BOOKS

Too many books, too little time. If you're watching your TBR grow longer and longer with no idea how to organize your reading, you *need* book tracking websites in your life. Not only can you see all the books you've read, but you can also leave reviews and find recommendations from your fave BookTubers. We've rounded up the pros and cons of the two most popular sites—Goodreads and StoryGraph—to help you choose the best one for your 2023 reading goals. 

Goodreads

Pros 

*Easy-to-use layout: With clearly labeled categories and tabs, it's simple to navigate all the different features of Goodreads. 

*Active community: There are thousands of discussion groups you can join, ranging from Stephen King fans to those doing the Rory Gilmore reading challenge. 

*Offers more categories: In addition to basic book tracking, Goodreads also has sections for quotes, author Q&As and giveaways. 

Cons

*Bad recommendations algorithm: Goodreads recommends books based on popularity, so suggestions are often completely unrelated to books you've shelved. 

*Lacks specific statistics: Goodreads's Year in Books recap only tracks basics likes the number of books and pages read and average book length. 

*Unresponsive development team: Goodreads has been around since 2006 and hasn't changed much in almost 20 years. If you're looking for updated technology, Goodreads might not be the platform for you.

The StoryGraph

Pros

*Specific recommendations: When you sign up for StoryGraph, you get an option to choose your reading preferences right off the bat, indicating things like your favorite genres and characteristics you appreciate the most. You can also filter through books based on different moods. 

*Detailed statistics: StoryGraph's stats section is pie charts galore. From pace to mood distribution, you'll be able to see the patterns of your reading throughout the year. 

*DNF shelves and half-star ratings: These features allow readers to mark books "did-not-finish" and give fraction ratings. 

Cons

*Less active community: Though the StoryGraph has a community tab, it's updated with the most recent activity from any user on the platform. There are no specific groups and no discussion option either. 

*Less additional content: The StoryGraph lacks sections like quotes and Q&As that Goodreads has. 

*In early stages of development: StoryGraph is a new platform, so it naturally feels less settled than Goodreads. It's common to search up books that haven't been logged into the Storygraph. 

More bookish content, right this way...
📚 2023 reading resolutions you'll actually want to keep
📚 The difference between young adult and new adult—and why it matters
📚 Here's why you should have a StoryGraph account

Which platform do you prefer?
Let us know on Instagram @girlslifemag!

All GIFs via GIPHY
Slider image: @_its_liz_reading

by Cathy Li | 2/10/2023