest a fix | Couldn’t confirm |
YesPartlyCouldn’t confirm either wayNoChecked October 2026 against each app’s help pages, app-store listings, roadmaps and changelogs. See all apps
New on Shelfola
Shipped recently, on top of everything that comes across from Fable.
Daily Book Puzzle
Guess the day’s book in six tries. Each miss reveals a clue: genre, year, pages, the author’s initials, a blurred cover, then a line from the story. Keep a streak and share your grid.
Play today’s puzzleSpoiler-safe buddy reads
Every message is stamped with a page and stays locked until you’ve logged that far. Start one from any book or inside a club, where checkpoints open each section.
Browse clubsPrivate reading stats
Charts, streaks, your taste and this year against last. Only you can see them unless you choose to show them on your profile.
Editions & translations
Every edition and translation sits under one book. Switch to the one in your hands and your progress carries over.
A feed you control
A Following tab with only the readers you follow, everything newest first, no engagement ranking. Tag @people and #books in posts, and mute anyone.
Quiet notifications
Email is bundled, held overnight in quiet hours and capped at 3 non-essential emails a day by default. Or keep everything in the bell.
Verified author pages
Authors claim their page, get a verified badge, keep their bio and links current and host Q&A clubs with readers.
Year in Books & challenges
Set a yearly goal, join or create reading challenges, and look back with a Year in Books recap.
See challengesProfile pictures
Upload a photo or keep your initials. Private profiles approve every follower, and your library starts private.
- Quarter-star ratings
- Review-bomb protection
- Chapter-aware spoiler tags
- Moods, pace and content warnings
- Series in reading order
- DNF with how far you got, and rereads
- Your own tags and public lists
- Installs from the browser, works offline, scans barcodes
- Book data any reader can help fix
- No ads, ever
Switching from Fable: questions
Can I export my library from Fable?
As of October 2026 Fable doesn’t offer a library export, so there’s no file to bring straight over. Make a simple spreadsheet instead and use the Any spreadsheet option.
Which columns does my spreadsheet need?
Just title and author. Add ISBN for exact matches, and status, rating, date read and tags if you have them. Shelfola guesses which column is which, and you can correct it before the preview.
Does Shelfola have book clubs?
Yes. Clubs can be public or private with invite links. They read with checkpoints, and buddy reads lock each message to a page so nobody gets spoiled.
My ratings are out of 10. Is that OK?
Yes. Ratings out of 10 or 100 are scaled to stars automatically, rounded to the nearest quarter.
Is Shelfola free?
Yes. Shelfola is free to join and has no ads.
Can I undo an import?
Yes. Every import can be undone in one tap. Undo removes the books, reads, ratings, reviews, tags and lists that import added.
Who can see my imported reviews?
You choose before anything is saved: everyone, followers only or only you.
Coming from somewhere else?
Bring your books in 1 minute
Free to join. No ads. Undo any import in one tap.