Goodreads Help Topics

my books

How do I add a book to "my books"?

1. To add a book to your shelves, find the book by searching for its title or author in the search bar in the header. Searching by ISBN or ASIN (for Kindle editions) works best when looking for a specific edition.

2. On the book's profile page, you will see a green "want to read" button underneath its cover image. Click "want to read" to quickly add the book to your "to-read" shelf, or hover over the books icon on the right side of the button to add it to one of your other exclusive shelves (like "read" or "currently-reading"). You can also rate the book using the stars beneath the button.
Can I edit a shelf for multiple books at once?

To add or remove books from a shelf in batches, use the "batch edit" on the top of your My Books page. The batch edit tool lets you select as many books as you like to move them from one shelf or another, or even to remove them from your profile.
Why are my status updates calculated in percents?

Progress updates for ebooks and audiobooks default to percentage, while updates for other books (like paperbacks, etc) default to page number. However, in all cases one can change the status to switch from the default. Here's how:
1) Navigate to your home page.
2) In your "currently reading" section (on the top right of the page), click "update status" next to the book you'd like to update.
3) The "%" should be a clickable link. Just click on it to switch the updates to "pages".
How do I create a "Never Finished" or "Abandoned" shelf?

You can create your own exclusive shelf for "never finished", "did not finish" or "abandoned". Here's how:
1) Click on My Books in the header.
2) Next to the "bookshelves" header on the left, click the small "edit" link.
3) On the bottom of the page, type "never finished" or "abandoned" into the "add a shelf" feature.
4) Check "exclusive" next to the new shelf when it appears on the list.
This will allow you to assign a book to this shelf, instead of having to pick between the default "read", "currently reading", and "to read" shelves.
How do I update my progress in a book I'm "currently reading"?

There are two ways you can do this:

1) From the homepage: Look for the "currently reading" section on the top right of the page. Underneath the book you want to update, click the small "update status" link. From here, you should be able to input the page number you are on and any comments you want to add.

2) From the book page: Scroll down until you see the "My Review" section (which should be just underneath the book's description). Next to the bolded "progress" header, click the link to "update status". Similarly, you can add page numbers and comments here.

For information on how to remove a status update, go here.
How do I move a book from "currently reading" to "read"?

1) Go to the homepage.

2) On the righthand side of the page, there should be a "currently-reading" section. Click "update status" underneath this section.

3) Under the text box is a link that says, "I'm finished." Click that link.

4) This should take you to a review page if you'd like to write a review. Click "save" and the book should be marked as "read".

Alternatively, you could go to the review page for the book (you can get there from "edit review" on the book page), and select "read" from the shelf dropdown menu. However, this method does not automatically record the date you finished the book.
How do I remove a book from "my books"?

To remove a book from your shelf, click on the My Books link at the top of Goodreads, make sure you are on the 'table' view (an option underneath the "My Books" search bar), then click the "x" to the right of the book you'd like to remove. You can also click on the book, click 'edit my review', then click 'remove from my books' at the very bottom of the page.
When a book is removed from your shelves, it will also delete your review.
How do I import or export my books?

To import your books from a csv, txt, or xls file, click on my books then on import/export beneath your shelf list on the left. On the top right of the following page, click "export to a csv file". The batch upload may take several minutes to process, depending on how large your file is.
How do I sort my books?

You can sort your or your friends reading lists by any criteria you like, using the links at the top of the column while viewing a shelf. For example, to sort by title, click on 'title', which appears at the top of the page. Clicking again will reverse the sort. Other columns that can be sorted on are: author name, rating, my rating, shelves, date added, publication date, date added, date read, average rating, review, number of comments, private notes, owned, and number of reviews.
I can't find my review on the book page itself. Where is it?

When you review a book, it does automatically post publicly to the book's page under "Community Reviews" (though the pages are cached, so this may not happen right away). However, when you are logged in as yourself, you will only see your review in the "My Review" section. Try logging out of your account before trying to see your reviews in the public areas of the site. You might also want to keep in mind that reviews are not only sorted by date, but also by popularity of the reviewer, length of the review, and a couple of other components. This sorting might cause your review to be on page two or three.
How do I download and read Google eBooks?

When you purchase a Google eBook, you will have instant access to that ebook on any computer or device with internet access and a working web browser.

In order to read a Google eBook in a dedicated reading device (like a Barnes & Noble Nook or Sony Reader), you will need to download a file and transfer it to your device. For more on this process, please see Google's help page.

Please note: In order to read a Google eBook on your dedicated reading device, you must first download Adobe Digital Editions software. Adobe Digital Editions is a free software tool that will decrypt the security coding on your ebook and allow you to read it.

To download Adobe Digital Editions software, go here.

For specific instructions on reading Google eBooks on various devices, please see the relevant page:
Please note that Google eBooks cannot be read on an Amazon Kindle at this time.

For more information on Google eBooks, please consult their help page.
How do I customize the "my books" page?

On the new "my books", click on "shelf settings" and select the options you want. Then save. This can be set independently for each shelf, except for read and all, which are set together.

For more details, please see this blog post.

book topics

Tips for booksellers and authors

We welcome participation from organizations such as book stores, and we invite all published authors to join the Goodreads Author Program. However, spam and unsolicited advertising of any kind will not be tolerated and could lead to the permanent deletion of you Goodreads account. Posting of legitimate book reviews from organizations or individuals is the intended use of the site, but no review should have any content with an intent to sell. Goodreads members recognize this as spam, so this tactic is not a good strategy for gaining new customers. In contrast, becoming an active participant in literary discussion on Goodreads will win you friends and new readers.
What do I do if a book is missing a cover image or other data?

It is possible for members to change book covers, edit book and author data, and generally correct any inaccuracies. Much of Goodreads' data comes from Ingram, and occasionally the page number, author name, or publisher name is incorrect. To fix the data, look for the 'edit' link on any author or book profile page (lower right side of the box next to the image). However to keep the site clean we restrict this ability to people with 'librarian status'. We grant this status to users with at least 50 books who apply. If you don't have enough books, or don't wish to become a librarian, you can always post your issue in the Goodreads Librarians group for help.
What is a Goodreads Librarian?

Goodreads Librarians are volunteers* who are dedicated to improving Goodreads' data. Librarians can edit book and author information, as well as combine separate editions of books to help aggregate reviews and ratings. That said, librarians do not have the power to enforce violations of the site's TOS (i.e. delete user accounts or user content like reviews).

In order to be apply for librarian status you must have at least 50 books, then you can apply here.

*They are not Goodreads employees or representatives of the company.
How can I promote my book on Goodreads?

We recommend that all authors join the Goodreads Author Program, as we offer many features specially designed for authors to promote their books. It's completely free! For more information about the program and how to join, visit our Author Program page.
Why can't I edit my books or my author profile?

There are a couple reasons why you might have trouble editing your author profile or your books:

1. You haven't joined the Goodreads Author Program. When you sign up for the site, your user profile isn't automatically linked to your author profile. You have to apply to have them linked. As soon as your application is approved by staff, you should be able to edit your profile. Click here for more information about how to apply for the program.

2. You're a Goodreads Author, but you aren't signed into the correct user account. It's possible to have duplicate user accounts, so make sure that you are logged in with the same email you used to claim your author profile. If you're not sure, check to see which email account your Author Program welcome email came to.

3. You're trying to edit a book that isn't attributed to you. If the book doesn't appear on your author profile already, you don't have editing rights (because the system doesn't know it's yours). In this case, you'll need a librarian to correct the author name for you(the system recognizes extra spaces). You can ask one to do so in the Librarians Group.
Tips for book publishers and authors

Tips for book publishers or authors to use Goodreads:

* Author Program. Designed for authors to have a profile on the site and interact with fans, and add photos, videos, events, etc to their profile.
* For authors that aren't interested in the program, publishers can join as a Librarian and then they can fully edit any author profile and add the photo, full bio, Youtube videos, events, etc.
* Advertising. We are now offering custom advertising buys. Buys can be across the entire site or targeted to a particular genre (eg women who like romance/fiction, etc). For a rate card please contact us.
* Author interviews & newsletter promotion. Each month we feature authors in our monthly newsletter. This is an editorial decision, and usually the authors featured have books just released. For consideration, contact us with details about the book.
* Book Giveaways. You can submit any number of copies to be given away to interested members. There is no charge for listing books, however you are responsible for shipping to the winners. For now Goodreads will drive traffic to the giveaway for free.
* Q&A groups. Authors can host a Q&A group to answer questions from fans about a new book.
* How do books get discovered? A data-driven presentation on how Goodreads members find the books they read. A great tool for authors and publishers.
Tips on being a goodreads librarian

There is a comprehensive Librarian Manual that deals with any questions librarians may want to know: check it out.
Multiple copies of the same book

Note: Librarians only

Due to the nature of there being many different editions of a book, each having its own ISBN, we have built a feature where you can combine (or separate) each edition. This provides the advantage of aggregating all the reviews and statistics for this combined 'work'. To combine editions of a book, just click 'combine' on the far right side of the book's page.
If you can't find a book

If you can't find a book on our search engine when searching by author or title, you have three options. The first option is to search by ISBN. You can find ISBN numbers on the inside cover of your book. The second option is to add the book yourself by clicking on manually add book on the right side of the search page. The third option is to post a request in the Goodreads Librarians group, following these guidelines.
Note: Only users with accounts older than 1 day old will be able to manually add books.
Can I add videos or book trailers to an author profile?

Videos may be added to any author profile as long as they are hosted on YouTube or BookVideos.tv first. To add a video, first make sure you have librarian status, then click on "edit data" on any author profile (lower right corner of the info box). The "add videos" link is on the right side of that page.
How can I post a Goodreads Choice nominee badge on my website?

To post a nominee badge linking to your Goodreads Choice Awards category, you'll need to code it into your website with HTML.
First, you will need a URL for the image, as it has to be sourced online. To get one, we recommend creating a Photobucket account. Then:
1. Right-click on the nominee badge image below and select "save image as".
2. Upload the image to your Photobucket account using the "upload" link at the top.
3. Once the image has been processed, click on it to get to the image's page.
4. Copy the URL in the "Direct link" box on the right.
5. Navigate to your website's HTML editor mode.
6. Paste the following code in your HTML editor, inserting the URL you copied between the quotes after "img src":

<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards">
<img src="">
</a>
7. Replace the URL after "a href" with the URL to your specific Goodreads Choice category.
8. Save.

my account

How do I cancel my account?

To cancel your account on Goodreads, select edit profile from the drop-down list next to your picture in the header. Select the "settings" tab. Then select the "delete my account" link at the bottom of the page. Your account data, books, and friend list will be permanently erased.
How do I unsubscribe from emails?

To change the frequency (daily or weekly) or unsubscribe from the Goodreads update email or any other email, click on edit profile at the top right corner of Goodreads, then click the "emails" tab. All email settings can be controlled on this page.
How do I set my profile to private?

All the privacy settings on Goodreads are found by clicking edit profile from the drop-down menu to the right of your profile pic in the header. On the settings tab, you can select who can view your profile, last name, and email address, and send you messages.
If your profile is private, only your friends and members you are following can see your profile. This includes your profile data, book shelves, profile comments, and your friend list. Your first name and image thumbnail are still available in some areas of site. Your book reviews will also still be available on each book page. Note also that author profiles cannot be made private.
How do I opt-out of friend update emails?

1) Go to your edit profile page.

2) Select the emails tab.

3) At the top of the page, find the option titled: "Email me new reviews from friends".

4) Select the option for "never".

5) Scroll down until you see "save email settings", and click that button to save your changes.
What are "recent updates from the community"?

Members who have not yet added friends will receive "Recent Updates from the Community" in lieu of friend updates on their homepage. As soon as you start adding friends, these community updates will be replaced by updates from your friends.
How do I add a profile picture?

1) On the top right of Goodreads, you'll see a drop-down arrow. Click on that.
2) Select edit profile from the menu.
3) On the right side of the resulting page, click "choose file" (it's under the brown "no photo" box).
4) Browse your files to select an image.
5) Click "upload photo".
Trouble Logging in using a Windows Operating System

If you are using a Windows machine and are having problems logging the following may help you. First, make sure the date and time settings on your computer are correct. If that doesn't work, proceed as follows:

Open Internet Explorer if it isn't open already.

Go to the 'Tools' option at the top.

Click 'Internet Options'

Click the 'Privacy' tab at the top of the window that pops up.

Move the security slider to "Medium"

Click "OK"

You should now be able to log in to Goodreads. If you are still having problems, please contact us.
How can I display my Goodreads Group activity on Facebook?

1. First, create a Facebook Fan Page for your group, if you don't already have one.
2. Next, connect to Goodreads using Facebook connect or add the Goodreads Facebook App
3. Navigate to the Goodreads App Page
4. Click on the gear to the top right of the page.
5. Select "Add to my Page" from the menu.
6. Navigate back to your Facebook Page and select the Goodreads box at the top.
7. Select type Group Page and choose your group. You may only select a group you are a moderator of. Save and you're done!
How do I remove my stored credit card?

You can go here and click the "delete" link next to the stored card.

iphone

What should I do if the iPhone app crashes after updating to a new release?

If the Goodreads iPhone app crashes after updating it to the latest release (usually right after you launch it), it's possible you're experiencing a bug in certain versions of iOS, the operating system on all iPhone, iPods and iPads.

The solution to this problem is to shut down and restart the device. If the crash still persists, then the cause of the problem is a different one.

Why do you need to restart the device? During the update process, it's possible on certain versions of iOS that the app is not perfectly cleaned up by the system, not allowing the newly installed version to start correctly. A hard reboot fixes this situation.
Why doesn't the iOS app let me sign in?

Sometimes, even if you typed your email and password correctly, the iOS app does not allow you to sign in to Goodreads, producing error messages along the lines of (412) An unexpected error occurred.

This problem happens when the time on your iOS device is incorrect, which is most often due to your time zone setting (PDT, EST, etc) being incorrect. Goodreads turns down important requests when your clock is too far off as part of protecting your account.

For example, let's say you're in California and it's 3:00 PM. The time on your iOS device reads 3:00 PM, but the time zone is set to "Eastern Daylight Time". Since it's 6:00 PM on the East Coast, your clock is actually three hours behind.

Here's how to fix the time:
1. From the iOS home screen, launch the Settings app.
2. Choose "General".
3. Choose "Date & Time," which is around the bottom-half of the page.
4. Ensure that the date, time zone, and time are all correct.
5. To make things even more reliable, set the "Set Automatically" switch to the ON position. This allows your device to automatically set the correct time and timezone everywhere you go, and it typically solves any related issues. (Some old iPods running iOS 3 may not have this option.)
What should I do if the Goodreads iPhone app crashes?

If the Goodreads iPhone app crashes (closes unexpectedly), we'd greatly appreciate it if you could send us your crash logs. These will help us find the problem and fix it.

How to get your crash logs:

1. Sync your iPhone

2. Browse to the following folders. DEVICE_NAME indicates the name of your iPhone as shown in iTunes.

Mac OS X:
/Users/<your_user>/Library/Logs/CrashReporter/MobileDevice/<DEVICE_NAME>

Windows XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\Application Data\Apple computer\Logs\CrashReporter\

Windows Vista:
C:\Users\AppData\Roaming\Apple computer\Logs\CrashReporter\MobileDevice\

3. Each log file will begin with the name of the application. Create a zip file including all the log files related to Goodreads, and email it to support@goodreads.com. (To create a zip file on the Mac: Control-click -> Compress; on Windows: Right-click -> WinZip.)
Can I read ebooks using the Goodreads iPhone app?

Yes, you can. If a book is available to read in our iPhone app, a "Read now" button will appear on the top of the book's page. You can also search for ebooks by tapping "eBooks" on the home screen, then tapping "Find eBooks" on the bottom of the resulting page.
How do I upload a profile pic on the iPhone app?

1) On the home screen, tap 'My Profile' (bottom center).
2) On the top of the page, tap 'edit profile picture'.
3) Find the photo you'd like to upload in 'Photos' or take a new one by tapping 'Camera'.
Why do I not see the barcode scanner in my phone?

First, make sure all the following conditions are verified:
1. Your device must have a camera.
2. Open the app and go to the Settings page, scroll down and check the version. It should be 1.1.5 or higher.
3. Make sure to update to the latest version of the Goodreads app.
4. If you are running an old version of the app (before version 2.0) and you can't upgrade make sure you are using iOS 4 or later.
I found a bug in the iPhone app. What should I do?

First, take a screenshot of the error or bug. To capture a screenshot using the iPhone or iPod Touch, briefly hold down the power button. While holding it down, press the home key (the key with the square on it). Your screen should briefly flash. There should now be a photo of your iPhone screen saved to your photos. Please email that screenshot to support[at]goodreads[dot]com with a brief description of the error and how you produced it.

If the app unexpectedly closed/crashed, please send us your crash logs as well. That's a great help in diagnosing the problem. We strive to fix all bugs for which we receive crash logs. Here you can find instructions for sending logs.
How do I add books to my shelves using the iPhone or iPod Touch app?

To add a book to your shelves using the iPod Touch or iPhone app, tap the "Search" tab at the bottom of the app. In the search bar at the top of the screen, type the title, author, or title and author of the book for which you're searching. The results should appear below. Scroll down until you find the desired book, then click the ">" next to the title. This will bring up the book page, showing the cover and description of the book. Scroll down to the heading "My Review." Tap the the ">" next to "add to my books." (If the book is already on your shelf, the name of the shelf it's on will appear here instead.) A window will pop up with radio buttons next to your exclusive shelves ("read," "currently-reading," and "to-read" are the default exclusive shelves). Tap the radio button next to the appropriate shelf and hit "Submit."
Can I sign into the Goodreads iOS app with my Twitter or Facebook or Gmail?

At this time the Goodreads iOS app supports Facebook sign-in. You just need to upgrade to version 1.5 or more.

If you want to sign in with Gmail/Google, Twitter or other 3rd party systems, you will need to use the Goodreads website and create a Goodreads login.

1) Sign into Goodreads as normal using your Twitter/Google/Facebook login on the computer.

2) Head to the "edit profile" option (located in the drop-down menu next to your profile pic in the header).

3) Under the "settings" tab of the account page, there is a space for you to fill in your email address and a password. As soon as you fill these in and save, you should be able to login using this email and password on the website, the iPhone app, and the mobile website.
How can I clear my scanned books list on the iPhone app?

1) Select "Scan" from the black menu on the bottom of your screen.
2) It should default to your list of scanned books. If you see the camera instead, just tap "Done" on the bottom left to get to the list.
3) Scroll down to the bottom of the page.
4) Tap "Clear Scanned Book List".
How can I edit my review on the iPhone app?

1) Navigate to the book page of the book you reviewed.
2) Scroll down to the "My Review" section.
3) In that section, you'll see your review displayed in the "review" row. Tap on your review.
4) A text box will open, allowing you to edit the text.
5) Click "done" on the top right to save!
How can I switch shelves for a book on the iPhone app?

1) Navigate to the book's page (you can find it through the search tool on the bottom of the screen or through your shelves).
2) Scroll down to the "My Review" section.
3) Tap on the "Bookshelf" row.
4) A menu should pop up. Select the shelf to which you'd like to add the book. You can de-select shelves that are already selected by tapping them again.
5) Tap "submit" at the bottom of the page to save.
How can I uninstall the iPhone app?

1) Tap on the Goodreads icon and hold for two seconds, until all your applications begin jiggling.
2) Tap on the "x" that appears on the top left of the Goodreads icon.
3) When the dialog appears, tap "delete" to confirm.
Can I bulk scan in books to the iPhone app?

You can scan multiple books at once onto your "read" or "to-read" shelf:
1) Open the app and click "scan" in the bottom right menu.
2) If you're not on the Scanned Books List, tap "Done" on the bottom left to get there.
3) Check to see if you have scanned books in the list that you don't want to add to the shelf. If you do, scroll down to the bottom and tap "Clear Scanned Book List" before moving to step 4.
4) Tap "Scan" on the top right to move into camera mode.
5) Scan barcodes for all the books you'd like to add. You can just scan one after another without tapping or exiting into the list. As long as you see the ISBN appear in green below the viewer, the barcode has been processed.
6) When you're done, tap "done" on the bottom left.
7) Scroll down to the bottom and tap either "Add All to Read Shelf" or "Add All to To-Read Shelf", depending on your preference.
How can I disable notifications on the iPhone app?

There are 2 kinds of notifications: Apple Push Notifications and Goodreads notifications. Push notifications are the ones you receive on your device even when the Goodreads app is not active or even when you're not using your phone. You typically see them in alerts that you can swipe up to open them in the Goodreads app. To disable push notifications do the following:
1) Tap on your "Settings" icon (it looks like silver gears).
2) Tap "Notifications".
3) Scroll down until you see "Goodreads".
4) Select "Goodreads".
5) Under "Alert Style", select "None" on the far left.
You can also turn off Goodreads in the notification center at the top of your iOS device by switching "Notification Center" to "OFF" at the top.
Even after disabling push notifications, you will still receive Goodreads notifications. These are the equivalent (no more, no less) of the notifications you see at the top right of the website's header, i.e. the "g" badge. The majority of these notifications come from groups or topics you are subscribed to. To disable them, simply go to the group or topic page and look for "Group Notification Settings" or "Topic Notification Settings," somewhere around the bottom of the page. Then simply turn them off.
Keep in mind that even if you turn off the Group notification settings, you may still receive notifications for an individual topic in that group. The easiest way to turn everything off is to open the (unwanted) notification, scroll down and disable it using the Topic notification setting control.
In addition, the website gives you full control over which Goodreads notifications you are receiving at this page: http://www.goodreads.com/user/edit?tab=emails

mobile

How do I set a book's date read on the Android app?

1) Start on the main app page.

2) Tap 'My Books' the second option from the top.

3) Tap on the shelf the book is on.

4) Tap on the book's title.

5) Scroll down to the "My Review" section.

6) Tap 'edit review'.

7) You'll see 'date finished' and 'date started' on the top. Tap 'not set' or the date (if there is one already) to update it.

8) Enter the date and tap 'Set'.
Why does the Android App tell me to "Please sign in or sign up" after I try to sign in?

This problem occurs when the time on your Android device is incorrect, which is most often due to your time zone setting (PDT, EST, etc) being incorrect. Goodreads turns down important requests when your clock is too far off as part of protecting your account.

For example, let's say you're in California and it's 3:00 PM. Your Android time reads 3:00 PM, but the time zone is set to "Eastern Daylight Time". Since it's 6:00 PM on the East Coast, your clock is actually three hours behind.

Here's how to fix the time:
1. From the Android home screen, press on Android's menu button.
2. Choose "Settings".
3. Choose "Date & Time," which is usually near the bottom of the list.
4. Ensure that the date, time zone, and time are all correct.
Does goodreads have mobile or iPhone app?

Yes, we have an iPhone app, and here is the link to download it!

We also have a great mobile site, which you can bookmark on your iPhone or mobile device. The mobile site works with most phones capable of browsing the internet, and is especially optimized for the iPhone and the BlackBerry. To add a bookmark to your iPhone, open an internet browser, navigate to http://www.goodreads.com/m then push the bookmark (+ button) and select "add to home screen".
Can I sign into the NOOK or Android app with Facebook?

Yes, you can now sign into the NOOK and Android Apps through Facebook! Just tap the Facebook connect icon on the sign-in page.
Can I sign into the NOOK or Android Apps through Twitter or Gmail?

We are currently working to add support for Google and Twitter log-ins, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, if you normally sign in through Twitter or Google and you'd like to use these apps, you will have to create a Goodreads login.
1) Sign into Goodreads as normal using your Twitter/Google login on the computer.

2) Head to the "edit profile" option (located in the drop-down menu to the right of your profile pic in the header).

3) Under the "settings" tab of the account page, there is a space for you to fill in your email address and a password. As soon as you fill these in and save, you should be able to login using this email and password on the website, the Nook/Android app, and the mobile website.
Trouble running or updating the app on the NOOK Color

If you see an "Unable to install" message when trying to run the Goodreads app on the NOOK Color then you need to replace it with the new version from the Apps shop. Here are the steps:
1. In the "apps" screen, press and hold the Goodreads app icon. A menu will appear.
2. Choose "Archive". The old version of the app will now be archived.
3. Go to the NOOK Color Apps shop by tapping on "Discover More NOOK Apps"
4. Search for "Goodreads" using the search feature at the bottom of the screen. The only Goodreads app in the results is the new version (1.6.1 or higher).
5. Choose and install this version.
If you encounter any issues or would like more information, please visit this post in our Feedback Group.

groups

How do I create a group?

1) Click on "Groups" in the header.
2) Click create a group just above the "browse by tag" section on the right.
How do I leave a group?

To cancel your membership in a group, go to the group's homepage, click "edit membership" underneath the group's profile picture, then click "leave this group."
How do I add a group profile image?

1) Navigate to the group's main page.
2) Click on "group settings" in the menu on the top right.
3) On the top right of the settings page, click "choose file".
4) Go ahead and choose a file from your computer's directory.
5) Click "upload photo".
How do I re-add a group member that was previously removed?

Once you remove someone from a group, that person is automatically blocked from re-joining.

Here's how to take the user off your blocked list:
1. Go to your group page.
2. Click on "members" on the right side.
3. Click on "block/unblock users from joining" in grey at the bottom of the page.
4. Click "unblock user" for the appropriate person.
How do I delete a poll in my group?

1. Go to your group.
2. Click "Polls".
3. Click on "comments and details" next to your poll.
4. Click "edit this poll" in the top right corner.
5. Click "delete this poll" at the bottom.
Note: only moderators can do this.
How do I add a discussion thread to a folder in a group?

1) Navigate to your group's page.
2) Click on "Discussion Board".
3) Click on "edit folders" on the top right (see image -- click to enlarge).
4) Click on "add a folder" on the top right to start adding folders. As soon as you have your folders, you can start adding discussion threads to them.
5) Click on the discussion thread you'd like to add.
6) At the top of the page, click "edit" next to the thread's title.
7) Next to "folder", select a folder and save.

friends

How do I add friends?

Adding friends is easy. If you already have the profile link for someone you'd like to friend, just navigate to his/her profile, then click "add as a friend" beneath the "about me" section.
If you want to find friends on Goodreads and you don't have profile links, just click on the friends icon in the header, which is located directly to the left of your profile image. Then select the "add friends" tab.

On this page you have several options to add friends:
- use your Yahoo!, Hotmail, or Gmail address books to invite friends and see which friends are already Goodreads members
- invite friends by copy/pasting the message from the box and sending it to your friends using email
- search for friends already on the site using the 'find friends' box
How do I remove a friend?

To remove a friend, click on the friends icon in the header (the icon directly to the left of your profile image) then the "edit friends" button. Click the X next to the name you wish to remove. The friend will not be notified. You can also navigate to the friends profile, scroll down to the bottom, and click "remove as friend".
How do I block another user?

To block a user:
1) Navigate to that user's profile page.
2) Scroll down to the bottom of the page.
3) Click "block this member".
What does it mean when a friend has "written a story" about me?

A "story" on Goodreads indicates how two friends met. Unfortunately, it isn't a creative writing project.
For example, if you wanted to record that you know your friend Sam from work, you would click "write a story" on his profile page, and then select "colleague."
What is the difference between being someone's friend and following their reviews?

A friend relationship is two-way. You see their reviews, and they see yours. A following relationship is one-way. You see their reviews, but they don't see yours in their feed. That said, members you are following can view your profile if they choose to. There are separate counts for friends and followers. You are included in each other's friend counts, but only one-way followers are included in your follow counts.

You can either be following someone or be their friend, not both. (There is one exception: authors who have a blog and/or are members of the Goodreads Author program.) In either case, you will see their reviews on your homepage when you have the appropriate filter settings.
Can I exclude certain friends from appearing in my update feeds?

An easy way to exclude certain people from your feeds is to make a "top friends" list. This way, you can put all the people whose updates you would like to see in one place, separate from the people whose updates don't interest you. Then you can edit your feed to only display the updates from your "top friends".

To do this:
1) Click on the "Friends" icon in the header (the icon closest to your profile pic).
2) Click "edit friends" on the top of the page
3) Select the checkboxes of the people whose updates you would like to see as "top friends"
4) Go back to the home page.
5) Directly underneath the "updates" tab, there is an option that says, "showing: friend and people I'm following". Click the arrow to the right to display the list of settings.
6) Select the radio button for "top friends" underneath the "From People" column on the right.
7) Click the "apply filters" button.
You can also prevent friends from showing up in your friend update emails by filtering your update emails as "top friends only" here.
What are top friends?

Our "top friends" feature allows you to choose a select group of friends whose updates you want to see first. To start using top friends, click on the "friends" tab and then click the "edit friends" button. Use the check-boxes to choose your top friends. Then navigate to the home page and click the “top friends” toggle at the top. Your profile page will also show your top friends first. You can also change your email settings by selecting "edit profile" from the drop-down list to the right of your profile pic in the header, and then selecting the “emails” tab. Select "only top friends" next to "send me new reviews from my friends." Don't worry - your friends won't know if they are a top friend or not.
Why can't I add any more friends?

We've recently instituted a friend limit of 5000, the same limit that Facebook currently has in place. This is because our system doesn't handle accounts with over 5000 friends very well.
Please note that you can have an unlimited amount of fans and followers.

facebook

I've added the Goodreads app to my Facebook Timeline, but my updates aren't appearing on my Timeline. What's going on?

Here are some things to check:

1. Do I have a Timeline?
Currently, our integration only works with Facebook Timelines, not Facebook walls. See more information here.

2. Did I grant the app all the permissions it needs?
Navigate to the apps tab of your edit profile page. In the Facebook section, you should see a series of checkboxes. If you see these, and all the options you'd like to post are checked, move on to #3. If you see a button reading "Add to Timeline", you need to grant some additional permissions before the app will be allowed to post to Timeline for you. Just click that button and grant all permissions when the Facebook pop-up appears.

3. Did I check the Facebook checkbox before posting?
At the bottom of the review window, you'll see a little Facebook icon next to a checkbox. If it's unchecked, sharing to Facebook is disabled, so make sure it's checked off.

4. Have I added Goodreads as a "Favorite" on Facebook?
Navigate to your Timeline. On the top of your Timeline, you'll see a couple of boxes: Friends, Photos, Likes, etc. There should be a tiny drop-down to the far right with a number (see screenshot). Click on that, which should cause more empty boxes to appear. Do you see Goodreads in its own box (the "Likes" box does not count)? Click the plus sign on the top right of an empty box and select "Goodreads" to add it.

5. Is the update in my "Activity Log"?.
The more you interact with our app, the more prominently our updates will display on your Timeline, your News Feed, and the Ticker. If you just added the app, new Goodreads updates might first show up in your Activity Log. To check, click on your Activity Log link, which should be on the top of your Timeline (see screenshot). If you see a Goodreads update on the list, you can force it to appear on your Timeline manually. On its far right should be a circle. Click on the circle and select "Shown on Timeline" from the list. The update should then appear. If you don't see the update in your log, go on to #4.

6. The update still isn't appearing.
Sometimes our access to your Timeline expires, but this can easily be fixed. Log out of Goodreads, then log back in using Facebook Connect by clicking on the Facebook icon on the home page. Try to post a new update.

If you've tried all these steps, and you're still having trouble, please contact us.
How do I add Goodreads updates to my Facebook Timeline?

1. Navigate to the apps tab on your edit profile page.

2. You'll see a Facebook section on the left. Click the blue "Add to Timeline" button.

3. A pop-up should appear asking for your Facebook credentials and for your permission to post. Grant all permissions.

4. Navigate to your Facebook Timeline.

5. On the top of your Timeline should be a number of boxes, such as "Friends", "Likes", and "Photos". There should be a drop-down with a number on the far right of these boxes (see screenshot below). Click on that.

6. On the top right of one of the empty boxes that appears, click the plus sign.

7. Select "Goodreads" from the drop-down list.

Now you're all set up! The more you interact with the app on Facebook, the more prominently Goodreads updates will show on your Timeline. In the beginning, they may just appear in your Timeline's "Activity Log" (a gray link on the top of the page), but you can force them to appear on the Timeline itself. Just navigate to your Activity Log, click the circle to the far right of the Goodreads update, and select "Shown on Timeline" (see screenshot).

If you have any trouble getting your Goodreads updates to appear, please see our troubleshooting help topic.
How do I get a review to post to my Timeline using the integration?

First, check that you've granted all the necessary permissions on your apps tab. "Reviewing a book" should be checked. If you see "Add to Timeline" instead of checkmarks, please follow the directions to add Facebook integration here. You might also want to add Goodreads to your Favorites list on Facebook to ensure our updates are dislayed more prominently on your Timeline.

Now you're ready to review! Rate and review the book normally. As soon as you save the review, it should post over to your Activity Log in the form of a "wrote a review" action. To get it to show up on your Timeline:
1) Navigate to your Facebook Timeline.

2) Click on the gray "Activity Log" link on the top of your Timeline.

3) Find the "wrote a review" update on the list and click on the circle to its far right (see screenshot).

4) Select "Shown on Timeline" from the drop-down menu.

When you navigate back to your Timeline, you should see your review appear in its own box.

Alternatively, you can post a review outside of our Facebook integration. See how to do so here.
Can I post a review to Facebook the old way?

Yes, but anything you post this way won't be aggregated in our Facebook integration.

Here's how:

1. Navigate to the page of the book you reviewed.

2. Click on the "My Review" header.

3. On the bottom right, click "share on Facebook". You should see a pop-up appear (if you don't, you'll need to disable your pop-up blocker or switch browsers).
Why aren't my Goodreads updates showing up in the News Feed or Ticker?

Facebook's algorithms decide which updates are important enough to display in News Feeds and Ticker. The more you interact with our app, the more prominently your Goodreads updates will display. Likes and comments make it more likely that an update will show, as does manually choosing to feature it on your Timeline. You can do the latter by going into your "Activity Log" (a gray link at the top of your profile), clicking on the circle to the far right of the Goodreads update, and selecting "Shown on Timeline". If you haven't already, you should also add Goodreads to your Favorites list on Facebook. More information about that here.

However, individual reviews will go to your News Feed if you post them manually (outside of our app's functionality). Just click on the "My Review" header on the book page, then click the "share on Facebook" link on the bottom right.
How can I hide certain Goodreads boxes on Facebook?

You can control how your Goodreads information is aggregated on Facebook using your Facebook settings. Here’s how:
1) Click on the gray “Activity Log” link on the top of your Timeline.

2) Click on the “all” drop-down on the top right.

3) Scroll down to the bottom of the drop-down menu and click “Goodreads”.

4) There will now be a “Goodreads” header on the top of your Activity Log. On its right side, click “App Activity Can Show Up In…”

5) Un-check the features you wouldn’t like to see. They should disappear automatically when you refresh.
I'm trying to add Facebook integration, but I only see a loading icon spinning and spinning...

If the loading icon keeps spinning, it implies the Facebook pop-up that is supposed to appear was suppressed by your browser. Try disabling your pop-up blocker completely or switching browsers. If your account was connected to Facebook before the Timeline switch, the problem can be resolved by logging out of Goodreads and logging back in through Facebook Connect.
Can I post my Goodreads updates to my Facebook wall (not Timeline)?

Unfortunately, it's not possible to use our integration to post Goodreads updates to your Facebook wall. Facebook will be switching everyone over to Timeline sometime soon, so our app was designed with that in mind. However, you can manually post the links to reviews by navigating to the review's unique page and clicking "Share on Facebook" on the bottom right.
How do I add a Goodreads tab to my Facebook Page?

1. Create a Facebook Page if you don't already have one.

2. Make sure your Goodreads account is connected to Facebook. Visit the apps tab of the My Account page. You should see that your account is Facebook-connected. If you see a "Publish to Facebook" or "Connect to Facebook" button, click it and approve the Goodreads app.

3. Visit the Goodreads Page on Facebook. Click on the settings icon (a cog) on the top right. Select "Add App to Page" from the menu.

4. Choose your Facebook Page from the list.

5. Make sure you are signed into Facebook as yourself, not as your page.

6. Visit your Facebook Page and click the Goodreads box.

7. Select the type of page you'd like and save your settings.

If you see a "Page Not Found" error, try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, or if you are redirected and don't see the setup page, you might have missed step #2. Go to your apps tab and click the button to connect to Facebook.
Can I get my Goodreads activity to appear in its own box on my Facebook Timeline?

Yes, you can manually force your Goodreads activity to appear in its own box. Here's how:
1. There should be a gray "Activity Log" button on the top of your Timeline. Click on that.

2. Find your Goodreads update in the list. If you have a lot of activity, you can sort by Goodreads on the top right of the page.

3. Click on the circle to the far right of your Goodreads update (see screenshot).

4. Select "Shown on Timeline" from the drop-down menu.

giveaways

Why can't I list an ebook giveaway?

At the moment, ebooks aren't eligible for giveaways simply because we haven't yet found a system that works as well and as seamlessly for them as it does for our print books. We are committed to providing a superior experience for the people who enter and win our giveaways, and until we can absolutely do that for ebook giveaways, we won't allow them. We are currently in the process of experimenting with a few different titles and a few different formats, so hopefully we will be able to allow ebook giveaways soon!
What do I do if I win a giveaway and don't receive the book?

Every once and awhile, a book will be lost in the mail. Goodreads is not involved in book shipment, but if you don't receive the book within one month, we suggest that you contact the person who listed the giveaway (usually the author or a publisher). Here's how:

1) Click on the giveaway that you won. You can find your history here.

2) Click on the name of the person who listed the giveaway on the top right of the page.

3) Click "send message" on the top of his/her profile.
If you do not hear back in a reasonable amount of time, please let us know, and we'll do our best to intervene.
How long does it take for my giveaway to be approved?

We try to approve all giveaways within 2 business days, though in periods of increased traffic, it sometimes takes longer. Contacting support does not expedite the process, so please be patient.
If you edit your giveaway, it pends in the approval queue again so that our staff can ensure that it still adheres to our guidelines. This also takes about 2 business days.
Can I list a giveaway for the same book multiple times?

Yes, you can list a giveaway for a certain title as many times as you like, as long as the giveaway dates don't overlap. One must end before the next starts.
Can I list a giveaway for a book that's already been published?

While most books in the giveaway program are new releases or haven't yet been released, we don't have a rule against books that were published in previous years. Feel free to do so! Just remember to leave the "release date" field blank or type in "January 1, 2013" as a placeholder.
Which books can I offer through the giveaway program?

You can offer a book as long as:
1) You have the proper permission. Only the author, publisher, or official representative of the book can post a giveaway for it. If you are not any of those things, you must get permission from the author before listing.
2) It is not an ebook edition. At this time, only print books are eligible for the giveaway program. We're working on a user-friendly interface for ebook giveaways, but they're not available yet.
3) You don't have a giveaway for the same title right now. You can run giveaways for the same title as many times as you like, as long as they aren't overlapping. You just can't run them at the same time.
4) The book already has a page on Goodreads that includes its ISBN. If you try to list a giveaway with an ISBN that isn't already on Goodreads, you'll get an error message. If your book isn't on the site, add it here. If your book is already on the site but doesn't have an ISBN on its listing, contact the Librarians Group for help.
Note: While most books offered through the giveaway program are new releases, you can also list books that were published in previous years.
Can I send a message to the people who didn't win my giveaway, thanking them?

Unfortunately, no. We've found from previous experience that many of our members consider such messages spam. While they have expressed interest in getting a free copy of your book, that doesn't necessarily mean they want to receive a message from you with a promotional offer.

We recommend adding a link to your author profile in your giveaway and encouraging people to become your fan. That way, they will stay up to date with everything happening with your book via your blog and status updates.
Do I lose all my entrants if I edit my giveaway?

No, you won't lose any of your entrants. However, your giveaway will be re-submitted for review by Goodreads staff, so that we can ensure that your giveaway still adheres to our guidelines. It generally takes about 2 business days for a giveaway to be re-approved.

ebooks

Why is my whole ebook visible on the site? I only set the preview to a small percentage.

Since you are the author of the ebook, you have the proper authorization to read the whole ebook on the site without paying. However, if your settings are correct, all other users shouldn't be able to.

If you log into another account (friend, husband, etc) and you can still see the whole ebook, you might not have set it up correctly. Please note that only ePub files can be offered for sale with free previews. PDFs can only be uploaded as completely free excerpts. If you've uploaded a PDF by mistake, you can delete it by navigating to your book page, clicking "edit details" underneath the description, and clicking "delete" on the right side of the screen (underneath the ebook file).
How do I read books online?

We are primarily a book review site, but we do have some ebooks available to read on the site. If a book is readable, you'll see a "read ebook" button below the cover image. Just click on that to start reading!

You can find a list of all the free readable ebooks available here. You can also buy downloadable ebooks here.
How do I keep track of my ebook sales through Goodreads?

You can keep track of how many ebooks you've sold on Goodreads through your seller account page. Each sale will show up as a separate listing under "invoice #", and the amounts you are owed will queue up under the "Payments" header below.

You can find the link to your seller account on the top right of your Author Dashboard.
Why aren't my ebooks showing up on my seller account page?

Ebooks will only show up on your "ebooks for sale" page if you checked "make it available in the Goodreads reader" when you uploaded it. This is easy to fix. Here's how:

1. Navigate to your book's page.

2. Click "edit details" underneath its description.

3. On the right side of the page, you'll see your ebook file listed. Click "edit" underneath it.

4. Check "make it available in the Goodreads reader" and save.

privacy

When I search for my name in search engines, I find a list of my books. How can I prevent that?

Although Goodreads offers a private profile option, all book reviews are public and viewable on the book page. This means reviews are also indexed by search engines. If you would prefer not to see your reviews in a search of your name on search engines, you should make your last name visible to "friends only" on your "edit profile" page.
How do I make my location private?

You can make your location private in your account settings. On the "profile" tab, find the "location viewable by" option and select "friends only" or "no one". Make sure that you save your settings on the bottom of the page before navigating away!
Goodreads stores my credit card. Is that secure?

You can optionally store your credit card on file with Goodreads when using products such as ebooks and self-serve advertising. Goodreads uses a large, secure, 3rd party named Braintree Payment Solutions to store and process credit cards. Goodreads, including all our employees, never have access to your credit card information. Braintree is PCI complaint, and handles payment infrastructure for many large companies.
How do I prevent my review from showing up on third party sites?

Reviews can be displayed on our partner sites only if you have that option turned on in your privacy settings. You can easily opt out of this. Here's how:
1) Navigate to your "edit profile" page.
2) Select the "settings" tab.
3) Uncheck "allow partners of Goodreads to display my reviews".

author program

What is the Goodreads Author Program?

The Goodreads Author Program is designed for published authors to have a presence on Goodreads. Goodreads Authors can connect with fans, add excerpts of their writing, post upcoming events, and add photos and videos of themselves.
In order to join our Author Program, you must have your books listed on Goodreads. If you can't find them by an ISBN search, you must manually add your books to Goodreads (advanced search => manually add). This option is only available to those with 20 books or more shelved. If you don't have enough books, please contact us in support and we'd be happy to help.
How do I join the Author Program?

1. If you are already a Goodreads member, make sure you are signed in. If not, sign up for an account.

2. Search for yourself and click on your published author name. The author name is listed below the title of your book in the search results. If you do not find your book in our database of published works, please see our section on who can join.

3. Clicking on your name takes you to your basic author profile page. This page has your name at the top and "author profile" to the right of your name. This page is part of our database of books and authors and is separate from your member profile page (which lists your bookshelves and friends).

4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page. Click "Is this you? Let us know." to send a request to join the Author Program.

Please give us a few business days to process your request. You will receive email confirmation when we successfully upgrade your user account to an author account. Joining the program merges your author page with your member page. The email will also contain further instructions for managing your author profile.
Who is eligible to join the Author Program?

The Author Program is designed for people with published books, or who are in the process of publishing a book. It's best if your work is on a bookseller's website, such as Amazon.com or BN.com, but we will accept any author who has published a book. This includes authors from other countries as well as authors who are self-published (such as through Barnes & Noble pubit! or services like Lulu).

If your book is not yet in the Goodreads database, you may manually add it here. If you need assistance adding your book, please ask in the Goodreads Librarians group, where our army of volunteer librarians will be happy to help.

If you need help joining the Author Program, visit our help topic.
As a Goodreads Author, how do I hide my birthday?

If you have a Goodreads Author profile, you have to set your birthday to blank on both your author profile settings and your personal profile settings.

You can find your author profile settings by clicking "edit data" underneath the bio on your profile.

You can find your personal profile settings by clicking on the arrow next to your profile picture in the header and selecting "edit profile".
I have multiple pen names. Can I claim them all on Goodreads?

Unfortunately, we are not currently set up to accommodate multiple pen names - each user profile can only be attached to one author profile at a time. But we are working on this, and multiple pen name support will be possible soon.

As a temporary solution, we could change each of your pen names to one common name of your choosing. This would automatically bring together all of your titles on your profile page. Once author aliases are enabled, we can change these titles to the more accurate information. If you'd like to do this, please contact Support with the request.

Alternatively, you can create a separate user profile for your pen name (by signing up for a new account using a different email address) and we can simply keep the two profiles separate until we can merge them properly. To sign up for a new account, log out of your current account and click "register" on the top right of the header.
How do I set the default edition for a work?

1) Navigate to the book's page. Be sure you have selected the edition you wish to become the default (primary) edition.
2) Click "edit details" below the book's description.
3) On the right side of the page, click "Set this book as the primary edition for this work". It's about midway down the page.
Only Goodreads Authors can set the default edition at this time.
How do I add a book I've written to my list of works?

My book has already been added to Goodreads, but it's not showing on my author profile. How do I claim it as the author?
For a book to show up on your author profile, the name on the book must match your profile exactly. So a book listed with author John C. Smith won't show up on John Smith's profile.

If you are one of several authors with the same name, you may have one or more extra space(s) between your first and last name. They are only visible on edit pages, but any books imported to the database will need to be edited to add the additional space(s).

Post in the Goodreads Librarians group and a librarian will edit your book to match your profile.
What is the difference between an Author Profile and a regular profile?

Every member of Goodreads has a user profile that allows him or her to review books, add friends, and post information about themselves, including listing their favorite books and authors and their interests. Users can also upload photos, organize their books into custom shelves, and post quotes they like. When an author signs up for Goodreads, he or she begins with this basic user profile.

Any author with a book listed in the Goodreads catalog has an author profile that lists all of the author's published work, whether he or she is a member of Goodreads or not. When an author join the Author Program, we merge his or her user profile with their author profile. Becoming a Goodreads Author carries special privileges, such as the ability to edit profile information, add book cover images, post events, write a blog, upload videos, and start Author Q&A groups.

Once you've signed up for the Author Program, nothing changes about your login process — you'll still use the same username and password — but now your user profile will point to your author profile.

To view your Author Profile, click on your profile picture in the upper right-hand corner of your homepage. To edit that profile, you have two choices:

Click on the edit profile link, which appears under the dropdown menu next to your profile pic in the header.

OR

Simply click on your name under any of your books. This will take you to your profile. To edit it from there, click the "edit data" link that appears just above your "about this author" section on your profile.
I'm a Goodreads Author and I just received a negative review. What do I do?

In most cases, it is best to ignore a negative review or comment. On various occasions, Goodreads authors have lashed out at readers who gave their books negative reviews or ratings, and the results have been disastrous for the authors' reputations. Goodreads is not private; other readers will see a hostile reaction from the author, and a single negative interaction is often enough to turn a reader against an author permanently. Use member feedback to improve your work, not as grounds to vent your frustration.
What happens to my user profile and activity when I become a Goodreads Author?

When you join the Goodreads Author Program, your user profile is merged into your author profile. You won't lose any of your user activity (like your friends or your reviews), but it will then be attached to your author profile on the left hand side.

Now to edit your profile, you'll have to click "edit data" on the author profile page itself, rather than clicking "edit profile" in the top-right menu of Goodreads.

recommendations

How can I improve my recommendations?

1) Rate more books. The more you rate, the better the results!
2) Update your favorite genres.
3) Categorize your books by creating shelves such as science fiction or history. We recommend based on each shelf you create!
4) Click "Not interested" for recommendations that you don't like. We'll be less likely to show you similar books in the future.
How do I add a book to my "read" shelf from the recommendations page?

You can add a book to your "read" shelf just by rating the book. Hover over the stars underneath "want to read" and click when the desired number of stars are highlighted. This will automatically save your rating and add the book to your "read" shelf.

How do I switch to "list view" on the recommendations page?

On the recommendations page, you can actually choose between "covers" view (with cover images) and "list" view (with titles and authors). Here's how to switch over to list view:
1) Navigate to the main recommendations page.
2) Just below the instructions at the top of the page, click view: list. (see attached screenshot).
How can I close a community recommendation request?

1) Click on "recommendations" in the header.
2) Scroll down and click "recommendations from users" under “Community Recommendations” on the right side of the page.
3) Under the "My Requests" section, click "x recommendations”.
4) Directly below "you want to read...", click the small "close" link.