Track Syosetu Reading with Apple Books Reading Goals

You can download a Shousetsuka ni Narou story as an EPUB, import it into Apple Books, and check whether Apple Books adds the time you spend reading it to Reading Goals. Apple explains how Reading Goals work, but does not say whether EPUB files imported by readers count. To check, read the imported story for a minute or two and see whether today’s reading time increases.

Download a Syosetu story with WP Downloader

WP Downloader is a free web tool with nothing to install. It supports Japanese stories from ncode.syosetu.com and novel18.syosetu.com without requiring you to sign in.

A story link usually looks like this:

https://ncode.syosetu.com/n1234ab/

To download the story:

1. Open the Syosetu downloader.
2. Paste the story URL into the box.
3. Choose EPUB or PDF.
4. Choose whether to include the story’s images.
5. Download the file.

EPUB is free for everyone. Creating a PDF requires a free Discord sign-in. Apple Books opens both formats, though EPUB is designed for ebooks.

WP Downloader downloads the complete Syosetu story. It cannot download a single chapter or a story list, and it does not add new chapters to an EPUB you already have. When the story gains new chapters, download it again to create an updated file.

See how to download Syosetu stories for a general download guide.

Add the story to Apple Books on iPhone or iPad

You can open the downloaded EPUB or PDF from Safari or the Files app.

1. Find the file in Safari’s downloads or the Files app.
2. Tap Share.
3. Choose Books.
4. Wait for Apple Books to open the file.

The imported story will appear in your Apple Books Library. Open it there to start reading.

Add the story to Apple Books on Mac

Open the Books app, then use either method:

• Drag the EPUB into the Books app.
• Choose File, then Add to Library, and select the EPUB.

The imported Syosetu story will appear in your Library.

How Apple Books Reading Goals work

Apple Books tracks how many minutes you read each day and how many books and audiobooks you finish each year.

The daily goal is five minutes by default. To change it on an iPhone or iPad, use the Reading Now tab. On a Mac, use Home.

Apple’s documentation does not say whether EPUB files imported from outside Apple Books contribute to daily reading time. You will need to test the imported file rather than assume that it counts.

Check whether an imported Syosetu EPUB counts

1. Open Apple Books and note today’s reading time.
2. Open the imported Syosetu EPUB from your Library.
3. Read for one or two minutes.
4. Return to Reading Goals.
5. See whether today’s reading time has increased.

If the total increases, Apple Books counted the reading session. If it does not, the imported EPUB may not count toward the goal.

Make PDF reading count

PDF reading counts toward your goal only when Include PDFs is turned on.

On current versions of iOS:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Apps.
3. Select Books.
4. Turn on Include PDFs.

On older versions, open Settings, select Books, and turn on Include PDFs.

Once the setting is enabled, open the imported Syosetu PDF in Apple Books. Read for a minute or two, then check the day’s total.

Choose between EPUB and PDF

Apple Books opens both EPUB and PDF files, but Apple documents their Reading Goals behavior differently.

PDFs count when Include PDFs is enabled. Apple does not say whether imported EPUBs count toward daily reading time, so check your total after reading one briefly.

You can also use the downloaded files with other compatible devices. See sending Syosetu stories to Kindle or reading Syosetu stories on Kobo.

FAQ

Do imported Syosetu EPUBs count toward Apple Books Reading Goals?

Apple’s documentation does not say. Import the EPUB, read for a minute or two, and check whether today’s reading time increases.

Do Syosetu PDFs count toward the daily reading goal?

PDFs count when Include PDFs is enabled in the Books settings. After turning it on, read the file briefly and check the daily total.

Do I need a Syosetu account to download a story?

No. WP Downloader does not require a sign-in for stories from ncode.syosetu.com or novel18.syosetu.com.

Can I download one Syosetu chapter for Apple Books?

No. WP Downloader downloads complete Syosetu stories, not individual chapters or lists.

Will my EPUB update when the Syosetu story gets new chapters?

No. Download the story again to create a new file with the newer chapters.