Goodreads
by Amazon · Entertainment & Streaming · Media Tracking & Discovery
Track your reading, discover new books, and connect with a community of 125 million readers worldwide.
Quick Answer: Goodreads has a verified Real Score of 3.4/5 based on 44,500 verified reviews, compared to its App Store rating of 4.4/5. Mixed reviews from verified users.
Real Score vs App Store Rating
App Store Rating
Includes unverified reviews
Verified Real Score
Based on 44,500 verified reviews
Gap Alert: Goodreads's App Store rating is 1.0 points higher than its verified Real Score. This suggests that some store reviews may be inflated by fake or incentivized ratings.
Pros & Cons
What Users Love
- Largest book review community
- Reading challenge feature
- Extensive recommendation system
- Social reading features
Common Complaints
- App is slow and buggy
- Review bombing problem
- Interface feels outdated
- Amazon ownership concerns
Verified Reviews (20)
Essential but frustrating
Every reader uses Goodreads because theres no real alternative. But the app is slow, buggy, and feels like it hasnt been updated in years. We deserve better.
Review bombing is a real problem
Books get 1-star reviews before theyre even published from people who havent read them. The review system needs protection against coordinated attacks.
Reading challenge motivates me
The annual reading challenge keeps me accountable. Saying Ill read 50 books this year and tracking progress motivates me to read more. Simple but effective.
App crashes and loads slowly
The app is painfully slow. Opening a book page takes 5+ seconds. Scrolling through reviews freezes. The technical quality is embarrassing for an Amazon-owned product.
Recommendation engine works
The book recommendations based on my reading history are surprisingly good. Discovered many great books through the algorithm suggestions. Discovery works.
Amazon should invest more
Amazon acquired Goodreads in 2013 and has barely updated it since. The largest book community deserves modern design and features. Invest in your product.
Friend recommendations are the best
Seeing what friends are reading and their ratings is the best discovery method. Better than any algorithm. The social aspect is Goodreads greatest strength.
Rating system is too simple
5 stars isnt granular enough. A 10-point scale or half-stars would help differentiate between "good" and "great" books. 4 stars covers too wide a range.
Lists are great for discovery
User-created lists like "Best Sci-Fi of 2024" or "Cozy Mystery Must-Reads" are excellent for finding new books. Community curation at its best.
Scanning barcodes to add books
The barcode scanner for adding physical books is convenient when it works. Sometimes fails to recognize covers. But when it works, its the fastest way to catalog.
Year in Books is fun
The year-end reading summary showing stats, favorites, and progress is fun to review and share. Annual reading reflection that celebrates your year of reading.
No competitor is a problem
Goodreads has no serious competitor which means no incentive to improve. The StoryGraph is trying but doesnt have the community. We need competition.
Author interactions are nice
Seeing authors respond to reviews and engage with readers adds a personal touch. The author-reader connection that Goodreads enables is unique.
Shelves organization is basic
The shelf system for organizing books works but is basic. Better tagging, custom sorting, and organization tools would help manage large libraries.
Community groups are engaging
Book clubs and discussion groups on Goodreads create meaningful reading communities. The group reads and discussions enhance the reading experience.
Data export is important
The ability to export your reading data (CSV export) is important. If a competitor emerges, I want to take my data. Goodreads allowing this is appreciated.
Privacy settings are limited
Would like more granular privacy controls. Who can see my reviews, my reading list, my progress. The privacy options are too all-or-nothing.
Want to Read list is my TBR
My Want to Read list is 500+ books and growing. Its my eternal TBR pile. Having it digitally accessible means I always have my next read planned.
Functional not delightful
Goodreads functions as a book tracking tool but brings no joy to the experience. Reading should be delightful and the tool around it should match.
The default book app by default
Everyone uses Goodreads not because its great but because everyone uses Goodreads. Network effects keep it dominant despite its many shortcomings.
Showing 1-20 of 12,847 reviews
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Goodreads FAQ
Is Goodreads worth downloading in 2026?
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Last updated: April 2026