LibraryThing: a True Alternative to Goodreads, or Just Another Amazon Herding Site?
- Feb 16
- 6 min read
Many readers and authors are fed up with Goodreads, once the go-to platform for book lovers. Fallout from its ownership by Amazon, reports of author intimidation tactics, and practices overtly funneling traffic to the corporate retail giant, have pushed users to seek alternatives.
LibraryThing often comes up as a popular choice, billed as an independent and community-driven site. But is it really a better option, or just another platform used as a consumer herding site to Amazon? This review explores the real thing behind LibraryThing.
About LibraryThing
Despite its "small-town" feel, LibraryThing is a corporation with external ownership, including a significant stake (40%) held by Amazon-owned entities, ie AbeBooks. It started in 2005 as a cataloging tool for book lovers who wanted to organize their personal libraries online.
Over time, the company evolved into a type of social network. Readers can share book reviews and comments, join groups for book lovers, and participate in book discussions. Authors can give away their books for free in the Early Reviewers program, and hope for reviews.
Authors who publish through Amazon are at a distinct advantage, and may want to join this site to hook up with those of similar mindsets, and use the tools as pointers to their Amazon books. However, for those seeking alternatives, you might want to skip this one.
LibraryThing actively discourages self-promo by authors. Posting links to your books in groups, or otherwise advertising them, except through the giveaway program, can get you banned. Authors are expected to build an online presence by engaging with readers and writers.
LibraryThing currently strives to maintain a smaller, more niche community "feel" than Goodreads. There is, however, a steep learning curve, and many consider the interface clunky and confusing.
Ongoing developments continue to raise concerns about its independence. Amazon owns significant shares in LibraryThing. The site also benefits as an Amazon affiliate, and its design overwhelmingly promotes Amazon links when users search for books.
For example, when adding a book to your library or collection, the default display or purchase links lead only to Amazon, even if the book is available elsewhere. For instance, my horror comedy book "Attack of the Mutant Space Maggots" is published on Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Bookshop.org and many other sites (including libraries) with the same ISBN, but only the Amazon link appears in search results.
Genre makes no diff, as it's the same with my Lora Ley series, fantasy adventures based on German mythology. Only the books published to Amazon appear in LibraryThing search.
My popular horror comedy "Squirrels: Protect Your Nuts" does not appear at all, despite multiple listings on various sites, through the same ISBN. In a way this is good, because Amazon refuses to update this book, and readers should be looking elsewhere for a current copy anyway.
Speaking of which ... on LT search, if you don't want the Amazon default, a tiny "search elsewhere" link leads only to public libraries or Overcat, a paid service run by LibraryThing, which aggregates book availability especially from libraries. According to the site blurb, Overcat is an "online library catalog for small libraries."
LibraryThing acquired another Goodreads alternative, Litsy, in 2018. Litsy brings in revenue partly through earnings as an affiliate, including for Amazon, and is partly supported by LibraryThing. I'm currently checking out Litsy, have successfully added one book (no cover pic appearing yet), and will post my review of this site soon.
LibraryThing Early Reviewer Program: A Mixed Bag
LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer program claims to connect authors with readers willing to review new books. Authors give their books away to readers who may or may not review them. It's up to the author to distribute the copies.
Up front, this sounds like a good way for self-published and indie authors to get free and honest feedback; but many users report mixed experiences.
The program has been criticized for:
Low-quality reviews: Some reviewers provide superficial or rushed feedback.
Limited reach: The number of available books and reviewers is small.
Potential bias: Since the program is tied to Amazon, reviews may be influenced by commercial interests.
A detailed Early Reviewer user review on Reddit highlights these concerns and questions whether the program is a genuine opportunity or a marketing tool disguised as community support. Read it here: LibraryThing Early Reviews: Is It A Shady Scam?
User Experience: Clunky Interface and Technical Issues
One of the biggest complaints about LibraryThing is the unwieldy user interface, possibly an attempt to make the site look more "home-made" than corporate. Many people find it outdated and confusing. New users often deal with a steep learning curve, with unintuitive menus and features, and no links in the help section files.
Technical problems also plague the platform:
The mobile app is buggy and unreliable.
Large libraries load slowly, frustrating users with extensive collections.
Frequent, difficult captchas can add to the hassle.
These issues make LibraryThing feel like "too much work" for casual readers who want a simple way to track and review books.
Why Some Users Feel Disappointed
Many people join LibraryThing hoping to escape Amazon’s influence and find a truly independent book community. Unfortunately, the reality is more complicated. While LibraryThing offers some unique features and a dedicated user base, it blatantly directs users toward Amazon for purchases and reviews.
This duality catches users between two worlds: a platform promising independence, but acting as a pointer site to Amazon. For those who want to support local bookstores or alternative sellers, this is not acceptable.
What LibraryThing Does Well
LibraryThing has some strengths worth noting:
Cataloging tools: It supports detailed tagging, multiple editions, and custom fields.
Community groups: Users can join niche groups focused on specific genres or interests.
LibraryThing groups are community-driven, thematic forums. Users can discuss books, participate in reading challenges, or connect over niche interests (such as specific genres or authors). I joined a weird fiction group and we'll see how it goes.
Groups can be public, private, or invite-only, and they enable members to pin posts, share images, and occasionally search through members' libraries.
Library integration: The ability to check public library availability through Overcat.
No ads: Unlike Goodreads, LibraryThing does not bombard users with ads. About half the people online use adblockers anyway. The corporation makes money by selling user data (which it openly admits, and some users are okay with that), through subscriptions to its paid products like Overcat and Tinycat, and of course through stock market shares.
Should You Use LibraryThing?
If you are looking for a simple, modern, and fully independent alternative to Goodreads, LibraryThing will not meet your expectations. Its interface can be difficult, and the Amazon influence is overwhelming.
However, if readers want a robust cataloging system and don’t mind the quirks, LibraryThing offers some value. It is especially useful for readers who want to track large collections or participate in focused book groups. Writers can link to their Amazon books for free.
Some companies (ie Bookbub, Freebooksy) charge authors up to thousands of dollars for a chance to give their books away for free. The giveaway system on LibraryThing currently does not charge authors a fee, but, as noted above, may be a disappointing experience for some. Active groups can benefit indie authors wishing to expand online presence.
LibraryThing presents itself as a refuge from the Amazon-dominated world of book tracking and reviews. Yet, its ties to Amazon and the prominence of Amazon links indicate this site is indeed a herding system for the corporation.
Happy writing!
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