How do you choose what to read next?

[Rivieranights]

I love genre fiction, crime and thrillers in particular, but I am quite fussy about the quality of the books I read. I hate wasting my time/money on cliched or badly written books. I don’t really trust Amazon reviews so sometimes struggle to choose books.

Where do others get their recommendations from? Other people? mumsnet? Goodreads or similar? I do read the Guardian crime and thriller roundup every month but would love some reliable source of recommendations.

Personal recommendations, listening to Between The Covers and The Radio 2 Book Club and MN - 50 Books Challenge thread and there was one with posters best books they had read last year. I do always have a look at the Goodreads scores and comments. I don't bother with Amazon as stars and comments can be skewed.

I look at Instagram/TickTok and look for reviews of books I like. When I find a reviewer who's style aligns with mine, I follow them for other recommendations and come across some great reads this way l.

Storygraph also has a recommendations section and will suggest books you might like based off previous reads.

I'm in a WhatsApp group of keen readers. All we talk about is whether we enjoyed a book or not. Brief synopsis is given and a very brief explanation of what was liked / disliked. It's a brilliant reference when when I'm looking for something new.
I've come to trust some judgments more than others (aunty X has very different tastes to me but xyz is always bang on the nose).
It's definitely worth setting one up.

The Book suggestions sub on Reddit is a good source of ideas.

I get a daily email from Bookbub and if a book takes my fancy, I’ll buy it on Kindle. Then inbetween my bookclub books, I,ll just choose something from purchased books. Sometimes I fancy deep and gritty, other times light and fluffy.

If you like crime and thrillers, look at the following website for inspiration.

www.deadgoodbooks.co.uk

It has lots of recommendations, reviews etc in the crime and thriller genre.

https://www.whatshouldireadnext.com/

If you put in a book you enjoyed it comes up with a list of suggestions. It doesn’t have every book listed but I’ve found it helpful.

I love Bookbub - had a few free books from there too.

I generally just have a big to read pile and choose the one with the cover I like the most at that time!

I’m a big fan of the literary critic Harold Bloom and read his books constantly. He gives me all the guidance I need for which classics to read next.

More generally, I browse on Amazon and Wikipedia. I generally try to buy books in actual book shops, though. I dread book shops closing down.

Thanks everyone, loads of great suggestions.

I have no system at all, but I do have about 200 unread books on my shelves and on my Kindle - so when I finish one I think 'Hmmm, what do I fancy reading next?' and I browse my bulging shelves until I find something that hits the spot

Me too @cheezncrackers. Christmas present was a larger bookshelf!

Fantastic fiction is a great website that lists authors. You can search by genre, author or title, it shows other works by same author and recommends similar authors.

Long time on here and seeing suggestions from mumsnetters whose tastes align to mine tbh!

Other things as well. Then I add them to a wish list of books.

Used to read book reviews in newspapers. Now am more likely to get ideas from mn. If enough ppl rave about a book I'll give it a go. Sometimes works out, sometimes not.
Sometimes I'll pick up books from charity shops, often based on an author being positively reviewed by someone whose opinion i respect.

I make my way through an author .
I've done Lisa Jewell and discovered Sue Watson so working my way through hers

I like a bit of a story and a twist and these are great .

I've come to MN in desperation as I have just finished my final book on my kindle and have NO other books to read

I browse the library.

I have a large collection of unread books so am making my way through these.

My DM is also an avid reader and passes on all her read books so I get her personal review on what is worth me taking home and what isn't. She's pretty accurate and looking at the disappointing books thread, it chimes very well with what she has said not to bother with.