A Reading Ray sitting on top of a closed book.

Praise for reader boutique

These are lightweight and easy on the thumb. They make reading easier and alleviate my thumb fatigue. Great little gift for any reader.

My wife absolutely loves to read. A few months ago, she had a stroke and lost the use of her left hand. Thanks to this holder, she is now able to hold a book with just one hand. Thank you so very much. You have been a huge help to her.

Here's to no more finger pain while reading!

Works great with paperbacks, which is where this is most needed. Thank you!

Does it's job quite well, actually.

It makes reading a lot easier, so both pages remain nice and readable without having to cramp!

I use it a lot since it makes reading much more comfortable. My hand isn't strained anymore when I read.

This is amazing! Now I can read while snacking!

reader boutique

Home of the Reading Ray

A Reading Ray holding open a book.
A stack of Reading Rays in rainbow colors.

Preface

The story of reader boutique started in 2020, a period when I used all that time at home to learn new things, including the addictive hobby of 3D printing. A search for interesting models to print turned up a curious tool that could be used to hold open a book's pages with a thumb. It was awkward in the hand, though, so I was inspired to try to design a better one. Down the rabbit hole I went.

After teaching myself 3D modeling, I had something that worked better, so I printed one for myself and shared the model STL file online to pay it forward to other printers. Years later, I revisited the model on an indoor tinkering day, improved the design, and again uploaded it for free. Over time, those nameless "Book Thing" models accumulated hundreds of positive reviews, and they have now been downloaded over 12,000 times. This simple tool clearly resonated with readers around the world.

When friends and family started suggesting that I try to sell the Book Thing, I resisted the idea for a long time. Productizing something is much harder than giving away free samples, defects included, printed in whatever cheap, uninteresting printer filament I had lying around. Over time, the idea of polishing the concept into an attractive product grew into a project. After many iterations of design and refinement, I think I have arrived at something that people will find both functional and delightful. I call it the Reading Ray because the shape reminds me of a sea ray, and it helps you glide through your reading like a ray glides through the water.

Building this site has also been a labor of love. I wanted to create something that didn't look like every other e-commerce site on the internet. I've tried to capture and combine two vibes: the paginated experience of reading a book, and also a design simplicity from an earlier age of the internet when most of our reading material was still printed. Trying to achieve that balance in a responsive way, given that most people will first visit on their phone, has been a fun challenge.

Making Reading Rays has also taken on new meaning as a response to the unyielding encroachment of technology into our lives. On top of the algorithmically-tuned dopamine drip feed of social media, artificial intelligence blurs our view of what is real and even what our jobs may look like in the near future. Today, the act of reading a physical book feels like an act of rebellion, a way to reclaim attention in a world that constantly vies for it, to grasp something tangible, and to be intentional about spending time.

I hope the Reading Ray can make your reading just a little bit more comfortable, more colorful, and more fun.

A glow-in-the-dark Reading Ray in an open book.

Introduction

The Reading Ray helps hold a book’s pages open for comfortable, one-handed reading. It can be used for a secure grip on an open book with either the thumb, at the bottom of the book, or with a finger, at the top of the book. It's double-sided to fit either small or large books.

Rays are made primarily from polylactic acid (PLA), a thermoplastic made from biomass such as corn starch or sugar cane. The filaments from which the Rays are printed are sourced from a US supplier and manufactured in the US.

Reading Rays are made in a wide variety of colors, textures, and materials, so there's something for every reader. Some are sparkly, some are smooth, some are rough, and some even glow in the dark! The process of making all these different styles was a joy for me, and I hope one (or more) of them brings you joy as well.

Currently, there are 132 different Reading Rays organized into 7 collections based on the main type of material. Each collection brings a unique look and feel, from the vibrant colors of the Rainbow collection to the premium feel of the Plant, Stone, and Metal collections.

Reading Rays in gold, bronze, and cream colors.

Reading Ray Collections

Each of the 7 collections of Rays has a unique look and feel to the material. There's something for readers of all styles and personalities!

Rainbow : The Rainbow Collection has a vast array of colors that can be metallic, glittery, speckled, smooth, reflective, flat, and/or translucent.

Plant : The Plant Collection is made from PLA combined with plant fibers, which produces a wood-like surface texture.

Thermochromic : The Thermochromic Collection has temperature-sensitive pigments that change to a different color above 88°F.

Glow : The Glow Collection has the special ability to absorb light and then emit a soft green glow in the dark.

Stone : The Stone Collection is made from PLA with the addition of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). This mineral, the primary component of limestone, gives the material a smooth, matte surface.

Metal : The Metal Collection composites blend metal powder into the PLA, adding more weight, a textured surface, and metallic character.

Quantum Dot : The Quantum Dot Collection is translucent and contains tiny semiconductor crystals that glow different colors in UV light.

Reading Ray Pristine White Reading Ray Reflective White Reading Ray White c-Matte Reading Ray White Matte Fiber Reading Ray Unicorn Tears White Glitter Reading Ray Confetti Frosting Reading Ray White Glow-in-the-Dark Reading Ray Natural Glow-in-the-Dark Reading Ray Yellow Quantum Dot Reading Ray Orange Quantum Dot Reading Ray Red Quantum Dot Reading Ray Green Quantum Dot Reading Ray Candle Light White Gold Glitter Reading Ray Beach Bum Beige Reading Ray Linden Woodfill Reading Ray Daffodil Matte Fiber Reading Ray Gold Dust Translucent Gold Glitter Reading Ray Brass Reading Ray Bottle Brown Translucent Reading Ray Good as Gold Reading Ray Gold Stainless Steel Reading Ray Smooth Bronze Reading Ray Bronze Reading Ray Reflective Bronze Reading Ray Copper Reading Ray Mahogany Matte Fiber Reading Ray Walnut Matte Fiber Reading Ray Double Espresso Metallic Brown Reading Ray Chocolate Reading Ray Proton Purple Reading Ray Burgundy Stainless Steel Reading Ray Heartthrob Metallic Red Reading Ray Fleck 'n Fire Red Glitter Reading Ray Candy Apple Metallic Red Reading Ray Reflective Red Reading Ray Red Matte Fiber Reading Ray Brick Red c-Matte Reading Ray Translucent Cranberry Reading Ray Cupid's Crush Metallic Pink Reading Ray Watermelon Crush Red Reading Ray Dragonfruit Smoothie Reading Ray Raspberry Jam Reading Ray Pink Symphony Reading Ray Pretty in Pink Pearl Reading Ray International Orange Reading Ray Autumn Orange Reading Ray Tangerine Orange Metallic Gold Reading Ray Just Peachy Reading Ray Rose Gold Reading Ray Terracotta c-Matte Reading Ray Amber Alchemy Reading Ray Dart Tip Orange Reading Ray Nerfed Translucent Orange Reading Ray Orange Papaya Smoothie Reading Ray Glitter 'n' Gourd Reading Ray Caution Yellow Reading Ray Smooth Gold Reading Ray Sun Gold Metallic Yellow Reading Ray Electric Lemonade Metallic Yellow Reading Ray Reflective Yellow Reading Ray Totally Translucent Yellow Reading Ray Pineapple Banana Smoothie Reading Ray For the Lulz Metallic Green Reading Ray Fluorescent Yellow Reading Ray Reflective Fluorescent Yellow Reading Ray Fluorescent Yellow Glow-in-the-Dark
Reading Ray Ecto Ooze Green Reading Ray Lootsef Green Reading Ray Summertime Green Reading Ray Super Green Smoothie Reading Ray Soda Green Translucent Reading Ray Forest Fantasy Glow-in-the-Dark Reading Ray Fleck 'n Forest Green Glitter Reading Ray Green Matte Fiber Reading Ray Tropical Palm Green Reading Ray Reflective Green Reading Ray Chlorophylled Reading Ray Cloverleaf Metallic Green Reading Ray Jurassic Jungle Green c-Matte Reading Ray Olive Drab Reading Ray Sour Apple Reading Ray Aqua Fresh Reading Ray Aqua Ice Translucent Reading Ray Glitter's Mane Teal Reading Ray Blue Ice Translucent Reading Ray Mermaid's Tale Metallic Teal Reading Ray Reflective Denim Blue Reading Ray Lapis Lazuli Glitter Reading Ray Blue Stainless Steel Reading Ray Atikam Teal Reading Ray Wonder Blue Rainbow Glitter Reading Ray Winter Blue Glitter Flake Reading Ray Cobalt Blue Translucent Reading Ray Blueberry Smoothie Reading Ray Reflective Blue Reading Ray High Five Blue Reading Ray Blue Matte Fiber Reading Ray Night Blue Silver Glitter Reading Ray Nice 'n Navy Blue Reading Ray Dragon Scale Purple Reading Ray Purple Ice Translucent Reading Ray Gloop! Purple Reading Ray Purple Iris Reading Ray Bluish Opaque Purple Reading Ray Galactic Empire Metallic Purple Reading Ray Reflective Nebula Reading Ray Nebula Glow-in-the-Dark Reading Ray Iridescent Ice Clear Translucent Reading Ray Stardust Silver Glitter Reading Ray White Marble Reading Ray Granite Gray c-Matte Reading Ray Second to None Silver Reading Ray Silver Smoke Grey Translucent Reading Ray Dusty Smoke Reading Ray Stone Gray Marble Reading Ray Atomic Age Gray Glitter Reading Ray Obsidian Reading Ray Empire Strikes Black Silver Glitter Reading Ray Wonder Black Rainbow Glitter Reading Ray Texas Tea Black Gold Glitter Reading Ray Galactic Duel Reading Ray Reflective Gray Reading Ray Iron Reading Ray High-Density Iron Reading Ray Steel Reading Ray High-Density Stainless Steel Reading Ray Gray c-Matte Reading Ray Gray Matte Fiber Reading Ray Black Matte Fiber Reading Ray Black c-Matte Reading Ray Jet Black Reading Ray Candy Rainbow Glow-in-the-Dark
Reading Ray Pristine White Buy Me

Pristine White

Rainbow Collection

A stack of Reading Rays in silver and charcoal colors.

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A Reading Ray holding open a book.

Inside this “book,” you’ll discover the Reading Ray, a lightweight, elegant device designed to hold your book open with one hand. Learn how making reading comfortable rekindles curiosity, ignites imagination, and invites you to linger in your books. Rediscover why you read in the first place. Not for homework, not for a deadline, but for delight, for calm, for connection.

When the act of holding a book no longer distracts from the story, the story becomes full‑fledged magic again. More than an accessory, it’s a quiet revolution in how we engage with printed pages. Reading Ray is for the reader who wants comfort and freedom to glide through their next great book.