is the book world turning against Goodreads?

[APP]

Since this article is essentially about Goodreads, I've placed it here even though it touches upon the Cait Corrain fiasco. I'm really disappointed in Amazon and how they've let the site deteriorate since they bought it. It had/has such great potential, and yet in many ways it's become a cesspool.

‘It’s totally unhinged’: is the book world turning against Goodreads?
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/dec/18/goodreads-review-bombing

[Post-Crisis D]

I am pretty sure I stopped using Goodreads before Amazon bought them so, IMO, the site was deteriorating before Amazon bought them and Amazon didn't do anything to improve it.

[cecilia_writer]

I've never been very keen on Goodreads - I find it difficult to navigate and I only go there to look for bad reviews of books I didn't like, to see if anyone else disliked the same things. Though occasionally I've seen terrible reviews of books I did like too, and have been aghast at how violently some people express their views.

[LilyBLily]

I list my books on Goodreads and then walk away. Not a safe place for authors.

[Jeff Tanyard]

Goodreads is for readers, not authors.

My advice is to just leave it be.

[APP]

For those of you that make use of Goodreads, but are disappointed in how it continues to go downhill, this article in the Washington Post (you may encounter a paywall) describes four alternatives.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/01/22/book-tracking-apps-review-goodreads-alternative/

[Bill Hiatt]

Typically, major Amazon fixes happen only after a lot of bad press, so if there is more public criticism, Amazon might do something.

As others have said, though, it's for readers. Its only sin in that regard was that it pretended to be for authors, too.

[APP]

Another reason for authors to stay away from Goodreads.

‘God forbid that a dog should die’: when Goodreads reviews go bad
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/17/god-forbid-that-a-dog-should-die-when-goodreads-reviews-go-bad

[Lynn]

Another reason for authors to stay away from Goodreads.

‘God forbid that a dog should die’: when Goodreads reviews go bad
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/17/god-forbid-that-a-dog-should-die-when-goodreads-reviews-go-bad

Good article. :D Personally, I often don't even remember that Goodreads exists.