This piece about Goodreads is long, but I really need everyone in the book world to read it immediately misshelved.substack.com/p/lets-talk-...
Publishing obsesses over Goodreads, but does Goodreads actually sell books?
Thank you for sharing this!
This was excellent, and a good reminder to me to STOP CHECKING MY REVIEWS oh my god
I used Goodreads for maybe a year or so back maybe ten years ago & dropped it once I realized a) it wasn't helping me find new books and b) I didn't need Amazon to know what I was reading. A couple of friends used it & it was fun to check in on their reads but they ditched it around the same time
Yes! I saw Nicole post and bookmarked to read.
Okay but there’s no alternative
As a librarian, I’ve used it (and am starting to use StoryGraph more) to track my reading and help me more easily create book lists based on shelves. But. There are so many issues w/GR that we are actively dissuading staff from recommending it to patrons if they need book info. We have Novelist.
Terrific essay — thank you!
I wasn't aware that Goodreads is regarded as so important among publishers. Is this 'just' in the USA perhaps?
I would really like to know how much *I* help sell books.
I found myself too invested in performative reading because of Goodreads. I just use a Notion database now. I try not to look at my reviews but it’s hard to avoid when Amazon has them plastered at the top of book listings.