Story Graph Vs Goodreads: Which One Is Better For Book Readers
If you're a huge book nerd you might've heard about Goodreads. Goodreads is a massive book database that lets you input books completed and those on your wishlist to read.
I've been a faithful user of Goodreads since 2015 and it was my only way to keep track of the multitude of books read over the years. I'm sure there are tons of books missing that I've forgotten over the years, but thanks to Goodreads, I'm able to find them a lot easier than before.
Now there's another book database that is similar but also different and it's called The Story Graph. The Story Graph works similar to Goodreads but has additional features that make it a step above good ole' Goodreads. In this article, I'll talk more in-depth about the features that make Story Graph stand out and how using both can be beneficial to readers.
The Story Graph
The Story Graph asks very detailed questions about book your preferences. They don't just ask general questions like your favorite genre, but "What kind of books do you like to read?" or specific characteristics that stand out to you in the books you've read or want to read. Below is a screenshot of my preferences just to give a visual presentation.
Because of the magnitude of how detailed they can be, my recommendation list was all completely new books and authors unfamiliar to me. Usually, on Goodreads, the recommendations are pretty good, but Story Graph takes it further by giving me books I might've never encountered.
And another feature they have is the "What are you in the mood to read." If you're not feeling up to reading a suspense/thriller book, you can emit that genre from the search detail. It even breaks it down by slow, medium, or fast-paced books.
You can also customize it to search for books in your wishlist or something they recommend. It's a great feature to use when you have absolutely no clue what to read next, are given a plethora of options, and can narrow it down further to fit your needs.
My absolute favorite feature has to be after completing the questionnaire and preference questions, it gives detailed stats of the kind of books you typically read.
Mine were fiction books that were emotional, reflective, and light-hearted. I also typically choose fast-paced books to read around the range of 300-499 pages. I was really surprised at my book breakdown because I always assumed most of my books were on the slower end but that was my lowest percentage.
If you already have a Goodreads account, you can export all your book data to The Story Graph in just a few hours. It also has a book challenge to be a part of, though I like Goodreads challenge interface better as it's a bit more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. It showcases all the books read for the challenge without me having to go to another page.
Goodreads
I briefly mentioned Goodreads in one of my older articles while talking about book challenges which I'll expand more on that here. Book challenges were always something my family looked forward to every summer with our local library. And book challenges followed me in my adulthood.
They are a fun way to see how much you've read throughout the year and what you've read in the past year. With the large platform that Goodreads has, they make it easier and more accessible to do digital book challenges and see your progress along the way. I also use the feature to see what kind of books my friends or people I follow are reading, it helps if you have similar tastes to those you follow.
Personally, I like the book challenge look and feel more on Goodreads than on Story Graph. It's easier to find, as it's located on the main page, and you get a brief glimpse of the last 6 or so books read.
Goodreads book recommendations, while not as preference specific as Story Graph, do offer some great suggestions based on your TBR and shelf lists. The shelf lists can be by genre or other categories and help give you better reading options.
I find for my particular tastes, the recommendations based on the genre and my tbs list do a better job at giving more options. It's something you have to play around with to make sure it's giving you the best variation possible. Don't forget that giving each book a rating also helps the site with its recommendations.
In the community section, the feature gives you opportunities to connect with other readers through various book clubs and discussion forums. The discussion forums correspond with books the reader has read plus any book groups that you joined. You can also search for quotes or see the quotes you 'liked' in the past.
This was a great feature for me because it's very easy to forget your favorite quotes and this way it is all in one area. Additionally, the site offers trivia questions that can assist if you're ever stuck for thought-provoking questions in your book clubs and quizzes.
Lastly, you can follow your favorite authors and famous Booktubers. It's always fun to see what they've been reading and give you insight into their personal choices.
Putting these two book database sites side to side, they're pretty even. I would say that Story Graph offers more options to figure out your exact tastes and preferences while Goodreads is less specific and more general.
The biggest takeaway with both of these sites is that Story Graph seems to cater to an individual taste and experience, while Goodreads gives you bits of that and an overall community feel.
Both sites offer various features that make my reading experience and the never-ending search for books worth it. Please do take the opportunity to explore both of these websites, each has something to offer all readers.
Opinions and Perspectives
My TBR has grown exponentially since joining Story Graph. The recommendations are dangerous!
Goodreads might have more users but Story Graph understands my reading preferences better.
Anyone else notice they read different genres depending on seasons? Story Graph helped me spot that pattern.
Both platforms have their strengths. I'm sticking with using both for now.
Story Graph feels more like a personal reading journal while Goodreads is like a social network.
Miss the quotes feature from Goodreads but the mood filters on Story Graph make up for it.
I actually read more since switching to Story Graph. The recommendations are just that good.
Story Graph's half star ratings make so much more sense than Goodreads whole stars only.
The Goodreads scanning feature is still superior though. So convenient for adding books.
Love how Story Graph shows the pacing. Helped me understand why some books weren't clicking with me.
Goodreads ratings seem inflated compared to Story Graph. More honest reviews on Story Graph I think.
Story Graph's emotional tags are spot on. Really helps avoid books that might be too intense.
Tried Story Graph but went back to Goodreads. Just couldn't get used to the interface.
The recommendation algorithm on Story Graph seems smarter somehow. Less focused on bestsellers.
I like how Story Graph lets me filter out specific moods or themes I'm not in the mood for.
Goodreads challenge feature motivates me more. The visual progress bar just works better for my brain.
Story Graph needs better integration with libraries and ebook platforms though.
The visual graphs of reading patterns are so satisfying to look at. Love seeing my progress.
Anyone notice how Story Graph seems to have fewer sponsored recommendations? Feels more genuine.
I was skeptical about another book platform but Story Graph won me over with its analytical approach.
Story Graph actually helped me identify why I kept DNFing certain books. The pacing wasn't what I prefer!
Been using both platforms for 6 months now. Story Graph for discovery, Goodreads for community.
The content warnings on Story Graph are so detailed. Really appreciate that feature.
I actually disagree about the recommendations being better on Story Graph. Found some gems through Goodreads lists.
The way Story Graph breaks down pacing is so helpful. Sometimes I need a fast-paced book to get out of a reading slump.
Story Graph needs a better mobile app. That's my biggest complaint so far.
Goodreads still has better author interaction though. I love following my favorite writers there.
The reading stats are eye-opening. Apparently I read way more fantasy than I thought!
Story Graph's mood filters have helped me avoid reading heavy books when I'm not in the right headspace.
I miss the quotes feature from Goodreads. That was always one of my favorite parts.
Anyone else notice how Story Graph recommendations tend to be less mainstream? It's refreshing.
Just started using Story Graph and I'm impressed by how accurately it pegged my reading preferences.
The page count breakdown on Story Graph is super helpful. I can easily find shorter books when I'm busy.
I find myself using Goodreads for the social aspects and Story Graph for personal tracking. They complement each other well.
Can we talk about how Story Graph actually warns about content triggers? Such an important feature Goodreads lacks.
Story Graph helped me break out of my reading comfort zone. The detailed preferences really make a difference.
Well I still prefer Goodreads. The familiarity and user reviews are more valuable to me than fancy algorithms.
The reading stats on Story Graph are fascinating. Never realized how much mystery I read until I saw the breakdown!
Wonder if Story Graph will ever develop a more robust social feature set? That's the main thing holding me back from completely switching.
Missing the Goodreads yearly reading challenge visual tracker though. Story Graph's version just isn't as satisfying.
I love how Story Graph shows the emotional impact of books. Really helps me choose what to read based on my current mood.
Am I the only one who finds Goodreads recommendations repetitive? It keeps suggesting the same popular books.
True about the interface, but I'll take functionality over aesthetics any day. The mood filters are worth it.
Story Graph's interface could use some work though. It's not as intuitive as Goodreads.
The export feature from Goodreads to Story Graph worked flawlessly for me. Made switching over so much easier than I expected.
While I appreciate Story Graph's features, I find myself still checking Goodreads for reviews. Old habits die hard I guess.
I agree about Story Graph's recommendations being more diverse. It's introduced me to so many international authors.
The detailed questionnaire on Story Graph felt like a lot at first but wow the recommendations are spot on.
Story Graph's pace categorization is brilliant. Sometimes I just want a slow, cozy read and it makes finding those so much easier.
I actually prefer using both platforms. Goodreads for social features and Story Graph for personal tracking. Best of both worlds!
Has anyone else noticed that Story Graph's recommendations are way more diverse? I'm discovering so many new authors I wouldn't have found otherwise.
The community aspect of Goodreads is still unmatched though. I miss the active discussion groups from there.
Love how Story Graph breaks down my reading patterns. I had no idea I gravitated so much towards fast-paced books until I saw my stats.
I've been using Goodreads for years but recently switched to Story Graph. The mood-based recommendations are a game changer for me!