How do you find new books to read?

[odamizu]

Hello!

I'm looking for better ways to find new books to read. Usually I browse my local library's new ebook selection via Overdrive, but that tends to be driven by whether a cover, title and/or author catches my eye. I'm wondering how everyone else usually finds new books to read.

Thank you,

~oda

[Sirtel]

Browsing the bookstores in the genres I read.

[DiapDealer]

Browsing book stores mostly. Sometimes I try things family or friends recommend. And strangely enough, I occasionally like to press pause and check out what people on TV shows are reading.

[issybird]

For me, it’s mostly newspaper reviews. But I have such a large backlog of books that I don’t go hunting; I wait to see what catches my eye.

What I would advise someone who’s flailing is to develop a list of books you’ve loved and look them up on Goodreads. See who else has loved them and check out their books. If overall they seem to your taste, start following them. This obviously is only going to work with somewhat more obscure books; finding people who also loved The Martian, say, isn’t much of a filter!

[JSWolf]

• Looking at newly acquired eBook at the libraries I belong to.
• email from publishers/stores
• Browsing ebookstores.
• Recommendations from MR.

I have not been in a bookstore in some time. I used to browse quite a bit. I might give the local bookstore a browse next week sometime.

[DNSB]

Browsing online book stores, rarely a B&M bookstore & various authors whose newsletters I get.

At one point, I tried several sites such as Goodreads. For the most part, the recommendations there were of little use. Most of the time any relationship between the books I had read and the recommendations were coincidental at best around the level of both titles had a J in the name.

[DiapDealer]

I don't even know how far I'd have to travel to find a decent B&M bookstore any more. So when I said "book store," the online variety is what I meant.

[DJUNGELSKOG]

Originally Posted by odamizu

Hello!

I'm looking for better ways to find new books to read. Usually I browse my local library's new ebook selection via Overdrive, but that tends to be driven by whether a cover, title and/or author catches my eye. I'm wondering how everyone else usually finds new books to read.

Thank you,

~oda

That’s how I do it.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by DNSB

At one point, I tried several sites such as Goodreads. For the most part, the recommendations there were of little use. Most of the time any relationship between the books I had read and the recommendations were coincidental at best around the level of both titles had a J in the name.

I’m not suggesting Goodreads recommendations, which as you say are useless. As if I’d ever read a cowboy romance! But finding other members who like the same kind of books you do is an entirely different matter. Their opinions tend to be gold. Goodreads also lets you compare your books to those of another member to see how congruent your tastes are, and I must say it’s a pretty useful determinant.

[Desertway]

I don't go actively looking anymore, as my backlog will carry me for years. But sometimes an author I like mentions another author and I get curious. Other times, I see a book that looks interesting from someone I follow on Storygraph. On rare occasion, I come upon a book review in the newspaper.

[Apache]

I don't follow authors, even the ones I like, on social media. Bookstores feel more like toy stores now and I haven't been in one in years. I do check online bookstores and even Fantastic Fiction for new book releases and the date of release. Another underutilized option I use is Mobil Reads " Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading?" thread. There are some members that I am more likely to like books they are reading. For example, I have picked up a number of books pdurrant has read and liked them. He does seem to be absent right now on that thread. There are other members that have mentioned books that I might now have picked up otherwise. So, check out what other members are reading, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Apache

[John F]

For the most part, I read authors I've read before. I find them by looking at new arrivals at my overdrive libraries. I have an app that is in my Windows startup folder that let's me know when new ebooks have been added.

I'll also read books mentioned in MR threads that sound interesting. I also have several "award winner" lists that I try to read: Hugo, Locus, Edgar, Pulitzer, ... I also read some books from my library's book club.

[Aleron Ives]

I just look at what's currently on sale each day. If a title sounds interesting and doesn't require a huge commitment, I'll pick it up to try a new author. If I end up not liking it, then I didn't spend much money to find out the author isn't for me. If it's an author I already like, then I'll probably get it, too.