Top 10 Book Review and Discovery sites

Latest news about Book Review and Discovery sites

11.02.24. Z-Library unveils new enhanced book recommendation system



Z-Library has introduced an enhanced book recommendation system, aiming to provide users with an immersive journey through the vast world of literature. This upgrade seeks to present readers with a wide array of new and captivating books tailored to their individual preferences. While the platform initially relied on user behavior data for recommendations, years of development have allowed Z-Library to accumulate a wealth of statistical insights, enabling it to offer relevant suggestions across diverse genres and languages. Recognizing the limitations of this approach, particularly in suggesting less popular titles, Z-Library undertook the task of creating proprietary technology capable of identifying similarities among millions of books. This innovative solution has now been seamlessly integrated into the recommendation system, allowing Z-Library to consider not only user behavior but also the content of books, resulting in more accurate and diverse recommendations.


2023. Z-Library adds book discovery features and online reader



Z-Library has introduced new features aimed at improving user convenience, particularly in the realm of book recommendations. Unlike traditional systems relying solely on search query matches, Z Library's innovative recommendation feature is seamlessly integrated into search results, utilizing user behavior data for a more personalized experience. While acknowledging that recommendations may not be flawless, the library is committed to ongoing efforts to refine and enhance the system. Additionally, Z Library has enhanced its booklist and sorting options based on user feedback, incorporating ideas such as the ability to sort books within lists. Notably, the booklist page now prominently features a "Read Online" button, showcasing the library's ongoing initiative to convert its entire collection into a web-readable format. This initiative aims to enable users to read books directly in their browser, eliminating the need for downloading titles. The “Read Online” option is currently available for almost all PDF and DJVU files, but only for Premium users.


2023. Amazon launched book discovery service Your Books



Amazon has introduced a direct competitor to Goodreads, the book tracking and recommendation platform it currently owns. The company has unveiled a new feature called Your Books, aimed at organizing users' entire book collection, including purchased, borrowed, and saved titles in various formats such as print books, Kindle, and Audible. While the primary focus is on enhancing book discovery for future purchases rather than emphasizing book tracking and reviewing like Goodreads, there is considerable overlap with Amazon's 2013-acquired platform for book enthusiasts, which has seen limited modernization efforts. Similar to Goodreads, Your Books assists users in organizing their book collections, identifying books they've read or plan to read, and discovering new titles. Notably, instead of relying on reviews from Goodreads users, the reviews on this platform are sourced from Amazon shoppers.


2023. Service Bookhound offers paperback book bundles



Bookhound is a new online service that lets you select your favorite genre. Depending on your choice, you'll receive a curated bundle of four high-quality paperbacks at an affordable price. Every month/season, the platform unveils fresh bundles to ensure you get the finest reads available. For this month, Bookhound proudly presents the July Bestselling Feel Good Fiction Bundle, featuring a selection of top-notch romance novels. One of the gems in this bundle is "Hook, Line and Sinker" by Tessa Bailey, a #1 New York Times and USA Today Bestseller. This delightful rom-com serves as a sequel to "It Happened One Summer," where an ex-player unexpectedly falls for his best friend while trying to find her a new love interest. Garnering praise from readers worldwide, this book is a must-read for those who adore romantic genres. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to discover exceptional romance novels with Bookhound's July Bestselling Feel Good Fiction Bundle.


2021. BingeBooks launches a promising book discovery site



The new book discovery service known as BingeBooks offers an array of exciting features to enhance your reading experience. With BingeBooks, you can read the opening chapters of numerous best-selling books authored by both traditional and indie writers, conveniently accessible on any device. The platform provides an easy-to-navigate interface, enabling you to explore the extensive collection of books by your favorite authors. If authors have written series, you can view their series books in chronological order. Additionally, you can engage with authors by asking questions and participating in interactions. BingeBooks allows you to create visually captivating book lists, join book groups, and efficiently organize your digital book collection. You can also read and write book recommendations, and conveniently purchase books you enjoy with direct links to retailers offering print books, e-books, and audiobooks. Furthermore, the platform highlights trending deals and facilitates the discovery of new releases. In addition to its comprehensive features, BingeBooks is evolving into a vibrant social network, allowing you to follow your favorite authors. What sets BingeBooks apart from other book sites like Goodreads or BookBub? It remains independent and transparent, devoid of any hidden agendas.


2019. Goodreads starts Giveaways to help authors promote their books



The new tool Goodreads Giveaways provides valuable support for authors aiming to launch their debut book, maintain momentum for their latest release, or reinvigorate interest in a previous title. This platform serves as a creative tool utilized by authors and publishers to promote their books to potentially millions of readers, injecting an element of excitement into their marketing strategies, and allowing readers to introduce their favorite books to friends. Goodreads Giveaways offers numerous marketing benefits, including the opportunity to expand your audience and increase book discovery. Giveaways are prominently featured in the popular Giveaways section of Goodreads, enabling readers to stumble upon new and exciting titles. Furthermore, your giveaway is prominently showcased on your book page, encouraging more entries and further growing your book's audience. Additionally, your followers on Goodreads and individuals who have already added your book to their Want-to-Read list receive automatic notifications about your giveaway, maximizing the reach of your promotion.


2018. Goodreads launched new Android App



Goodreads has unveiled its latest Android app, offering an enhanced ebook discovery and social community experience. With this app, users can conveniently scan book covers to quickly locate titles on Goodreads, explore personalized recommendations, and effortlessly add recently finished books to their Reading Challenge. The app's refreshed design and intuitive interface make navigating Goodreads from an Android device simple, fast, and enjoyable. Furthermore, the app is optimized for tablets, providing an excellent user experience across different screen sizes.


2018. New Goodreads app for Android is available



GoodReads, the renowned social book community owned by Amazon, has rolled out an update for its Android app. The redesigned GoodReads BETA app offers improved speed and enhanced usability, with a visually appealing interface that is optimized for both mobile phones and tablets. With this app, users can effortlessly search, rate, and review any of the 12 million books available in the catalog. Additionally, they can stay updated with book reviews and posts from friends, engage in discussions by commenting on them, provide status updates and track page numbers for books they are currently reading, and efficiently add their book collection using the barcode scanner feature.


2014. Netflix for Libraries - Hoopla - will add ebook content



Hoopla, a groundbreaking service, has joined forces with local public libraries to offer a vast range of movies, television shows, music, audiobooks, and now eBooks, all free of charge. With a transactional-based approach, hoopla ensures that all eBook titles are accessible at any time, and publishers are compensated for each read. To access hoopla's digital collection, library-card holders can simply download the free hoopla digital mobile app on their Android or iOS device or visit hoopladigital.com. It's important to note that this service is exclusively available to patrons of participating public libraries, enabling them to enjoy an extensive selection of digital content at their fingertips.


2014. Goodreads allows to import books, purchased on Amazon



Users of Goodreads now have the convenience of automatically importing their purchased print and ebooks from Amazon directly into their Goodreads accounts. Goodreads presents an enticing incentive for linking the two accounts, stating that the more books added to Goodreads shelves, the better the recommendations tailored to the individual's reading preferences. Goodreads utilizes a highly intelligent algorithm to analyze the books users rate, providing personalized suggestions to enhance their reading experience. Furthermore, this account linking serves as another means for Amazon to identify which of its customers are also Goodreads users. However, Goodreads ensures users retain complete control over which books to add, allowing them to exclude any books purchased as gifts. Books that are neither rated nor added to a shelf will not be included in the Goodreads account.


2014. Wattpad raises $46 million to build a global literary community



Wattpad, an online community dedicated to writers and readers for sharing and discovering captivating stories, has recently secured $46 million in funding to drive the acceleration of product development and expand its user base. Allen Lau, the co-founder and CEO of Wattpad, expressed their ambitious objective of reaching a billion users, which is precisely why they pursued this round of funding - to expedite the realization of their vision. Currently, Wattpad boasts approximately 25 million registered users, a significant increase from the 15 million reported at the same time last year. While this growth is remarkable for a platform centered around reading, it still falls short of the billion-user target. Lau acknowledges the lofty nature of this goal, admitting that it may not be achieved within the next year or two, or even within three to four years.


2014. Longreads content-sharing community acquired by Automattic



The book recommendation and review site, Longreads, originated as a Twitter hashtag half a decade ago and later evolved into a worldwide community dedicated to longform writing. Recently, it was acquired by Automattic, the company responsible for the WordPress blogging platform. Matt Mullenweg, the founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic, expressed his belief that Longreads' commitment to longform reading aligns perfectly with his company's mission to promote valuable content. As part of the acquisition, all four members of the Longreads team will be joining Automattic. Longreads' founder, Mark Armstrong, a former journalist, stated that the service will remain unchanged following the acquisition and that joining forces with WordPress will enable the community to thrive and expand. Presently, the site offers a complimentary weekly email or a $3 membership that grants access to daily recommendations.


2014. Zoobean debuts ebook recommendation service for kids



Zoobean operates like a kids' book version of Netflix. In other words, it is a subscription-based service that provides children's books on a monthly basis. However, it is now undergoing a transformation to become a broader platform focused on recommendations. With this new approach, Zoobean will request additional information from parents, such as their children's interests, age, and reading level, in order to offer more personalized content suggestions. Every five days, parents will receive a thoughtfully curated recommendation for either an app or a book, accompanied by a reading guide developed by experts. Parents can choose to purchase the recommended books from their preferred store, borrow them from the library, or download the suggested app from the App Store. Zoobean will generate affiliate income by directing users to the iTunes App Store or Amazon for these purchases. Meanwhile, the existing subscription-based service will continue under the name "Zoobean Home" and will be available at a reduced cost of $9.99 per month, offering a paperback book option.


2014. Goodreads competitor Slice Bookshelf shuts down



Unfortunately, Slice Bookshelf, a social community for readers that aimed to offer a more modern and user-friendly alternative to Amazon's Goodreads, will be discontinuing its services. The company has decided to shift its focus towards enhancing its core product, Slice, a mobile shopping companion. While operating Bookshelf, Slice explored the use of its innovative inbox-scanning technology in a new domain. Instead of tracking general purchases, the technology specifically identified book and e-book receipts, enabling the automatic creation of users' libraries. By leveraging data from Facebook, the service eliminated the need for manual data input, a requirement still present in competing platforms like Goodreads.


2014. Book recommendation site BookLikes integrates with Kindle


The BookLikes platform, designed to facilitate the sharing of reading experiences and the exploration of new books, has introduced a new feature: reading progress synchronization for Amazon Kindle. This functionality enables BookLikes members to effortlessly keep their followers updated on their current reading status and provide the latest information about the ebooks they have read and rated directly from their Kindle devices. If a user reads on Kindle and shares their reading progress and ratings through social media, these updates will automatically be reflected on their BookLikes account. Each member has the flexibility to configure their synchronization preferences in the BookLikes Settings, allowing them to seamlessly share their ebook reading journey and ratings in real-time directly from their Kindle e-reader.


2014. eBookSoda offers daily personalised ebook deals



The eBookSoda service, which aims to simplify the discovery of free and affordable eBooks, is now accessible for all eReaders and devices, including Kindle, iPad, Nook, Kobo, and more. With this expansion, readers can effortlessly stay informed about the latest offers, new titles, and free eBooks available online. Instead of navigating multiple websites and sifting through countless titles, eBookSoda subscribers will receive personalized email notifications featuring the most enticing deals and special offers of the day. This efficient and cost-free service saves time and delivers valuable recommendations directly to readers. For instance, Kindle users often face the challenge of finding worthwhile free and discounted eBooks amidst a vast selection. eBookSoda subscribers, however, can benefit from receiving tailored daily deals in their preferred genres, making it easier to expand their personal libraries.


2014. Learnist opens educational book store



The new app for iPhone and iPod touch, Learnist, introduces a digital bookstore within its social learning community. For just 99 cents, users can access premium Learnist Learnboards, which offer a unique opportunity to learn from renowned experts across various fields such as arts, technology, sports, food, and fitness, among others. Alongside premium content, Learnist users can freely explore over one million crowd-sourced Learnings contributed to Learnist Learnboards. With the Learnist app for iPhone and iPod touch, users can easily navigate popular Learnboards recommended by the Learnist team, track their friends' learning experiences, and bookmark their progress within a Learnist Learnboard as they explore new content. Notably, Learnist experts can create and share their curated Learnboards more effectively, utilizing the advanced graphic design capabilities and enhanced image-handling features available on the latest iOS devices.


2014. 250 Words - site for discovering best business books



Simon & Schuster has unveiled a new website, 250 Words, which is dedicated to covering the realm of business books. Unlike its name suggests, the site offers more than just a concise summary. It will encompass a range of content, including reviews, essays, and commentary on business books from various publishers, not limited to Simon & Schuster. The focal point of the website will be a daily original essay that users can either read directly on the site or receive as a subscription email. 250 Words aims to celebrate exceptional business writing for discerning readers. Its core feature is a daily snippet, precisely 250 words in length, which predominantly focuses on business books, both contemporary and timeless, from multiple publishers. The emphasis lies on imparting wisdom and practical advice. Although each post can be read in just a few minutes, it is hoped that they will inspire readers to perceive the world through a different lens.


2014. Oyster partners with Disney to provide books for kids



Ebook subscription service Oyster has expanded its collection by incorporating approximately 100 titles from Disney and introducing a dedicated section for children featuring an impressive selection of around 10,000 ebooks. In addition to beloved Disney properties like Toy Story, Cars, and the Disney Princesses, this new vertical includes previously available titles on Oyster that were either categorized under "Young Adult" or lacked specific categorization. The introduction of these Disney books and the focused children's section caters to the growing market of children's ebook subscriptions. One such offering is Amazon's Kindle FreeTime Unlimited, which provides unlimited access to a library of children's ebooks, apps, movies, and games on Kindle Fire tablets starting at $2.99 per month. Kindle FreeTime Unlimited boasts a collection of 1,600 ebooks, including approximately 100 Disney titles. It is worth noting that Disney had previously operated its own ebook subscription service but decided to discontinue it.


2014. Epic! wants to be Netflix for Ebooks for kids



A newly launched start-up, Epic!, aims to introduce all-you-can-eat style ebook subscription services specifically targeting the children's market. For a monthly fee of $9.99, young readers gain access to a vast library of books, currently encompassing around 2,000 titles, tailored to school-aged kids. Notable publishers such as Kids Can Press, Lerner Publishing Group, Open Road Integrated Media, Simon & Schuster, and others have collaborated with Epic!. The platform strives to foster children's engagement with reading by offering rewards and badges for their reading accomplishments. The Epic! app presents key features, including personalized book recommendations based on age and interests, instant streaming without the need for book downloads, badges and rewards to celebrate reading achievements, the ability for kids to rate books and curate their favorites, as well as offline reading capability when Wi-Fi connection is not available.