I'm no UX expert, but I think if you want story reading to be a core feature of your product it will have to have a core place in your layout, so not a pop up b

I'm no UX expert, but I think if you want story reading to be a core feature of your product it will have to have a core place in your layout, so not a pop up box. It would replace whatever currently is your main feature (I.e it would become the left bar).