I’m Not Deleting or Discontinuing Use of the GoodReads App and Here’s Why

There’s a lot of talk lately about deleting GoodReads. I get it. The frustration is real, and the reasons are valid.

Yes, it’s owned by Amazon. Yes, Jeff Bezos is a billionaire whose wealth and influence raise legitimate concerns. Yes, he supports the current administration—an administration that’s cutting funding to public libraries, the very institutions that democratize access to books and literacy. Yes, all of this is deeply problematic.

(Be sure to check out my recent post on Libby where I address similar concerns about that app and why I’m keeping it, too.)

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: You should not delete your GoodReads account. Actually, you should be actively using it.

Let me explain why.

GoodReads Is the Industry Standard (Whether We Like It or Not)

I love what’s happening with StoryGraph. I’m excited about Fable and other alternative platforms emerging in the reading community. But here’s the reality: GoodReads is still the industry standard. Not StoryGraph. Not Fable. Not any of the newer, shinier alternatives.

That means when publishers plan media blitzes, when they select books for subscription boxes, when they choose ambassadors and influencers, when they distribute ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies), and when they evaluate how well a book is performing—they’re looking at GoodReads.

Publishers use GoodReads data to make critical decisions about authors’ careers. The number of ratings, reviews, and want-to-reads on GoodReads can directly impact whether an author gets another book contract. For marginalized authors especially, whose work is already fighting for visibility in a publishing landscape that has historically excluded them, our presence on GoodReads matters.

If We’re Not There, Who Will Be?

Here’s the question that keeps me on the platform: If we—the readers who actively seek out books by marginalized authors, the loudest supporters of diverse voices, the people who want to see the publishing industry transform—aren’t on GoodReads telling publishers what we want to see, who will be?

When GoodReads releases their end-of-year lists and the books we love aren’t on them, we shouldn’t be surprised. So many of us have migrated away from the app—mostly because we don’t want to be associated with Amazon, and let’s be honest, partly to follow the latest trend in book community activism.

But our absence has consequences.

The World We Want vs. The World We Have

In a perfect world, other websites and apps would hold the same weight as GoodReads does right now. In a perfect world, we wouldn’t have to navigate these impossible choices between our values and our impact. In a perfect world, the publishing industry wouldn’t be so reliant on a single Amazon-owned platform.

But that’s not the reality of the world we live in.

And until that reality changes—until StoryGraph or another platform achieves true industry parity—we need to be strategic about where we put our energy if we want to create real change for the authors we care about.

My Commitment: Staying Active on GoodReads

I’m going to keep my GoodReads account, and I will continue to be as active on there as possible. Here’s what that looks like for me:

• Filling my Want to Read list—especially with books by marginalized authors
• Reading, rating, and reviewing those books to boost their visibility
• Engaging with diverse voices and making sure the algorithm knows what I value
• Being intentional about which books I amplify on the platform

You Don’t Have to Buy from Amazon

Here’s the beautiful thing: staying active on GoodReads doesn’t mean giving Amazon your money.

You don’t have to buy your books from Amazon—or even Barnes & Noble (though they are a better company to support). Instead:

• Use Bookshop.org where your purchases help support local independent bookstores (Libro.FM for audiobooks)
• Shop for used copies on ThriftBooks and SecondSale
• Borrow from your library using Libby (yes, I’m keeping that app too—here’s why)
• Only purchase from Amazon when you absolutely must—like books in the Kindle Unlimited or Kindle Select programs that are exclusive to the platform

The Bottom Line

This isn’t about being an Amazon apologist or ignoring the very real problems with the company’s business practices, labor issues, and the politics of its founder. This is about being strategic.

If we want to support marginalized authors, if we want to influence what gets published, if we want to see diverse voices succeed in traditional publishing—we need to show up where publishers are looking.

We can use GoodReads as a tool while simultaneously supporting alternatives, buying from indie bookstores, and advocating for change in the industry. These things aren’t mutually exclusive.

So I’m staying. I’m rating. I’m reviewing. I’m filling my shelves with books that deserve more attention.

Will you join me?

What are your thoughts on the GoodReads debate? Are you staying or leaving? Let me know in the comments.

 Like what you read? Drop me a line – let’s chat over virtual coffee. 

~ Chrystal 

DISCLOSURE

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