Reader's Corner: What to Read Next?
Looking for a good book to read but don't know where to start? This guide covers popular, award-winning, and just plain great nonfiction and fiction genres and books.
Goodreads
What you can do with GoodReads:
- Check out the genre-specific lists or your friends’ bookshelves
- Rate and review books
- Create a wish list of future reads
Unique Features:
- Connect and share books with your friends
- Most popular
- Connect and follow authors
What you need to start: Create an account with an email address, or log in and find friends with your Google, Facebook or Twitter account.
Similar Websites:
What Should I Read Next?
What you can do with What Should I Read Next:
- Enter a book you like and the site will analyse their huge database of real readers' favorite books to provide book recommendations and suggestions for what to read next.
- Results link to Amazon.com where you can find more information.
What you need to start: Nothing! What Should I Read Next is a free website which doesn’t require a log-in.
Similar Websites:
Shelf-Service from the Boston Public Library
If you are looking for something new to read and would enjoy some personalized reading recommendations, connect to Boston Pubic Library's Shelf-Service, fill out some details about your reading habits and preferences, and a librarian will get back to you with 3-5 picks tailored to your reading tastes.
NoveList Plus
- NoveList PlusNoveList Plus is the premiere database of reading recommendations, available through libraries around the world. It is a comprehensive source of information about books that includes expert recommendations, reviews, articles, lists and more.
What you can do with NoveList Plus:
- Discover new books by browsing the various tags they have created. NoveList moves away from the generic tags of "Historical Fiction" and instead goes a step further and tags "Dear Diary", "Immigrant Experience," or "Shady Ladies".
- Find new books that are tagged depending on their tone, mood, writing, pace, etc. For example: atmospheric, offbeat, or banter-filled.
- For every book that you select on NoveList, you will be given a "read-a-like" list based on the tags and appeal factors of that book. This displays on the right-hand side of the page.
Would you like to learn more about NovelistPlus?
Watch our NovelistPlus tutorial.
Additional Resources
Read-a-likes are books that you read because you liked a book that is similar. The common phrase is "If you like(d) A, try B." Check out booklists that the BPL has created to help you find your next book. Below are the lists by author.
- If you like Cassandra Clare...Have you enjoyed Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments, Infernal Devices, and Bane Chronicles series and want more books set in fascinating worlds?
- If you like Dan Brown...On the wait list for Dan Brown's new book "Inferno"? Try these similar authors and titles while you are waiting.
- If you like Stephen King...If you like books by Stephen King, try some of these titles put together by the Harris County Public Library.
- If you like James Patterson...If you enjoy forensic thrillers or psychopathic criminals, try these novels from a list put together by the Hennepin County Library.
- If you like Jennifer Crusie...If you enjoy books by Jennifer Crusie, or other contemporary romance novels with a touch of humor, try these similar title and authors in a list compiled partially by the Harris County Public Library, and partially by BPL.
- If you like Jhumpa Lahiri...Whether it was the family relationships, immigrant experience, or the cultural aspects and story-lines you enjoyed of Jhumpa Lahiri, this list should have something for you. Full-length novels and collections of short stories are included, just as Lahiri's works are a mixture of both.
- If you like Jodi Picoult...If you enjoy the novels of the author Jodi Picoult, try these titles by similar authors compiled by the Hennepin County Library.
- If you like Jojo Moyes...Did you fall in love with Jojo Moyes' writing in her novels "Me Before You", "The Girl You Left Beind", "The One Plus One" and "The Last Letter From Your Lover"? If so, check out this collection of titles that may interest you.
- If you like John Grisham...If you enjoy books by the author John Grisham, try these novels by similar authors in a list put together by the Harris County Public Library.
- If you like Lisa See...Did you like Lisa See's previous novels "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan", "Shanghai Girls", "Dreams of Joy", and more? View this list for similar titles and authors.
- If you like Margaret Atwood...If you like any of Margaret Atwood's works, be it her dystopian societies, her thoughts on women's roles in society, or her writing style, you'll be sure to find a similar title to read here.
- If you like Nora Roberts...If you enjoy novels by romance author Nora Roberts, try these similar titles and authors.
- If you like Rainbow Rowell...If you are in love with Rainbow Rowell's novels, check out these other young adult and adult novels that are similar in writing and themes.
- If you like Sarah Dessen...Sarah Dessen's novels are a bit of a mixed-bag. Some involve very serious realistic issues, some are more of a romance, and yet others are sweet with a touch of humor. The similar novels on this list cover this broad spectrum, so hopefully if you enjoy Sarah Dessen's books, you will find a new book to read from this list.
- If you like Sophie Kinsella...Do you love the humor and romance that British author Sophie Kinsella (aka Madeleine Wickham) writes? Take a look at these similar novels and authors.
Read-a-likes are books that you read because you liked a book that is similar. The common phrase is "If you like(d) A, try B." Check out booklists that BPL has created to help you find your next book. Below are the lists by title of a specific book.
- If you liked 50 Shades of Grey...If you enjoyed 50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James and are looking for something similar, try these titles.
- If you liked Bossypants...If you enjoyed Tina Fey's memoir entitled "Bossypants" check out these similar titles compiled by Books and Authors.
- If you liked Cutting For Stone...If you enjoyed the novel Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, try these similar titles put together in a list by Books and Authors.
- If you liked The Fault in Our Stars...If you liked John Green's novel, "The Fault in Our Stars", check out these similar titles.
- If you liked Game of Thrones...If you have enjoyed the "Song of Fire and Ice" series including the first in the series "A Game of Thrones", by George R. R. Martin, try these similar titles.
- If you liked the Goldfinch...If you've read "The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt and loved it, try out these titles with similar writing styles and themes.
- If You Liked Gone GirlIf you enjoyed Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, try these other titles. The majority of this list comes from Books and Authors.
- If you liked The Help...If you enjoyed the novel The Help by Kathryn Stockett, try these similar titles put together in a short list from Books and Authors.
- If you liked The Hunger Games Trilogy...If you enjoyed Suzanne Collin's Hunger Games Trilogy, try these similar titles from a list compiled by Books and Authors.
- If you liked In the Garden of Beasts...If you enjoyed In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson, try these similar titles put together in a list by Books and Authors.
- If you liked Life of Pi...If you enjoyed Yann Martel's Life of Pi, try these similar titles compiled in a list from our Books and Authors database.
- If you liked The Paris Wife...If you enjoyed The Paris Wife by Paula McLain, try these titles! List put together by Books and Authors.
- If you liked State of Wonder...If you enjoyed State of Wonder by Ann Patchett, try these similar titles compiled in a list from our Books and Authors database.
- If you liked The Time Traveler's Wife...If you enjoyed the novel The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, try these similar titles put together by the Hennepin County Library.
- If you liked Unbroken...There are many things to like about Laura Hillenbrand's book "Unbroken". Was it the survival story that you enjoyed or was it the story of a great athlete? Was it the setting of World War II or the compelling writing? Find similar titles on this list for every one of those reasons that you may have enjoyed "Unbroken".
- If you liked Water for Elephants...If you enjoyed Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants, try these similar titles put together by Books and Authors.
- If you liked Wild...Did you enjoy the story of addiction, healing, and adventure in Cheryl Strayed's "Wild"? If so, try one of these memoirs with similar themes.
If the popular title you are looking for has a long holds queue, check out the "While You Wait For..." lists for similar titles that are available without the wait.
- While You Wait For... HeartstopperCan't get enough of Netflix's "Heartstopper"? Check out one of these reads while you wait for the graphic novels and be sure to hop on the waitlist for all four volumes. #BPLWhileYouWait #bplpride
- While You Wait For... This Time TomorrowDoes the long holds queue for This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub have you discouraged? Try one of these warm and thoughtful novels where timeslips, amnesia, or parallel universes help women reevaluate their lives. They're similar to This Time Tomorrow, but come without the wait! #BPLWhileYouWait
- While You Wait For... Hotel NantucketDoes the long holds queue for The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand have you discouraged? Try one of these heartwarming summer reads set in Massachusetts beach towns. They're similar to The Hotel Nantucket, but come without the wait! #BPLWhileYouWait
- While You Wait For... Book LoversDoes the long holds queue for Book Lovers by Emily Henry have you discouraged? Try one of these bookish romances where writers, publishers, editors, booksellers, and book lovers of all kinds find their happily-ever-afters. They're similar to Book Lovers, but come without the wait! #BPLWhileYouWait
- While You Wait For... Klara and the SunDoes the long holds queue for Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro have you discouraged? Try one of these introspective sci-fi novels about artificial intelligence, robots with emotions, and the relationship between AI and humanity. They're similar to Klara and the Sun, but come without the wait! #BPLWhileYouWait
- While You Wait For... TrustDoes the long holds queue for Trust by Hernan Diaz have you discouraged? Try one of these historical novels set in New York City. They're similar to Trust, but come without the wait! #BPLWhileYouWait
- While You Wait For... Things We Never Got OverDoes the long holds queue for Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score have you discouraged? Try one of these contemporary romances where falling in love comes with kids in tow. They're similar to Things We Never Got Over, but come without the wait! #BPLWhileYouWait
- While You Wait For... Going ThereBiographies and memoirs by and about women journalists to read while you wait for "Going There" by Katie Couric.
- While You Wait For... The Song of AchillesTry one of these queer and feminist retellings of stories from Greco-Roman history and mythology as you wait for Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.
- While You Wait For... It Happened One SummerSome opposite-attract romances set in small towns to read as you wait for "It Happened One Summer" by Tessa Bradley.
- While You Wait For... Apples Never FallCheck out one of these page-turners full of family secrets, missing persons, and unreliable narrators while you wait for "Apples Never Fall" by Liane Moriarty.
- While You Wait For... The Love HypothesisTry one of these contemporary romantic comedies where fake dating leads to true love as you wait for "The Love Hypothesis" by Ali Hazelwood.
- While You Wait For... VanderbiltRead one of these titles about the Vanderbilts and other titans of their time while waiting for "Vanderbilt" by Anderson Cooper.
- While You Wait For... State of TerrorCheck out one of these political thrillers about far-reaching governmental conspiracies while you wait for "State of Terror" by Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny.
Click here to see more "While You Wait For..." lists.
- Modern Library - Best 100 NovelsModern Library's list of the best 100 novels of the 20th century based on a readers' poll.
- Modern Library - 100 Best NonfictionModern Library's list of the 100 best nonfiction titles of the 20th century based on a readers' poll.
- The Top 100 Books of All TimeThe Guardian list of the top books of all time nominated by writes from around the world.
- Harvard Book Store Top 100 BooksIn 2010 staff at Harvard Book Store worked together to create this list of their favorite books of all time. They chose books that moved them, changed the way they thought about the world, and that they would "happily read over the over again."
- 101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound ReadersA Goodreads Listopia list based on a recommended-reading list created by the College Board for college-bound students.
- Your Favorites: 100 Best-Ever Teen NovelsA list of the 100 best teen novels based on a survey by National Public Radio (NPR).
- 50 of the Best Nonfiction BooksBook Riot's selection of the best nonfiction books published over the last 100 years.
- Masters of the Past: Twenty Classic Historical Fiction Novels and Their LegacyHistorical fiction expert, Sarah Johnson, recommends 20 classic historical fiction titles.
- Masters of the Past, Volume II: Historical FictionThe second installment in Sarah Johnson's list of influential historical fiction novels.
- Twelve New Ancient and Medieval Historical NovelsWould you like to take a break for World War II novels? Check out this list of novels set in the more distance past by Reading the Past blogger, Sarah Johnson.
- 50 Best Manga You Must Read Right NowWhether you are new to the genre, or want to find a new series to read, Book Riot's list will point the way.
- 50 Best Cult BooksStaff at The Telegraph have put together this list of notable cult books from the last two centuries.
- LibraryReadsThe top ten adult fiction and nonfiction books published each month that library staff across the country highly recommend.
- 31 Ways to find the Best Book RecommendationsBook Riot's guide to book recommendation resources.