Reading guides
Practical answers to the questions readers ask before they start a book.
How to tell if you'll like a book before you buy it
Seven checks that predict whether a book suits you — better than its average star rating — and a faster way to run them.
Why a book's star rating doesn't predict whether you'll like it
Average ratings measure the crowd, not you. Here is why highly rated books disappoint, and what predicts your enjoyment instead.
How to choose what to read next when nothing sounds good
A simple method for picking your next book when your to-be-read pile feels like homework.
How to get out of a reading slump
Practical ways to start enjoying reading again — and how to avoid picking the book that causes the next slump.
How to check a book's content warnings and mood before you read
Where to find content warnings, mood and age information for a book, and how to use them without spoilers.
The best apps for deciding what to read next
An honest comparison of Goodreads, StoryGraph, Hardcover, Libby and Hunch — what each is best at when you're choosing your next book.
Hunch vs Goodreads: which tells you if you'll like a book?
Goodreads shows what everyone thought of a book. Hunch predicts what you will think. Here's when to use each.
Hunch vs StoryGraph: mood tags or a personal prediction?
StoryGraph helps you filter books by mood and pace. Hunch predicts how much you'll enjoy one particular book. How they compare.