susan earlam ~ horror author

For the last few years, I’ve used Goodreads to track what I’ve read. Since 2020 I’ve also joined the Goodreads reading challenge. Here are some stats;

• In 2020 I read 31 of a target of 35.
• In 2021 I managed 48 books from a target of 40.
• In 2022 I read 58 books, my target was 52.

These numbers clearly show I’ve got back into reading in a big way, with a similar passion as when I was a child. Reading widely is a key part of writing too, I pick up techniques and ideas almost by osmosis. Click here if you’re curious and want to see what I’ve read.

But, Goodreads is owned by Amazon. It is also clunky and can be awkward to use. The app is pretty awful. So I started to look around at potential alternatives.

And reader, I found them.

• Readerly
• Storygraph

These are both book discovery alternatives to Goodreads.

I joined both last year, and had a play around, but as we are at a new calendar year point in time, I thought I’d use them more seriously from now on.

This change, or experiment, is part of my 2023 plan to spend more time where readers are. More details on this plan coming soon.

I’d love to know if you track your reading and if so, on which platform?

If you’re looking for something similar to Goodreads, then I’d go for Storygraph. There is a free and a paid version. I’m on the free and I find it does everything I want it to do.

Readerly feels a little more- if you liked X-book, then you’ll like these books. Very much a discovery tool and I really like the short, snappy Gists’ that you can compose as a short review once you’ve finished a book. Here’s my Gist of Rachel Yoder’s Nightbitch- possibly my best book of the year. Yes, I know it’s still January, but I loved this.

I encourage you to get off social media and read more this year.

I still have a presence on Goodreads (I am an author after all) and I am taking part in the reading challenge this year; Sixty books this time! I won’t be spending as much time on GRs though, just updating my reading and sharing reviews of my favourite indie authors.

Let me know what books you are excited about this year and if you plan to track them.

Going forward I’ll be encouraging my own readers to leave their reviews on Readerly and Storygraph.

So, hint hint, if you have read either Earthly Bodies or Dark Is The Water it would be amazing if you could share that review over on these newer platforms. It would help new readers discover my work. Thanks in advance!