I built a free app that prescribes fiction as therapy (because it helped me heal

4 tudorradubarbu 1 6/16/2025, 6:02:50 PM thestoryremedy.com ↗

Comments (1)

tudorradubarbu · 15m ago
I built The Story Remedy because fiction saved my life and I believe it can help others, too.

During a particularly tough time, I stumbled onto the concept of bibliotherapy, the use of storytelling to heal emotional struggles. I found profound comfort and insight in novels that spoke directly to what I was experiencing, in ways traditional self-help never could.

Bibliotherapy isn't new.

But there was a problem: finding the right fiction to address specific emotional challenges was surprisingly difficult. Lists of "best books" were impersonal, recommendations felt generic, and I craved something tailored to my emotional needs (not just freaking Goodreads)

So, I created The Story Remedy (https://www.thestoryremedy.com), a free web app that prescribes personalized fiction books based on what you're going through: anxiety, parenthood struggles, life transitions, grief, and more. Users start by discovering their "reader archetype" (e.g., The Wayfarer for those craving adventure and escape), and from there, receive customized book lists carefully curated for emotional healing and self-understanding.

My goal was simple: to make fiction accessible as a therapeutic tool, helping people feel understood and less alone through the power of storytelling. I'd love your feedback on the idea, your own experiences with bibliotherapy, and thoughts on how I can improve it.