StoryGraph is the Goodreads different price switching to

2023 ended on a really bitter notice for Goodreads. In early December, a author was uncovered for evaluation bombing different authors, and he or she finally misplaced her e-book deal. Whereas this scandal was horrifying, what’s extra so is that it wasn’t stunning — nor was it the primary high-profile case of evaluation bombing on Goodreads that occurred final yr.

The Amazon-owned web site’s points with moderation are longstanding and nicely documented. Nevertheless it’s understandably tough to make the soar to different e-book monitoring apps should you’ve already logged and reviewed tons of books, accomplished a number of studying challenges, or discovered a specific group of readers there. However, my fellow e-book lovers, now’s the time to make the soar to a special — and higher — studying app: StoryGraph. (And sure, earlier than you ask, StoryGraph does permit you to import your complete Goodreads historical past.)

Created by Nadia Odunayo, the app has been round since 2019. Nevertheless it has been gaining extra traction in the previous couple of months as readers flock to its glorious options, together with enjoyable graphs, new methods to do evaluations, and the power to search out books primarily based on temper, tempo, and extra. On Jan. 2, so many individuals tried signing up for StoryGraph it broke the servers for almost your complete day.

Right here’s why I’ve liked utilizing the app and haven’t regarded again:

Picture: StoryGraph through Polygon

Moods over rankings

I’ve difficult emotions about e-book rankings. So usually, I’ve seen a e-book I am keen on with a low Goodreads ranking, whereas one I couldn’t stand has almost 5 stars. And whereas I do know reviewers’ opinions are subjective and these rankings aren’t reflective of whether or not I’ll take pleasure in a e-book, I hate to confess that seeing a excessive or low star ranking does affect my notion of the e-book, even when solely momentarily. That’s why one of many greatest methods StoryGraph offers an improved studying app expertise is by deprioritizing rankings, which have change into a number one contributor of Goodreads’ poisonous tradition.

On a StoryGraph e-book web page, the primary issues listed below the title and creator are useful particulars like style, pacing, and temper — or what I seek advice from as “basic vibes,” which embody descriptors like “adventurous,” “reflective,” or “darkish.” The temper and pacing info are primarily based on person evaluations, the place readers are usually not solely prompted to charge the e-book, however to weigh in on quite a lot of different components that may assist higher inform a potential reader’s selection.

This doesn’t imply StoryGraph doesn’t embody rankings in any respect. In truth, the app lets you choose half and quarter stars, which suggests your ranking could be a extra correct reflection of your emotions, versus having to spherical up on Goodreads. The most important distinction between the 2 apps is that StoryGraph doesn’t make the star ranking a centerpiece of a e-book’s web page. Whereas Goodreads rankings get distinguished placement below the e-book’s title and creator, StoryGraph lists it on the very backside.

Picture composition: Sadie Gennis/Polygon | Supply photos: StoryGraph, Goodreads through Polygon

With a view to see a e-book’s ranking, you need to scroll by an expansive checklist of “basic vibes” info that truly tells you a complete lot extra a couple of e-book than a quantity out of 5. Along with style, pacing, and temper, reviewers can point out whether or not the e-book is principally plot- or character-driven, and if the forged of characters is numerous. Reviewers can add notes on themes, subjects, and tropes from the e-book, which feed into the app’s suggestion options. The evaluation type additionally features a devoted part for content material warnings, creating a transparent place for readers to look in the event that they wish to know whether or not the e-book accommodates issues they wish to keep away from, versus having to scroll by particular person Goodreads evaluations to see if a reader has listed any warnings but. And all of that is on high of conventional prose evaluations (although you do need to click on out of the principle e-book web page to learn them).

Truly helpful suggestions

To be frank, Goodreads’ suggestions system is utter shit. It’s why individuals rely so closely on different group members to search out books, relatively than something offered by the platform itself. In the meantime, StoryGraph has developed a sturdy suggestions system that lets you mix a variety of filters to drill down and discover the precise sort of e-book you’re within the temper for.

Picture: StoryGraph through Polygon

Via StoryGraph, you may seek for books utilizing filters for temper, style, tempo, size, and even trope. If you wish to take suggestions a step additional, you may fill out a complete studying preferences type, the place you may notice genres, tropes, themes, and content material you want and ones you’d choose to keep away from. You’ll be able to even choose particular books you need StoryGraph to seek advice from whereas producing suggestions. Which means, should you’re on the lookout for a sweeping sci-fi drama with complicated political themes, you might pack that checklist with James S.A. Corey and Adrian Tchaikovsky, and StoryGraph would search for books with comparable vibes.

One thing I discover notably useful is making use of these filters to my very own To Be Learn checklist. After I was utilizing Goodreads, I felt like I used to be consistently getting excited a couple of e-book a buddy raved about, solely to understand I had already added it to my TBR checklist ages in the past and utterly forgotten about it. Now, the primary place I flip once I’m unsure what to learn is StoryGraph, the place I search inside my very own TBR checklist to discover a e-book I already know I’m fascinated with that additionally matches my present temper.

All of those suggestions options and filters imply you don’t simply discover books these in your circle are enthusiastic about or loved, however uncover ones you won’t in any other case have identified about (or ones you’ve simply forgotten about). And if there’s a e-book that excites you, however you may’t get to at this actual second, simply add it to your Up Subsequent checklist — a function that lets you queue up 5 books you wish to get to quickly.

The graphs

Aside from my sturdy want to search out actually any Goodreads different, the very first thing that drew me to StoryGraph was the graphs. My love of group and information is a key tenet of my being (if we ever meet, please ask me about how I logged my complete closet right into a Clueless-style app), so discovering StoryGraph was a dream come true.

Picture: StoryGraph through Polygon

As you learn and evaluation titles, StoryGraph interprets that info into graphs and pie charts that visualize your studying developments and preferences. You’ll be able to see breakdowns of the books you’ve learn in a given time interval primarily based on moods, pacing, web page size, style, creator, and extra. These visualizations are lovely to have a look at, but in addition present a easy strategy to get a way of your habits at a look. I really like evaluating my graphs from the present yr to earlier ones, and discover it fascinating to see how my preferences change over time. Trying again, it’s clear that in 2020, my want for escapism translated to studying extra digestible fantasy, together with a whole lot of YA books and a startling quantity of Sarah J. Maas. Comparatively, my 2023 habits included much more sci-fi books (a lot Ann Leckie!) and tales that had been extra tense than what I may have dealt with three years prior.

And for these of us who do annual studying challenges, the road graph monitoring books and pages learn every month is a good way to see what your studying habits appear to be this yr, and supply one other strategy to perceive the way you’re pacing towards your studying aim.

However this can be the most effective a part of all: On the primary of yearly, StoryGraph mechanically converts all this info right into a enjoyable annual wrap-up, together with stats, graphs, and a good looking collage of all of the covers of the books you’ve learn. (In the meantime, a Goodreads person needed to hack collectively their very own web site to create year-end wrap-ups, for the reason that platform has by no means bothered offering this function, regardless of the group’s want for it. Make of that what you’ll.)

A rising group

When chatting with associates about why they nonetheless use Goodreads, the principle purpose I hear is that they love the group and social community they’ve constructed there over the previous decade. That could be a arduous factor to maneuver away from, as lots of people nonetheless utilizing X (previously Twitter) can attest to. And whereas StoryGraph can’t replicate what arguably is Goodreads’ greatest power, the app nonetheless feels extra centered on fostering a protected, pleasurable group than the Amazon-owned platform ever did.

Along with primary buddy options — like seeing what your connections are studying and the way they’ve rated books — StoryGraph presents the power to do Buddy Reads and Readalongs. The previous lets you primarily create a closed e-book membership in which you’ll asynchronously talk about a e-book with associates as they learn. Throughout a Buddy Learn, customers go away feedback and the web page numbers they’re referring to, all of which stay hidden till the opposite readers hit the identical level of the e-book. At that time, the feedback are revealed and the person can reply. In the meantime, Readalongs are the StoryGraph model of boards, the place you’re capable of be a part of a group e-book membership and go away feedback in numerous threads, like ones for a selected chapter or a person character.

In the meanwhile, each these options are sort of clunky, and with StoryGraph nonetheless having a comparatively small person base, the Readalong boards are sparsely engaged with. My hope is that as StoryGraph grows, it’ll have the ability to construct up and refine options for these on the lookout for extra of a group area. In truth, I’m capable of see all of the methods StoryGraph is doing simply that proper now.

Any person can take a look at the app’s public roadmap to see what’s in progress, what’s up subsequent, and what the medium- and long-term tasks are. Odunayo is extraordinarily energetic on this area, responding to customers’ recommendations within the feedback and constructing a collaborative environment. It’s sincerely inspiring to see StoryGraph’s founder so engaged with customers and excited to implement their suggestions to enhance present options, add new ones, and create a greater person expertise for everybody.

So whereas StoryGraph won’t have the ability to replicate a few of the group options Goodreads customers love but, if ever, that’s OK with me. As a result of relatively than attempt to promote you books or gamify the business, StoryGraph appears centered on genuinely attempting to supply readers a enjoyable area to search out, have a good time, monitor, and join over books they love (or, in some circumstances, don’t). How are you going to beat that?