I run BicBucStrim on my NAS, and I access it through the web browser of any PC or tablet, my Kobo eReader, or Mobiscribe eReader. You can download a book to the device to read it, though. It basically just generates a nice web layout to access your Calibre library.

Using a Kobo reader with Calibre & Calibre-web to serve the books.

Setup a shelf on web, create a sync token on web. Add token to the Kobo config, automatically syncs any books that are added to the shelf. This replaces the Kobo store api for syncing, but I don’t use it so no biggie for me.

I use Jellyfin. You have to install the Bookshelf plugin (or at least I didn’t the time I set it up, may be a default now). Saves progress, and gives me one less service to manage as I use Jellyfin for Movies, TV, and Music libraries already.

Yes, many people host their own e-books using platforms like Calibre, Sigil, or Pressbooks, which allow for easy formatting and distribution. Calibre, for example, is highly compatible with most e-readers, making it a popular choice. If you’re just starting, you might also explore websites that let you download free softwares for e-book management, giving you the flexibility to test different formats before committing to a specific tool.