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20 Great Book Websites for Finding What to Read Next

I’m writing this list of the best websites about books for me five years ago. Back then I was deep in the beginning of learning about book world and would have welcomed a list of the great book websites to help me learn what to read next. Getting to know the publishing industry is a lifelong process of book discovery, and the Internet makes the literary community more accessible and inclusive than ever. These 20 book websites (plus a few extra way down at the end) are the places I go to find out about new books being published, to deepen my understanding of literature and reading, to get book recommendations, to grapple with critical book reviews, and more. I hope you’ll find your next favorite book through this list of great book websites to grow as a reader.

20 Best Book Websites for Book Recommendations, Lists, and More

(1) amazon book review.

Love it or hate it, but Amazon is a quality place to go to find out about new books. The Omnivoracious Amazon Book Review is a flagship for good book content, with recommendations from celebrities and other notable readers being a unique feature. I love the author interviews they have on their site, with writers like George R. R. Martin , Holly Black , and Charlie Jane Anders recently stopping by for a chat, often on the podcast. Amazon’s Best Books of the Month list is one I check religiously for new books to add to my TBR. They often surprise me with little-known reads I wouldn’t otherwise have on my radar (even if I think they make YA an afterthought), which is why I rate them highly for “new book discovery,” meaning a place where you can learn about books to read.

Strengths: Author interviews, previews of new releases, lists of recent award winners, podcast, new book discovery

(2) Book Bub

When Book Bub first came on the scene about five years ago, I signed up for their signature daily newsletter with hot deals on eBooks. I scored a lot of great books to load up my Kindle, but I didn’t really follow the site for a few years as I wasn’t reading too much on my eReader. Now they’re everywhere, moving beyond the email list to create original bookish content. It’s now totally expected to have one of their many comprehensive book lists pop up in a search for new books. The only downside that I see is that now you have to have an account to view their book lists or other blog content . I do like how they track book recommendations from authors like Stephen King, Jill Shalvis, and Nora Roberts.

Strengths: Book list articles, book recommendations, eBook deals, new book discovery

(3) Book Marks

One of the sites associated with Literary Hub or “Lit Hub,” which I write up as #12 below, Book Marks is the place to go if you want to find book reviews of the latest big books. Book Marks’ specialty is aggregating adult literary fiction and nonfiction book reviews and then assigning them a score card so you can see how many reviewers gave the book a Rave, Positive, Mixed, or Pan. Without a doubt, if you want to find out the critical consensus on a book before buying it or checking it out of the library, Book Marks should be your first stop. I also like how the site regularly interviews book critics to ask them more about their bookish lives. The site also reprints classic book reviews.

Strengths: Book reviews, coverage of new books, literary criticism, book news, essays

(4) Book Riot

Sure, I might be a little biased to include Book Riot in my list of the best book websites since I write for them , but the fact is, Book Riot is one of the leading destinations on the web for book lovers and certainly one of the top best sites for new books. Book Riot’s got all areas of the reading life covered and does an especially good job at highlighting diverse authors, featuring all genres, and amplifying thoughtful and at times controversial opinions about books, publishing, and reading. The annual Read Harder Challenge pushes readers beyond their comfort zone with categories like “A book by an AOC (Author of Color) set in or about space” and “A novel by a trans or nonbinary author,” and a thriving community of challenge takers trade book recommendations and ideas. Book Riot’s many book podcasts are also must-listens for readers wanting to learn about new books and what to read next.

Strengths: Diversity, essays, book list articles, all-genre coverage, podcasts, book news, reading challenge, new book discovery

(5) Brain Pickings

Looking for engrossing essays about books that will push you emotionally and intellectually? You’ll definitely want to stop by Brain Pickings, the literary love child of Maria Popova, a blogger who decided to create an “inventory of the meaningful life” more than a decade ago and share it with other readers. Popova’s one-woman show is an intensely personal exploration of art and ideas, with coverage of children’s literature alongside philosophy, literary fiction, and creativity. Sign up for her newsletters to get a hit of thought-provoking writing a few times a week, guaranteed to break up your mundane day. Popova is author of two books: Figuring (2019), which highlights the hidden legacy of influential female thinkers, scientists, and creators, and A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader (2018), a book for younger readers that collects essays about reading from leading creative thinkers like Neil Gaiman, Shonda Rhimes, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Elizabeth Gilbert.

Strengths: Literary criticism, essays, backlist coverage, newsletter

(6) Bustle Books

The website Bustle is designed for the modern woman, and the ample literary coverage on their standout Bustle Books channel reflects that. Here readers will find profiles and interviews with female authors, lists that focus on feminism, and personal essays that explore the experience of being a female reader in today’s world. Bustle Books is known for provocative articles challenging the publishing world to be more diverse and more female inclusive. You’ll also find fun articles, too, about books, TV and film adaptations, and books in pop culture.

Strengths: Feminism, diversity, essays, book list articles, all-genre coverage, new book discovery

(7) CrimeReads

Like Book Marks, CrimeReads is a branch of Literary Hub (discussed in #12 below). This book website has a niche focus on “crime” in literature: through true crime, mysteries, thrillers, fiction about crimes in general. On CrimeReads, you’ll find essays about writing and reading crime fiction, appreciation of and interviews with crime fiction authors both well known and underrated, reading lists for crime fiction and nonfiction, and coverage of crime in TV, movies, and other media. CrimeReads also has essays and original reporting on true crime. If you’re a mystery and thriller lover, appreciate a good courtroom novel, or just love reading about true crimes stories, you’ll definitely want to head over to CrimeReads and marathon read their quality content.

Strengths: Mystery/thriller/suspense, true crime, nonfiction, the writing life, book list articles, essays, literary criticism, new book discovery

(8) Electric Literature

With its signature tagline of “Reading Into Everything,” Electric Literature hosts an eclectic mix of bookish coverage, ranging from highbrow literary criticism to horoscopes for writers and everything in between. A hallmark of Electric Literature is a focus on reading more diversely, and a regular feature called Read More Women asks writers to recommend books by women (a response to male authors who only recommend books by fellow male authors). One thing I love about Electric Literature is how often they touch on writing and the life of being a storyteller. (I’m a bit biased because I’ve written for Electric Literature and consider it one of my proudest accomplishments to have my writing on there.) Electric Literature also publishes original fiction in its literary magazine , so keep your eyes peeled for some of today’s best authors and new and emerging voices alike converging there.

Strengths: Literary criticism, diversity, essays, author interviews, the writing life, all-genre coverage, book news, book list articles, new book discovery

(9) Epic Reads

Oh, Epic Reads: what started as an arm of HarperCollins publishing house has turned into the go-to destination for YA book fans. Readers of young adult literature love Epic Reads for the humorous tone, creative article ideas (bookish horoscopes, fan reactions to plot twists, book title or song lyric? challenges, etc.), addictive quizzes, and, of course, the many TBR-exploding lists. You’ll also find book trailers, cover reveals, and details on the latest books and tour dates for YA authors. Even though Epic Reads is part of HarperCollins, they don’t only put the spotlight on books through their publishing house. Epic Reads is simply and purely about celebrating YA literature, no matter whose imprint is stamped on the book jacket. So often YA can be a heavy genre, with books tackling serious themes, but Epic Reads always reminds me that reading ( and YA) can and should be fun, too.

Strengths: Young Adult (YA) books, quizzes, book list articles, new book discovery

(10) Five Books

Five Books has a niche formula and does it well: a list of five great book recommendations. This powerhouse book website solicits a fascinating mix of today’s most interesting, creative, and thoughtful “Experts” —like Mary Beard , Madhur Jaffrey , Mia Farrow , and Jo Nesbø —to offer five book recommendations on a specific topic, such as “The Best Prose Poetry,” “Congress,” and “Zombies.” An additional nice feature of Five Books is the ability to make your own lists and share your expertise. The site lives up to its tagline of “The Best Books on Everything” as you’ll find as wide a variety of book lists and book coverage as anywhere on the web.

Strengths: Book list articles, book recommendations, new book discovery

(11) Goodreads

In the 9 years that I’ve been a member of Goodreads, I’ve seen the site change a lot—for the better. Goodreads is perhaps the most essential website for readers as it allows you to track the books you’ve read, want to read, and are reading and add custom shelves to sort books. Connect with other readers in groups and follow authors for updates and exclusive information. The Goodreads lists are a rabbit hole to tumble down and find out more about books. I’ve found that the user-generated reviews have also improved over the last few years, going from one-line snarky hot takes to more thoughtful reviews. Plus they are home of the popular Goodreads Reading Challenge, an annual self-challenge to set a goal of how many books you want to read that year. (I’ve been known to argue against the challenge on this blog and offer alternatives to the Goodreads challenge , yet what can I say… I do it almost every year.) Even the Goodreads blog is getting better at publishing creative articles about the bookish life.

Strengths: Community, reading data tool, book list articles, user-generated reviews, reading challenge

(12) Largehearted Boy

Largehearted Boy is a book and music blog established in 2002 by David Gutowski and an essential corner of the literary internet. Obsessed with best-books-of-the-year lists? Make sure you bookmark Largehearted Boy, which compiles an index of the best-of lists you can peruse till your heart’s desire. Check out last year’s “Online ‘Best Books of 2018’ Book Lists” for a TBR-buckling example. (Full disclosure: I’ve submitted my best-of lists from this blog before and been included.) Also great for book discovery is the weekly “Books of the Week” that Montreal bookstore Drawn & Quarterly hosts on Largehearted Boy. What I love about Largehearted Boy is the thoughtful and honest book reviews, the blending of music and literature with the “Book Notes,” where an author matches a mix tape to their new book. Like Brainpickings, Largehearted Boy traces a very personal experience of inquiry into being a reader, writer, listener, and human being to provoke our own consideration. It’s an honor to share in it.

Strengths: Book list articles, author interviews, essays, book reviews, new book discovery

(13) Literary Hub (a.k.a. “LitHub”)

The parent site of the aforementioned Book Marks and CrimeReads, Literary Hub pumps out new book content for readers on the daily. I also suggest signing up for the LitHub newsletters as they come out each day with a summary of new posts not just on LitHub but elsewhere on the Internet. The weekly edition is a must-read, too, and it’s where I get many of the interesting bookish links I post on the Facebook page for this blog . On LitHub, you’ll find an endless stream of great writing about books, including essays on writing and reading, author interviews, highbrow intellectual literary criticism, book lists, and new fiction. Browsing LitHub is like reading a digital version of a literary magazine (like The New York Review of Books ) that you actually want to read. Unquestionably LitHub’s specialty is literary fiction, though they do also cover various genres, too. However, you likely won’t find much YA and children’s literature coverage on LitHub, excluding when they come up in personal essays about reading or writing kidlit.

Strengths: Literary criticism, literary fiction, nonfiction, essays, book list articles, author interviews, new book discovery, book news

(14) The Millions

Established in 2003, The Millions is one of the oldest book websites around, and over the past 15 plus years it has built up a reputation for being a gathering point for intellectually curious readers. Head over to The Millions if you want to check out the latest buzzy literary releases, hear more from authors about how they conceptualized and wrote their new book, discover the most anticipated books published in the month ahead, and find out what books were nominated for awards. The strength of The Millions is definitely literary fiction and nonfiction. Two of the best recurring features on The Millions are the annual Year in Reading , in which notable creatives and thinkers share a little about their year in reading, and The Millions’ Most Anticipated: The Great First-Half Year 20XX Preview, a TBR-toppling list of the most anticipated books of the year. This list comes out in two parts: January for the First-Half and July for the Second-Half. (Example: here’s the First-Half of 2018 Preview and Second-Half .) You’ll want to comb through these articles with your TBR ready, and you can find all The Millions lists on Goodreads for easy record keeping. I look forward to them every year as traditions, almost holidays, on the bookish calendar.

Strengths: Literary criticism, literary fiction, nonfiction, essays, author interviews, book list articles, previews of new releases, book news

(15) The New Yorker ‘s Books Section

Arguably the best literary magazine in America, The New Yorker is also a flourishing website with tons of great book content, most of it found on The Page-Turner blog . On The New Yorker ‘s Books channel, book reviews, publishing news, essays and articles from the magazine about writing and literature, and New Yorker staff book recommendations. Note that you’ll need a subscription to view more than a few articles a month. I admit I’m a proud subscriber of the magazine; I never recycle the issues, and they take over every corner of the house like an invasive species, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Strengths: Literary criticism, essays, literary fiction, nonfiction, author interviews, book reviews, book recommendations, book news

(16) The New York Times Book Review Online

It would hardly be a list of the best book websites without including The New York Times ‘ Book section. After all, The New York Times Book Review is one of the most prestigious and influential periodicals in publishing, and landing a coveted spot on its bestseller lists is just about every writer’s dream. Fortunately, the Review ‘s virtual presence is a worthy digital companion to the supplement you’ll find in Saturday’s paper. Online, you’ll get the same great book reviews, essays, and humor sketches, plus some podcasts going inside the Book Review and publishing that week that are seriously worth checking out. Every week I look for the New & Noteworthy feature, which highlights new releases you should put on your radar, and the Editors’ Choice: New Books We Recommend This Week, a weekly list that includes extracts from the critics’ reviews that’ll make you want to read these fresh books. One of my favorite recurring series in the Book Review is the By the Book interviews with writers, thinkers, and creatives, which discuss the bookish life and always includes interesting books to add to your TBR. You can find all of these digitized and uploaded weekly .

Strengths: Book reviews, book recommendations, author interviews, literary criticism, book news, podcasts, previews of new releases, new book discovery

(17) NPR Books

National Public Radio (NPR) has always been ear candy for readers, but now you can get all their great book programming online in one spot. The NPR Books site collects all the author interviews, book reviews, and stories about the reading life that you’ll get on the radio. If you’ve ever had the experience I have where you’ve gotta turn off the car in the middle of a story and you don’t have a pen or paper ready to record a book title or author name, they’ve got you covered. Beyond audio programming, NPR Books has a solid stream of book reviews and feature articles about writing and reading with a focus on diverse authors. Breadth and depth of coverage is a signature of NPR, which is why you’ll find articles about children’s books alongside graphic novels and comics and highbrow literary fiction. NPR Books is known for one more thing: the annual end-of-the-year book concierge . This behemoth of a book recommendation machine is a slick book discovery tool to find more than 300 of the best books of the year. Yes, I said 300. I’ve found so many great books this way, ones that were otherwise overlooked in best-of-the-year lists, and the methods to sort by what you’re in the mood for make this giant list manageable, with some seriously high-quality UX. Oh, yeah: you’ll be working through that list for the rest of the upcoming year.

Strengths: Book reviews, diversity, book list articles, author interviews, book news, all-genre coverage, new book discovery

(18) Publishers Weekly

If it’s publishing industry news you want, Publishers Weekly should be your first stop. Publishers Weekly (PW) is packed with insider-y gossip-y content about what’s hitting the shelves now and soon. Writers will want to check out PW’s articles to get an idea of what agents are buying and what trends are moving through books. I also sometimes mine the announcements that publishers make of new and upcoming books to get ready for upcoming releases and add them to my calendar.

Strengths: Book news, publishing industry information, book list articles, previews of new releases, new book discovery

(19) Read Brightly

Kid lit fans, this one is for you. Read Brightly is an online children’s literature website that’s part of Penguin Random House. Read Brightly is an excellent resource for readers of children’s literature and the adults who help children learn to love reading. One great feature of this website is the way each article is broken down by reading levels, a key distinction that takes the guessing game out of trying to connect children to the most age and reading level appropriate books. A flurry of articles celebrate kid lit, with creative and diverse book lists around categories like “Move Over, Rover: 10 Picture Books That Feature Unusual Pets.” Each month, Read Brightly hosts a reading challenge for kids designed to help them stretch themselves and discover new books. Like Epic Reads, this book website is hosted by a publishing house but features books from all parts of the children’s literature publishing world. Read Brightly truly lives up to its motto “Raise Kids Who Love to Read” as that passion for literacy and raising bookworms comes through in every story they write.

Strengths: Children’s literature, Young Adult (YA) literature, book list articles, previews of new releases, reading challenges, all-genre coverage, book discovery

Last but definitely not least, Tor is the go-to destination for science fiction and fantasy readers on the literary web. Tor has long published books, but their online presence takes their mission to highlight great voices in speculative fiction and pushes it further, creating a space for a community of SFF fans to grow and thrive. On Tor, you’ll read honest book reviews that are fair and critical of the books and authors in question, original fiction, lists of books, personal essays, eBook deals, SFF industry news, and coverage of SFF-related media, like Game of Thrones . What I like about this site is the freedom that Tor gives its bloggers and staff writers to really speak their minds about books. You might find articles about super-super niche sub-sub-sub genres you didn’t even know were a thing, but you definitely won’t find BS here. This makes Tor a leading place to go for readers who want to dig into the issues behind books.

Strengths: Science fiction, fantasy, SFF related TV shows and movies, book news, book reviews, essays, book list articles, book discovery

More great book websites

Here are a few other book websites you’ll definitely want to check out but didn’t make the full list (because I ran out of time!): Atlas Obscura’s Books Section , Catapult , The New York Review of Books , and Vox.com’s Books Section .

What are some of your favorite book websites? What did I miss? Leave a comment!

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Sarah S. Davis is the founder of Broke by Books, a blog about her journey as a schizoaffective disorder bipolar type writer and reader. Sarah's writing about books has appeared on Book Riot, Electric Literature, Kirkus Reviews, BookRags, PsychCentral, and more. She has a BA in English from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Library and Information Science from Clarion University, and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.

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Don’t Know What to Read Next? This Comprehensive Book Map Can Help

By michele debczak | oct 26, 2023.

Half the battle of nurturing a reading habit is figuring out which book to read next. Whether you prefer fiction or nonfiction, classic literature or new releases, the diversity of titles to choose from can be daunting. If you’re desperate for book recommendations, TheLibraryMap is the perfect starting point.

TheLibraryMap is an online tool that organizes 100,000 book titles in a way that’s visually pleasing and easy to navigate. Each bubble on the map represents a different book, with the size of the bubble reflecting the number of user reviews. Genres and topics are color-coded, and similar titles are clustered in close proximity to one another. If you read and enjoyed Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, for example, you can browse that area of the map for books you possibly would find next to it on the shelf of a bookstore. The Secrets We Keep by Kate Hewitt and All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood are a couple of the related titles that it recommends. 

If you already have a specific read in mind and are looking for similar recommendations, inputting the name into the search bar at the top of the page brings you straight to it. You can also create an account to add any books that catch your interest to a virtual “to be read” pile on the website. Explore the comprehensive database for yourself here .

Between self-published and commercially published works, millions of new books are released each year. When navigating the wide world of literature , it helps to have a resource you can trust. Here are some books recommended by the Mental Floss team.

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28 Websites to Help You Find Your Next Great Read

Finding a good book these days can seem a little like you’re the Monty Python team searching for the Holy Grail, especially if you’re looking  for something exciting and new.

The beast that is Amazon has an ever-expanding bookshelf of new titles coming out every day. So we’ve put a handy list of 28 of the best websites that will help you find what book to read next , so you can spend your time reading great books.

1. Goodreads

If you’re an avid reader then you probably already know about Goodreads . If you don’t, you need to sign up. It’s the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations . Their mission is to help readers find and share the books that they love. It also allows you to see what book your friends are reading, share what books you have read, are currently reading and create a wishlist.

Furthermore, their recommendation engine analyzes 20 billion data points to give suggestions tailored to your literary tastes so that you never run out of things to read.

BookBub is another giant in the book recommendation game. It’s a free service that helps millions of readers discover great deals on acclaimed ebooks while providing publishers and authors with a way to drive sales and find new fans.

Members receive a personalised daily email alerting them to the best free and deeply discounted titles matching their interests as selected by our editorial team.

The books can be a little hit and miss as authors pay to be on here, but there is a pretty intensive review process so you can be sure that the books featured are of a pretty high standard. It’s a great site to get huge discounts on some new and bestselling authors.

3. Book Swag

Book Swag is a similar site to BookBub. It’s fairly new on the scene and offers free weekly emails that help you find the best eBooks from established, new and indie authors. However, its main difference to BookBub is that the authors featured on the site haven’t paid to be there. Their books are chosen for one reason – they’re exciting books that the team have found worthy to be recommended.

4. Awesomegang

Awesomegang is a free service for readers to find books across many genres. Every day there is a minimum of 100 new books to choose from that are free or deeply discounted.

You can discover a new author and find a good book to fill up your reading device in just a few clicks. Hint: Use the search box and enter a genre you like and you will discover some cool books.

5. Buckbooks.net

Buck Books is a free service that helps readers discover free and time-limited deals on highly rated eBooks. Members receive personalised notification emails alerting them to the best free and deeply discounted ebooks matching their genre of interest, as provided by their selection team.

6. Jellybooks

Jellybooks offers readers ebooks free-of-charge from leading publishers. These are Advance Readings Copies (ARCs) that are made available as an ebook for test reading purposes.

In many cases these will be available to you even before they are released to the general public. In return, they ask that you help them understand how you read books. This is really simple: read the ebook they provide and at the end of each chapter click the “sync reading stream” button in return for receiving the free ebook.

You may also choose to write a review , but this is entirely optional. They are primarily interested in your reading data.

7. Your Next Read

The team behind YourNextRead love to read. The site follows a similar premise to GoodReads by providing a book recommendation system showing aggregated book reviews, updated by real people’s opinions, in a simple visual map, helping you to decide ‘What Should I Read Next?’. Perfect for both bookworms and casual readers!

8. LibraryThing

LibraryThing is a user-powered book ratings, review, and recommendation site. It’s an online service to help people catalog their books easily. You can access your catalog from anywhere—even on your mobile phone. 

A free account allows you to catalog up to 200 books. A paid account allows you to catalog any number of books. Paid personal accounts cost $10 for a year or $25 for a lifetime.

9. Booktastik

Booktastik was created with both readers and authors in mind. Booktastik is where readers and books come together. They’ve made it as easy as possible for you to choose your next read – from letting you know about the best ebook deals and new releases, to providing quality reviews on all types of books. 

Also, if you love competitions and giveaways, there are plenty of book-related ones to enter. 

10. Olmenta

Olmenta is a simple tiled list of book covers that the service thinks you should read. You can select several genres like business, fiction, children’s, theater, poetry, or nonfiction, and several others.  It’s a pretty straightforward book recommendation site. If you like the book recommendations, be sure to visit the site regularly for new updates.

11.  Bookish

Bookish is run by a team of readers who explore the literary worlds that we long to live in. Within the site you’ll find everything from GIF reviews to serious essays on genre dynamics, author interviews, book recommendations, listicles and seasonal previews.

The site’s goal is to give readers more information about the books, authors, and genres that they love while also introducing them to new titles, debut writers, and genres they never thought they’d read.

12. Pretty-Hot

Pretty-Hot started out as a romance site but as the site grew authors submitted the other genres they were writing in and now the site has almost every genre covered to find good books. It is heavily focused on romance and paranormal romance and any other type of romance books that are hot!

13. What should I read next?

What Should I Read Next couldn’t be simpler, enter a book you like and the site will analyse their massive database of real readers’ favorite books to provide book recommendations and suggestions related to that title.

14. The Staff Recommends

Publishers send The Staff Recommends books they’d like to be considered for the site and they only recommend those books that they like and want to be featured. Only after a book has gone through the review process do the publisher pay a fee to be featured. Each book has a persuasive summary and review of the book.

15. AllReaders

AllReaders classify books based on plot, setting, character, and writing style. Therefore, if you know what kind of book you like, you can find other authors who write similar kinds of stories. For example, if you like murder mysteries involving the murder of lawyers on a cruise ship in the 1990’s where the investigator loves her Mom but hates cats, you can actually search for a crime story with that kind of plot and main character. 

16. ManyBooks

ManyBooks provides an extensive library of books in digital format for free on the Internet. Many of the early eBooks are from the Project Gutenberg archives, which means you will be able to find a lot of classics on the site. ManyBooks has grown into a platform where self-publishing authors have the opportunity to introduce their work to their reader community. New books are uploaded daily.

17. Whichbook

Whichbook classifies titles by feelings or states of mind. Move the sliders from “happy” to “sad” or from “safe” to “disturbing” and Whichbook generates a list of best matches.

18. Readgeek

Readgeek knows the books you would like to read but don’t know how to find them. You won’t depend on bestseller lists or well-intentioned tips anymore and still find exactly what you were looking for. Far beyond the mainstream. We use statistics and some calculations to find out what you would like. 

19. Read Cheaply

ReadCheaply is a free daily email that alerts you to awesome deals on acclaimed eBooks that match your interests. You pick the categories and we forward the deals!

ReadCheaply alerts you to the amazing limited-time deals that become available at retailers like Amazon’s Kindle store, Barnes & Noble’s Nook store, Apple’s iBooks store, Google Play store, Kobo and others.

20. The Fussy Librarian

The Fussy Librarian was the first website to match readers not only with the genre of books they like but also their preferences about content. Do you only read mysteries without profanity, violence and sex? Then we’ll tell you only about cozy mysteries. Read just memoirs and gory horror novels? No problem.

21. Book Gorilla

Quality books at great prices, delivered straight to your inbox every day. These book recommendations are tailored to your personal reading preferences, featuring the best deals on the best Kindle ebooks, either completely free or at deeply discounted bargain prices. At BookGorilla you can get bestselling books at prices ranging from free to $2 or $3?

22. Forewordz

Forewordz is a book lover’s community connecting authors and readers through daily eBook deals and special promotions. They’re one part discount eBook recommendation service, one part book discovery tool, and one part author marketing platform all fused together by a universal and evergreen love of books.

23. ebook Soda

Great ebook deals tailored to your taste. Whether you want cheap ebooks, free ebooks or bargain ebooks, tell them what you like, they’ll dive in and pull out the ones you’ll love. They find ebook deals for all devices – Kindle, iPad, iPhone, Nook, Kobo, laptop and more.

24. Free Kindle Books and Tips

Kindle Books & Tips has a simple purpose: to provide an interactive blog where you will receive tips to maximize your Kindle experience, author interviews, articles from the author’s take on the eBook world, links to special and discounted Kindle books, and the heads-up on the numerous books, short stories, and more.

25. Bargain Booksy

Bargain Booksy finds the best deals on cheap books and ebooks. Get great deals on all-time best-selling books. They‘ll find the perfect book for you. Select what format you prefer and the genres you love and they’ll do the rest! The site features the best fiction, non-fiction and best-selling ebooks on the web.

26. BookSends

BookSends is a daily email service that allows you to choose the genre of books you want to get deals about. In the email, you’ll find info about the day’s best deals and links to get them. Not only will you discover great books from bestselling, award-winning authors, you’ll be able to get them at a fraction of the price.

27. Bargain ebook Hunter

Bargain eBook Hunter are dedicated to hunting through the digital publishing world for eBooks at great deals (from FREE to $5.00) and putting them on their site to provide readers a one-stop shopping experience.  You will find titles that comprise the full gamut of styles from short stories to novels and from all genres.

28. Discount Books Daily

Discount Books Daily is a team of book lovers with a combined 15 years experience in publishing, online media, ecommerce and start-ups. They’ve partnered with both traditional publishers and top-notch indie authors, to deliver popular and unique titles that you may not have discovered otherwise.

Discount Books Daily delivers one daily email that features a selection of ebooks that match your pre-selected genres for mostly under $5 and sometimes free!

If you have any other websites, let us know via our contact us page .

Scott Mullins

10 Best Book Recommendation Sites You Need To Know

Looking for a great summer read? Want to read more on a topic you’re interested in or see what’s new or trending in the book world? There are plenty of places to turn for book recommendations on the internet. Most are simple and free and best of all, they’ll help prevent that feeling of reader’s remorse, when you get home from the bookstore or library, start reading and realize that you’ve just wasted your time and possibly your hard earned money on a lousy book in which you have no interest in reading.

1. Goodreads

Goodreads is more than a book recommendation site; it’s also an online community of book reviews and ratings. Goodreads will make recommendations based on what you’ve already read or what your friends are reading. Goodreads also highlights what’s trending and new releases that are coming out. Build bookshelves, lists, participate in book discussions and sometimes even author Q & A. 

2. LibraryThing

LibraryThing has been around for a long time. In fact, they consider themselves the world’s largest book club and it certainly has that kind of feel. Add books to your catalogue and get recommendations based on what you’ve read or select “member recommendations” instead of LibraryThing recommendations to get different alternatives. You can participate in groups and discussions, and see featured authors and new books as well.

3. What Should I Read Next

One of the best things about What Should I Read Next is that you don’t need an account to sign in. You just type in a book you like or that you’ve read, and it populates a list of similar books. There are links to the Amazon page for each book. If you choose to sign up for an account, you can make lists of books you’ve read or favorites for the site to base recommendations on. This site is streamlined and easy.

Bookish has one of the most attractive of the platforms. You can get custom book recommendations by entering a few books you’ve read or browse through different genres. There are articles and author interviews, book lists and reviews. You can also create your own bookshelves.

5. Shelfari

Shelfari is a social cataloging website for books, sort of like Wikipedia for books! Shelfari users can build virtual bookshelves of titles have read, and can rate, review, tag, and discuss their books. Users can also create or join groups and discussions. Where Shelfari really shines is in its book listings, detailed summaries, character listings, quotes, settings and more. Though Shelfari is owned by amazon, it is a completely separate website.

And speaking of Amazon, if you search for a book you’ve read or heard about, the “Customers who bought this item also bought,” section can offer some great title suggestions. The recommendations may be limited, but on the plus side, there are editorial reviews, customer reviews, and sampling. You can also view lists and search by genre.

7.  BookBub

BookBub is different in that it isn’t precisely a book recommendation service like the others. What BookBub does is recommend free or extremely low-cost books (usually only $.99-$2,) based on your interests and books you’ve read. BookBub sends you an email every day with book deals for that day often under the radar titles that you may have missed.

If you don’t want to create book lists or shelves or register for accounts, Olmenta might be a simple solution for you. The site will recommend books for you based on general popularity and the curation and preferences of the people behind the site. You can browse genres as well. There are no hoops to jump through, but the recommendations aren’t personalized either. It’s simple and basic, but if you’re just looking for some new book ideas, Olmenta couldn’t be easier.

9. Whichbook

Whichbook is unlike any of the other sites in that it’s not based on what you’ve already read or on a specific genre. Recommendations are based on emotions and elements of the book. There are a series of slider scales, such as Happy-Sad, Gentle-Violent, Short-Long, Expected-Unpredictable, Easy-Demanding, etc. You can also explore lists and authors, or create your own list as well. Whichbook takes a fun and unique approach.

Riffle is being called the Pinterest of books! Smaller than Goodreads, Riffle is an alternative that definitely has a Pinterest-like feel. You tell Riffle categories you like and enter a few books you’ve read and it provides you with a suggestion of people to follow. If you happen to like the books they list great, if not you can always unfollow them. As you use the site more, you can add more lists to follow and share lists of your own. While it doesn’t offer specific book recommendations, it does allow you to scroll through galleries of reading possibilities.

Featured photo credit: I love to Read via flickr.com

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9 Alternative Sites Better Than Goodreads for Book Lovers

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What is goodreads, the storygraph, librarything, key takeaways.

• Goodreads alternatives like The StoryGraph offer better book reviews and tailored recommendations.
• Bookly tracks reading progress, hosts readathons, and offers a premium plan for unlimited books.
• Fable and BookTrib offer unique features like book clubs and news for book lovers, surpassing Goodreads.

Goodreads boasts millions of users and a database full of even more books. People flock to the site to discover new titles to consume, catalog what they've already read, and see what friends are reading.

But although Goodreads offers countless useful features, many are beginning to look elsewhere to fill their book cataloging needs.

Here are some of the best Goodreads alternatives that offer even more features.

Goodreads is a social platform that caters to avid readers and book creators. It lets you create bookshelves and fill them with books you have read, are currently reading, or plan to read. Goodreads helps you keep a neat record of every title, and once you've read it, it allows you to share your thoughts on it. You can leave a review, give the book a star rating, and move on to the next.

You can get recommendations tailored to your specific tastes based on your shelves with access to an established community of book lovers. Goodreads also offers the option to set yearly reading challenges for yourself for no reward other than your sense of accomplishment.

Goodreads has stagnated, and many users are looking elsewhere for book communities. There are now many other options, all with features that match or surpass those of Goodreads. Book lovers can find a slew of apps designed to fit their needs, including apps designed for social reading .

Since its initial release at the beginning of 2021, StoryGraph has received some major quality-of-life updates. It's praised as not only an alternative to Goodreads but also as the best option to replace the platform.

StoryGraph offers many more features when it comes to reviewing books, and the recommendations you get are better tailored as it considers more factors. The website and app now offer a premium subscription, called The StoryGraph Plus, for $4.99 per month with the option for a 30-day free trial. With the premium subscription, subscribers receive extra data points for reading stats, priority maintenance assistance, and the ability to vote on new features for the site.

The platform also provides some features Goodreads does not: a Did Not Finish option, allowing you to track which books you started but didn't finish, and half-star ratings.

If you're on the fence about switching, we've put together some pros and cons of Goodreads and The StoryGraph .

Bookly is a book-tracking app that hosts frequent readathons and allows users to track their reading with timers. You can also rate, review, and create notes for the books you're reading. Users can earn coins by reading and reaching milestones, which they can then spend on costumes for Bookly's adorable mascot, Bloo.

However, one major drawback is that, with a free account, you can only have up to 10 books on your Bookly bookshelf. The premium subscription, Bookly PRO, offers a personal assistant and unlimited book tracking for $4.99 per month or $29.99 per year.

Fable is a book-tracking app that also hosts virtual book clubs. You can post photos, discussion posts, and comments on other users' posts. The app even has a way to start a daily reading streak. In virtual book clubs, users can annotate and react to parts of books that the entire book club can see. The reading app also offers free downloads of classic literature. Finally, Fable recently expanded to allow users to track TV shows, as well!

If you're looking to learn more about Fable, check out why I've switched from Goodreads to Fable for good .

BookTrib is an interesting website that establishes itself as a "Lifestyle Destination" for book lovers. The book cataloging platform provides news and allows its users to leave reviews. Instead of a shelf called Currently Reading like Goodreads, BookTrib offers a shelf called My Nightstand, which displays users' books.

What sets BookTrib apart is its news aspect. It publishes a newsletter called The Exclamation Point! that covers all things books, publishing, and media.

BookTrib offers articles about pretty much everything book-related, and it goes pretty in-depth with what it covers. The platform also allows its members to do live chats with authors and even do book giveaways.

BookBrowse markets itself as a magazine for book lovers and claims to be the people's guide to exceptional books. It helps you find your next book and avoid being disappointed with it. Even though this website looks dated, it still has a ton of great features. BookBrowse has giveaways and games and offers a magazine twice a month with a subscription ($15 for three months or $45 for a year).

Book Browse offers access to book reviews, previews, and even author interviews and reading guides. You can also sign up for book clubs and free weekly newsletters from BookBrowse.

LibraryThing offers "a home for your books" and even calls itself the Facebook for books. It houses well over two million book lovers and allows you to store and share book catalogs and other book metadata. LibraryThing also offers virtual scavenger hunts throughout the year, with chances to win free merchandise or page badges. You can access LibraryThing via its website or app.

LibraryThing is used by book readers, writers, libraries, and publishers. It's similar to Goodreads in that it allows you to catalog books from various sources and has a social aspect. LibraryThing lets you catalog and track your movies and music, too, and it's completely free. If you're a data nerd, LibraryThing offers more data-driven visualizations than other Goodreads alternatives.

Libib takes it a step further than only cataloging books. It also supports movies, music, video games, and now board games! It offers a website and an app, allowing you to create and share a collection.

You're free to catalog as much as you want, with a cap of 100,000 items, though it's doubtful that you'll even come close to reaching that. Libib is one of the best media cataloging systems, if not the best. It also offers paid services for libraries looking to track patrons, books checked out, and other useful data for running a library.

If you have a blog, Anobii is the best place for you. The platform allows you to connect your blog to your profile after you register as a user. Other than that lovely perk, Anobii is pretty close to Goodreads in what it offers, but with a more social twist.

Anobii lets you create a book library that houses books you've read or wish to read. You can rate and organize books into categories and read and write reviews. The platform also lets you email contacts, invite your Facebook friends, or even upload your contact list. You can also join groups and discussions and become a part of the community. You can even search for bookstores near you with its interactive map.

Revish has been around since 2007. It allows you to share your reading experiences and thoughts by writing reviews for titles you've read. It lets you make a reading list, which you can then share with your friends so they can see what you have your eye on. Apart from a reading list, you can also keep a reading journal, which helps you know what you were reading at any given time. You can even find movie and TV recommendations on the site, as well.

The Revish platform also encourages you to participate in and create groups and discussions. The website provides you with its API and widgets that help you add your Revish content to your blog or website if you want to do that. Its design is a bit outdated, but it still does the job.

Goodreads is an excellent cataloging website. It helps you track your current reads and everything you plan to consume in the future. Despite plenty of helpful features, it has shortcomings, including issues that users have continuously raised (like the lack of a Did Not Finish button or half-star rating system) but have never seen the light of day.

You may have had to put up with Goodreads a long time ago when there were no other options for cataloging your reading. Now, there are plenty of options, so choose an alternative and move on.

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3 Ways to Find Recommended Books Based on Other Books You Love

Abigail Clarkin

Abigail can often be found holding a book in one hand and an ice cream cone in the other. When she is not devouring stories (or dessert), Abigail trains for marathons and writes poetry about growing up with eight brothers and sisters. She enjoys working in marketing for a real estate developer and creating Instagram content for fun (@marathonandmunch) about all the tasty eats found in Providence, RI.

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Finding a book to follow up your new favorite read can be a struggle. How can any author fill Leigh Bardugo’s shoes? How can your heart ever make room for more characters outside of Narnia? Well, reading books that are similar to the ones you love definitely helps. Other readers and companies clearly understand what you are going through because they’ve created sites and services offering recommended books based on other books you already know you love.

Here are three helpful ways you can find your next favorite book.

1. Sign up for Personalized Recommendations

Tailored Book Recommendations, also known as TBR, is Book Riot’s personalized recommendation service. If you’d like a person on the other end, carefully curating titles for you, then TBR is a dream come true. Sign up for TBR and you’ll receive thoughtfully selected titles specifically for you.

Goodreads is also immensely helpful in generating suggestions. After signing up, you can create personal bookshelves and then view recommendations in response to what you place on each bookshelf. (Warning: Your “Want to Read” list may grow dangerously long once you begin spending time on Goodreads. There are just too many good books.)

Another resource is libraries. Libraries are magical to begin with, but did you know your public library might also be the perfect place to electronically gather book recommendations? Many of the larger, public libraries have their own personalized book suggestion programs. This includes the Newport Public Library , the Provo Library , and the Denver Public Library . Ask your librarians the next time you’re visiting (which is undoubtedly tomorrow, if you’re anything like me.)

2. Take A Few Quizzes

Book recommendation quizzes are not only fun to take, but they are also super helpful.

Buzzfeed has a magical quiz that asks you to select your various favorites and then gives you a new book to check out. The quiz pulls from the classics, nonfiction, children’s books and more to find the book you simply must read.

RJ Julia , a beloved bookstore in Connecticut, also has a quiz to help you choose a book. Considering your choice in magazines, ideal vacations, and the one author you simply cannot resist reading, the quiz narrows down which story you should dive into next.

For those of you who want young adult recommendations specifically, Penguin Teen has some quizzes lined up. If you are a fan of Shakespeare plays, select your favorite in this Penguin Teen quiz and find a young adult book recommendation that aligns with it.

3. Check out Similar Reads

Goodreads has a collection of read-alike book lists. For those unfamiliar with read-alikes, the idea is this: if you are passionate about a series such as—for example—Harry Potter, the readers of Goodreads have voted on the books they best think are similar and enjoyable.

NoveList is a fantastic resource that functions through EBSCOhost for libraries. The site includes read-alikes for every title clicked. Simply select or search a title you enjoy; then check out the read-alikes on the right hand panel of the page.

There are also a few sites that require no registration and little work to find recommended books based on other books.

After selecting a book you very much like, Your Next Read branches out into titles that are close matches. Literature-Map  works similarly: after typing in your favorite author, a map will pop up that shows other authors enjoyed by those who like reading your favorite author. According to the site, the closer the authors’ names to the one you originally chose, the more likely you are to adore their work as well.  Gnooks uses a simple way to suggest a new author: type in three authors you like and it will suggest one in response.

Discovering new books to read can seem intimidating, but these quizzes and services can make the process much more approachable. Let us know what site pairs you with your new book love. Looking for even more options? Explore 15 of the Best Book Recommendation Sites to Find Your Next Book .

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7 Best Book Recommendation Sites and Apps to Find Your Next Read

Whether you have a private library or picking up a book for the first time, making a choice can be hard. You always have the option to ask your friends but why depend on a limited source when you have far better ways to stumble upon good books? So without further ado, here are some of the best book recommendation sites and apps to nail your next read. Let’s begin.

Table of Contents

Sites and Apps to Recommend Books Based on What You Like

1. recommend me a book.

If you believe in the concept of ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’, this one is the perfect book recommendation site for you. It picks a random book and shows the reader only the first page of the book. If you what you read, you get an option to reveal the name and author of the book at the end of the page. In case you don’t like the first page, make use of the Next Book option to shuffle.

The genre feature is one option I like the most. It allows you to apply filters to the search results and choose a specific genre. For example, adventure, biography, horror, humor, etc. You can also change the font size and the text alignment if you like.

• No sign-in required
• Clean webpage without ads
• Shows Amazon links for books
• No book reviews
• Limited book database

Visit Recommend Me a Book ( iOS | Android | Website )

2. The Book Apothecary

The Book Apothecary is a section of a larger website, Read it Forward , which caters to book lovers. The website has multiple sections such as yearly/monthly book lists, book excerpts, etc. However, I’m just going to talk about the book recommendation section. A user can easily reach the section from the Your Next Read option on the website’s top bar. The Book Apothecary has a very unique way of recommending books – according to your mood. It requires users to select mood in two stages after which they are shown book results.

The suggested results are limited to three books which is disappointing and I also found the recommendations off the mark. However, if you take other sections of the website into consideration, it’s a good package. You can find podcasts, essays, articles, videos, and even author interviews which might be of interest to many.

• Recommends books by mood
• Multiple useful sections for readers
• Frequent book giveaways
• Multiple shop links (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks)
• Limited to three book recommendation
• Low perfect match probability

Visit The Book Apothecary

3. Read This Twice

Every once in a while, we come across posts on social media with a list of books famous people have read. Whether it’s Warren Buffet’s book recommendations for budding investors or Steve Jobs’s favorite book list . If you like to read more books by influential personalities, Read This twice is a good starting point. It has a whole section dedicated to the books recommended by personalities along with their quotes and views about the book (with source).

There are multiple genres to select books from. The sidebar is dedicated to various genres and professions be it actors, bloggers, scientists, and many more. In addition, you get a short bio about the person, book summary, Goodreads rating and also comments (if recommended by more people listed). You can also add your favorite books to the library, although it requires sign-in.

• Large database of book recommendations
• Covers personalities from various fields
• Shows Goodreads rating, publish date, category, ISBN number, etc.
• Contains a comprehensive list by book genre
• Shows if a book is available on Audible
• Found broken Amazon links

Visit Read This Twice

4. Whichbook

Consider Whichbook a book recommendation site with a bit of all the above websites combined. There are several ways you can look for your next read. You can filter books by emotion/mood, character, plot and they cover bestsellers too. What makes this one different from all the others is the world map section. As you might have already guessed, you can browse books by country of origin. It’s a great way to find books related to a certain culture or geographical location. All these are presented in a 3D scrollable map where you can simply click on the continent > country and find a list of books.

Another unique feature is the borrow section which displays all the public libraries where you can borrow books from. The rest of the book recommendation filters such as mood/emotion and character/plot section are comprehensive. The mood section allows the user to drag the slider to set the intensity of a mood. For example, happy or sad, gentle or violent, etc. In terms of character/plot, you can filter by plot, race, age, gender, etc.

• World map of books
• Multiple filter options
• Public library listing to borrow
• Books cover used as templates
• Shows book extract and related books
• Fairly limited books for specific countries
• No sign-in option (can’t save books or make a list)

Visit Whichbook

There is a subreddit for everything under the sun and so is there one for book recommendations. The best part about subreddits is that you can join multiple communities which can fall between both generic and niche topics. Apart from that, you can post about the books you are looking for, ask for recommendations, and discuss the book’s storyline. Here are some book recommendation subreddits you can check out.

• Suggest Me A Book
• Book Suggestions
• Books (in-depth discussions)
• The Reddit Book Club (one/two book a month)
• Audiobooks (Audible users)
• 52 Book Challenge (one book a week challenge)

If you wish to discuss a specific genre and can’t find a subreddit for it, you can simply create a Reddit community (subreddit) in a few easy steps.

Get Reddit for ( iOS | Android | Website )

6. BookSloth

Android doesn’t have a lot of book recommendation apps but BookSloth is one of the few good ones. It’s a fairly simple app and you start by choosing your favorite genres such as biographies, crime, fiction, etc. Once you are done choosing a genre (at least 3 or more), the app asks you to choose reading elements.

The app also allows you to connect to other readers natively with its community section. You can share your favorite books, take part in discussions, follow others and also check out their book recommendations. One issue I faced while using the app is a dead recommendation page. Even after selecting multiple filters, the app didn’t show any result in the discover section. Keeping that aside, if you are in for a book community and want to see what others are reading, this is a must-try.

• Allows you to make a unique profile
• Sections on book recommendation, reading, to read, etc
• Sports Instagram like social community
• Discover section often failed to suggest books
• Can’t verify other users or their recommendations
• App focus more on user-generated content

Get BookSloth for ( iOS | Android )

7. Goodreads

So I saved the best one for the last. Goodreads is a one-stop-shop for all your reading woes. Since Amazon acquired Goodreads , the app has seen an increase in the number of users. Goodread’s Kindle integration also makes it a convenient choice for Kindle users.

You can search for books by genre and also set a yearly goal for the number of books you wish to read. The only downside is that the recommendations take time. The app has a steep learning curve and it recommends good books once you have rated a fair number of books. So the more books you rate, the chances of getting a quality recommendation also shoots up. Goodreads are great for organizing your books. The shelves section allows you to add books that you are currently reading and also helps you make a wishlist.

• Large database of books
• Allows you to add tags to books
• Syncs Kindle notes and highlights
• Allows search and scan books
• Limited sign-in options
• Takes reviews to make a good recommendation list.

Get Goodreads for ( iOS | Android )

Closing Remarks: Which Book Recommendation Sites or Apps Should You Choose

In my opinion, there are far more tools for the web when we look at book recommendations. I highly recommend using Whichbook as it offers plenty of filters when you are searching for a book. On the other hand, if you have some particular needs such as a book that doesn’t have its main character or simply a supernatural series , Reddit should be on top of your list. Lastly, if you wish to use an app, install Goodreads.

Also Read: How to Read Amazon Kindle Books on Windows PC

Vaibhav is a broadcast journalist with a keen interest in tech. He doesn't believe in fanboying a specific product. He writes about things he believes are actually helpful in some way to the user.

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This is a moderated subreddit. It is our intent and purpose to foster and encourage in-depth discussion about all things related to books, authors, genres, or publishing in a safe, supportive environment. If you're looking for help with a personal book recommendation, consult our Weekly Recommendation Thread, Suggested Reading page, or ask in r/suggestmeabook.

Where do you find book recommendations or a similar book to those you already have read?

I feel like I've explored all cool books. Goodreads recommendations are mediocre at best, at least for me. Amazon seems to be 100% money driven when recommending a book.

I'm a non-fiction reader if it helps, and I'd love to find an app, Facebook group, website or even blog with the recommendations I can trust.

So far NYT Bestseller list was the closest one.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

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Readers Pick Their 100 Best Books of the 21st Century

By The New York Times Books Staff

When the Book Review published a list of the 100 best books of the century , we knew we’d hear from readers who were incensed or gutted or driven wild by grief. How could So-and-So’s book not make the cut ?

One of the best things about working in books is just this: the passion of our constituency. No way would we deprive readers of the chance to vote for their own list and make their voices heard .

And so you have. There’s some overlap between your list and ours — we agreed on 39 books. As for the 61 new entries here, what stands out most is that they’re the books that captured cultural moments and sparked lively literary conversations. They’re also great. Enjoy!

The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century

• The Book Review’s List of 100
• See how your favorite authors voted
• Let us help you find a new book to read from the list
• Sign up to receive the Books newsletter

The Reader Top 100

Demon copperhead.

Barbara Kingsolver

No. 61 on the Book Review’s list

All the Light We Cannot See

Anthony Doerr

A Gentleman in Moscow

Amor Towles

The Goldfinch

Donna Tartt

No. 46 on the Book Review’s list

Min Jin Lee

No. 15 on the Book Review’s list

Tara Westover

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

Gabrielle Zevin

No. 76 on the Book Review’s list

My Brilliant Friend

Elena Ferrante; translated by Ann Goldstein

No. 1 on the Book Review’s list

Never Let Me Go

Kazuo Ishiguro

No. 9 on the Book Review’s list

Station Eleven

Emily St. John Mandel

No. 93 on the Book Review’s list

A Little Life

Hanya Yanagihara

The Overstory

Richard Powers

No. 24 on the Book Review’s list

The Underground Railroad

Colson Whitehead

No. 7 on the Book Review’s list

Hilary Mantel

No. 3 on the Book Review’s list

Cormac McCarthy

No. 13 on the Book Review’s list

Lincoln in the Bardo

George Saunders

No. 18 on the Book Review’s list

No. 26 on the Book Review’s list

Jeffrey Eugenides

No. 59 on the Book Review’s list

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

No. 27 on the Book Review’s list

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Michael Chabon

No. 16 on the Book Review’s list

Maggie O’Farrell

The Warmth of Other Suns

Isabel Wilkerson

No. 2 on the Book Review’s list

Ann Patchett

No. 98 on the Book Review’s list

Marilynne Robinson

No. 10 on the Book Review’s list

The Corrections

Jonathan Franzen

No. 5 on the Book Review’s list

Normal People

Sally Rooney

Cutting for Stone

Abraham Verghese

Say Nothing

Patrick Radden Keefe

No. 19 on the Book Review’s list

A Visit From the Goon Squad

Jennifer Egan

No. 39 on the Book Review’s list

Madeline Miller

Cloud Cuckoo Land

The book thief.

Markus Zusak

Cloud Atlas

David Mitchell

No. 28 on the Book Review’s list

The Covenant of Water

The year of magical thinking.

Joan Didion

No. 12 on the Book Review’s list

The Nickel Boys

The great believers.

Rebecca Makkai

No. 64 on the Book Review’s list

Olive Kitteridge

Elizabeth Strout

No. 74 on the Book Review’s list

The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini

Life After Life

Kate Atkinson

No. 51 on the Book Review’s list

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

No. 11 on the Book Review’s list

Between the World and Me

Ta-Nehisi Coates

No. 36 on the Book Review’s list

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

James McBride

There There

Tommy Orange

The Song of Achilles

Lessons in chemistry.

Bonnie Garmus

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous

Ocean Vuong

Gillian Flynn

Percival Everett

The Nightingale

Kristin Hannah

Hernan Diaz

No. 50 on the Book Review’s list

Stephen King

Braiding Sweetgrass

Robin Wall Kimmerer

The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins

Small Things Like These

Claire Keegan

No. 41 on the Book Review’s list

White Teeth

Zadie Smith

No. 31 on the Book Review’s list

Where the Crawdads Sing

Delia Owens

The Dutch House

North woods.

Daniel Mason

The Sympathizer

Viet Thanh Nguyen

No. 90 on the Book Review’s list

The Fifth Season

N.K. Jemisin

No. 44 on the Book Review’s list

Roberto Bolaño; translated by Natasha Wimmer

No. 6 on the Book Review’s list

Matthew Desmond

No. 21 on the Book Review’s list

Patti Smith

Susanna Clarke

The Devil in the White City

Erik Larson

Killers of the Flower Moon

David Grann

Know My Name

Chanel Miller

Sing, Unburied, Sing

Jesmyn Ward

No. 30 on the Book Review’s list

Crying in H Mart

Michelle Zauner

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

J.K. Rowling

Klara and the Sun

The lincoln highway.

Bryan Stevenson

Yuval Noah Harari

Kafka on the Shore

Haruki Murakami; translated by Philip Gabriel

Haruki Murakami; translated by Jay Rubin and Philip Gabriel

Deacon King Kong

The immortal life of henrietta lacks.

Rebecca Skloot

Let the Great World Spin

Colum McCann

Tenth of December

No. 54 on the Book Review’s list

When Breath Becomes Air

Paul Kalanithi

Yann Martel

Girl, Woman, Other

Bernardine Evaristo

The Plot Against America

Philip Roth

No. 65 on the Book Review’s list

The Glass Castle

Jeannette Walls

In the Dream House

Carmen Maria Machado

Project Hail Mary

Drive your plow over the bones of the dead.

Olga Tokarczuk; translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones

Remarkably Bright Creatures

Shelby Van Pelt

The Bee Sting

Paul Murray

A Thousand Splendid Suns

The vanishing half.

Brit Bennett

My Year of Rest and Relaxation

Ottessa Moshfegh

Shuggie Bain

Douglas Stuart

Empire of Pain

A man called ove.

Fredrik Backman; translated by Henning Koch

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11 Best Sites for Book Lovers

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Love to read? There are many communities made specifically for book lovers of any possible genre, whether to buy, browse, or talk about the books that have impacted your life.

Whether you're looking for a textbook, a comic book, a romance, or a cookbook, the chances are very good that you'll find it with one of the book websites listed below.

Most of these sites let you get involved in discussions, reviews, and active conversation. Plus, buying books on the web can end up saving you some serious money, not to mention introduce you to a huge variety of books that you may not even know exist.

You can also use these sites to instantly download books to your e-reader, read the full book online from your web browser, interact with your favorite authors, and trade books with other readers . Whatever you're looking for, there's a good chance you'll be able to find it here.

Personalized book recommendations.

Curated lists for book clubs and genres.

Annual Goodreads Choice awards.

Book giveaways.

Offers only preview samples of most books.

Limited selection of readable eBooks.

Readers can rate books before they're released.

Looking for people who love, or hate, the book you're currently reading? How about book reviews, detailed feedback, and plot discussions?

Goodreads is all of this and more, a fantastic interactive community where you can find books you want to read, keep track of the books you are reading right now (this ends up being a fascinating archive of your reading library), and see what people you keep in touch with are interested in.

It's simply one of the best sites on the web for people interested in the written word. You can even win books if you enter open giveaways .

Paper books, eBooks, and audiobooks.

Recommendations based on previous purchases.

First Reads early access program for Prime members.

Most reviews are too brief to be helpful.

Amazon.com is one of the best places to begin your book search. You can find out of print books, rare books, used textbooks, and much, much more.

You can also find upcoming book titles and save money with coupons that work on Amazon .

Literature Map

Find authors you might like.

Doesn't show examples of the author's books.

Have you ever fallen in love with an author, but you've read all their books? This website helps you find similar authors you might also like.

It's super easy to use: search for the person and notice the other authors who are nearest to them on the map. The closer the writers are to each other, the more likely you'll like both of them.

Literature-Map uses Gnod to show recommendations. If you click the person's name in the center of the map, you can go to that website to find links to the author's books on Amazon and other places.

BookFinder.com

Generates book price comparisons.

Searches inventories of 100,000+ booksellers.

Specializes in textbook searches and buybacks.

Bare-bones website.

Provides searches and price comparisons only.

BookFinder helps you compare book prices between multiple sources at once. There are used books, textbooks, new and rare books, and out-of-print titles.

This is a good place to find books from independent publishers, as well as books that had limited printings. You can search by author, title, ISBN, keyword, or publisher, plus define a low and high price, search by publication year, and more.

Pertinent book recommendations.

Explanations of the recommendations, if you want them.

No info about books before you click through.

Five Books interviews experts about the best books in their fields of expertise. All you have to do is select a topic you're interested in, and then browse through the five book recommendations.

One unique thing about this site is the random interviews button at the top of the website that expounds on why the expert chose those five titles. Check out the experts here .

Comic Book Resources

Extensive reviews for some comic books.

Previews of soon-to-be-released comics.

Slick website with top-notch graphics.

Comic books overshadowed by comic TV/movie topics.

Comic Book Resources is a fantastic resource for comic book lovers; you can find information on both old and new comic books, as well as local comic book stores in your area.

If you're a comic book aficionado, this is an excellent source for your favorite heroes and heroines.

Find indie bookstores around you.

Results include name, city, and distance.

Indie Bestseller list dominated by mass-market books.

This easy-to-use search engine is a community of independent bookstores. Simply enter your ZIP code to see bookstores all across the US who're plugged into this unique book search engine.

This book site provides an easy way to find a local bookstore near you that might carry interesting books you won't be able to find anywhere else. See the Indie Bestsellers page for a weekly updated list of bestsellers and links to purchase them.

Results from thousands of sellers.

Includes separate out-of-print search tool.

Basic site design.

AddALL is a comparison shopping book search engine that you can use to search for books from an enormous selection compiled from many online booksellers. Search by title, shipping destination, state, and currency.

This book site compares book prices between dozens of sites at once, from over 100,000 sellers. You're bound to find the best price here.

Attractive, easy-to-navigate website.

Rare book section.

Convenience of buying from multiple providers in one cart.

Limited buyer reviews.

Alibris is a great place to find used books and textbooks, rare books, out of print books, and even eBooks and audiobooks. If you're looking for books from independent publishers, this is one of the best resources online. There are over 200 million books and tens of millions of other items like movies and music.

The site's advanced book search tool lets you locate books by title, author, subject, keyword, ISBN, price range, publication year, free shipping eligibility, language, binding type, attribute (e.g., signed or first edition), and more. There's also a handy multiple ISBN search box that lets you find bundle discounts.

Alibris has interesting ways to find books, like the section that has $1 books , the Popular Authors list, and book subjects like cookbooks, travel, poetry, and art.

UPenn's Online Books Page

Search by partial title or partial author name.

New listings link to newly uploaded material.

Very dull site design.

Few search options.

The Online Books Page from the University of Pennsylvania lets you find and read online texts of classic books. For example, a search for Jane Austen shows a huge list of everything Austen on the web.

Search results give links to where these works can be found in their entirety, as well as where they can be downloaded for free.

Powell's Books

Has books you won't see anywhere else.

Includes graphic novels for kids.

Well-organized website.

Cluttered website design.

Around since 1971, Powell's Books lets you find an extremely eclectic selection of books, anything from historical novels to self-published books.

The home page has sections for bestsellers, picks of the month, and special situations such as Black History or Pride month. This is a great way to get started, but you can also browse by two dozen subjects and new arrivals.

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FACT FOCUS: A look at false claims around Kamala Harris and her campaign for the White House

Democrats are quickly rallying around Vice President Kamala Harris as their likely presidential nominee after President Joe Biden’s ground-shaking decision to bow out of the 2024 race.

Vice President Kamala Harris arrives to speak from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, July 22, 2024, during an event with NCAA college athletes. This is her first public appearance since President Joe Biden endorsed her to be the next presidential nominee of the Democratic Party. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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The announcement that Vice President Kamala Harris will seek the Democratic nomination for president is inspiring a wave of false claims about her eligibility and her background. Some first emerged years ago, while others only surfaced after President Joe Biden’s decision to end his bid for a second term.

Here’s a look at the facts.

CLAIM: Harris is not an American citizen and therefore cannot serve as commander in chief.

THE FACTS: Completely false . Harris is a natural born U.S. citizen. She was born on Oct. 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, according to a copy of her birth certificate, obtained by The Associated Press.

Her mother, a cancer researcher from India, and her father, an economist from Jamaica, met as graduate students at the University of California, Berkeley.

Under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, anyone born on U.S. soil is considered a natural born U.S. citizen and eligible to serve as either the vice president or president.

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” reads the amendment.

There is no question or legitimate debate about whether a citizen like Harris is eligible to serve as president or vice president, said Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School.

“So many legal questions are really nuanced — this isn’t one of those situations,” Levinson told the AP on Monday.

Still, social media posts making the debunked assertion that Harris cannot serve as president went viral soon after Biden announced Sunday that he was dropping out of the race and would back Harris for president.

“Kamala Harris is not eligible to run for President,” read one post on X that was liked more than 34,000 times. “Neither of her parents were natural born American citizens when she was born.”

False assertions about Harris’ eligibility began circulating in 2019 when she launched her bid for the presidency. They got a boost, thanks in part to then-President Donald Trump, when Biden selected her as his running mate.

“I heard today that she doesn’t meet the requirements,” the Republican said of Harris in 2019.

CLAIM: Harris is not Black.

THE FACTS: This is false. Harris is Black and Indian . Her father, Donald Harris, is a Black man who was born in Jamaica. Shyamala Gopalan, her mother, was born in southern India. Harris has spoken publicly for many years, including in her 2019 autobiography , about how she identifies with the heritage of both her parents.

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Despite ample evidence to the contrary, social media users are making erroneous claims about Harris’ race.

“Just a reminder that Kamala Harris @KamalaHarris isn’t black,” reads one X post that had received approximately 42,000 likes and 20,400 shares as of Monday. “She Indian American. She pretends to be black as part of the delusional, Democrat DEI quota.”

But Harris is both Black and Indian. Indeed, she is the first woman, Black person and person of South Asian descent to serve as vice president. This fact is highlighted in her biography on WhiteHouse.gov and she has spoken about her ethnicity on many occasions.

Harris wrote in her autobiography, “The Truths We Hold: An American Journey,” that she identifies with the heritage of both her mother and father.

“My mother, grandparents, aunts, and uncle instilled us with pride in our South Asian roots,” she wrote. “Our classical Indian names harked back to our heritage, and we were raised with a strong awareness and appreciation for Indian culture.”

In the next paragraph, she adds, “My mother understood very well that she was raising two black daughters.” Harris again refers to herself as a “black woman” in the book’s next chapter.

CLAIM: Harris got her start by having an affair with a married man, California politician Willie Brown.

THE FACTS: This is missing some important context. Brown was separated from his wife during the relationship, which was not a secret.

Brown, 90, is a former mayor of San Francisco who was serving as speaker of the California State Assembly in the 1990s when he and Harris were in a relationship. Brown had separated from his wife in 1982.

“Yes, we dated. It was more than 20 years ago,” Brown wrote in 2020 in the San Francisco Chronicle under the article title, “Sure, I dated Kamala Harris. So what?”

He wrote that he supported Harris’ first race to be San Francisco district attorney — just as he has supported a long list of other California politicians, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Harris, 59, was state attorney general from 2011-2017 and served in the Senate from 2017 until 2021, when she became vice president. She has been married to Doug Emhoff since 2014.

Harris’ critics have used the past relationship to question her qualifications, as Fox News personality Tomi Lahren did when she wrote on social media in 2019: “Kamala did you fight for ideals or did you sleep your way to the top with Willie Brown.” Lahren later apologized for the comment.

Trump and some of his supporters have also highlighted the nearly three-decade old relationship in recent attacks on Harris .

CLAIM: An Inside Edition clip of television host Montel Williams holding hands with Harris and another woman is proof that Harris was his “side piece.”

THE FACTS: The clip shows Montel with Harris and his daughter, Ashley Williams. Harris and Williams, a former marine who hosted “The Montel Williams Show” for more than a decade, dated briefly in the early 2000s.

In the clip, taken from a 2019 Inside Edition segment , Williams can be seen posing for photographs and holding hands with both women as they arrive at the 2001 Eighth Annual Race to Erase MS in Los Angeles.

But social media users are misrepresenting the clip, using it as alleged evidence that Harris was Montel’s “side piece” — a term used to describe a person, typically a woman, who has a sexual relationship with a man in a monogamous relationship.

Williams addressed the false claims in an X post on Monday, writing in reference to the Inside Edition clip, “as most of you know, that is my daughter to my right.” Getty Images photos from the Los Angeles gala identify the women as Harris and Ashley Williams.

In 2019, Williams described his relationship with Harris in a post on X, then known as Twitter.

“@KamalaHarris and I briefly dated about 20 years ago when we were both single,” he wrote in an X post at the time. “So what? I have great respect for Sen. Harris. I have to wonder if the same stories about her dating history would have been written if she were a male candidate?”

CLAIM: Harris promised to inflict the “vengeance of a nation” on Trump supporters.

THE FACTS: A fabricated quote attributed to Harris is spreading online five years after it first surfaced.

In the quote, Harris supposedly promises that if Trump is defeated in 2020, Trump supporters will be targeted by the federal government: “Once Trump’s gone and we have regained our rightful place in the White House, look out if you supported him and endorsed his actions, because we’ll be coming for you next. You will feel the vengeance of a nation.”

The quote was shared again on social media this week. One post on X containing an image of the quote was shared more than 22,000 times as of Monday afternoon.

The remarks didn’t come from Harris , but from a satirical article published online in August 2019. Shortly after, Trump supporters like musician Ted Nugent reposted the comments without noting they were fake.

CLAIM: A video shows Harris saying in a speech: “Today is today. And yesterday was today yesterday. Tomorrow will be today tomorrow. So live today, so the future today will be as the past today as it is tomorrow.”

THE FACTS: Harris never said this. Footage from a 2023 rally on reproductive rights at Howard University, her alma mater, was altered to make it seem as though she did.

In the days after Harris headlined the Washington rally, Republicans mocked a real clip of her speech, with one critic dubbing her remarks a “word salad,” the AP reported at the time .

Harris says in the clip: “So I think it’s very important — as you have heard from so many incredible leaders — for us, at every moment in time, and certainly this one, to see the moment in time in which we exist and are present, and to be able to contextualize it, to understand where we exist in the history and in the moment as it relates not only to the past, but the future.”

NARAL Pro-Choice America, an abortion rights nonprofit whose president also spoke at the rally, livestreamed the original footage. It shows Harris making the “moment in time” remark, but not the “today is today” comment.

The White House’s transcript of Harris’ remarks also does not include the statement from the altered video. Harris’ appearance at the event came the same day that Biden announced their reelection bid .

Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck .

17 Great Alternatives to Amazon for All Your Online Shopping Needs

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But while shopping the online megastore certainly has its perks, there are plenty of other alternatives to Amazon that offer similar products at affordable prices. If, for whatever reason, you’re planning to pause or cancel your Amazon Prime account , you may want to explore what other e-retailers have to offer.

Spanning online categories like groceries, household necessities, and gifts, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite online shopping destinations that are ideal alternatives to Amazon.

Beautycounter

For all of your clean makeup, skincare , and haircare needs, check out Beautycounter. This beauty brand is renowned for its “Never” list, which consists of over 2,800 ingredients that are never used in the formulations sold on its website.

Safety, quality, and sustainability are the retailer’s three brand pillars, so you can shop with more peace of mind.

Gadget heads in search of reputable, investment-worthy tech gifts should check out B&H. This New York City-based institution was founded in 1973 and originally specialized in photo and video equipment before expanding in the following decades to sell electronics of all kinds.

The store prides itself on exceptional customer service, training its in-store and online specialists on everything to know about its extensive tech product selection. No chatbots here!

Bookshop.org

Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores worldwide. On the website, you can either pick a local bookstore to support or shop knowing that your purchase will ultimately contribute to the site’s profit-sharing pool that helps raise money for independent bookstores. If you choose the latter option, your purchase will be fulfilled by an independent distributor, and your books will be delivered right to your door.

If you have a pet and you don’t know about Chewy, you should. It’s both a shop and pharmacy dedicated to keeping all fur babies healthy and happy. Its team of experts is available 24/7 via chat, email, and phone to answer all of your animal product-related questions, and their extensive array of pet essentials is impressively affordable.

Yes, Costco members can shop online and get their bulk goods, furniture, electronics, and even Squishmallows delivered! While the in-store experience may be far more extensive than the online inventory, those who shop through the website can still get major savings and 2-day delivery on specific items. Plus, Costco's annual $60 membership fee is much lower than Prime's $139 yearly membership.

The thrill of the hunt is alive and well on eBay. Shoppers looking for hard-to-find products, discontinued models, or refurbished pieces can create an eBay watchlist to monitor when these goods surface in the online marketplace. And in case the item you order isn't as described or never arrives, eBay offers a money-back guarantee , so making a purchase doesn't feel like a taking a risk.

Etsy is a massive online e-retailer that allows independent artists to open their own shops within the platform. Its mission is to “keep human connection at the heart of commerce.” The global online marketplace has everything from gifts to home goods to clothing — some sellers even specialize in crafting custom wedding attire for brides and grooms!

No longer just a recipe site, Food52 is the alternative to Amazon geared toward home cooks of all levels. This one-stop e-retailer carries dozens of kitchen and dining-room essentials from workhorse cookware to gorgeous linens to chic serveware.

They also carry exclusive product collabs with brands like Dansk , GreenPan , and Staub that you definitely won't be able to find on Amazon!

Searching for affordable supplements? iHerb.com went live in 1996 and has since grown in recognition as one of the top wellness e-retailers.

It currently ships to over 180 countries, sells over 40,000 products (such as herbs, vitamins, protein powders, beauty products, and more), and has over 10 million returning customers. Notably, shoppers do not need to sign up for a membership or pay for a subscription to score discounts.

Another foodie-friendly alternative to Amazon is Nuts.com, only you won’t find kitchen appliances or accessories here. Rather, Nuts.com is an online hub for the avid snackers. The site is stocked with nuts , trail mixes , every kind of chocolate , dried fruits , candies , and even superfood powders in bulk.

When you download Shopify's Shop app, you can search for a product and browse items across a vast network of indie, direct-to-consumer, and big-box brands. It's like one big superstore that allows you to compare products and prices at a glance without opening numerous tabs.

What's great is that you'll earn 1% Shop Cash every time you check out, which you can apply as a discount to future orders. Plus, the app will track your order and send you push notifications when your item ships and gets delivered.

Surely, this one needs no introduction! Target is a great one-stop shop for affordable groceries, gifts, clothes, and decorative doodads. The brand recently rolled out a paid membership program called Target Circle 360 , offering free 2-day shipping, same-day delivery for unlimited orders over $35, an extra 30 days to make returns, and plenty of exclusive discounts and perks.

Currently, the Target Circle 360 annual membership costs just $49, but it will increase to $99 after May 18.

If being thrifty and shopping sustainably are your personal style goals, an alternative to Amazon worth considering is thredUp. It's an online consignment store that specializes in clothing for women and children and has given new life to millions of clothing items across hundreds of brands . Users can send in a bag of their old clothes, and, if it sells within a certain timeframe, they can receive credit to shop new styles at a steep discount.

ThriveMarket

ThriveMarket is a great e-retailer for groceries — it aims to make eco-conscious shopping more obtainable. Everything available on the website is organic or responsibly sourced, 100% non-GMO, free of over 500 ingredients (like artificial dyes and additives), and affordable . By shopping directly from ThriveMarket, the brand estimates that you can save up to 30% compared to traditional grocery store prices.

Uncommon Goods

Uncommon Goods is bound to be your new go-to for unique gifts. Whether you’re browsing for someone’s birthday , an upcoming holiday , or a special life event like a graduation , there’s something for everyone. Think interactive bracelets for long-distance loved ones, cheese boards in the shape of someone's home state, or murder-mystery puzzles for book (and puzzle) lovers.

On the website, you can browse by the gift occasion, recipient, or price point, and you’ll be met with dozens of interesting options you never knew existed.

Walmart's paid membership has been a comparable Amazon Prime alternative since its 2020 launch. In addition to accessing the wide range of items that the megastore carries, Walmart+ offers subscribers perks such as free delivery with no minimum order amount, savings of about $.10 per gallon at certain gas stations, and a Paramount+ subscription. It's just $8.17 per month or $98 per year to become a member, and you're free to cancel at any time.

You might recognize Wayfair for its catchy jingle or its fun commercials with Kelly Clarkson , but it’s so much more than that. The home goods e-retailer is known for its enormous selection, but it's even more beloved for its prices. Whatever your reno budget, Wayfair has just what you need (see what we did there?).

Julia Guerra is a New Jersey-based freelance writer with bylines across digital media sites such as InStyle, WWD , INSIDER Reviews, MindBodyGreen, and more. With over 7 years of writing across lifestyle verticals, she is forever testing and researching all things related to makeup and skincare, fashion, athleisure, women's health and wellness, as well as the best home gym equipment. When she's not writing articles, Julia can be found with her head in a book, obsessing over skincare, practicing yoga, taking pictures of her adorable cat, or spending time with her husband and loved ones.

Melanie Yates is the Senior Digital Editor at House Beautiful , where she oversees design, gardening, and home renovation content. Since joining the team in 2024, Melanie ideates, assigns, and edits digital stories from in-house and freelance writers and helps execute big-picture projects for the brand. Prior to this role, Melanie was a senior editor at Best Products for over eight years, where she launched the site’s home vertical, conducted numerous bedding product tests, wrote The Present Perfect newsletter column, and produced video tutorials on how to wrap a gift. A lifelong enthusiast of the written word, Melanie holds a BA in broadcast journalism from Hofstra University and a certificate in copyediting from UC San Diego Extension. She’s always on the lookout for the next vintage find to furnish her Queens apartment.

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Money blog: Hotel Chocolat moves into Greggs territory

Welcome to the Money blog, your place for personal finance and consumer news and tips. Leave your Money Problem or consumer dispute in the box below - remember, we can't look into it unless you leave an email address or phone number.

Thursday 1 August 2024 09:09, UK

• Prospect of first interest rate cut hanging in the balance - decision at 12pm
• Asda announces major reset amid falling market share
• Hotel Chocolat moves into Greggs territory

Essential reads

• The tax rises Labour could introduce in the autumn budget
• Best savings rates you can get right now - as rate decision imminent
• What you can do if landlord won't fix mould - but it's risky
• Saturday Kitchen regular shares cheap pasta recipe you could cook tonight
• What happened to Tooty Frooties - and will they return to shelves? We ask Nestle...
• Basically... Do you need a mortgage broker?
• Money Problem : Can I put thousands I've saved in my spouse's ISA?
• Best of the Money blog - an archive of features

Ask a question or make a comment

Hotel Chocolat is to open its first bakery and hot food offer.

The move is part of the expansion of its Velvetiser Café format and will arrive at four Yorkshire sites (Harrogate, Leeds Springs Trinity and Ilkley) in August, industry magazine The Grocer reports.

New owner Mars is kicking off a store investment plan.

Customers will be able to enjoy sweet and savoury goods, with products ranging from a chocolatier's carrot cake to a Caribbean chicken curry.

Ian Mackie, head of Velvetiser Café, said: "This launch represents a significant milestone for the Velvetiser Café, as we expand our offerings to include a diverse and delectable menu inspired by our commitment to quality and innovation.

"Each item is crafted with care and precision, using the finest ingredients, sourced responsibly, reflecting our dedication to ethical and sustainable practices."

By Alix Culberton , political reporter

Tax rises are likely to be announced in the autumn budget, the chancellor has admitted.

Rachel Reeves said Labour would stick to its election manifesto pledge not to raise national insurance, income tax or VAT.

During the election campaign, Labour candidates avoided answering questions on whether other taxes would be increased - and the Conservatives warned that Labour would raise other taxes.

But on Tuesday, the day after announcing several money-saving measures, Ms Reeves told The News Agents podcast: "I think that we will have to increase taxes in the budget."

She would not say which taxes could be raised during the Labour government's first budget on 30 October.

Sky News looks at which ones could be targeted.

Inheritance tax

This is one of the taxes most likely to be changed.

Inheritance tax is charged at 40% on the value of an estate above £325,000 when someone dies.

The tax rate could be increased or the value people have to pay inheritance from could be lowered to raise money.

There are currently several exemptions, including on agricultural land and family businesses, but these could be lifted to include them.

The government could also reduce the number of years allowed when giving away assets before someone dies before inheritance tax kicks in.

A leaked recording from March revealed now chief secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones, saying inheritance tax could be used to "redistribute wealth" and address "intergenerational equality".

Capital gains tax

Capital gains is imposed on the profit from the sale of capital assets, including second homes, shares, business assets and most personal possessions worth £6,000 or more, apart from cars.

Currently, people do not have to pay tax on the first £3,000 of profits, or £1,500 for trusts.

The minimum limit could be removed and the tax could be imposed on assets currently exempt.

Like inheritance tax, it is one of the taxes that is being most talked about to be targeted.

Council tax

In the leaked recording from Mr Jones, he said he was frustrated by the "out of date" council tax system and hinted homes worth over £1m may have to pay more.

Former shadow minister Jonathan Ashworth told Sky News during the election campaign that Labour would not change council tax bands.

Council tax is currently set in bands that are based on the 1991 value of homes, which has been branded "absurd" by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) and "incredibly poorly designed" by the Institute for Government "(IfG).

Gemma Tetlow, chief economist at the IfG, said council tax could be reformed "in a very sensible way... rather than having the banded system you could move to something that is much more proportional tax on land revenue".

She added: "You could do that sensible structural reform and raise some extra money at the same time."

Business rates

Labour are understood to be consulting on changing business rates, which are charged on most non-domestic properties with relief for some including small businesses, retail, hospitality and leisure properties.

A change could be made so they are related to the value of the land instead of the current rateable value, which is an estimate of how much it would cost to rent that property for a year in April 2021.

Stamp duty is paid on the cost of a property over £250,000, with more paid for second homes and by non-UK residents, and relief for first-time buyers.

It currently discourages people from moving home and is part of the reason older people are not moving out of expensive, larger properties.

Labour could change the tax so it is focused on annual land value tax instead of on a transaction - but that could be a hard sell with the party.

By James Sillars , business reporter

Anyone who can tell you with certainty what the Bank of England will do today is, frankly, a mug.

The prospect of a first interest rate cut is hanging in the balance.

It has been dangled seductively by the Bank throughout this year, only to be withdrawn month after month as elements of inflation remain too high for the liking of a majority on the rate-setting committee.

After all the sacrifices of the cost of living crisis to date, lower borrowing costs are closer than ever but still not nailed on having risen as far back as December 2021.

Yes folks, the progress in getting inflation down to the 2% target has continued and we have seen two successive months of the CPI measure coming in, bang on, at 2%.

But is that progress beneath the headline number "sustainable"?

Basic wage growth eased from a stubborn 6% level in June but services inflation remained at 5.7% - partly blamed by some commentators as a "Taylor Swift effect" due to the impact the singer's recent concerts had on prices in big cities where she performed.

The Bank had been expecting services inflation to come in at 5.1% by that time.

It all leaves borrowers such as mortgage holders, especially those facing the prospect of securing a new deal, sweating on how the Bank's monetary policy committee sees the outlook.

Some of the members could, for example, choose to look past the temporary effects within services inflation and swell the ranks of the two members to have previously backed a cut.

A poll of economists by the Reuters news agency found a small majority backing a cut to 5% from 5.25%.

Financial markets see a 64% chance of that.

One factor that could sway a cut is that August's rate decision coincides with the release of the Bank's latest monetary policy report.

That means the media is invited to a news conference - held every three months - giving governor Andrew Bailey the opportunity to give the TV news cameras some good news.

While such an idea would be tempting, can the Bank really say that inflation has returned "sustainably" to target?

We haven't seen them yet but much will depend on the new forecasts the Bank's rate-setters had to hand.

None of the members of the MPC have signalled any intent on changing their vote in public speeches since the last meeting.

Without a material change to the Bank's own inflation outlook, which currently sees CPI rising across the rest of the year, how can members justify a cut?

We will learn, either way, soon enough.

For Savings Guide this week, Savings Champion   co-founder Anna Bowes picks out the best fixed rate ISAs, bonds and easy access accounts on the market.

Best buy savings rates have remained almost static over the past month, presumably waiting for the next Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting at the Bank of England - happening at lunchtime today.

The markets seem divided about what's going to happen today, but whether the base rate holds or falls, now is a great time to review your savings.

The reason for the lack of clarity is that although headline inflation CPI - the Consumer Prices Index - has fallen back to the government target of 2% for the last couple of months, there are still worrying indicators that could push inflation higher again going forward. 

And at the same time, the economy seems to be coping well, despite interest rates still at a level not seen for 16 years.

If the base rate remains at 5.25% following today's meeting, savers can probably breathe another sigh of relief that once again they can enjoy some respite. 

But if the base rate falls, we are likely to see savings rates follow suit, in particular variable rate accounts which are more closely pegged to the base rate changes as they happen.

If you can lock some of your cash up for a while therefore, you may be able to hedge against any rate cuts for a while, although remember that you can generally have no access to your money deposited into a fixed rate bond.

Fixed rate ISAs, on the other hand, do allow access, although normally with a hefty penalty. 

And with more and more savers paying income tax on the interest they earn, it's definitely worth considering if now is the time to use cash ISAs.

Here's a look at the best savings rates available right now...

Asda has announced a major store reset - and admitted big improvements are needed - after its sales and market share declined.

The chain was the only major supermarket that had sales decline in the 12 weeks to July, according to NIQ figures - while its market share has fallen more than 2% since it was bought by brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa and TDR.

It is now injecting £30m in emergency investment to try and lure back customers.

"We recognise that there are some areas where we can, and need to, improve, and have set out our plan for colleagues to improve the availability of products in stores, the overall customer experience, and ensuring we have the right trade plan throughout the remainder of the year," a spokesman for the retailer told The Grocer.

"We are investing an additional £30m during the remainder of the year to improve the in-store experience. This includes putting extra hours into store to help colleagues provide an even better service to customers."

Major projects, such as an IT overhaul needed after parting ways with Walmart, have diverted resources from the supermarket's core services.

Asda has endured criticism of its store experience (the chart below is from February) and it has faced staff strikes over hours being cut.

This week, The Daily Telegraph revealed the results of a staff survey that showed fewer than half of workers are confident in the strategy at the supermarket.

Waste workers in Scotland are to walk out on strike next month, with union leaders warning the action will be "disruptive".

Unison, the largest local government union, confirmed staff in 13 council areas will walk out for more than a week in August.

The GMB said its members will take action over the same eight days in August, including staff at Edinburgh City Council who will strike during the capital's busy summer festival period.

Scotland's largest city, Glasgow, will also be affected by the action, which is due to start on 14 August and last until 22 August.

GMB members in 18 of Scotland's 32 local authority areas will strike, and the union said the action will mean bins are not emptied "from the smallest villages to the biggest cities".

Aldi is set to open four new stores in London by the end of the year.

The budget supermarket chain will open stores in Leytonstone and Beckton in the next couple of months, while Holloway Road and Muswell Hill are also set to see new stores within the year.

Southern Europe has seen a boom in luxury home prices this year.

According to research by Savills, cities in the region saw some of the strongest value growth in the world in the first six months of 2024.

Lisbon came out top with a 4.2% rise in prime property value, while Madrid and Athens also saw price increases of more than 3%, according to its index which tracks prime residential property in cities around the world

In contrast, London and Berlin saw price falls of 0.1% and 0.8% respectively over the same period.

Undersupply in many European locations, particularly southern Europe, is driving price rises, Savills said, with US buyers now the "key prospective buyer base".

Less than half of young people watch traditional television in the average week, according to a report.

Ofcom's annual Media Nations report found that just 48% of young people tuned in to live TV each week in 2023, which represented a drop off from 76% in 2018.

Those aged between 16-24 were found to watch just 20 minutes of television a day, the media regulator found.

But when it came to video streaming/sharing platforms, 93% of people aged 16-24 spent time consuming content in the average day, watching one hour and 33 minutes of content.

Ofcom said the TV set "remains at the heart of household viewing", but an increase in its use was being primarily driven by an uptick in the viewing of video-sharing platforms, which rose by 12% between 2022 and 2023.

Ian Macrae, Ofcom's director of market intelligence, said young people craved "the flexibility, immediacy and choice that on-demand services offer".

"Gen Z and Alpha are used to swiping and streaming, not flipping through broadcast TV channels," he said.

The Victoria line was the hottest underground line in 2023.

Running between Brixton in south London and Walthamstow Central in the northeast, the line hit an average temperature of 28C last year - beating the notoriously hot Central line, which saw average mercury levels reach 27C.

The hottest temperature reached on the Victoria line last year was in September when temperatures hit 31C, according to the London datastore .

The Central line in the same month came very close to this temperature and hit 30.89C

Transport for London have said they had doubled the capacity of ventilation shafts on the Victoria line which would provide more air flow.

They have also installed air cooling units and mechanical chillers at some key busy stations, such as Oxford Circus.

By Emily Mee, news reporter

Some of the worst property conditions are seen in the private rental sector. 

The Decent Homes Standard, the minimum standard set for decency and habitability, only applies to social housing - but it's thought if it were used in the private rental sector, about a quarter of properties would fail. 

Damp and mould are some of the most common problems faced by tenants, and can present a serious health hazard - but it's tricky to know what to do about it. 

Jenny Lamb, policy officer at Shelter, took us through what you can do (but a warning, she says taking action can be risky - read on to see what we mean)... 

Find out who you're dealing with

First, you should know who handles the management of your property. 

Some landlords deal with maintaining and looking after the property, while others will hand this over to the letting agent. 

If your property is managed by a landlord

Jenny says your options are "pretty limited", but your first step is to approach your landlord and make them aware of the issue.

Effectively you're putting them on notice that there is a problem.

You'll need to give them a reasonable amount of time to respond - although Jenny says a "reasonable time" is not defined in law. 

"You can make some rough guesstimates - it depends on how much is affected and the source of the damp," she says. 

If the landlord doesn't respond at all, or if they refuse to do any work, the timeframe may be shorter before you can take further action.

The next step is to go through your local authority's environmental health team, who can come and investigate. 

They'll usually want to see the property in person to do an inspection, and they'll then assess how severe the hazard is - for example, whether it presents a threat to health and safety. 

Jenny explains they could then choose to serve one of two notices to the landlord. 

One is a more severe enforceable improvement notice, which means the landlord could be fined or face enforcement action if they don't fix the issue. In this case, the tenant is protected from eviction for six months. 

The other option is a notice to the landlord that there's a problem with the property and advice that they should fix it. 

However, Jenny warns this doesn't provide protection for the tenant - and they're therefore at risk of a "revenge eviction" (more on that later). 

If your property is managed by a letting agent

In this case, Jenny says you should find out what the letting agent's internal process is for complaints. 

If, and only if, you've exhausted this process, you should find out which of the redress schemes the letting agent is part of. 

Letting agents are legally obligated to be part of one of two redress schemes - the Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress Scheme. 

These organisations can help mediate and may be able to get the tenant an apology, work done in the property or even compensation in some cases. 

That's how it should work - but is it too risky for tenants?

While these options can be successful in some cases, the threat of "revenge evictions" means tenants may fear making a fuss. 

Currently, landlords are able to evict tenants without giving a reason - also known as a no-fault eviction, or a Section 21 notice. 

Tenants must be given two months' notice, and this can only happen during a rolling periodic tenancy or during a fixed-term contract if there is a break clause. 

In some cases, landlords have been known to issue "revenge evictions" - where a tenant is evicted after complaining about an issue with the property. 

Research by Shelter shows tenants who complain about their properties are 2.5 times more likely to be served a Section 21 notice than those who don't. 

"I'd go so far as to say there can be no genuine redress for tenants, especially for conditions of damp and disrepair, while Section 21 exists because that threat hanging over your head of a no-fault eviction is too risky," says Jenny. 

She says engaging a local authority can leave renters "vulnerable" to a revenge eviction - especially in a market where demand is so high that "there's probably a long line of people who are desperate for housing so would put up and shut up".

The new Labour government has committed to reintroducing a ban on Section 21 notices that was shelved by the last government.

Should you withhold rent or try to fix the issue yourself?

If you're not getting anywhere, you might be tempted to withhold rent as a solution - but Jenny says this "isn't a way to negotiate". 

"You have an obligation to pay your rent regardless of what kind of service you're receiving," she says.

"I would want to warn tenants, however tempting it might be, however unfair it might feel, do continue to pay your rent because you'll just make the situation worse otherwise."

Some tenants might try undertaking work themselves and then charging their landlord for it, but Jenny says you'll need to go through a "proper process" for this. 

The landlord must accept the tenant is going to do the work, and the tenant will then need to provide quotes and keep track of costs. 

However, Jenny warns it's "not set in stone" the tenants will get their money back in this situation. 

A Debenhams advert offering "up to 60% off" has been banned for misleading customers.

The advert on social media, which was published in March, told customers they could get the large discount on fashion, home and beauty products.

It featured a caption that read: "Step into spring with up to 60% off fashion, home and beauty at Debenhams."

However, the online advert has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

An ASA spokesperson told Sky News: "In this case, Debenhams weren't able to back up the sales claims made in their ads. Because we weren't able to see evidence that the products in the ad were available at the advertised promotional discount, we considered the use of the claim alongside the product images to be misleading, and we banned the ad."

Debenhams said the products featured were from third-party suppliers, who controlled their own pricing.

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