Rent-a-Read: A Secure, Cloud-Powered eBook Rental System with Real-Time Access and Integrated Payments

Abstract — Rent-a-Read is a cloud-powered eBook rental system that aims to enhance accessibility and affordability of books via a real-time rental platform. This paper introduces a solid web-based solution that enables users to rent eBooks for a specific period, ensuring easy access while blocking downloads. The platform uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) for secure storage, MongoDB for managing data, and Flask with JWT authentication for the backend services. The system uses signed URLs to create fine-grained access control, allowing for time-limited access to rented content. Additionally, MongoDB schemas are enforced to ensure data integrity, and the platform provides role-based access for customers and book owners. Personalized recommendations, access to audio-based books, and voice search really improve the user experience by providing intuitive and customized services. The combination of real-time payment systems, OAuth2 social logins, and detailed profile management makes the transaction process smoother and keeps user authentication secure. This research discusses the architectural design, security features, and real-time functions that contribute to making Rent-a-Read a scalable and user-friendly option for today's readers. Keywords— eBook rental, Flask, JWT & OAuth2 Authentication, Cloud computing, AWS S3, signed URLs, MongoDB, Schema validation, Role-based Access control, Secure content streaming, Real-time payments, Personalized Recommendations, Voice Search