Goodreads

Goodreads is a social platform for discovering, reviewing, and tracking books, launched in 2007 and acquired by Amazon in 2013. While widely used, it has faced criticism over data privacy concerns, especially after Amazon’s acquisition. The platform has also struggled with review bombing and harassment targeting authors, and in 2020, it restricted its public API, limiting third-party access. These issues have raised concerns about user rights, moderation, and transparency.

Alternatives

Bookstr

Bookstr is a simple and private place to share and discover books you love. It’s like Goodreads, but without ads, tracking, or big tech watching you. Bookstr is built on Nostr, a new open and decentralized network that gives you full control over your data. You don’t need to be tech-savvy to use it. Just read, share, and connect with others who love books, all while keeping your privacy.