In a bid to challenge corporate control in the world of reading, Nadia Odunayo’s The StoryGraph is rapidly gaining popularity as an alternative to Amazon-owned Goodreads.
Nadia Odunayo, the founder and CEO of The StoryGraph, is a name that has become synonymous with a new era in reading. With her social media readers’ platform rapidly gaining popularity, she’s taking on the might of Amazon-owned Goodreads.
The Birth of a Competitor
For 18 years, Goodreads has been the go-to destination for book lovers to catalog their reads, leave reviews, and get recommendations. However, when its founders sold it to Amazon in 2013, many users began to feel uneasy about the company’s ownership. Nadia Odunayo, a software engineer and developer from London, was one of them.
In 2019, she created what she thought would be a companion app to Goodreads. But as she built a demo for her friends, it became clear that The StoryGraph was more than just a companion – it was a competitor. With its AI-powered tracking tools and trends, The StoryGraph offered readers a fresh perspective on their reading experience.
The StoryGraph is a social network for book lovers and readers.
It allows users to track their reading, set goals, and connect with other readers who share similar interests.
The platform provides 'personalized recommendations' based on user preferences and reading history.
The StoryGraph also features a vast database of books, allowing users to discover new titles and authors.
A Woman-Owned Alternative
The StoryGraph has gained 3.8 million active users in just two years, many of whom have ditched Goodreads for good. One such user is Books With Bunny, who wrote about her decision to leave Goodreads due to its outdated interface and limited features. ‘I think people love the different types of data we give,’ Odunayo said. ‘We just have a lot of really cool features, and the buddy read-alongs.‘
But what sets The StoryGraph apart from Goodreads is its ownership structure. As a woman-owned company, it’s free from the concerns about Amazon‘s business practices that many users have. ‘It’s not owned by Amazon,’ Odunayo said simply. ‘And I think people appreciate that.‘
A Cleaner and More Personalized Experience
The StoryGraph has also taken steps to address some of Goodreads’ problems, such as malicious reviewing and personal attacks on authors. By not allowing private messaging or comments on reviews, The StoryGraph aims to create a safer and more respectful community.
Odunayo‘s vision for The StoryGraph is one that prioritizes the reading experience above all else. ‘I want us to be the most popular book app in the world,’ she said. And with her dedication to creating a platform that puts readers first, it’s clear that The StoryGraph is on the right track.
A Passion for Reading
For Nadia Odunayo, reading has always been more than just a hobby – it’s an integral part of who she is. As the CEO of a company that’s dedicated to helping people discover new books and authors, her love for reading has only grown stronger. ‘Reading is now part of my whole identity,’ she said.
