What is Goodreads?
I’ll admit—before I began my author journey, I had never even heard of Goodreads. Many people are already familiar with it and use it daily, but for me, it was brand-new. Once I started exploring, I realized how influential Goodreads is in the book world.
At its heart, Goodreads is an online community built entirely around books. It allows you to keep track of the books you’ve read and save titles you’d like to explore in the future. Beyond that, it’s a space to connect with other readers, discover new recommendations, and join conversations about every kind of book—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and more. Unlike a regular online bookstore, Goodreads isn’t focused on sales—it’s about celebrating reading and building community.
Readers use it to:
For readers, Goodreads is like a personal library and book club combined. Some of the most popular ways people use it include:
Track reading progress. You can mark books as “currently reading,” “read,” or “want to read.” Over time, this creates a virtual bookshelf that reflects your reading journey.
Save future reads. If you come across an interesting book, you can add it to your “want-to-read” shelf so you don’t forget about it.
Write reviews and give ratings. Sharing your thoughts helps other readers discover books they might enjoy. Reviews can be as detailed or as brief as you like.
Join groups and discussions. There are thousands of groups where readers gather by interest—whether it’s mysteries, biographies, or children’s literature. These communities often host discussions, buddy reads, and themed challenges.
Set yearly goals. Goodreads lets you challenge yourself with a reading goal—whether that’s 5 books or 50. It tracks your progress and celebrates milestones.
Authors use it to:
Goodreads also plays a big role for writers. Many indie authors use it to get their books in front of readers and to connect more personally. Here’s what authors can do:
Claim an author profile. This verified profile becomes a central hub for their books and bio.
List and update books. Authors can add cover images, descriptions, and editions, ensuring their books are easy to find.
Connect with readers. Through Q&As, updates, or simply by responding to reviews, authors can engage directly with their audience.
Grow visibility. Because Goodreads reviews often influence readers beyond the platform, activity here can help spread awareness.
Offer giveaways. Authors can give away free copies of their books, which often generates early buzz and encourages new readers to engage.
For indie authors just starting out, it can feel like a lot to learn. But it’s also one of the few spaces online where books—not ads or algorithms—are the focus.
How do you join?
The good news is—it’s completely free to join Goodreads. Here’s how to get started:
Sign up. You can create an account with your email, or use your Amazon, Google, or Facebook login if you prefer.
Set up your profile. Add your name, a photo (optional), and a short bio if you’d like.
Start building your shelves. Search for books you’ve read and add them to your “Read” shelf. Add titles you’d like to explore to your “Want to Read” shelf. You can also create custom shelves for things like “Favorites,” “Nonfiction,” or “Children’s Books.”
Follow friends and authors. You can connect with friends, see what they’re reading, and follow authors whose work interests you.
Leave reviews. You can review any book you’ve read. Reviews not only help authors gain visibility but also help you connect with a community of like-minded readers who enjoy the same kinds of books.
Explore. From there, browse reviews, join groups, set a reading goal, or start adding reviews of your own.
Getting started takes just a few minutes, and from there you can explore as much or as little as you’d like.
I’ll be honest—I am still very new to Goodreads myself. Up until now, I’ve mainly used it in connection with my own books. But even in that short time, I’ve enjoyed watching readers interact with my work and am gradually learning the ropes. It’s been encouraging to see firsthand how books bring people together on this platform.
If you love books—or if you’ve thought about writing one day—consider exploring Goodreads.
Gal Chivvis, DVM
