The turn of one year to another is a time when New Year Resolutions run rampant. Organizing something usually makes the list, as do daily promises for “healthy habits.” If you are reading this, you probably view reading as one of those habits! And I know I can always use a more organized approach to my reading. But I’m not good at logging on to websites, and I’m certainly not good at maintaining a cute, colorful print journal that has to live somewhere like my desk (it will get lost). So I dug around the internet–so you don’t have to!–and found some new apps, platforms, recommendation sites and stores that will help you (because there is no help for me) organize your reading and your TBR.

Reading Trackers

Reading Tracker websites and apps often have other aspects to them, like providing a reviewing/rating system, as well as a way to recommend books to friends and acquaintances. But the primary purpose is to track the books you are reading.

 

Goodreads owned by Amazon, so it incorporates data and links via Amazon.

Shepherd full disclosure, I am a founding member of this platform, because I like both the idea and the person who is running it, named, conveniently, Ben Shepherd. It’s a platform meant for readers, and I can’t argue with the tagline, “Books Are Magic.”

Storygraph A popular, non-Amazon-owned alternative to Goodreads.

Notion Book Tracking Templates If you use Notion as a workspace already, these book tracking templates might work for you.

Fable (app) This is an app to download onto your phone or mobile device, for both iOS and Android. I liked being on this tracker for awhile, but like all things, I got too busy and haven’t logged on in quite a while. However, you can join book clubs and have discussion groups.

Bookmory (app) This is an app to download onto your phone or mobile device, for both iOS and Android. I could not find a specific website for it, but you can search for it wherever your app store is.

Bookly (app)  This is an app to download onto your phone or mobile device, for both iOS and Android. It tracks your time spent reading, organizes your book shelf (digitally only, I’m afraid. They don’t send an elf to your home to tut at your bookcase.), and takes notes.

BookSloth (app) This is an app to download onto your phone or mobile device, for both iOS and Android. This app is also a book community where you can chat with other users, recommend books, and rate books with badges, not stars.

BookWorm Reads (app)This is an app to download onto your phone or mobile device, for both iOS and Android. The aesthetic is cute and geared for a younger audience, but it is also a chatting platform. You can get book recommendations, track your reads, receive recommendations, and set reading goals.

Places to Organize Your Book Club

Fable I know I already mentioned it, but I want to make sure you know there is a book club portion that is integral to the app.

Bookclubs.com This website is comprehensive when it comes to book clubs. It has features to join one online, and has helpful features for your in-real-life book club, so you can send emails to the whole crowd at once, with voting available for the next book and days to get together.

Bookum App (app) This is an app to download onto your phone or mobile device, for both iOS and Android. There is more to this app than just a place to organize your book club, but I’ll mention that in another section. There are both spaces for online book clubs, a membership zone, as well as space to organize an in-real-life book club, with a chat feature, what they call a “nook” to discuss the book, as well as admin features.

Book Clubs That Pick for you:

Bookofthemonth.com Yep, that same one has been going since 1926. For transparency, BOTM has featured TWO authors that PLW have interviewed on our YouTube channel: Fiona Davis and Lisa See. Perks are that you do not have to pick anything. They make the choice for you. Down side? You don’t get to pick.

Justtherightbook.com This book club is based on the recommendations of RJ Julia Booksellers’ staff. It’s an independent bookstore in Madison, CT that has been around for at least three decades. The subscription service started over a decade ago and features an array of non-fiction, fiction, and biography. They even have a baby subscription, if you know anyone who wants their kiddo to grow up to be a reader!

 

Celebrity Book Clubs

Reesesbookclub.com Books are chosen by celebrity host Reese Witherspoon. They always center around a woman and the lived experience of one. Reese also partners with bigger brands and indie bookstores for promotions. Definitely a taste-maker, and has helped more than one author’s career!

Oprah’s Book Club Perhaps the most successful celebrity book club runner ever, Oprah has never stopped. That said, she has a clear taste in the selections, and if your taste doesn’t tend toward the emotional, you might not enjoy all the choices. A mix of memoirs, speculative, and family novels, the Oprah book club is on its 120th recommendation.

Jenna’s Book Club (The Today Show) The daughter of former President George W. Bush, now morning talk show host, Jenna Bush Hager hosts a monthly book club via The Today Show platform. In addition to a monthly pick, there are also sections like “books to read after” the selection, an array of recommended bookish accoutrement, and videos to watch. While most of her picks are new publications, she does also recommend other books, some classics, some from the last few decades as well.

Good Morning America (GMA) There is not a single person, but rather the show itself recommends these books. In addition to the single pick per month, they give a selection of other books to read that are publishing. There isn’t a discussion portion on the website, but each pick has it’s own article to read.

Belletrist The celebrity in question is actress Emma Roberts, and her non-celebrity best friend. The website is atmospheric, and their picks lean more towards authors whose books are less well-publicized by their traditional publishing houses. The picks lean towards contemporary woman-centric stories, and they are more active on social media.

Reading Centric Gatherings online

They aren’t book clubs, but they are spaces to talk about reading and meet other readers.

Bookum App (app) This is an app to download onto your phone or mobile device, for both iOS and Android, though their website does host a blog that has discussion questions for books, and news about online book spaces and upgrades to the app. While I mentioned them earlier in the book club section, the app boasts discussion areas for anyone, called “Nooks” where conversation can occur about specific books, or reading in general.

BookBrowse.com The website started in the late 1990s (the last century, eek!), and the interface reflects those early origin. While aesthetically not as sleek as the apps and celebrity wesbites, Book Browse is a recommendation site first. It also has monthly book club recommendations, blogs about the book world, and interviews with authors. The community is active, thoughtful, and dedicated.

 

On Social Media

There are book communities on all social media sites, but you have to know how to look for them. That’s why there are hashtags. Because cross-posting is common, even some platform-specific hashtags will work to find who you are looking for on any platform. Here are some book community specific terms to search:

#bookish #bookstagram (for instagram) #booktube (for YouTube) #booktok (for TikTok) #booklover #bookworm #bookstagrammer #books #bookaddict #bookcommunity #bookdragon (my personal favorite term for someone who hoards books)

 

Alternative Places to Buy Books

Now that we are living in the Charles Dickens era, where the rich are very rich, we can spread our own wealth around. There are other places to buy as alternatives to Amazon and Apple. Not only are the Independent bookstores in your area a great place to start, think about spending money in online spaces with the independents as well. I was going to name a few online bookstores, but this one encompasses them all.

Bookshop.org This is my preferred place to shop books. Why? Because they support ALL independent bookstores. When you purchase, you can select any bookstore as the vendor of choice. Did you love that amazing bookstore in Alaska when you went on vacation there years ago? Good news, you can buy via their account. Do you have several beloved bookstores? You can rotate. Or, you can not choose a specific one, and the commission money goes into a large pot that is then divided up amongst the smaller stores, even if they specifically didn’t have a purchase. It’s a way to support the independent book shop model. If you don’t need that deep Amazon discount, I highly recommend shopping here.

“Books are the best means – private, discreet, reliable – of overcoming reality.”

-Jhumpa Lahiri

What did I miss on this list? Do you have an app or website that you find crucial in your reading journey? If you are one of those people who can make adorable bullet journal entries, I envy and admire you. I am not one of them. But please post pictures and tag Paper Lantern Writers in them! I love to see it. Let me know in the comments if you have used any of the apps mentioned. I’m always curious.  -Edie