# Read With Me — The All-in-1 Online Book Club

> Guided reading club for classic literature, making books accessible and enjoyable. (iPhone/iPad app by Joseph Tabenkin.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-with-me/id1338326707 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Joseph Tabenkin](https://appshunter.io/developer/598118075)
- Category: Education, Books
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 51 App Store ratings · 9 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 9+
- Requires: iOS 11.0 · 108 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2018-03-19
- Data updated: 2026-06-01
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-with-me/id1338326707/reviews.md

## What is Read With Me?

My name is Lisa VanDamme and I am the founder of VanDamme Academy, a small private school in Southern California with big ambitions to provide students with an exceptional education and a joyful learning experience.

The single, animating element of my career – the one that provides me with an endlessly replenishing daily dose of endorphins – is teaching literature. I am not a literary scholar. I cannot classify works by “school” or “movement,” I cannot describe how they reflect the historical period in which they were written, I don’t know how to inventory their various literary devices. And I don’t care to.

If I have a unique talent as a teacher of literature, it boils down to this: I am passionate about great books. Hugo wrenches my heart and makes me weep tears of anguish and of wonderment. Rostand stirs me to noble ambition in work and love and life. Tolstoy challenges me to think – and to feel – on planes higher than I had ever known. Ibsen, Dostoevsky, Balzac, Jane Austen, Maupassant, Rattigan, Sinclair Lewis – all have helped me to see, in the words of English professor Mark Edmundson, “that life is bigger, sweeter, more tragic and intense—more alive with meaning than I had thought.” I derive profound personal joy from literature, and I have a knack for helping others do the same.

That is why I started Read With Me. I know so many people – thoughtful, intelligent, motivated people – who avoid reading the classics. And for understandable reasons: they’re busy, they don’t know what to read, they’ve never been taught how to enjoy it, they have unpleasant memories of tedious discussions in high school English…

If you are intimidated, uninitiated, jaded, disillusioned or just plain busy – read with me. Let me show you what reading can be.

We use Apple's standard terms of use: http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula

## Key features

- Guided reading of classic literature
- Curated book selections
- Accessible learning approach
- Engaging discussion format
- Focus on enjoyment and appreciation

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Read With Me Salon Pass | $6.99 | per month |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Anne of Green Gables | $12.99 | one-time |
| Notre-Dame de Paris | $12.99 | one-time |
| Arrowsmith | $12.99 | one-time |
| Les Misérables | $12.99 | one-time |
| Frankenstein | $12.99 | one-time |
| Pride & Prejudice | $12.99 | one-time |
| Silas Marner | $12.99 | one-time |
| Ninety-Three | $12.99 | one-time |
| Boule de Suif | $5.99 | one-time |
| Les Misérables | $26.99 | one-time |
| Ninety-Three | $16.99 | one-time |
| Condemned Man | $5.99 | one-time |
| Jane Eyre | $15.99 | one-time |
| White Nights | $5.99 | one-time |
| Bug Jargal | $12.99 | one-time |
| Crime and Punishment | $12.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (9 of 9)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-with-me/id1338326707/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Non-functional app

*2022-02-06*

The titles don’t even play for me on web or on mobile (it shows no sign of buffering, it just simply stays still on the play pause icon). The settings page is empty.

### 1/5 — Non functional

*2022-01-20*

This looks like it’s an outstanding idea, in the audio I’ve been able to pull down through the podcast app is great. This app refuses to play any of the content though. Following the link to the Developer support doesn’t seem to work either. I hope this is a temporary thing.

### 3/5 — Great content, poor functionality

*2020-11-23*

The books are well-chosen. Lisa’s commentary is enlightening, and brings out aspects I might have missed.  
But the app is very unfriendly to use, and I often have to delete and reinstall to restore functionality.

### 1/5 — Don’t bother!

*2020-08-26*

Can’t even create an account. So utterly dumb.

### 5/5 — Outstanding and so enjoyable!

*2019-04-07*

Lisa’s Read With Me program is one of my gifts to myself. I am on the edge of my seat when I listen to her readings of Arrowsmith, Victor Hugo’s 93 and Notre Dame de Paris, and currently, Crime and Punishment. I had not read these works. She brings the characters to life and she is so easy to listen to! Her focused summaries of each chapter give more depth to her readings and they help me focus on details I otherwise might have missed. She is deeply passionate about the personal value of classical literature and has given me that joy. I like that her program is self-paced. You can start anytime.

### 5/5 — Wonderful!

*2019-03-27*

Lisa is an excellent reader and literary guide. It is a pleasure to listen to her reading and commentary, and inspiring me to read/listen to books that I know are incredible classics but which I likely would not be getting to because of life’s commitments. Whether you are an avid reader or an occasional one, get this app and try out a few chapters. I bet you stick with it.

### 5/5 — Worth your time!!

*2019-03-12*

I just finished with “White Nights” and liked it a lot!

I read “Crime and Punishment” years ago (back in college) and am finding it a much better experience this time around with the app. Love the commentary section too.

### 5/5 — A wonderful little book club!

*2019-03-11*

I probably would never have read any Russian literature were it not for this app. All those Russian names! I am so glad someone is pronouncing them for me so I can really get into the story. Sure the reader is no professional actress but that makes the reading more real and makes me feel more a part of the ‘club’. I’m not interested in facebook and it is not necessary with this app. The reader goes through her FB posts after her commentary (which is wonderful!) and I am understanding Crime and Punishment in a way that I could never have if it I read it myself. I look forward to reading all the other books in this app with Lisa :)

### 5/5 — Outstanding!

*2019-03-11*

I love listening to Lisa read these classic books.

## Frequently asked questions about Read With Me

### What is the main goal of Read With Me?

The main goal of Read With Me is to make classic literature accessible and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of their prior experience or perceived intimidation. It aims to foster a deeper appreciation for great books through guided reading and discussions.

### Does Read With Me have ads?

Yes, Read With Me contains advertisements. Users may encounter ads while using the application.

### What is the subscription cost for Read With Me?

The Read With Me Salon Pass is available for $6.99 per month. This subscription unlocks premium features and content within the app.

### What devices is Read With Me compatible with?

Read With Me is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It is designed for Apple's mobile ecosystem.

### How often is Read With Me updated?

The latest version of Read With Me is 6.0.11, and it was last updated on January 29, 2024. Updates are released periodically to improve the app and add new content.

### What is the age rating for Read With Me?

Read With Me has an age rating of 9+. This indicates it is suitable for users aged 9 and older.

### How does Read With Me help users enjoy classics?

Read With Me provides guided reading experiences and facilitates discussions, aiming to demystify classic literature. It helps users learn how to enjoy these works, overcoming potential intimidation or unpleasant past experiences.

### What are the benefits of the Read With Me Salon Pass?

The Read With Me Salon Pass, priced at $6.99 per month, likely offers enhanced features or exclusive content for subscribers. Specific benefits would typically include ad-free viewing, access to special discussions, or premium book selections.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 6.0.11 — 2024-01-29

A few minor bug fixes and aesthetic improvements with the most recent release.

### 6.0.10 — 2024-01-27

Introducing Literary Journeys; a new way to experience Read With Me. Each journey makes it effortless to incorporate these great works of art into your life.

### 6.0.9 — 2024-01-02

- Improved the catalog experience
- Improved the welcome flow

### 6.0.6 — 2023-06-23

Support for subscriptions

### 6.0.5 — 2023-06-07

Improved performance and fixed some minor issues.

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## More apps by Joseph Tabenkin

- [Touching The Art](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/touching-the-art/id1605687243)
- [ChefJoJo](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chefjojo/id6503727942)

All apps by Joseph Tabenkin: https://appshunter.io/developer/598118075

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*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 2026-06-01.*