My Favorite Resources For Book Lovers
I have a confession. I haven’t really hopped on the Goodreads train. For me, it’s just one more social media to keep up with. I can barely balance Facebook and Instagram, and I’ve been trying to post on Twitter. I just don’t really have the energy to devote to Goodreads.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t have my favorite reading websites and apps! I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite and most-used resources for everything reading.
What Should I Read Next?
I’m a binge reader. When I discover a new series or new author that I love, I read everything I can by them. And then once I’m done, I’m left feeling a little lost.
On this website, you can search for a title or author, and you’ll get a list of other titles that readers who loved what you loved recommend. I have discovered a bunch of new authors this way. Honestly, this site just gets better as the years go on. You can now set up lists with a free account, share your lists publicly, and search by genre. It’s got some similarities to Goodreads without the social media aspect, plus it’s a lot easier to use.
Thriftbooks
Remember back in the day when Amazon was basically a discount bookstore? Ah, good times. If you miss the used bookstore prices, you’ll love Thriftbooks. It’s my latest obsession. The shipping is dirt cheap and relatively fast. There are new releases for extra cheap as well as obscure, out-of-print books. Plus, there’s a reward program. Every 500 points, you get a free book. Depending on how much you use the website, you get 8-10 points for every dollar spent.
So, basically, I’ve spent around $46 on six books. I’m less than $3 away from getting a free book—and there’s no minimum purchase for the reward!
I’ve found a lot of great book recommendations on Pinterest. Search the genre you’re interested in, and you’ll see lots of round-ups. Plus, you’ll start getting more recommendations based on your interest.
Libby/Overdrive
Chances are your public library has an ebook/audiobook program through Overdrive or Libby. Get a library card and ask your librarian how to log on. Protip: see if you can get reciprocal library cards to other nearby cities. You can store all of the card accounts in the apps, so if one library doesn’t have it, another one might.
Hoopla
Okay, I just discovered this resource from my library, and I am OBSESSED. Hoopla is a program that libraries can subscribe to, and it’s like a free Netflix on steroids. There are movies, TV shows, and music albums. You can read comic books. But there are also a bunch of audiobooks and some ebooks.
You set up an account with your library card, and you can get 15 checkouts a month, and they’re all good for 21 days. The other cool thing is unlike Libby/Overdrive, there appears to be no waitlist on items. It’s like a streaming service that includes books. There’s a phone app and Roku TV app, too. (And maybe other smart TVs, but I have Roku.)
Ask your librarian about it! I’ve found lots of titles for movies and books that I can’t find elsewhere.
Happy reading!
~Krystal