I tried Co-stars Readme, the dating app for readers. Its fine.

Dating apps are still a prominent part of the dating landscape, despite growing dissatisfaction among users. Match Group, which owns popular apps like Tinder and Hinge, reported a net income of $613.5 million in 2025, a slight decline from previous years. This financial success has led to the emergence of niche dating apps catering to specific interests, including a new app called Readme.

Co-Star, a well-known astrology app, developed Readme, aiming to match users based on spiritual compatibility, similar to the classic "meet cute" at a bookstore. The app's unique selling point is its algorithm that takes into account users' reading habits, political beliefs, and communication styles. While the app's concept is intriguing, its execution falls short.

The questionnaire includes 25 questions about authors, political views, and reading genres, which can be both enlightening and frustrating, depending on personal preferences. Despite its innovative approach, Readme struggles to integrate astrological compatibility, a key feature it initially promised. The app's snarky and ironic tone, intended to position itself as cool and hip, often detracts from its authenticity.

While the idea of a dating app for readers is novel, the current implementation fails to deliver a seamless and enjoyable user experience.