Alternatives to Goodreads

A work in progress.

Alternatives to having an account on Goodreads. The goal is not only a place to keep track of your books, but also a community space for discussion, recommendations, etc.

Link: LibraryThing

One of those websites that's been around forever and manages to somehow still look like it's 2005. Somewhat clunky, kinda slow, but if you're reading this on Dreamwidth than none of that should bother you.

Easy to add new books including bulk importer options, you can tag as much as you want, put reviews and notes, check out other people's libraries like a creeper, community forum for book chat, early review copies available, has an app, lots of nitty-gritty things you can dig into

Uses Amazon data, Amazon might own a part of them?, app is very basic, community forums aren't super active outside of a few general ones, not always easy to find the right setting to get somewhere (like finding duplicates), no reading challenge tracker

Link: The StoryGraph

Closest in layout/style to Goodreads, a modern solution that popped up a few years ago and is very popular with Booktok/Bookstagram.

Very easy to use (especially if you're used to Goodreads), can do buddy reads, detailed tagging/warning system by community, has a reading challenge tracker

Can only import data from Goodreads; if you want to import it from elsewhere you have to edit it into the Goodreads spreadsheet format and then upload it. Slow to import a new book. Uses AI to make book summaries and “a unique-to-you analysis on how a book fits in with your reading history and whether it's likely to be a good fit for you.”

Link: BookWyrm

Federated, similar to Mastodon, suggested books on first opening account was all hard scifi so I guess that's a hint as to its users.

Nice-looking website, easy to search for books and add them, has a reading tracker, can connect to the fediverse, good privacy options (separate levels for each part including reviews/ratings/profiles/etc)

Import is a little weird (couldn't select tag and it auto-set my list as to-read), weirdly enough the website is SO clean-looking it freaks me out

So for me I'm staying with LibraryThing because it's what I'm used to. Follow me over there if you want!