Sign in with Facebook
New Navigation Bar on Goodreads
UPDATE: the new navigation bar is now live for everyone on Goodreads! Thanks so much to those of you who filled out the survey—to those of you who haven't had a chance to do so yet, please be sure to fill out the survey to give us your feedback on the new experience!
Starting today, we're introducing a new navigation bar on the desktop site. With a more streamlined look, the new navigation makes it easier for you to get to all the features of Goodreads you love, search for books, and stay up to date with your messages and notifications.
This new experience will be rolled out over the next few weeks, so don't worry if you don't see it yet—it's coming!
The new navigation is designed to be clean and easy to read. It features a larger search box and adapts to the width of your screen, whether you're viewing Goodreads on a tablet or a desktop computer. If you're browsing Goodreads on a desktop computer, you'll also notice that it remains visible when you scroll down the page, keeping important links accessible at all times.
Under Browse, you'll find links to our popular Giveaways section (who can resist free books!), as well as New Releases, and author interviews and book recommendations in News & Interviews. The navigation also comes with a new spotlight on books from your favorite genres that are trending among the Goodreads community, helping you discover more great books to add to your to-read list.
Community is our new gateway to all things social on Goodreads. Find your Groups and discover new ones, see which authors are answering questions in Ask the Author, and test your knowledge with Trivia and Quizzes.
Once you have a chance to use the new navigation, let us know what you think of it via our survey.
Starting today, we're introducing a new navigation bar on the desktop site. With a more streamlined look, the new navigation makes it easier for you to get to all the features of Goodreads you love, search for books, and stay up to date with your messages and notifications.
This new experience will be rolled out over the next few weeks, so don't worry if you don't see it yet—it's coming!
The new navigation is designed to be clean and easy to read. It features a larger search box and adapts to the width of your screen, whether you're viewing Goodreads on a tablet or a desktop computer. If you're browsing Goodreads on a desktop computer, you'll also notice that it remains visible when you scroll down the page, keeping important links accessible at all times.
Under Browse, you'll find links to our popular Giveaways section (who can resist free books!), as well as New Releases, and author interviews and book recommendations in News & Interviews. The navigation also comes with a new spotlight on books from your favorite genres that are trending among the Goodreads community, helping you discover more great books to add to your to-read list.
Community is our new gateway to all things social on Goodreads. Find your Groups and discover new ones, see which authors are answering questions in Ask the Author, and test your knowledge with Trivia and Quizzes.
Once you have a chance to use the new navigation, let us know what you think of it via our survey.
Comments Showing 51-100 of 654 (654 new)
I don't like the sound of the navigation bar always staying on screen--I really disliked it when Pinterest did it because it blocked part of the image I was trying to look at. We'll see. I'd rather you fixed the brightness issues and the things people are still complaining about, to be honest. At least offer an option without us having to download third party programs that still don't work on every browser.
Another cosmetic update we don't need. Where's our auto-save button??
I'm excited to try out the new navigation. Based on the image above, it looks like it might be a bit easier to get to the pages that I frequent. Less clicks.I wonder if you could maybe add an option for people to favorite or bookmark specific pages that aren't directly featured on this menu but would show up on the menu because they are favorited/bookmarked so that it would makes those pages easier for them to access as well? Everyone uses this site differently and I think making it convenient for everyone is a huge plus. As a reader, most of the more basic or more commonly used features and pages are enough to satisfy me but serious bloggers, writers, librarians, etc might be frequenting pages that I don't normally find myself clicking to.
Amy wrote: "How about before you start changing things to how YOU (the website owners and runners) want it, you actually consult those of us that use it. I have significantly decreased my time here because...I..."I don't know, Amy. I'm sorry to hear you don't like it, but I really do enjoy the new look and spent a lot of time on this website and will continue to do so. Sure, there are a few things that could need fixing (especially the iPad App), but I love Goodreads nonetheless. It's just a matter of personal taste and it seems like more people like it than the other way around.
I need to be able to go Home and to My Books quickly and easily. Please don't clutter things up in the name of making things easier. And if you guys think that white drop down menu looks good on that white background, you're nuts, it just disappears. The white background is still a major eye strain issue, but over and over you've shown that you care nothing at all about accessibility. I don't know what this big push is spending all of this time and money on design, but your clients wish your focus on the to-do list items we've been asking for for years instead.
Cathy wrote: "I need to be able to go Home and to My Books quickly and easily. Please don't clutter things up in the name of making things easier. And if you guys think that white drop down menu looks good on th..."There are two buttons in the top-left that will do exactly what you ask for. There's the "goodreads" button that will get you to the home page and right next to it the "My Books" button which will bring you to your books. Like literally one click away. It doesn't get easier than that.
F.P. wrote: "Tam, do you mean the menus that open when you hover?"That's exactly what I mean. Amazon is bad enough, Walmart's website is just completely unusable because of them. Looks like GR will be delegated to my Dead Website folder.
Tobio wrote: "I'm really not sure I like the look of it. This'll be something I have to see for myself, but I do hope there's an option to switch back."I agree. For one thing, how the hell does one sign out? Very confusing.
I'm generally always cranky when it comes to updates and changes in general, however, why do you keep saying 'easier' all the time? Isn't 'easier' just what we all are used to? And just a personal point of view, I really don't like that the desktop version is starting to look more and more like a phone application.
Mervyn wrote: "I agree. For one thing, how the hell does one sign out? Very confusing.Click on your icon on the far right of the bar, then Sign Out is the bottom menu option.
Hmm, I think I like the look of the current one better. I hope when the site gets updated already there's an option for us to get the old version one back.
Since yesterday the goodreads logo disappeared and now I just have a "g". Shouldn't it at least say goodreads? I don't like that! I am wondering what site I am on.
Petra X wrote: "So much time and money spent on new features that reiterate old ones in a different way and still bugs go unfixed. "Yup. Still haven't fixed the minuscule font on the Feed and Profile pages I reported from the beginning with the last change. If it wasn't for the Stylish fix GR would be unusable for me.
I'm definitely not worried I don't see this newest change yet, given their track record I'm worried about when I do.
Anny wrote: "I really don't like that the desktop version is starting to look more and more like a phone application. "Agreed. And that's not even mentioning all the issues with the phone app.
The longer titles of currently reading books still blur off into the side of the page.
MomToKippy wrote: "Since yesterday the goodreads logo disappeared and now I just have a "g". Shouldn't it at least say goodreads? I don't like that! I am wondering what site I am on."If the screen is reduced in size, the full Goodreads logo shortens to a "g" logo to fit.
Mervyn wrote: "Tobio wrote: "I'm really not sure I like the look of it. This'll be something I have to see for myself, but I do hope there's an option to switch back."I agree. For one thing, how the hell does o..."
They didn't change how to do that - click under your profile avatar and there will be the option to sign out.
This screenshot is just showing one side of the bar - I don't have the new bar yet but I tested it twice in the feedback group so know what it looks like. The right side isn't shown in the picture above.
Cathy wrote: "I need to be able to go Home and to My Books quickly and easily. Please don't clutter things up in the name of making things easier. And if you guys think that white drop down menu looks good on th..."My Books is right there on the navigation bar as it is with the old navigation bar, so that is the same. For home, you click the Goodreads name. Before they had two buttons you could use, but they got rid of it apparently to save room. I'm so used to websites having you click the logo name to go home that I never even noticed it until this change and people started asking about it. We all use the site different ways, so hopefully this fits the needs for most of us when it switches over.
Wow, I am surprised at all the hate. I would expect to have ads shown when I use a free service. The only way those are going away is if they add a paid subscription.If web site never changed their layout unless it were "broken" then we would all bu using sites that look like they are from 15 years ago. Change is hard but part of life. I agree that there are bugs left unfixed but it can be easier to design intentional changes than chase down bugs. I am sure GR has some sort of logic regarding how many users might leave over bugs or a glaring white screen (I have never had a problem with this myself) versus how many new users they might get with a more modern interface.
Hover menus aren't my favorite since I mostly use a tablet now but they aren't deal breaker by any means. I would like it if people posted their suggestions that are unrelated to the new nav bar in the appropriate area, they are just going to get lost in the comments here.
If I reduce the screen enough to have the goodreads logo appear then I have 8 inches of blank white space on the screen. weird.
So far I'm not a big fan but I will try to get used to it as I love to use this site to find books to read. The immediate issue that I see is that if I click on my mail or notifications my home page disappears and I have to use the back arrow. This is annoying to me but I will try to adapt.
I like it!! Love how GR is adapting every couple of months to keep everything fresh!
Io lo dico sempre che le cose semplici sono le migliori... Ottimo lavoro: bravi!!!
Kristen wrote: "Hmm, I think I like the look of the current one better. I hope when the site gets updated already there's an option for us to get the old version one back."Lol sorry to say this but: don't hold your breath for that.
Andy wrote: "It's just a matter of personal taste and it seems like more people like it than the other way around...."If you checked out social media, the Feedback section, groups and people's feeds you'd be surprised at just how many people dislike the fact that GR keeps making changes that mess other features up but don't bother to fix those issues. This has been going on for years and a multitude of people have complained and either got ignored or got tired of it and left for other places.
Just Googling "Goodreads censorship" will show you a perfect example of a more cataclysmic change.
Erika wrote: "Andy wrote: "It's just a matter of personal taste and it seems like more people like it than the other way around...."If you checked out social media, the Feedback section, groups and people's fe..."
That may be as you say, but the overall amount of users has been and is increasing steadily. As I said, there are people that don't like these changes, but the majority does seem to like them (or otherwise the amount of users would decline). Goodreads, like any other company, works for the majority, not minority.
I haven't seen masses complaining about navigation bar not moving. Why change it? I've been on some websites when the bar moves when you crowl down and it annoys the heck out of me. I like the majority of the new changes and can get use to the rest of the changes, but if navigation bar keeps stalking me... I don't know. I hope GR won't go through with it.
Andy wrote: "Erika wrote: "Andy wrote: "It's just a matter of personal taste and it seems like more people like it than the other way around...."If you checked out social media, the Feedback section, groups a..."
Well sure the usage is increasing. I don't doubt that. When I first started using GR I didn't realize that there was so much background ridiculousness and didn't find out about it for ages. I also don't doubt that if people even knew there was a Feedback thread and/or where to find it (or thought that whatever they said wouldn't be ignored anyway), that they would find a lot more complaints than they think.
I also really don't doubt that if there was another site that had all the same functionality but that actually made the useful changes that so many people have been asking for for years, that GR would find itself losing most of their more prolific content makers. Because really, content is king, even though the powers that be at GR like to pretend it's not.
I don't have this new update but I looks great! These updates are really helping give the website a more modern feel and it'll look a lot nicer on tablets. Keep up the good work! :)
Hate it...looks good but navigation was easier before... :(
I want! I want! I want! I can't wait to try it out!
F.P. wrote: "Sandra, thanks for the link, and I agree. I'm not heartened by that thread....Erika, thanks and yes--I can't understand this place's (...and Amazon's...) behavior anymore. Maybe I'm still around ..."
For a search engine, Bing is SO much better than Google. Google suggests so much extraneous and useless stuff. I like LibraryThing's much more a propos recommendations than the ones GR gives, some of which are laughable.
I don't care about this change one way or the other. I just want existing problems fixed promptly and smart suggestions seriously considered. I think that's completely reasonable.
I am dyslexic. Large changes do not always work for me if there is a lot to learn all over again and it has lots of steps. It takes me a long time to get my bearings and I end up asking my Husband to verbally walk to me through it a couple of times as I adjust to what I am seeing. This system looks like it is user friendly and the larger print is just awesome. I can't wait to try it out.
A couple weeks ago I had a brief experience with the new navigation bar, I'm guessing a beta test? And I was really excited about it, I loved it! I was actually really sad when I noticed that it went away. Please bring it back to me soon :P
Sarah wrote: "I don't even know why I'm bothering to say this because I've said it until I'm blue in the face in the other threads that you create just to sit back and watch us complain in while you laugh your a..."My sentiments exactly. I use to be on the site all the time. Now, I'm lucky if I can make it for the day. The format it's in now is just awful The fact that everyone complains about mostly the same things and yet the problems persist shows that GR doesn't really care to please their users. Playing with the look of the site but not really fixing the real issues is helping no one.
OK... I am not complaining... I am just a simple person who needs some help! How do I get back to my "home" page (for lack of a better word) without opening another tab! I am looking for the page that gives me the Updated/Discussions to the groups I am in and my Currently Reading list... not sure what it is called... but when I start on another page... like for a challenge... I can't figure out how to get to the page mentioned above... grrr (I am sure that it is sitting right in front of me!) *headdesk*
Donna wrote: "OK... I am not complaining... I am just a simple person who needs some help! How do I get back to my "home" page (for lack of a better word) without opening another tab! I am looking for the page t..."Just click on "Goodreads" in the top-left corner :)
Goodreads has always had two main problems: It's ugly, and it's clunky. It's good to see that you're at least doing something about the former. As the other responses in this thread show, you should also probably do something about the latter. The new nav bar looks very nice though, very nice indeed.
I like to open my new notifications in a different tab for each thread, and this is being more difficult to do, since they disappear when I click. I wish the Notifications button worked as before.
Andy wrote: "Donna wrote: "OK... I am not complaining... I am just a simple person who needs some help! How do I get back to my "home" page (for lack of a better word) without opening another tab! I am looking ..."Thanks! I was just on my way back over here to post that I figured it out! When I put my cursor over it nothing happened... at first it didn't occur to me to just "click" it! *headdesk* LOL!
Meghan wrote: "Hi Lindsay, I noticed this bug yesterday and was able to replicate it; we're working on a fix! Thanks for reporting."Now I see you've answer that. It's really annoying, I hope you fix it soon.
And I second other peoples idea about the notifications refreshing by themselves, without reloading the page. That would be much better.
Sandra wrote: "I like to open my new notifications in a different tab for each thread, and this is being more difficult to do, since they disappear when I click. I wish the Notifications button worked as before."Yes, I do like the new navigation, but would prefer the notifications tab to stay open so I can open new tabs and not keep closing.
Just from the sneak peek you are showing, I don't think I am going to like it. It is resembling the cheap look that so many other web sites are adopting nowadays. They usually don't offer easier navigation or content, just cheap looking graphics and often confusing navigation. I agree with many other commenters, too much effort goes into graphics instead of improving real content. I echo the comment from above..."fix what is broken"!Time will tell. . .
The updates seem fine. I appreciate having a website that I can utilize to discuss my love of books and that also opens up a whole world of reads that I would never have known about............and all that for no charge to myself. I'll let the others make their petty complaints about extra ads or having to spend and extra 6 seconds to find something.Thank you, GR!!!
Jim wrote: "Just from the sneak peek you are showing, I don't think I am going to like it. It is resembling the cheap look that so many other web sites are adopting nowadays. They usually don't offer easier na..."Okay, time's up...
I don't like it (to put it mildly) Just more cosmetic changes with no real value!
So..I really enjoy going through my daily feeds and commenting on my friend's reviews.....However, you're ruining that experience for me becuase everytime time I comment now, as soon as I post it you take me right back to the top of my feed and I have scroll back down to get to where I was.
You're needlessly wasting my time and frustrating the hell out of me.
Thank you. I might suggest what I've written here at the Feedback, it really would help.
Thank you for the invitation, I remain,
Sincerely, Norma Iris