# How to organize books with categories and collections

> Create categories and collections, add or remove books, and find favorites and authors in your Bookrise library.

Source: https://bookrise.app/help/categories-and-collections/ · Updated 2026-10-27

Keep your book club picks together, group books by genre or make a list for your next trip. **Categories** and **Collections** give you room to organize books your way, alongside the lists Bookrise keeps for you and your series.

A book can belong to as many categories, collections and series as you like.

## The lists Bookrise keeps for you

On the **Books** tab, the **Library** section gives you a few ready-made ways to browse:

- **All Books**
- **Want to Read**, **Reading**, **Finished** and **Abandoned**, based on each book's [reading status](/help/reading-status/)
- **Favorites**, for books you've added to favorites
- **Owned**, for books whose **Ownership Status** is **Owned**

To keep a favorite close, touch and hold a book in a book list and choose **Add to favorites**. It appears in **Favorites**. To remove it from that list, touch and hold it again and choose **Remove from favorites**.

![All Books with 34 books, a search field and the Sort button](https://bookrise.app/_astro/library--all-books.CTF7LFhW_Z2onlnr.webp)

Use the search field in a book list to find a title or author, or tap **Sort** to change the order.

## Choose categories or collections

Both let you group books. Here's one way to use them:

- **Categories** work well for genres and topics, such as Classics, Science Fiction or Philosophy. Bookrise may suggest categories when you add a book from search. They're also used in **Top Categories** in Insights.
- **Collections** are useful for lists with a purpose, such as Book Club, Weekend Reads or Gifts for Mom.

For [notes and quotes](/help/notes-and-quotes/), use tags to connect related ideas.

![The Categories, Collections and Authors screens, each with a book count per row (1/3)](https://bookrise.app/_astro/organizers--categories.B_qtbTH5_Z2gyqJo.webp)

![The Categories, Collections and Authors screens, each with a book count per row (2/3)](https://bookrise.app/_astro/organizers--collections.BdlDbyQ0_Z1bT4QA.webp)

![The Categories, Collections and Authors screens, each with a book count per row (3/3)](https://bookrise.app/_astro/organizers--authors.azAGmlEK_Z2eEhQX.webp)

## Create a category or collection

1. Open the **Books** tab and scroll to **Categories** or **Collections**.
2. Tap **Create Category** or **Create Collection**. You can also tap **View All** and then **+**.
3. Type a name and tap **OK**.

![The Create Category prompt over the list of categories](https://bookrise.app/_astro/organizers--create-category.Drza3okT_ZIhIj3.webp)

## Add a book to categories and collections

When adding or editing a book:

1. Scroll to **Categories** and tap **Book's Categories**, or to **Collections** and tap **Book's Collections**.
2. Select the groups you want. You can also create a new one at the top of the list.
3. Tap the checkmark, then save the book.

For a book already in your library, you can also open its page and tap **Edit Categories** or **Edit Collections**.

## Add many books at once

1. Open the category or collection.
2. Tap the **⋯** button in the top corner and choose **Edit Books**.
3. Tap the circle next to a book to include it. Tap a checked circle to remove the book from this group.
4. Tap the checkmark to save.

Use the search field at the bottom to find books by title or author. Removing a book from a category or collection keeps it in your library.

![Category's Books with a circle next to each book and one book checked](https://bookrise.app/_astro/organizers--edit-category-books.DqtPXwXf_Z2vrOB1.webp)

## Rename or delete a category or collection

1. Open the category or collection and tap **⋯**.
2. Choose **Edit Category** or **Edit Collection** to change its name, or **Delete Category** or **Delete Collection** to remove the group.

You can also touch and hold a category or collection in its list to find the same options. Deleting a group keeps all of its books in your library.

## Browse by author

Looking for more books by the same writer? Scroll to **Authors** on the **Books** tab and tap **View All**. Each author has a book count beside their name. Tap a name to see their books in your library.

Bookrise builds the author list from your books, so you don't need to create it yourself.

## Group books by shelf or room

To remember where a book sits at home, create a collection for its shelf or room, such as "Living Room Shelf". Bookrise doesn't have a separate shelf-location field.

## FAQ

### Can a book be in more than one category or collection?

Yes. Add a book to as many categories and collections as you like. You don't have to choose just one place for it.

### Will deleting a category or collection delete its books?

No. Deleting a category or collection removes the group, but keeps its books in your library.

### Does Bookrise have smart lists or tags for books?

Bookrise doesn't have rule-based smart lists, and tags are for notes. Use categories or collections to group books, or the built-in Library lists to browse by reading status or ownership.

### How do I mark a book as a favorite?

Touch and hold a book in a book list and choose Add to favorites. You'll find it under Favorites on the Books tab. Use Remove from favorites to take it off that list.