Just start by tracking what you read in high school – Goodreads

The old paperback copy of Dune lay untouched on my nightstand, gathering dust. I was in a reading slump that felt less like a temporary dip and more like a terminal disease. For months, I’d wander the aisles of the bookstore, completely paralyzed by choice, ultimately leaving empty-handed. I missed that feeling of getting lost in a narrative, but I just couldn’t find the doorway back in.

Then, a friend recommended the Goodreads app, telling me, “Just start by tracking what you read in high school. It’ll remind you what you like.”

I downloaded it reluctantly, cataloging a few favorite childhood fantasy novels. The real magic happened when I stumbled into the recommendation engine. Instead of the overwhelming “New Releases” shelves, I was presented with books labeled, “Highly rated by people who also liked The Martian.” It felt personal, like a conversation with a knowledgeable librarian.

One specific recommendation kept popping up: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. I had never heard of it, but the description—a labyrinthine house, a unique narrator—was intriguing. I clicked “Want to Read,” and a satisfying little progress bar appeared. It was the first act of literary commitment I’d made in a year.

I bought the book that evening. It was a revelation. The quiet, strange beauty of the prose pulled me in instantly, and I devoured it over a weekend. When I finished, I immediately opened the Goodreads app, moved it to my “Read” shelf, and left a glowing 5-star review. Reading the thoughtful discussions and reviews from other users who had felt the same sense of awe was the final piece of the puzzle. It wasn’t just about finding the next book; it was about sharing the joy of the last one.

Goodreads didn’t just cure my reading slump; it created a whole new routine. Now, my “Want to Read” shelf is a carefully curated treasure map, guiding me to my next great adventure, and the “Reading” status helps me stay accountable and excited. It transformed reading from a solitary hobby into a shared, tracked, and celebrated journey.