The books data API
Every edition of every book, one API.
Canonical metadata for 50M+ editions with works clustering, ratings aggregates, and new-release freshness — built by the maker of Watchmode.
Pre-launch. Waitlist members get early access and launch pricing.
{
"isbn13": "9780140328721",
"title": "Fantastic Mr Fox",
"work": {
"id": "bm_work_10493",
"editions": 74,
"first_published": 1970
},
"authors": ["Roald Dahl"],
"format": "paperback",
"ratings": {
"average": 4.08,
"count": 496104
}
}What's in the database
Five layers no other API serves together — starting with the two developers ask for most.
- Edition ↔ work clustering
Every printing, translation, and format grouped under one work — the layer nobody else ships
- Ratings & review aggregates
Licensed aggregate numbers by API — the signal the world lost when Goodreads closed its API
- New-release freshness
ONIX publisher feeds announce titles months before publication
- Audiobook metadata
Narrators, runtimes, and editions for the format every other source ignores
- Covers & identifiers
ISBN-10/13, LCCN, OCLC, and cross-source identifier graphs with servable cover images
Why book data is stuck in 2020
| Goodreads API | Shut down December 2020. Keys revoked, apps died. |
| Open Library | Refuses commercial load — 1–3 requests/second, no SLA. |
| Google Books API | ~1,000 calls/day, and the ToS bars building a database. |
| ISBNdb | 19 flat metadata fields. No works clustering, no ratings. |
| Ingram / Bowker | Enterprise contracts from ~$500/month, quote-only. |
| Bookmode | Self-serve API from $0, works clustering built in, ratings signal restored. |
Migrating? Goodreads API alternative · ISBNdb alternative
Be first through the stacks
Early access, launch pricing, and a say in which endpoints ship first.