Wildcard Wednesday

A fun mix of romance and lifestyle content. Explore offbeat topics, romance-adjacent book reviews, and personal musings under Wild Card.

Best Platforms for Tracking Your Reading: Goodreads vs. Fable vs. StoryGraph

After being away from the book community and blogging world for so long, it was a pleasant surprise to discover new ways to track my reading habits! It’s 2024, so I shouldn’t have been so shocked, but nonetheless, there are countless options out there, each with a different approach. Now, I’m a ride-or-die Goodreads kind of gal. I’ve been using it for years, mainly because of the seamless syncing between my Kindle and Goodreads. But I have to admit, I love the statistics that some of the newer platforms, like Fable and StoryGraph, offer. Let’s dive in and explore what each of these programs brings to the table! Goodreads Let’s kick off with the most established platform around, Goodreads. It’s been around for a long time, and for basic book tracking and community features, it’s a solid choice! I’ve been using Goodreads for years, and the automatic sync with my Kindle is a huge win—no more manual tracking. This is perfect for me since I tend to forget to update my reading progress, so maintaining a streak is nearly impossible. However, despite its large community and Kindle integration, Goodreads has its downsides. The platform hasn’t seen significant updates in a long time, which is disappointing for tech lovers like me. I’d love to see some modern features added, especially after testing other platforms. Pros: Cons: StoryGraph Next up is StoryGraph, a relatively new contender that brings some cool features, especially from a data perspective! It doesn’t sync automatically like Goodreads, but you can do a one-time Goodreads import to establish your library. StoryGraph’s biggest strength is its recommendation engine, which uses mood, previous reads, and AI to suggest new books. If you’re diligent about tracking your reads and want strong, personalized recommendations, StoryGraph is definitely worth considering. Pros: Cons: Fable Fable is actually a close second to Goodreads for me. It’s a fun platform that offers just enough statistics to feel insightful while providing a social experience. Its social aspect is similar to Goodreads’ feed but feels more like Threads or Twitter, which I personally enjoy. I also love the stats Fable can generate from your reading history, especially with the ability to import Goodreads data more than once. This feature is a lifesaver for those of us who aren’t great at tracking every book as we read it. The ability to do multiple imports helps me fill in the gaps and get a more accurate readout of my stats. If Fable had flawless syncing with Kindle, I’d probably make the switch completely! Pros: Cons: Notion Notion is my go-to productivity platform, and I use it for everything from planning my blog content to managing day-to-day tasks. So, it’s no surprise it makes an honorable mention for tracking reading habits. With tons of downloadable templates, Notion can be fully customized to track your reading progress. While I don’t use it specifically for books, I do use it to track K-Dramas I’ve watched! If you’re already using Notion, it can be a handy addition to your reading tracking routine. Pros: Cons: Conclusion: Which One is Right for You? While there are countless programs out there, these are the ones I’ve enjoyed testing out the most. Goodreads wins for its seamless syncing, Fable shines with its fun social community, and StoryGraph offers data lovers a treasure trove of insights (with Notion earning an honorable mention). Each platform has its strengths, and while there’s some overlap, my top picks are Goodreads and Fable. The fact that I can continue using Goodreads while importing data to Fable for better stats is a game-changer. I’m excited to give StoryGraph a more dedicated try in 2025 to see how it performs over time and how the platform evolves. I do love the mood-based recommendations and detailed statistics it offers. At the end of the day, there’s no right or wrong way to track your reading habits! It all comes down to personal preference and what features make you happy. As for me, I’ll be sticking with my tried-and-true Goodreads while layering in Fable for the extra insights. I hope this article gives you some insight into the different options available for tracking your reads. Maybe you learned something new! Do you use a different platform to track your reading habits? I’d love to hear about it!

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Finding Time for Stories: How to Read while Multitasking.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See my policies for further details. Life gets busy, but for book lovers, finding time to dive into a good story is essential. Luckily, multitasking allows us to enjoy our favorite reads even during life’s most hectic moments. Whether you’re soaring through the clouds on a plane, tackling the dreaded treadmill at the gym, or sneaking in a few chapters during your lunch break, there are plenty of ways to fit reading into your daily routine. In this post, I’ll explore some of my favorite ways to combine everyday tasks with my love for books, without skipping a beat! As an avid reader, there’s barely a day that goes by when I don’t read. How do I fit this into my already crammed schedule in a world that’s all about the hustle? Multitasking! I know some people use audiobooks to make it easier to get in a few chapters while cooking, cleaning, or working out. However, as someone who’s never really gotten into audiobooks (I know, shocking!), I’ve found a few different ways to get in some quality reading time while mindlessly doing something else. First and foremost, my Kindle is my most prized possession, and that’s where I do at least 90% of my reading. Luckily, there are a ton of gadgets to help me keep reading while doing something else. Reading While Exercising: I typically start my day by working on my step count. I’m not a fan of the dreaded treadmill, so I always need a distraction to help pass the time. A Kindle Page Turner is a lifesaver! Not only does it allow me to set down or prop up my Kindle on the treadmill tray, but I don’t have to constantly reach to turn the page. While I love my treadmill, I tend to switch things up, especially when traveling. One thing I’ve noticed is that no two machines are the same, meaning it’s not always convenient to prop up my Kindle. In my search for ways to stay distracted while doing cardio, I found an exercise pocket! It fits most machines, is lightweight and portable, making it perfect for trips. The best part? It creates a ledge for your device! Reading While Cleaning: Let’s face it—no one really likes cleaning. But as a semi-responsible adult, I spend a lot of time doing it! And yes, I read while doing chores. Think of one chore we all probably hate and procrastinate on—yup, laundry! Folding clothes seems to take forever, but I’ve found a solution: a nifty Kindle stand (less than $10) that I use to perch my Kindle while folding. It’s super handy, and I can get through a few chapters while tackling the never-ending piles of laundry. The same stand also comes in handy while doing dishes. I just set it on the bar in front of the sink and before I know it, the dishes are done! It’s also great for meal prep, like chopping veggies or stirring a simmering pot—although I don’t recommend reading while cooking if you’re accident-prone or preparing something complicated. Reading While Traveling: Now, this is where I can really go through the books! If you’re lucky enough not to get motion sickness on car trips, pick up a book from your TBR pile and dive in. I’m usually the driver on road trips, so I rarely get to read, but when flying, it’s a different story. I travel frequently for work and can get through a lot of reading on flights. Earbuds in, Kindle open, and I’m set. On a recent trip, I managed to finish two books just from flight time alone. I even sneak in some reading while waiting for my suitcase at baggage claim or for a hotel shuttle. Travel time is prime reading time for me—don’t forget to pack your Kindle for your next trip! In conclusion, finding time to read in a busy world doesn’t have to be a challenge if you get creative with multitasking. Whether it’s squeezing in a chapter while exercising, tackling household chores, or making the most of travel downtime, there are plenty of ways to keep up with your reading goals. With the right tools and a bit of strategy, you can turn even the most mundane tasks into opportunities to get lost in a good book. So grab your Kindle, find what works for you, and happy reading!

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