In the year of our High Lord 2023, one of my favorite things is being able to digitally track all my reading stats. Three popular platforms I have been able to try are StoryGraph, Goodreads, and Likewise. Each app has unique features and strengths, catering to different types of readers. In this blog post, I will detail the key aspects of these platforms to help you decide which one suits your reading preferences best.

Why Reading and Review Tracking to Begin With?

As a neurospicy person, I have found that tracking my reads kind of makes my bookworm adventures a game and keeps me engaged with my hobby. Having easy access to my reviews, reading stats, and reflections have been so instrumental in helping me chose and recommend books as I continue to feed the never-ending TBR. Not only is it fun and helps me keep track of my last, now, and next reads- reviewing books is the best way to support both traditionally published and indie authors.

Now, Let’s figure out which tracking and review app speaks to you.

Goodreads is one of the earliest and most popular book-tracking and reviewing apps. It allows users to create virtual bookshelves, write and read reviews, and participate in reading challenges. Goodreads is now owned by Amazon which acquired it in 2013.

Good Reads is like the Twitter(RIP) of the reading and reviewing apps.

Good Reads is like the Twitter(RIP) of the reading and reviewing apps. Which can be both a useful and sometimes very unuseful thing. While Goodreads has a very vast and diverse user base. It is also notorious for review bombing and trolling. Because it has been around for a long time, Good Reads has an extensive collection of book reviews and ratings. However, some users criticize it for fostering a more commercial and mainstream reading atmosphere.

Goodreads is accessible via a web-based application and has both iOS and Android apps for mobile users.

Here are some of the Pros and Cons you can encounter with Good Reads:

Pros:

• Vast User Community: Goodreads has a massive and established user base, making it a hub for book discussions, reviews, and recommendations. This makes it a place to find and build community and even foster spaces for Book Clubs.
• Reading Challenges: The platform offers reading challenges that allow users to set goals for the number of books they want to read within a specific time frame, fostering motivation and a sense of achievement. This is great for navigating reading slumps or pushing your reading experience to the next level.
• Amazon Integration: Goodreads is owned by Amazon, which means users can easily access book-purchasing options and sync their Amazon Kindle accounts. This feature by far is one of the best selling points for the platform- specifically for Kindle owners.
• Multiple Features: Goodreads provides various features, including virtual bookshelves, progress tracking, quotes, and groups, enhancing the overall reading experience.

Cons:

• Commercial Influence: Some users feel that Amazon ownership has led to a more commercialized atmosphere, with sponsored content and advertisements becoming more prevalent. This makes it harder to discover new and indie authors or more diverse reads.
• Trolling: Due to the lack of strict moderation, Goodreads has been known to have issues with trolling and harassment. Authors, particularly marginalized authors, have reported instances of receiving harmful reviews targeting them personally rather than their work.
• Review Bombing: The size of the Goodreads community can make it susceptible to review bombing, where a book receives an influx of negative reviews or ratings, often driven by controversial issues unrelated to the book’s content.
• Limited Customization: Users have limited options to customize their profiles and bookshelves on Goodreads, which may be a drawback for those who prefer a more personalized experience.
• Bonus: Intuitive and Progressive Ways you can use Good Reads even if it’s your platform of choice.

The commercial influence of Good Reads can also be something readers can use to help indie authors’ books be discovered. Instead of using the platform to review only popular or mainstream books and series, we could use Good Reads review feature to give indie and diverse authors a presence in a commercial environment. Even if Good Reads is not your platform of choice, consider holding an account to exclusively copy and paste your indie book reviews on the platform to help support the authors and publishing teams who do not have access to the same marketing budgets as the big guys.

Not sure how to get started reviewing books online? Here’s your ultimate guide with a free instant download e-book review template, guide, and glossary!