Story Graph Vs Goodreads: Which One Is Better For Book Readers

Two fantastic book platforms & don't know which one to choose? Don't fear because I'll break down the best and worst parts about each.
lifestyle · 5 min
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Story Graph Vs Goodreads
Image Source: Unsplash

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
Image Source: The Story Graph (My dashboard)

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. 

the story graph preferences
Image Source: The Story Graph (My dashboard)

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

goodreads book challenge
Image Source: Goodreads (My Dashboard)

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.

goodreads reading challenge
Image Source: Goodreads (screenshot)

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.

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Opinions and Perspectives

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StretchAndStrength commented StretchAndStrength 2 years ago

My TBR has grown exponentially since joining Story Graph. The recommendations are dangerous!

6
LunarFlare commented LunarFlare 2 years ago

Goodreads might have more users but Story Graph understands my reading preferences better.

4
Sarai99 commented Sarai99 3 years ago

Story Graph needs a better way to organize group reads.

5
AdelineH commented AdelineH 3 years ago

Anyone else notice they read different genres depending on seasons? Story Graph helped me spot that pattern.

5
Lillian-Claire commented Lillian-Claire 3 years ago

Both platforms have their strengths. I'm sticking with using both for now.

0
Jenna_Smiles commented Jenna_Smiles 3 years ago

The reading stats are addictive! I check them way too often now.

2
WyattFoster commented WyattFoster 3 years ago

Story Graph feels more like a personal reading journal while Goodreads is like a social network.

4
HenryAllen commented HenryAllen 3 years ago

Miss the quotes feature from Goodreads but the mood filters on Story Graph make up for it.

6
Elaine-Cobb commented Elaine-Cobb 3 years ago

I actually read more since switching to Story Graph. The recommendations are just that good.

5
OConnell_Observations commented OConnell_Observations 3 years ago

Story Graph's half star ratings make so much more sense than Goodreads whole stars only.

7
AlainaH commented AlainaH 3 years ago

The Goodreads scanning feature is still superior though. So convenient for adding books.

8
ZaharaJ commented ZaharaJ 3 years ago

Love how Story Graph shows the pacing. Helped me understand why some books weren't clicking with me.

7
DarkCodeX commented DarkCodeX 3 years ago

Goodreads ratings seem inflated compared to Story Graph. More honest reviews on Story Graph I think.

4
Zoe commented Zoe 3 years ago

The detailed stats made me realize I need to diversify my reading more.

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Mackenzie commented Mackenzie 3 years ago

Story Graph's emotional tags are spot on. Really helps avoid books that might be too intense.

2
Alice_Sunflower commented Alice_Sunflower 3 years ago

Tried Story Graph but went back to Goodreads. Just couldn't get used to the interface.

4
Ramona_Dreamy commented Ramona_Dreamy 3 years ago

The recommendation algorithm on Story Graph seems smarter somehow. Less focused on bestsellers.

0
Fawn_Rose commented Fawn_Rose 3 years ago

I like how Story Graph lets me filter out specific moods or themes I'm not in the mood for.

1
Dionne_Discussion commented Dionne_Discussion 3 years ago

Goodreads challenge feature motivates me more. The visual progress bar just works better for my brain.

6
Douthat_Dossier commented Douthat_Dossier 3 years ago

Story Graph needs better integration with libraries and ebook platforms though.

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Benjamin-Frost commented Benjamin-Frost 3 years ago

The visual graphs of reading patterns are so satisfying to look at. Love seeing my progress.

2
Fienberg_Feature commented Fienberg_Feature 3 years ago

Anyone notice how Story Graph seems to have fewer sponsored recommendations? Feels more genuine.

2
Vibe-With_Nature_17 commented Vibe-With_Nature_17 3 years ago

I was skeptical about another book platform but Story Graph won me over with its analytical approach.

0
BrandonBuilds commented BrandonBuilds 3 years ago

Story Graph actually helped me identify why I kept DNFing certain books. The pacing wasn't what I prefer!

3
Priscilla_Gleam commented Priscilla_Gleam 3 years ago

Been using both platforms for 6 months now. Story Graph for discovery, Goodreads for community.

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Reasoner_Report commented Reasoner_Report 3 years ago

The content warnings on Story Graph are so detailed. Really appreciate that feature.

0
GlowMode-On_17 commented GlowMode-On_17 3 years ago

I actually disagree about the recommendations being better on Story Graph. Found some gems through Goodreads lists.

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HealthyBodyHappySoul commented HealthyBodyHappySoul 3 years ago

The way Story Graph breaks down pacing is so helpful. Sometimes I need a fast-paced book to get out of a reading slump.

2
FearlessAndFree commented FearlessAndFree 3 years ago

Story Graph needs a better mobile app. That's my biggest complaint so far.

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CharlotteX commented CharlotteX 3 years ago

Goodreads still has better author interaction though. I love following my favorite writers there.

5
Believe-Achieve_555 commented Believe-Achieve_555 3 years ago

The reading stats are eye-opening. Apparently I read way more fantasy than I thought!

4
Marina-Kirk commented Marina-Kirk 3 years ago

Story Graph's mood filters have helped me avoid reading heavy books when I'm not in the right headspace.

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Evelyn_Clark commented Evelyn_Clark 3 years ago

I miss the quotes feature from Goodreads. That was always one of my favorite parts.

3
Mark_2003 commented Mark_2003 3 years ago

Anyone else notice how Story Graph recommendations tend to be less mainstream? It's refreshing.

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HarperRobinson commented HarperRobinson 3 years ago

Just started using Story Graph and I'm impressed by how accurately it pegged my reading preferences.

3
GratefulAndGrounded commented GratefulAndGrounded 3 years ago

The page count breakdown on Story Graph is super helpful. I can easily find shorter books when I'm busy.

0
RetroGamerX commented RetroGamerX 3 years ago

I find myself using Goodreads for the social aspects and Story Graph for personal tracking. They complement each other well.

2
Faith-Manning commented Faith-Manning 3 years ago

Can we talk about how Story Graph actually warns about content triggers? Such an important feature Goodreads lacks.

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Jillian-Hunt commented Jillian-Hunt 3 years ago

Story Graph helped me break out of my reading comfort zone. The detailed preferences really make a difference.

7
Evelyn_Love99 commented Evelyn_Love99 3 years ago

Well I still prefer Goodreads. The familiarity and user reviews are more valuable to me than fancy algorithms.

1
GraysonHenderson commented GraysonHenderson 3 years ago

The reading stats on Story Graph are fascinating. Never realized how much mystery I read until I saw the breakdown!

2
Grace_Light commented Grace_Light 3 years ago

Wonder if Story Graph will ever develop a more robust social feature set? That's the main thing holding me back from completely switching.

4
Hunter commented Hunter 3 years ago

Missing the Goodreads yearly reading challenge visual tracker though. Story Graph's version just isn't as satisfying.

6
Maxine_Luxe commented Maxine_Luxe 3 years ago

I love how Story Graph shows the emotional impact of books. Really helps me choose what to read based on my current mood.

5
Green_Gazette commented Green_Gazette 3 years ago

Am I the only one who finds Goodreads recommendations repetitive? It keeps suggesting the same popular books.

4
AmandaTaylor commented AmandaTaylor 3 years ago

True about the interface, but I'll take functionality over aesthetics any day. The mood filters are worth it.

2
GenesisY commented GenesisY 3 years ago

Story Graph's interface could use some work though. It's not as intuitive as Goodreads.

8
Lindsey_Daydream commented Lindsey_Daydream 3 years ago

The export feature from Goodreads to Story Graph worked flawlessly for me. Made switching over so much easier than I expected.

7
Grounded-And_Glowing_99 commented Grounded-And_Glowing_99 3 years ago

While I appreciate Story Graph's features, I find myself still checking Goodreads for reviews. Old habits die hard I guess.

3
Eliza-Nash commented Eliza-Nash 3 years ago

I agree about Story Graph's recommendations being more diverse. It's introduced me to so many international authors.

6
JosephBennett commented JosephBennett 3 years ago

The detailed questionnaire on Story Graph felt like a lot at first but wow the recommendations are spot on.

0
SustainableSoul commented SustainableSoul 3 years ago

Story Graph's pace categorization is brilliant. Sometimes I just want a slow, cozy read and it makes finding those so much easier.

7
Yglesias_Yarns commented Yglesias_Yarns 3 years ago

I actually prefer using both platforms. Goodreads for social features and Story Graph for personal tracking. Best of both worlds!

3
HarmonyAndHappiness commented HarmonyAndHappiness 3 years ago

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.

3
Olivia-Kate commented Olivia-Kate 3 years ago

The community aspect of Goodreads is still unmatched though. I miss the active discussion groups from there.

8
Littleton_Lines commented Littleton_Lines 3 years ago

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.

0
Mitchell_Media commented Mitchell_Media 3 years ago

I've been using Goodreads for years but recently switched to Story Graph. The mood-based recommendations are a game changer for me!

3

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