Stephany Writes

Categories: Books

How I Use Goodreads and The StoryGraph

Last month, on Sarah’s Book Shelves Live Patreon feed, Sarah and two of her co-hosts discussed the various ways they utilize Goodreads and The StoryGraph as part of their reading lives. It was a fascinating discussion, and I thought it could be an interesting blog post since the way I use these apps is a bit different. Let’s discuss!

How I Use Goodreads

I’ve been on Goodreads since 2011, and as of today, I have marked 1,643 books as read. After Instagram, Goodreads is my favorite social media app because it has a strong community aspect that I don’t think The StoryGraph has quite mastered yet. Here are some of the top ways I use Goodreads:

As my ongoing TBR list

Whenever I hear about a book I want to add to my TBR list, I automatically pull up Goodreads to add it to my “want-to-read” shelf. I’ve also created different shelves for all of my recommendation sources, such as Currently Reading (broken down by which host recommended the book), Sarah’s Book Shelves, Book Riot, etc. This is where my main TBR list lives and one of my rules for myself when it comes to buying books is that it has to be a book that is on my Goodreads TBR list. This is supposed to help me rein in my book spending, but I don’t know if that’s working out as expected.

Since I use the want-to-read Goodreads feature as my TBR, you might think I have a lot of books on this shelf. (Like my friend who has an 800-book-deep Goodreads TBR.) But nope! Currently, I have 180 books on this shelf, and I try my best to keep it under 200 books at any given time. I will regularly remove books from the list, especially if I see the Goodreads rating has dropped below 3.7 stars or a friend gave it a bad review (or a review that clues me in that it’s not a Stephany book). I also try to remove books that have been sitting on the list for many years. (If it’s been on the list for more than five years, I’m probably not that interested in reading it, you know?)

To track what I’m currently reading

Whenever I start reading a book, I immediately update Goodreads to make sure it shows as “Currently Reading.” And then every day or so, I’ll update the page count because I just find that process to be fun. Goodreads doesn’t use that data in any way (that I know of), but it helps my brain see that I’m making progress through a book, even if it’s minimal.

I also update Goodreads almost immediately after finishing a book. I’ll give it a star rating and then a quick one- or two-sentence review. I haven’t always been good at leaving reviews of the books I read, but I’m trying to be better about that. When I finish a book, I also add it to a variety of different shelves: the current year (I have a shelf set up for each year I’ve been on Goodreads so I can keep track of how many books I’ve read each year), the genre, and any other factors I want to keep track of (aka: Book of the Month books, book club books, queer books, racial justice books, etc.).

To find recommendations for people

When people ask me for book recommendations, it feels like every single book I have ever read has left my brain. I cannot remember a single title so forget trying to recommend a book I loved and want someone to read! And that’s why I love Goodreads. Looking for a great romance? I can tap on my “romance” shelf on Goodreads, sort by rating, and boom. I’ve got a handful of easy recommendations. Looking for an outstanding audiobook for a road trip? Done – I can access my “audiobooks” shelf on Goodreads to find some options for you. I may not be able to remember my favorite books off the top of my head, but Goodreads has my back.

As historical context for my own reading life

Goodreads holds 14 years of data on my reading life, and I find it fascinating to look at it through a historical lens. I can see how my reading years have ebbed and flowed. For example, 2013 was the first year I read over 100 books but I didn’t regularly start reading 100+ books per year until 2017. I can see that 2020 was my highest reading year (153) while 2011 was my lowest (55). I can read old reviews and have concrete evidence of the way my views have changed dramatically over the last decade and a half. (One of my most popular reviews is of a Christian book where I went hog wild about all the Christian themes and how much I loved them… it’s a review I cringe about now, but I haven’t taken it down because it’s a look into who I was then.) It’s interesting to see how I rated certain books, especially if I reread the book many years later and have a different opinion. (Which has happened!)

To see what my friends are reading/rating

I receive a daily Goodreads email newsletter that updates me on what my friends are reading and what they are rating the books they’ve finished. I devour that email because I love being nosy about my friends’ reading lives, and I’ve received some great recommendations from it, too! Sure, I can find all of this out by scrolling the Goodreads app but I rarely do that, and typically rely on this email to get the updates I crave. This is the community aspect of Goodreads that I love. I can see what my friends are reading and comment on their reviews.

To read reviews

One of my favorite ways to use Goodreads is to read scathing reviews of books I didn’t like. Bonus points if it’s a popular book with a high Goodreads rating. Often, these reviews help me better understand my own thoughts and feelings about a book. After all, not every book is for every reader and what might have annoyed the shit out of me might be something another reader really loves. When I’m writing a review, I want to be honest about why I didn’t like a certain book without making people feel like I’m attacking them if they did love the book.

But also – it’s not always altruistic. I really love snarky reviews of books I didn’t love. It makes me feel less alone in my hatred and as if someone else “gets it.” Again, it’s the community part of Goodreads that keeps me coming back again and again.

Miscelleanous 

There are some other miscellaneous ways I use Goodreads. For example, every year I set a reading goal, and I like that I can see my progress whenever I log into Goodreads through the web platform. (I don’t get too stressed out about this goal. I like making it challenging enough that it’ll be difficult but not impossible to complete. Currently, I’m 5 books behind on my 2025 goal, lolz.)

Every now and then, I enter the Goodreads giveaways (only when I get an email about it and only if it’s a print version of the book). I was more successful at winning these giveaways in the early days of Goodreads and haven’t won one of them in many, many years.

I will also use Goodreads to vet books I hear about on a podcast or find through Book of the Month. Typically, these are books that haven’t been published yet or have just come out, so they don’t have a ton of reviews. If I see one of these books has less than a 4.0 rating with under 100 reviews, I typically won’t add it to my TBR. Goodreads reviewers are usually quite generous with ratings, so a new book with a low rating is a red flag for me.

How I Use The StoryGraph

I am pretty new to The StoryGraph. I joined it a few years ago (and imported my entire Goodreads data at that time), but only started actually using it this year. I don’t find it to be as user-friendly as Goodreads, but that could be because I’m just more familiar with Goodreads. Just like Goodreads, I use The StoryGraph to keep track of what I’m currently reading, and every night, I update my page count (or audiobook hours). The reason I do this is that The StoryGraph provides a delightful infographic at the end of every month. (TBH, the graphic could be prettier, but beggars can’t be choosers, I guess.) The StoryGraph pulls together some of my bookish stats – books read, average rating, average time to finish a book, highest-rated books, genre breakdown, etc. – and puts them in an infographic that I can share on social media. It also makes a calendar of your reading life throughout the month, showing what books you read each day and how many pages you read of said books, which I think is really fun! (I don’t share this on social media because it’s likely only fascinating for me.)

The other benefits of The StoryGraph are that you can choose quarter- and half-star ratings for books and can mark books as DNFs. (Goodreads doesn’t have this option, although you can add an “exclusive” shelf to your account that can function as an abandoned shelf.) I also love the wrap-up after finishing a book. It’s almost like a survey you get to fill out to discuss the different moods (sad, tense, inspiring, funny, reflective, etc.) of the book as well as the characters, the pace, and trigger warnings.

I’m not really using The StoryGraph for anything more than tracking what I’m reading and using the infographic at the end of the month. I do try to check in on what my friends are reading when I’m updating my stats in the app, but I don’t know a lot of people who are using this app right now, so my friends list is rather pitiful.

Goodreads vs. The StoryGraph

If I had to pick just one app to use to track my reading, it would still be Goodreads. I need The StoryGraph to become more community-focused for me to change my opinion, but right now, it seems to be prioritizing personalized recommendations and infographics. I love the infographics, but have no use for the recommendations, so I never even look at those. Hopefully, The StoryGraph will continue to grow and add new features, to the point where it surpasses my love for Goodreads. For now, I’ll keep doing my thing and updating two apps at once.

Follow me on Goodreads and The StoryGraph!

Do you use Goodreads and/or The StoryGraph? If not, how do you keep track of your reading, your TBR, and all that jazz?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (6.18.25)

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (Amazon) • Nonfiction • 2016

Short synopsis: Tracing the origin and evolution of anti-Black racist ideas in America through the lives of five influential figures, Kendi reveals how these ideas were deliberately crafted to justify and maintain racial inequality. 

I FINISHED! It took me 32 days to read this behemoth, but I got it done. This is an exhaustive summary of the history of racism in the United States through the lens of specific historical figures, such as Thomas Jefferson and Angela Davis, and I am so impressed by the amount of research and writing that went into this book. This is a hard book to recommend because it reads very much like a textbook. If you’re new to Kendi’s work, I’d suggest starting with How to Be an Antiracist, which is much more accessible. Still, if you’re looking for a comprehensive dive into how racist ideas were constructed and sustained throughout American history, this is the book for you.

The ending was a bit jarring for me, to be honest. This book was published in spring 2016 during Obama’s presidency, when we were certain that Hillary was going to succeed him, so some of his conclusions felt a little out of step in the world we live in today. But that’s not his fault nor the fault of the book; it’s just something to keep in mind while reading.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (★★★☆☆)

Print • From a Friend • Contemporary Fiction • 2025

Short synopsis: On a remote island near Antarctica, the Salt family—caretakers of the world’s largest seed bank—grapples with grief, isolation, and change as they prepare for evacuation. When a mysterious woman washes ashore during a violent storm, long-buried secrets surface, forcing them all to confront the past and decide who they can trust before time runs out.

This book has been getting a lot of buzz, and after a friend raved about it, I moved it up my TBR list. Ultimately, I had a bit of an uneven reading experience. Some of the book was exceptional: the writing is exquisite, and I loved the setting: an island that is slowly disappearing due to climate change. It gave the whole book a moody, creepy atmosphere. But other parts of the book were mind-numbingly boring. There were long descriptions of plant life, seed farming, and ocean ecosystems that were just tedious to get through. There were chapters written from the POV of a nine-year-old that felt like they were written by an adult scientist. I found myself skimming those parts. While I can see why this book resonates with so many readers, for me it was just okay. (Recommendation source: IRL friend.)

This American Woman: A One-in-a-Billion Memoir by Zarna Garg (★★★★☆)

Audiobook • Spotify • Nonfiction (Memoir) • 2025

Short synopsis: Award-winning comedian Zarna Garg turns her astonishing life story into a hilarious memoir—from narrowly escaping an arranged marriage in India to carving her own path in America and launching a dazzling second act in midlife.

This memoir was hysterical in parts and deeply moving in others. I wasn’t familiar with Zarna Garg before picking up the audiobook based on a recommendation, but the synopsis of the story was so compelling that I couldn’t help myself! Zarna’s early life was difficult: she lost her mother at a young age and experienced homelessness. Her harrowing journey of finally getting a visa to come to the United States had me on the edge of my seat! If not for getting her visa at the right time, she would have had to go through with an arranged marriage.

What I appreciated most about this book is Zarna. I may not have known who she was before starting this memoir, but man, I am in awe of her now! She is bold, smart, and fierce, and I think we could all do to have a little bit of her in us. For example, when she was in her early twenties, she put up this insane personal ad to find a husband. This was in the early nineties when we weren’t going online to find our future partners. But men responded to her ad, and she did indeed find her future husband through that process. (I need this romance novel written immediately!)

She also devotes a chapter to navigating the brutal private school scene in NYC. This could have felt tone-deaf, but it was honestly just refreshingly honest and hilarious. While the second half was a bit slower than the first half, this was a heartfelt, entertaining memoir that I definitely recommend! (Recommendation source: Jeff O’Neal of the Book Riot podcast.)

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (6.11.25)

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan ★★★☆☆ 1/2

Print • Library • Contemporary Fiction • 2025

Short synopsis: Cate Kay is the bestselling author of a book trilogy that struck box office gold, but the truth behind this magnetic author’s true identity remains a mystery. Now, the real Cate Kay is ready to step out of the shadows and tell her story.

This is one of the buzziest books of 2025, so I was excited to get my hands on it finally. It had everything that should work for me: a propulsive plot, great writing, and a queer woman at the center of the story. Unfortunately, this book just didn’t live up to the hype! Maybe my expectations were too high, but I was hoping for something juicier and more exciting. Instead, it’s mostly about a girl who did a really stupid thing as a teenager, somehow wrote a bestselling trilogy, and became a recluse. That premise had potential, but the execution didn’t grab me the way I’d hoped.

One of my main issues was the abundance of POVs. While some of those POVs were important and I can understand why they were included, others felt unnecessary. I wanted more from Cate’s perspective. I really liked her voice and would have appreciated getting a deeper look into her life.

This book was fine, but not exactly memorable. I don’t see it making my favorites list at the end of the year.

Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson (★★★★☆)

Audiobook • Hoopla • Thriller • 2011

Short synopsis: Memories define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love – all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story. Welcome to Christine’s life.

This is an old-school thriller, written in 2011. (We’re not going to talk about how 2011 was 14 years ago, right?!) It was a selection for book club, and most of us were immediately intrigued by the Goodreads synopsis—that’s the whole thing in the “short synopsis” section! This book had such an interesting premise and it was executed beautifully. The early chapters felt a bit repetitive (every morning, Christine has to read a journal to remember who she is and what happened to her), but the story gained real momentum halfway through. I found it hard to stop listening because I wanted to know how things would turn out! I suspected the big twist, and while I was right, it didn’t temper my enjoyment. There was still a lot I got wrong, and I loved the slow, methodical way everything was revealed.

I chose to listen to the audiobook, and wow, has audiobook quality come a long way since 2011! (Who knew?!) I didn’t hate my listening experience, but it was definitely lower-quality, and the narrator had this odd way of speaking that made me feel like I was watching a TV show from the 80s or 90s. I don’t know a better way to describe it!

Anyway, this is a thriller I’d recommend, especially if you’re looking to read something that’s going to be a bit different than all the popcorn thrillers that are published today.

The Takedown by Lily Chu (★★★★☆)

E-Book • Owned (Amazon) • Contemporary Romance • 2024

Short synopsis: Dee Kwan’s perfectly charmed life unravels when she’s pulled into a high-stakes corporate scandal at a luxury fashion brand—only to discover her online gaming nemesis is actually the CEO’s heir. As workplace drama, family tension, and unexpected romance collide, Dee must decide if she’s ready to trade comfort for courage and fight for something bigger than herself.

Gosh, this book was a wild ride for me. There were times when it made me so angry and uncomfortable that I wanted to abandon it. But I decided to power through and I’m really glad I did because the journey was worth it. This book is billed as a romance, but honestly, the romance isn’t a huge part of the story. The real plot is Dee’s work as a diversity consultant and the chaos she uncovers at the company she’s currently consulting for. Between toxic workplace culture, micro (and macro) aggressions, and leadership that just doesn’t see a problem in their mostly white staff, it’s brutal stuff. I had such a hard time getting through some of these scenes because they made me so angry. There’s a part of me that feels some of the blatant misogyny and racism was heavy-handed, but can I really say that as a cisgendered white lady who hasn’t had to deal with this kind of harassment in the workplace? Nope.

This is a romance that is so much more. (It’s also closed-door for anyone who prefers that in their romances!) Dee’s character arc is exactly what I love to see in these kinds of books; I want characters who are deeply flawed but trying their best, and making progress when it counts. The love story was sweet and healthy; no weird miscommunication tropes and I thought the dark moment was handled wonderfully. All in all, this is a smart, engaging romance that I really loved.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (6.2.25)

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean (★★★★☆)

E-Book • Libby • Historical Romance • 2010

Short synopsis: Tired of living by society’s restrictive rules, Lady Calpurnia Hartwell sets out to experience the pleasures she’s long been denied—with the help of the scandalous and irresistible Marquess of Ralston. But in chasing freedom, she risks breaking the one rule she never expected: falling in love.

This was a reread for me, and I loved it just as much the second time around. I needed a fun, sweet, well-written romance after a string of duds. Callie was such a fun heroine to root for, and I especially loved watching her slowly break down Ralston’s walls and make him fall for her. Okay, sure, these books are slightly anachronistic (like most historical romances—because who wants to read about women just following society’s rules?!), but that’s part of their charm. If you haven’t given Sarah MacLean’s romances a try, please do yourself a favor and pick this one up!

The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop (★★★★★)

Audiobook • Hoopla • Nonfiction (Memoir) • 2024

Short synopsis: Beloved award-winning actress Kelly Bishop, famous for playing the iconic Emily Gilmore in Gilmore Girls, finally tells the whole story of her six decades in show business.

Everyone is raving about this memoir, so I moved it up my TBR list. I’m so glad I did! It was the right book at the right time—a pure delight from start to finish. I didn’t know much about Kelly Bishop’s life, other than how much I loved to hate her character on Gilmore Girls. She was perfectly cast as Emily Gilmore, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about her background as a dancer, her romantic adventures as a young woman, and her marriage. She talks about breaking into acting after working for so long as a dancer, how much she loved working on Gilmore Girls, and what it was like to lose her beloved husband to cancer. This book was perfect, and I highly recommend the audiobook because there’s nothing like hearing Kelly’s voice in your ears for six hours!

Pete and Alice in Maine by Caitlin Shetterly (★☆☆☆☆)

Audiobook • Hoopla • Contemporary Fiction • 2023

Short synopsis: Amid the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic and a crumbling marriage, Alice retreats with her family to Maine, only to find herself trapped in a hostile quarantine that forces her to confront her identity and the true foundations of her family. 

I cannot remember the last time I gave a book 1 star. In most cases, I would have DNF-ed this book. But for some reason, despite the glaringly low 3.38 Goodreads rating, I gave this one a shot. I HAVE REGRETS. What did I hate about this book? Everything. The characters were unbearable, especially Alice. She was so insufferable, I wanted to shake her. The level of unacknowledged privilege was off the charts—she had it all but wanted to play the victim over and over again.

I hated the way the author shoehorned in political topics. It felt like a cringe-inducing performance of virtue—“Look at me! I care about George Floyd! I hate Trump! I’m one of the Good White Women!” There are ways to write about 2020 politics with nuance. This was not that.

The kids? Bratty and annoying. Every scene with them made me extra grateful to be childless. The husband? A nonentity. Technically a terrible person, but written with so little depth I couldn’t even muster the energy to dislike him properly.

Listen, if you liked or loved this book, I am so happy that you had a much better reading experience than I did. It’s definitely a character-driven story, and these kinds of stories are hard for me to enjoy, especially if the characters are so unlikable. I should have DNF-ed this one, and let this be a lesson to me and everyone else to DNF books that aren’t working for you!

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (5.19.25)

Happy Monday! I have had a string of “meh” books lately and I’ll admit here that my reviews of two of these books are a little spicy. Normally, I try to be very fair to books I didn’t like because many times, it’s just a personal preference. But for two of these books, it was very hard to be fair because I disliked them so much. If these are books you loved, then I’m glad you had a much more pleasant reading experience than I did. They were complete duds for me.

Let’s Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (Gift) • Contemporary Romance • 2025

Short synopsis: After the sudden loss of her husband, Juliana Ryan is rebuilding her life and career while sparring with her arrogant, annoyingly handsome coworker, Ben—until a high-stakes project forces them into an uneasy truce that slowly turns into something more. 

This was a solid debut romance. I went to the author’s book signing, and since she’s a semi-local author (she’s based in Orlando), it was great to see all of her Tampa-area friends show up for her. The book itself had its good and not-so-good moments. I thought the romance was fun and the characters were well-developed. The author incorporated Juliana’s kids in a way where they didn’t feel like an afterthought (which can sometimes happen in these kinds of romance novels). But at times, this book definitely read like a debut. The dialogue could be stilted at times, with the author relying too heavily on banter-style humor. And I thought the dark moment was handled very poorly. I really wish the author had gone in a different direction because it felt a bit emotionally manipulative and inconsistent with one character’s established personality. All in all, I have hopes for this author, and I’m looking forward to reading what she writes next. (3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.)

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer (★★☆☆☆)

Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Fiction/Fantasy(ish) • 2023

Short synopsis: Lucy Hart, a hopeful teacher’s aide longing to adopt the orphaned boy she cares for, gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to compete for a priceless book on the magical Clock Island.

I read Meg Shaffer’s The Lost Story earlier this year and absolutely adored it. I was excited to get my hands on her debut novel, hoping for a similarly heartwarming experience. Unfortunately, it did not work for me at all. I am actually scratching my head as to why this novel is so beloved (with a 4+ rating on Goodreads!).

The central premise involves Lucy wanting to adopt a recently orphaned student from the school where she works as a teacher’s aide. He was a student in her class a year ago, and she has told this boy more than once that she wants to adopt him. Even though Lucy is living with three other roommates in a small apartment, doesn’t have a car, and is barely making ends meet as it is. How in the world does she think she’s going to be approved for adoption? And how is she going to take care of another person when she’s struggling to care for herself? It just didn’t make sense to me. The lack of boundaries between Lucy and this boy felt deeply uncomfortable, and it gave me a very yucky feeling in my stomach.

The majority of the book takes place on Clock Island, where Lucy and three others compete to win the rights to the next book in the series. The enigmatic author of this series, Jack is also a central figure—and he, too, has no sense of appropriate boundaries. Children write him letters sharing their hardships, and his responses are often bizarrely intimate, like telling a child he wishes he were their father. I found that deeply inappropriate and unsettling.

Overall, the book felt unrealistic, with overly simplistic writing, and had a truly dumb ending. This is not a book I would recommend but hey, at least it shows how much Meg Shaffer has grown as a writer between her debut and her second novel. The Lost Story feels like it was written by an entirely different author.

Lease on Love by Falon Ballard (★★☆☆☆)

Audiobook • Libby • Contemporary Romance • 2022

Short synopsis: When a drunken mix-up lands Sadie Green in a stranger’s spare bedroom instead of on a date, she unexpectedly finds the perfect place to reboot her life—and maybe even her love life—with reclusive, grieving Jack Thomas. As mismatched roommates turned unlikely friends, their shared space slowly becomes something much more.

I had high hopes for this book when I started it, but it quickly became a hate-read for me. I should have stopped reading it, but it was a quick audiobook, and I figured I’d just power through. Unfortunately, there was a lot that made this one tough to enjoy.

First, the profanity. I’m not usually bothered by cursing in books—I barely notice it, to be honest—but this felt excessive. It gave major “tween who just discovered swear words” energy. I guess it was supposed to make the dialogue feel edgy or authentic? It didn’t.

Let’s talk about Sadie for a minute. She was one of the most insufferable characters I’ve read in a long time. She’s selfish and needy and borderline mean to the people around her. And yet, the universe bends over backward to hand her everything she wants. She finds a dream apartment in New York City (after getting fired from her job, no less), lands a bartending gig instantly, and then and the icing on the cake: she starts a florist business and it becomes so successful in just a few months that she’s able to open up a storefront… in NEW YORK CITY. (All because she has a multimillionaire for a friend who is able to invest in her business.) Oh, and she’s also super hot, great in bed, and her friends think she walks on water.

Lastly, let’s get into the romance. Jack is as exciting as a piece of dry toast. He is one-dimensional and serves solely to make Sadie’s life easier. He gives her a place to stay, converts part of his home into a flower shop workspace (with industrial coolers and everything!), and once they’re dating, he’s drawing baths for her every night and hand-delivering meals. I mean… I would love to have a Jack in my life, but there was no chemistry, no tension, nothing to give him any sort of depth.

Ultimately, this book wasn’t for me. And I think this author might not be for me either. This is the second book of hers I’ve read, and both felt more like wish fulfillment than realistic storytelling.

What are you reading?