Is there anything more quintessentially reading-in-the-21st-century than tracking what you read? It seems inevitable that in-person book clubs would be replaced with online reading challenges and book ratings. Yet, despite our reading habits shifting from in-person to online, reading has never been more social. BookTok has revolutionised the way we engage with literature, while the original social-reading network, Goodreads, has stayed largely the same. And while consistency is a good thing, the way we engage with literature has shifted. Enter The StoryGraph — Goodreads’ largest competitor.
The Lowdown on The StoryGraph
Less social network and more mobile-based reading journal, StoryGraph is an independent, black woman-owned start-up that emphasises accurate tracking and astute recommendations. Social engagement takes a back seat to personalised recommendations based on themes, pace and mood (e.g. “funny”, “dark”, “emotional”). How many times have you started a book that you were destined to dislike? The Love Hypothesis may be one of the most popular books of the last 5 years, but according to StoryGraph’s model, I may find Ali Hazelwood’s debut novel’s “fast pace and comedic tone jarring”. So probably not for me then. By far the biggest draw to StoryGraph is its in-depth stats. Interactive graphs break down your reading habits, including genre and mood rankings, pacing preferences, and reading timelines. The best part? You don’t have to wait until the end of the year to see your stats (*ahem* Spotify Wrapped). With all this data at your disposal, it makes sense that accurate tracking is built into the app’s design. The database, while smaller than Goodreads, is more structured and accurate, with the bonus of allowing users to add missing titles and editions.
You can also explicitly track audiobooks, books you did not finish, and books you own. The filtering feature is especially convenient, allowing you to sort and filter your To Read Pile according to mood, genre, pace and more to find your next read. I, for one, would rather skip animal death, so I love how the content‑warning filter lets me sidestep themes without risking spoilers. Combine that with custom tags (e.g. “comfort reads”) which let you index your books however you like, and you can organise your digital library with the precision of a library card catalogue.
Challenges That Push Your Reading Further
While StoryGraph has reading challenges that focus on volume, it also includes challenges that focus on what you’re reading. Challenges range from carefully curated lists from the platform’s librarians (Read the World 2025) and community-created lists (Lemonade: Beyoncé-Inspired Reading List). It‘s the perfect way to expand your reading taste or dive deeper into genres you love. StoryGraph’s challenges are also available on Libro.fm, an Audible alternative that shares the profits of each purchase with an independent bookstore of your choice, which in South Africa’s case, is Durban’s Pro Visions and Cape Town’s The Book Lounge.
Community for Readers, Not Followers
Like the early days of Facebook, StoryGraph facilitates existing in-person relationships via its community features. And like the Facebook Events of yore, the Book Club feature lets you manage your IRL book club online. Book Club members can run polls, suggest books and submit potential discussion questions. My favourite bit? Being able to see your club’s highest rated reads over the year.
Like a book club for two, Buddy Reads is the perfect tool to read alongside your BFF, whatever the physical distance between you. You can keep track of each other’s progress and musings which only become visible once you’ve reached that point in the book, And if you’re a Plus subscriber, StoryGraph recommends books that its algorithm thinks you will both enjoy. If buddy reads feel too intimate, you can also join a Readalong, which has all the features of a buddy read, except you’re leading the same book with up to 1000 other people from around the world.
TLDR
Join StoryGraph if you:
- Want personalised recommendations and detailed charts about your reading habits
- Need an app to help you keep track of your existing bookish community
Just don’t expect it to double as a bookish social network.
