Why are Goodreads Book Recommendations So Terrible?


Welcome to What Do You Think Thursday, a periodic blog feature in which I raise some question I've been pondering. 

I love book recommendations. Book recommendations are part of why I became a blogger -- I like getting recs and giving recs. But what is the deal with the Goodreads book recommendations? Is it just me who gets these weird, WTF suggestions? I don't usually star-rate books, so wondering if that is why the GR algorithm is broken for me, or if this is a problem for everyone. 

Here's some examples:

I read Saints and Misfits, about a Muslim American girl trying to find her place in her religious community and the world. Based on that, here's what Goodreads suggested:



Okay, then.... not really seeing ANY connection. At all.

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I also read Want, a futuristic sci-fi in which a diverse Scooby gang battles an evil tycoon in a polluted, disease-stricken world. Based on that, here's what Goodreads recommended:


WHAT EVEN??? Don't get me wrong, I love Beverly Cleary. But what exactly is the algorithm that connects a YA sci-fi set in Taipei with a chapter book about two sisters on Klickitat Street?

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I also read Perfect Ten, a YA about a gay teen who does a love spell to find himself a boyfriend. It's a contemporary YA romantic comedy. Based on this, here's what Goodreads thought I should try:


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Then I read The Fashion Committee, a contemporary YA about two kids involved in a competition to win a scholarship to a design school. Based on that, here's what Goodreads suggested:


Hmmm. I'm seeing a pattern here, Goodreads. A pattern of book recommendations that have no relation to the books I'm reading.

Please tell me in comments: does Goodreads give you weird recs, or is it just me??


Comments

  1. It's not just you. I get terrible book recommendations. Just looking now, because I'm reading Gemina (space stuff) I'm being recommended: A Game Worth Watching (about a tomboy). I do not use goodreads to find new books, which seems silly, because I feel that's what it should be for (in addition to the tracking obviously) but whatever.

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  2. Definitely not just you. Goodreads is not good at recommendations! Ironic considering its functions lol...

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  3. I think I turned mine off because I don't see them anymore lol

    They're SO ridiculous!

    Amazon is somewhat better but they think because you enjoyed ONE book about " a futuristic sci-fi in which a diverse Scooby gang battles an evil tycoon in a polluted, disease-stricken world" that you want to read 1000 books about he same thing lol

    For What It's Worth

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    1. Ooh -- didn't know I could turn them off. I will look into that.

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  4. OMG these recommendations! HAHA! I almost never even glance at them to notice anything weird on mine, to be honest. But now I think I do just to see what weird suggestions I may receive.

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  5. Yeah Goodreads is the worst at recommendations. They are never anything I would be interested in or anything related to what I read. They are crazy.

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    1. I mean, if it's paid advertising books they are recommending, just label it as that. I get the same books so often I have to wonder...

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  6. Its never right for me for recommendations. Also what about certain people who recommend books or do quizzes that you would never do ever.

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  7. Oh wow. Mine have never been that off. Haha. Mine are usually other popular YA titles, I don't pay GR recs any mind though.

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  8. This is hilarious and it's not just you. I rant about this to my husband all the time! He doesn't get it but it drives me crazy. I want actual recs based on the books I've loved, which is basically the whole reason I signed up with Goodreads in the first place! I really thought they'd be better. But instead it's all from people I follow, which works better in the end anyway. But it's still disappointing. My latest rec from Goodreads: Because I'm currently reading Bad Romance by Heather Demetrios, it thinks I should read Ice Wolves by Amie Kaufman, a middle-grade fantasy book about wolves and dragons that are sworn enemies, that comes out next March. It sounds awesome and I'll read it but nothing at all like Bad Romance.

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    1. Yes, exactly. What makes them think those books have anything in common??

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  9. hahaha Goodreads is always recommending some off the wall stuff to me. They must get money to promote certain books or something.

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    1. That's what I'm wondering. They also recommend certain books over and over.

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  10. Wow...Goodreads is giving you some wonky recommendations! I'm actually kind of surprised by this - although there've been a few times when I've been mildly confused by what Goodreads recommends to me, most of the time they're spot-on. In fact, several of the books on my TBR are only on there because Goodreads suggested them. I've had a decent track record with the stuff I HAVE read based on their recommendation, too. Sorry to hear your experience hasn't been as positive. :-(

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    1. My only thought is that the recs rely heavily on users' star ratings and that I rarely do that. Glad you have better results!

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  11. I've only followed Goodreads recommendations about three times in total, and even though all of them have been favourites of mine which were well recommended, I looked into the books first. Because I know sometimes the recommendations can be totally bogus!

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  12. I don't even look at the recommendations anymore. They don't fit what I read.

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