Goodreads vs Storygraph

[Anonymous]

I use Goodreads to help me find books I want to read. I primarily get ebooks through Kindle Unlimited or the library (I have cards for 9 local systems - they all have reciprocal agreements). I have been hearing that Storygraph is better because it has more star increments (you can give fractions of stars in your rating), has an DNF label and is better at helping you identify what you want to read next. Anyone have thoughts/experience with it? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure StoryGraph is ideal for finding other books or for the social aspects like following other users. BUT, I greatly appreciate having it as a choice, mostly because it’s a small business owned by a woman and I’d rather support her with the free labor of my reviews instead of make Bezos even richer. I figure I can always find book suggestions somewhere else (like here!).

Once in a while I do pick a controversial book and click around on other users who shared my reaction to it, on the theory that they have similar tastes. Interesting to see what else they’re reading and enjoying. I just don’t think the app design makes that process particularly easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure StoryGraph is ideal for finding other books or for the social aspects like following other users. BUT, I greatly appreciate having it as a choice, mostly because it’s a small business owned by a woman and I’d rather support her with the free labor of my reviews instead of make Bezos even richer. I figure I can always find book suggestions somewhere else (like here!).

Once in a while I do pick a controversial book and click around on other users who shared my reaction to it, on the theory that they have similar tastes. Interesting to see what else they’re reading and enjoying. I just don’t think the app design makes that process particularly easy.

OP here. Thanks for your reply! I went ahead and started playing around with it, including uploading my Goodreads book list. It was easy to import that into it and I got some recommendations from StoryGraph that I haven't gotten from Goodreads. But, as you mentioned, the app design doesn't make it easy to find others who have similar tastes to mine.

I'll keep using it to see how it goes. Thanks, again!

[Anonymous]

I forced myself to use StoryGraph and GoodReads for a while because there was all this chatter about GR's Amazon connection and we don't use Amazon at our house.

StoryGraph is great if you are obsessed with data and don't mind being obsessed with data. The app shines in it's graphs about your reading habits. It is clunky and doesn't always have a lot of information about a book. It has a place for users to enter content warnings for books, but because that piece relies on users, it's not complete. The users who do post reviews are very brief.

If you enjoy the social aspect of GoodReads, the recommendations/reviews, and the giveaways, you probably won't enjoy StoryGraph.

As for the data piece, I personally found that using StoryGraph made me TOO focused on my stats and I missed the thorough reviews by other readers. I moved back to using GoodReads exclusively after a month.

[Anonymous]

I created an account based on this thread. The stats and charts are interesting, and I can see how some people like the annual challenge prompts.

However, I like what I like, so I won't be participating in the challenges. I do like that Goodreads is entirely free, and I like the reviews, and Q&A section.

I can't see anyone paying $5 a month for Storygraph's premium content.

[Anonymous]

I just recently started using Goodreads. Any tips or tricks on the best ways to use it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just recently started using Goodreads. Any tips or tricks on the best ways to use it?

OP here. I'd start with identifying and rating the books you've already read. I don't usually read reviews but I will often put in comments (not visible to other users) on the books that I didn't finish (= dnf). I also created a tag #not interested for those books that show up in my recommendation that I'm not interested. For example, I don't mind smutty books but reverse harems aren't for me, so I tag those books with a #not interested.

I'd then go to the books you like most and want to find similar books beyond what is recommended. Find a reviewer that has rated it similarly and you like their review, click on that person, click on their ratings and then click the 'compare books'. I will follow a prolific reviewer with similar tastes in the hopes of finding a new book/series. HTH!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I forced myself to use StoryGraph and GoodReads for a while because there was all this chatter about GR's Amazon connection and we don't use Amazon at our house.

StoryGraph is great if you are obsessed with data and don't mind being obsessed with data. The app shines in it's graphs about your reading habits. It is clunky and doesn't always have a lot of information about a book. It has a place for users to enter content warnings for books, but because that piece relies on users, it's not complete. The users who do post reviews are very brief.

If you enjoy the social aspect of GoodReads, the recommendations/reviews, and the giveaways, you probably won't enjoy StoryGraph.

As for the data piece, I personally found that using StoryGraph made me TOO focused on my stats and I missed the thorough reviews by other readers. I moved back to using GoodReads exclusively after a month.

OP here. Thanks for posting, I'm really that interested in data on my reading habits, I just want a good story!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I created an account based on this thread. The stats and charts are interesting, and I can see how some people like the annual challenge prompts.

However, I like what I like, so I won't be participating in the challenges. I do like that Goodreads is entirely free, and I like the reviews, and Q&A section.

I can't see anyone paying $5 a month for Storygraph's premium content.

OP here. Yeah, I can't see paying for Storygraph when Goodreads is free and does a sufficient job in meeting my needs. Thanks for posting.

[Anonymous]

I really wanted to like Storygraph. I tried it for a couple months and I found it awkward and not user friendly. I went back to Goodreads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just recently started using Goodreads. Any tips or tricks on the best ways to use it?

OP here. I'd start with identifying and rating the books you've already read. I don't usually read reviews but I will often put in comments (not visible to other users) on the books that I didn't finish (= dnf). I also created a tag #not interested for those books that show up in my recommendation that I'm not interested. For example, I don't mind smutty books but reverse harems aren't for me, so I tag those books with a #not interested.

I'd then go to the books you like most and want to find similar books beyond what is recommended. Find a reviewer that has rated it similarly and you like their review, click on that person, click on their ratings and then click the 'compare books'. I will follow a prolific reviewer with similar tastes in the hopes of finding a new book/series. HTH!

Thanks!