I appreciate this. I've been on Goodreads for a very long time, more than a decade at this point. It has many frustrating shortcomings. A few years ago I switched to Storygraph, which I love for tracking my reading. I'm glad we have a viable alternative at this point, even though I recognize they're different platforms with different appeal. I've been using both platforms the last couple of years and I decided this is the year I'm really going to try to break from Goodreads. I doubt I'll get rid of it completely as I still value it as superior for keeping track of my TBR (reasons largely to do with me being there for so long that I have a community of readers I can reference at an easy glance if I so wish), but if I can manage to avoid feeling required to track things there I don't have interest in I'll feel as though I've won :D It's interesting how so many of us are on similar journeys with various platforms even when we don't recognize it.
I love the idea of just taking what you need from Goodreads and letting go of the parts you don't. I think many of us have been in a thorny relationship with Goodreads for years...like sad power ballad levels of thorny.
I also stopped using Goodreads a couple years ago and don't miss it. My main reason for stopping was one you mentioned- it was creating too much second guessing with my book choices and putting unneeded expectations in my head if I saw a low rating or a negative review of a book I really wanted to read. It's so freeing to just read first and then go look at ratings if I want to which I rarely do
Yes, expectations can play such a huge role in the reading experience! I used to try to modify ratings in my head according to the tendencies of Goodreads users but it's been so freeing to just let go of it.
I find myself more and more annoyed with Goodreads as time goes on. The updates to the yearly goodreads goals is whack and now every book I read it duplicating. I still enjoy looking to see which trusted sources have read a book after I've finished reading but the rando's posting one stars without reading a book are ruining everything.
I agree Storygraph isn't perfect but I've been using it as somewhat of a reading log/journal and it's working well. I keep it private and ignore community ratings and reviews and that works for me.
I mostly use Storygraph as a reading log too. And agree, the one star ratings by people who hadn't actually read the book used to drive me up the wall.
Thanks for this! Just yesterday I deleted both my Goodreads and Storygraph accounts for much the same reasons you shared. I transferred all of my past reading challenges/lists into a repurposed notebook, as well as my current (and ever-growing) TBR. It took more than a month to finish, but I found it very relaxing and fun to revisit all the books I've read going back to 2013. I am looking forward to tracking my reading in an analog way!
Oh, I love the analogy approach! That sounds like such a fun project. I do keep a reading journal and it's my most unfiltered form of reading tracking, haha.
I've tried Storygraph twice and just never been able to get into it; while I don't spend much time on social media in general, I do enjoy the social aspect of Goodreads. I like to see what people I follow, including my real-life friends, are reading. I tend to only rate books if I've been asked to do so, and even then only if I can give them 4 or 5 stars.
In theory I'd like to be more thoughtful in my reviews, which Goodreads doesn't particularly promote (although it doesn't *prevent* you from writing lengthy reviews without star ratings). But the reality is that I read a lot of books and nobody really cares what I think of most of them, so it's more my own lack of motivation than the failure of some app that's the issue.
I’ve been feeling the same way about letting go of ratings. I realized that I stopped posting as frequently because I guess i was feeling pressure to review a book in a certain way or with a certain framework?? Instead I want to focus on talking about books in a way that just shares what it’s made me feel and what I’m thinking about. And I love what you said about thinking about who might delight in a book! Cheers to sharing more delight!
Yes, it's all about the framing that feels right to you! And highlighting what might make a book right for a particular reader at a particular point in time.
I love StoryGraph! I don't miss GoodReads at all. I also have been feeling differently about rating books and I think I'll be focusing more on giving stars to my favourite books. It's a good exercise in being intentional about what I do with my energy, I think.
There's definitely a place for thoughtful critique but especially right now, I'd like to focus my ratings energy on things I deeply want to promote and share.
Anne Bogel has the newest Kristina Forest on her latest reading guide— I had never heard of the author previously even though I read a lot of contemporary romance. I will check her out!
I love this, Natalie! The only reason I’m still with Goodreads is because Storygraph didn’t have very many pre-release books, so I was finding that I had to request them to add more than I wanted. I’m definitely open to trying them again in the future, though. As for THE PARTNER PLOT - I thought it was so fun! I’m excited to read the next in the series soon.
The pre-releases are definitely something I'm hoping Storygraph improves on! But considering that they're been working on their interface pretty consistently, I'm hopeful about it?
I have been using Storygraph for a while and love it. It’s changed how I approach reading and rating. Plus I love the read along features and all the challenges I can join.
Yes, the challenges are so fun! I've been doing a "read your shelves" challenge for the last few years and it's put a good-size dent in my unread books.
I appreciate this. I've been on Goodreads for a very long time, more than a decade at this point. It has many frustrating shortcomings. A few years ago I switched to Storygraph, which I love for tracking my reading. I'm glad we have a viable alternative at this point, even though I recognize they're different platforms with different appeal. I've been using both platforms the last couple of years and I decided this is the year I'm really going to try to break from Goodreads. I doubt I'll get rid of it completely as I still value it as superior for keeping track of my TBR (reasons largely to do with me being there for so long that I have a community of readers I can reference at an easy glance if I so wish), but if I can manage to avoid feeling required to track things there I don't have interest in I'll feel as though I've won :D It's interesting how so many of us are on similar journeys with various platforms even when we don't recognize it.
I love the idea of just taking what you need from Goodreads and letting go of the parts you don't. I think many of us have been in a thorny relationship with Goodreads for years...like sad power ballad levels of thorny.
I also stopped using Goodreads a couple years ago and don't miss it. My main reason for stopping was one you mentioned- it was creating too much second guessing with my book choices and putting unneeded expectations in my head if I saw a low rating or a negative review of a book I really wanted to read. It's so freeing to just read first and then go look at ratings if I want to which I rarely do
Yes, expectations can play such a huge role in the reading experience! I used to try to modify ratings in my head according to the tendencies of Goodreads users but it's been so freeing to just let go of it.
I find myself more and more annoyed with Goodreads as time goes on. The updates to the yearly goodreads goals is whack and now every book I read it duplicating. I still enjoy looking to see which trusted sources have read a book after I've finished reading but the rando's posting one stars without reading a book are ruining everything.
I agree Storygraph isn't perfect but I've been using it as somewhat of a reading log/journal and it's working well. I keep it private and ignore community ratings and reviews and that works for me.
I mostly use Storygraph as a reading log too. And agree, the one star ratings by people who hadn't actually read the book used to drive me up the wall.
Thanks for this! Just yesterday I deleted both my Goodreads and Storygraph accounts for much the same reasons you shared. I transferred all of my past reading challenges/lists into a repurposed notebook, as well as my current (and ever-growing) TBR. It took more than a month to finish, but I found it very relaxing and fun to revisit all the books I've read going back to 2013. I am looking forward to tracking my reading in an analog way!
Oh, I love the analogy approach! That sounds like such a fun project. I do keep a reading journal and it's my most unfiltered form of reading tracking, haha.
I've tried Storygraph twice and just never been able to get into it; while I don't spend much time on social media in general, I do enjoy the social aspect of Goodreads. I like to see what people I follow, including my real-life friends, are reading. I tend to only rate books if I've been asked to do so, and even then only if I can give them 4 or 5 stars.
In theory I'd like to be more thoughtful in my reviews, which Goodreads doesn't particularly promote (although it doesn't *prevent* you from writing lengthy reviews without star ratings). But the reality is that I read a lot of books and nobody really cares what I think of most of them, so it's more my own lack of motivation than the failure of some app that's the issue.
The social aspect might be the one thing I miss? I've yet to convert my real-life friends over to Storygraph, tragically...
I’ve been feeling the same way about letting go of ratings. I realized that I stopped posting as frequently because I guess i was feeling pressure to review a book in a certain way or with a certain framework?? Instead I want to focus on talking about books in a way that just shares what it’s made me feel and what I’m thinking about. And I love what you said about thinking about who might delight in a book! Cheers to sharing more delight!
Yes, it's all about the framing that feels right to you! And highlighting what might make a book right for a particular reader at a particular point in time.
I made the switch about 6 months ago and I love Storygraph! It feels much less "social media" than Goodreads, which is exactly what I need right now.
I've been backing away from social media a *lot* in the past year and leaving Goodreads has definitely been a part of it.
I track using a Google spreadsheet, goodreads, and storygraph
I'm always impressed by people with cool Google spreadsheets! Smart Bitches Trashy Books puts out a great one each year.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
I made the switch to StoryGraph last month and keep wondering if I should update goodreads but haven’t done it yet. And I think I won’t!
Yesss, it gets easier the further you go!
I love StoryGraph! I don't miss GoodReads at all. I also have been feeling differently about rating books and I think I'll be focusing more on giving stars to my favourite books. It's a good exercise in being intentional about what I do with my energy, I think.
There's definitely a place for thoughtful critique but especially right now, I'd like to focus my ratings energy on things I deeply want to promote and share.
Anne Bogel has the newest Kristina Forest on her latest reading guide— I had never heard of the author previously even though I read a lot of contemporary romance. I will check her out!
This one was a cute read! Especially if you like sister stories or second chance romances.
Good explanation of what a potential reader needs to know to evaluate if the book will work for them beyond just a star rating.
I love this, Natalie! The only reason I’m still with Goodreads is because Storygraph didn’t have very many pre-release books, so I was finding that I had to request them to add more than I wanted. I’m definitely open to trying them again in the future, though. As for THE PARTNER PLOT - I thought it was so fun! I’m excited to read the next in the series soon.
The pre-releases are definitely something I'm hoping Storygraph improves on! But considering that they're been working on their interface pretty consistently, I'm hopeful about it?
I have been using Storygraph for a while and love it. It’s changed how I approach reading and rating. Plus I love the read along features and all the challenges I can join.
Yes, the challenges are so fun! I've been doing a "read your shelves" challenge for the last few years and it's put a good-size dent in my unread books.