There are billions upon billions of books out there. It seems like sometimes you spend more time figuring out what to read than you do actually reading. These apps will help you find recommendations and browse a curated selection of books you can be sure you’ll enjoy. Maybe they’ll even help you discover a new 5-star read!
TikTok
Let’s get the obvious out of the way. BookTok is the crowned ruler of social media reading communities. When a book garners buzz on the app, it means tremendous success, with the platform making specific books and authors absolutely famous. If you do not love any of the stereotypical so-called BookTok books, just give the platform a chance. Do some searching for certain books and calibrate your algorithm. The app is home to all kinds of readers, you just have to find your perfect corner of it!
YouTube
If you want more long-form content about books, BookTube is a great place to look. In contrast to the more bite-size and trope-focused recommendation of books on TikTok, the time allowed on YouTube means that you can find much more complete and moving reviews of books. You can find a recommendation on there feeling more certain it is going to be just right for you.
If you want to discover brilliant books through aesthetically pleasing content, you need to get on Bookstagram. Visuals are key on this social media platform, where Bookstagrammers post stunning photos of their favorite reads. The artistic component of the app helps give readers a glimpse into the nature and vibes of the book. Now, not only can you judge a book by its cover, but you can also judge a book by how pretty its recommendation is.
Likewise
The best way to describe the app would be Tinder for books. When you create an account, you will be asked to select a few genres and input some favorite reads. Then, the algorithm will recommend a series of books every day that you can swipe left or right on. Perhaps my favorite part of the app however is its community page. It’s a space where you can field out suggestions for what to read, no matter how specific. You could say, “I want to read a cottagecore book with a found family and magic” and the community will come to your aid.
Fable
Fable is the perfect social space to talk about books with other readers. The platform hosts numerous book clubs, some of which are led by your favorite authors, celebrity readers, and book influencers. You can find amazing recommendations through these book clubs. Whether you want to be a part of a group centered around exploring the classics or enjoying steamy literature, there is a club for every kind of reader!
Their explore page also contains well-curated lists from a variety of categories, from Sad Girl Literature to Jess Mariano’s Reading List. You can scroll through the best of the best and unearth your next read from these hyper-specific reading lists.
Goodreads
It hasn’t had an update in years and is not user-intuitive, but this is a bookish staple that all readers need. It’s predominantly used to track and log your reading, but the app can also be used to find some recommendations. Firstly, you can follow your friends to see what they’re reading and see which books they’re rating highly. Secondly, the app contains so many lists of books to sift through in whatever category fits your desires. They also have their annual Goodreads Awards, which can help you identify the most loved titles across numerous titles.
Litsy
Imagine scrolling through an Instagram feed that is solely book-related. That describes the user experience on Litsy, a social media app all about sharing your favorite books and engaging with other like-minded readers. Users can post bookish memes, their favorite quotes, book covers they find beautiful, really anything bookish you can imagine. The community really makes the app, with users boasting of its complete lack of negativity. It can be a refreshing change of pace from BookTok, which seems much more frequently to become subject to scandal.
Whether you find yourself in need of assistance in getting out of a book slump, or you are looking for a very specific book to fulfill a very specific reading desire, these apps are great places to consult. They connect you to fellow readers and introduce you to reads you may not otherwise pick up. Hopefully one of these platforms can help you find a brilliant read you’ll fall in love with!
To explore a deep dive into the BookTok phenomenon, click here!
To shop recommendations from the Bookstr Team, click here!
