# Novel Updates, The Best Reader for Light Novels — user reviews > 94 indexed App Store user reviews of Novel Updates, The Best Reader for Light Novels by HLK, rated 1.70/5 from 128 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/novel-updates-the-best-reader-for-light-novels/id1217728042/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/novel-updates-the-best-reader-for-light-novels/id1217728042.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 13 · 4★ 4 · 3★ 8 · 2★ 7 · 1★ 96 ## What do users think of Novel Updates, The Best Reader for Light Novels? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 📚 Extensive novel collection and variety - 👍 User-friendly interface and navigation - 📱 Convenient mobile reading experience - 🔍 Good filtering and search capabilities - 📖 Easy list management for tracking novels - ⬇️ Smooth scrolling instead of page flipping **Cons** - 🐛 Chapters fail to load or load indefinitely - 💀 App frequently crashes when opening chapters - 📭 Empty content display with no novels showing - 🔌 Poor connection with main website - ⚠️ Paid premium features don't work properly - 🚫 Search and filter functions unreliable - 📱 Not optimized for newer phone screen sizes - 🔄 Account sync issues between devices - ⏱️ Extremely slow performance and loading times - 🚨 No customer support or dead support links **Commonly reported bugs** - Chapters display 'null' instead of content - Loading indicator never completes - App crashes on chapter selection - Force close errors on startup - Search returns no results despite novels existing on website - Filter options don't work correctly - Premium purchase not recognized after reinstall - Bookmarks don't sync across devices - Latest release section missing or blank - App incompatible with iPad Pro and new aspect ratios - Login button non-functional **Most requested features** - Dark mode option - Download chapters for offline reading - Reading history and progress tracking - Bookmark functionality - Chapter-level progress saving within chapters - Push notifications for novel updates - Account restoration across devices - Better integration with main website ## Newest reviews (20 of 94) ### 1/5 — The app seems abandoned *2020-04-22, version 1.0.4* There is actually no content in the app, not even a book listing or a login button. It also looks like the layout hasn’t been updated for new phone screen sizes. Not sure if this was linked to the actual Novel Updates website in any way. ### 1/5 — ... *2020-04-08, version 1.0.4* Not connected with the site. Just go on to the site to track and read ### 1/5 — Do not use this app *2020-02-18, version 1.0.4* I bought this app via app at ore. After loading, no any alphabet of novel happen ### 1/5 — Not loading anything also not adjusted for new aspect ratio *2019-10-31, version 1.0.4* That was all ### 3/5 — Não consegui usar *2019-09-24, version 1.0.4* Eu baixei, mas não apareceu nada quando procurei o título de uma novel. Embora ela apareça no site oficial. ### 1/5 — dead app *2019-07-15, version 1.0.4* if i could report this app i would its completely dead yet they kept in the ability to purchase premium in app ### 1/5 — Eh *2019-05-27, version 1.0.4* More use as just a list to know what novels interest you. ### 1/5 — It doesn’t work *2019-05-25, version 1.0.4* It doesn’t work no matter how many time I reinstall it. The chapters won’t load at all. I love the website so I thought I would give this a try but I was so disappointed. Please fix it, I would love to use it :)) ### 1/5 — Please solve the problem for this up. *2019-05-10, version 1.0.4* First I can’t even open the chapter for the story even if close the up and open it again the story won’t load to me I don’t even know what is happening. ### 1/5 — No work *2019-02-19, version 1.0.4* Doesn’t load chapters ### 1/5 — Paid $3.99For nonthing *2019-01-07, version 1.0.4* Chapters are not loading at all. Can't read anything. Felt like I was scammed. I'll be reporting this on the Fraud Department. Fix it asap.. ### 1/5 — Worst experience ever *2018-12-11, version 1.0.4* So I downloaded this app with full of expectations but was not impressed after I downloaded. I can’t access any novels. It just shows no more. Like what... I would really appreciate if it was fixed and maybe I will rewrite my review ^_^ ### 1/5 — Can’t read *2018-11-21, version 1.0.4* Have picked books I want to read, so much I would love to read but when opening books, it has the loading loading symbol but never loads anything. Cannot read. ### 1/5 — It hang when loading novel chapter *2018-11-19, version 1.0.4* Seem like no one update this software anymore ### 1/5 — Can’t load to read *2018-11-11, version 1.0.4* I don’t know why but this app can’t load the to read. ### 1/5 — Review *2018-11-07, version 1.0.4* Not a good app for reading novel. Overall will rate at under average ### 1/5 — I paided for nothing *2018-10-25, version 1.0.4* Upon downloading the apps, i buy the premium Then the novels wont load. This apps is total trash ### 1/5 — 👎🏻 *2018-10-24, version 1.0.4* I love to read novel. So naturally I really hope this app will help to read novel easier than before. But sorry to say about that, it's too awful. It's loading too slowly and show nothing. I downloaded this app one month ago but can't read anything till now 😑 ### 1/5 — BEWARE!!!!! SCAM!!! *2018-10-16, version 1.0.4* I just bought this app and I can not use it! This is a rip off!!! I want my money back! I tried to go to the app support but got a ‘can not open page’ message instead. The app load, I was able to add the novels into my list; but when I want to read the chapters, none of the chapters would load! Do not buy this app!!! ### 1/5 — Does Not Work *2018-10-03, version 1.0.4* This app does not function in any capacity. There is literally nothing to read, and a login button for google which does not login in any way. It’s like the devs gave up on this app or something... ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Dead app *2024-04-10, version 1.0.4* No novels or anything inside completely empty. ### 1/5 — Need update *2024-02-28, version 1.0.4* Cant log in ### 1/5 — Waste of time & money *2022-08-11, version 1.0.4* Could someone please explain to me how an app for reading books just does not work even when it has been paid for? Anybody looking to read books on novel updates, stick to the website! To describe the app as garbage, would be dishonest- it does not work that well! I’ll be unsubscribing. Thank goodness, I only paid $2.99 and I still consider that I was robbed. ### 1/5 — Horrible! *2021-07-09, version 1.0.4* I’d give zero stars if I could. Nothing comes up. I tried it since the web site can be hard to navigate, but this is even worse. Why is this app even stillavailable in the store? ### 1/5 — Not recommended *2020-12-04, version 1.0.4* I won’t recommend this app.. I don’t know if it’s a scam or something is wrong with the app at the moment. I downloaded it and then upgraded with $4.99, but not a single novel in the app. The whole app is empty. Useless!!!! Waste of money and time!!! ### 1/5 — No books display! Even after paying the apps!! *2020-11-26, version 1.0.4* First download.. nothing displayed at all. No list of books showing. Thought need to buy it first. Once paid, still got nothing. Please refund if this is continuing. Also, this apps can't connect with old account? I already have an account with novel updates for web reading. Kindly check the issue guys!! ### 1/5 — terrible *2020-10-25, version 1.0.4* I can’t find any novels on this app it is all blank and when I search for any novel it comes up blank I may be doing something wrong but I can’t find anything. ### 1/5 — Has literally nothing *2020-09-21, version 1.0.4* This app has literally no novels on it lmao ### 1/5 — I wanted to give no star that’s how bad it is *2020-09-03, version 1.0.4* Upon downloading, it’s a super simple design with only search n add functions which are both not working. I could see just empty spaces upon entering so I tried searching my first novel and nothing came up.( the novel does exist, I’ve searched in on the novel updates website and multiple similar websites) is the developer the same as the website or is it just a dud version??? ### 1/5 — ????? *2020-08-25, version 1.0.4* When I downloaded the app it didn’t show me anything ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Love it *2017-11-20, version 1.0.4* This App is great for reading novels, it truly is the best. But recently i have been having the issue that i cannot read new chapters they stay loading and do not want to do anything else. I have to go to the previous chapter and click next in order to read it. Can you guys fix that please. The new chapters not loading is bugging me and now no chapters are loading. I have the premium version because it was a good app but this needs to be fixed. ### 5/5 — Help *2017-11-18, version 1.0.4* Great app but starting two days ago the release section has been blank, which is bumming me out because I rely on it to tell me when new releases come out for my favorite novels ### 5/5 — Superb *2017-09-17, version 1.0.4* Enjoy! 👍🏻 ### 5/5 — 👍🏻 *2017-08-28, version 1.0.4* Awesome app to read novels ### 5/5 — 👍👍👍👍 *2017-08-06, version 1.0.3* 👍👍👍👍 ### 5/5 — SOOOOO GOOOD *2017-08-06, version 1.0.3* It's really good ### 5/5 — Love it *2017-07-12, version 1.0.3* This is a very good app for those who love to ready light novels. So far I haven't regretted getting it and paying the $2.99 USD for the pro version ### 4/5 — Pretty okay *2017-12-11, version 1.0.4* It’s really great and all, but I can’t read the books that I have. Every time a click on a chapter to read I just get kicked out of the app. I know this app is pretty new so I hope it’s just a small issue that can be sorted soon. Other than that it’s pretty okay to use. ### 4/5 — Can you fix this? *2017-11-24, version 1.0.4* I can’t load the new releases page,I also can’t load any chapter scan you fix this pls? ### 4/5 — Great App for Light Novels, but.......... *2017-11-18, version 1.0.4* This a great app to read and keep up with the novels that you are reading, but it has some quirks. Some Chapters won’t load or will only load the comment section of the chapter from the translator’s website and when you select a recent chapter from the recent chapter release section it takes you to a random chapter from a random novel. AS OF THIS POST, the app WILL NOT LOAD ANY CHAPTERS, it will just continue loading forever or appear blank. I hope that this will be resolved soon as this is a very good app for reading light novels. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-29.*