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Full-Stack Developer•2024•Full-Stack
Book Life • Discover & Bookmark Your Favorite Reads
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A full-stack reading platform that lets you explore, favorite, and organize books effortlessly.
The Challenge
Google Books API handles the catalog, but there's no concept of a user on the other end. Plugging in auth and making bookmarks feel native — not like a feature bolted onto a search widget — required careful coordination between JWT state, React Query cache, and the API layer.
The Solution
React frontend backed by a Node.js/Express API and MongoDB. The Google Books integration is isolated behind a service layer. JWT auth protects personal routes. React Query handles caching so search results don't disappear on navigation. Tailwind keeps the UI clean without fighting it.
Key Features
- Book search powered by Google Books API
- User authentication with JWT and protected routes
- Bookmarking system synced to user profile
- Optimized data fetching and caching with React Query