Has Goodreads Lost Its Luster?
Is Goodreads still a helpful platform for authors and readers?
If you've been in the online book world for a while, you've probably heard of Goodreads. Launched in 2007, Goodreads is a site that combines social media and a love for books, allowing people to connect with their friends and other readers, review books, and create lists of their favorite books and books they'd like to read (or ones they couldn't quite finish).
At least, that's how Goodreads started out.
However, after Goodreads was bought by Amazon, and as a myriad of authors have had their books "review-bombed" before their books have even been published, it's fallen out of favor with many authors, publishers, and readers. When I talked with a group of publishers at a recent network meeting, they brought up their thoughts about the topic, which inspired me to do some research on the topic, which I wanted to share here.
What are the issues people are having with Goodreads?
As mentioned, several authors experienced "review-bombing" before their books were even published. This typically happens when a book goes viral and a potentially controversial element angers readers, so they leave negative reviews—but because the book hasn't yet been published, they're really reviewing their perceived idea of the book, not the book itself.
In 2023, a first-time author created various fake accounts on Goodreads in order to leave negative reviews on books in the same genre, thus making her book look better, at least in theory. Clearly, the reviews were disingenuous, and these fake reviews likely influenced readers before the accounts and the false reviews were removed.
Other authors have received backlash by publicly commenting on negative reviews—or reviews that they don't totally agree with. As we've talked about before, there are different ways to handle criticism as an author, but authors shouldn't discourage readers from leaving honest reviews.
Are there alternatives to Goodreads?
While there isn't a one-to-one alternative to Goodreads, other forms of social media can take the place of different elements of the site.
If someone uses Goodreads primarily to find books that are similar to those they love, then they can browse popular hashtags in their book genre of choice on different social media platforms. TikTok, for example, has helped many books go viral, bringing many readers to discover books they wouldn't have known about otherwise. Readers can also see what books retailers recommend in their "readers also bought" sections.
Likewise, authors who encourage readers to leave reviews of their books can instead encourage readers to leave reviews from the retailer. Since you can't buy books on Goodreads itself, this doesn't really require any extra steps on the part of the reader, so in most cases, authors aren't likely to get fewer reviews.
Unfortunately, there's not a popular bookish social media site that is just about books the same way Goodreads is...not yet at least. But that doesn't mean alternatives won't arrive soon, especially if readers and authors move away from Goodreads altogether.
Should authors still use Goodreads?
While we've encouraged authors to make sure their books are on Goodreads in the past, and we don't necessarily think most authors will have the issue of being review-bombed, whether authors want to use Goodreads or not is an individual decision. On one hand, it can be a really helpful platform that allows you to find books you love, and books with a large number of good ratings are more likely to be read. Authors can encourage people to leave a review on Goodreads and gain insightful feedback from their audience.
That said, there are many different articles that go into greater depth about the recent issues with Goodreads, and we encourage authors to take into consideration whether or not using Goodreads is a good decision for them. For example, some authors avoid reading any reviews of their books at all, and the site probably isn't for those authors.
However, for many authors, Goodreads is another helpful way to share their books with potential readers. Despite its issues, Goodreads is still a popular way for readers to connect with each other and find new books.
There's no universal answer as to whether you should or shouldn't use Goodreads, but knowing your options will help you make the best decision for you.
Have you used Goodreads as an author or reader? Or, are there any alternatives you like more?
If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, and Jean—would love to help you with creating your book. If you'd like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don't work together, I'm happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:
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Write on!
Kim Eley
KWE Publishing
“We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories. There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.”
—Jimmy Neil Smith
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