Everything Booklikes & Leafmarks discussion

Hi everyone!

I'm the co-founder of a new bookish site that launched in January this year called Literally: www.literally.io

I know what you're thinking. Another book site?!?!

Literally is much different than other book sites in that it's focused on YOU and about tracking your reading progress and stats. You can earn badges for different reading accomplishments as well as get alerts on deals on books that are in your TBR list.

In other words, we're not trying to be a Goodreads clone.

If you've ever wondered what to read next, there are two neat ways to choose a book:
- Take the TBR challenge and battle books against each other until one wins, and read that book
- Ask your friends for recommendations and let them submit, vote, and comment on books you should read next

There's a lot more to Literally, but you can read some reviews by book bloggers here: www.literally.io/blog/literally-reviews

The site is in beta and there's a mobile app coming out very soon.


We've been following this topic for a while and you all have lots of good ideas and feedback. For that reason, we wanted to let you know about our site and hope to continue to build the best app for readers.

Thanks!

I'm trying to sign up and its telling me i need an invite code. is there a way to get one and how?

Hi Tana,

We're in closed beta right now to control growth and implement all the feedback we've received so far.

If you email support@literally.io I'd be happy to send you an invite code.

Thanks Tana.

Interesting, would be very interested in checking it out if you another invite code.

Hi Mikela,

Please email support@literally.io and I'd be happy to send you one!

Tim wrote: "Hi everyone!

I'm the co-founder of a new bookish site that launched in January this year called Literally: www.literally.io

I know what you're thinking. Another book site?!?!

Literally is much d..."

Thanks for the info, I've 'joined', now just awaiting email. Looks very interesting, looking forward to 'browsing' it.

I'll check it out this week (have invite code). In general and before I've even looked at the website: what I'll need from a book site on 2015 (2014 is the year I expect lots of sites to start up or step up to get us refugees and am trying several each quarter):

1. Book database.*
2. Independence from publishers and booksellers. Fleeing immediately if amazon involved.*
3. Librarian/editor volunteers or very active site support allowing additions to database.
4. Ability to choose specific editions. Including digital and audio. Handles isbn, ean and bookseller identifiers (amazon asin numbers, Barnes and Noble bnid starting with 294, kobo id starting with 123, etc.).
5. Data import AND export.
6. Enough social to at least be able to follow reviews from friends.
7. Series information, tracking and features.***
8. Some privacy protections like not having my contact info shared with trusted advertisers and at least the ability to block the nasties from commenting or contacting me.
9. My reviews are my reviews and will not be shared or sold/ subscribed-to by third party or any commercial/websites.
10. If my reviews are within site TOS, guidelines or policies (which must be readily accessible and members must be notified when changed.), then they don't get censored or removed.**
11. I have zero interest in sites just wanting to pick or recommend books to me. Recommendations from readers/.reviewers I friend because of similar reading tastes are of interest.
12. I don't mind subscription or donation options; prefer it to be optional. I will subscribe or donate if I use a site for a year and enjoy.
13. Site needs to have a vocal, active membership. For example, BookRabbit.com has so many features on the surface that really appeal to goodreads members but it's awfully dead over there (and while it imports data, most of the custom shelves wind up not as shelves/tags but just in description/note),
14. TOS cannot follow amazon's example of vaguely saying what's prohibited is "…about what you'd expect…".

*by independent, I have no problem whatsoever with purchase links to or advertising from amazon and other booksellers and publishers. And no problem with non-review/rating data coming from amazon and others. It's unrealistic to ignore kindle and createspace book data. I even understand that in order to use amazon data that book sites (like fictfact.com) have to put a purchase link to amazon separate to other sites and above the fold (that's why goodreads pre-buyout chose to ditch amazon data and why currently for most books fictfact has "amazon | others" for purchase links).

**of course the site policies can prohibit bullying, threats, attacks, etc. being in reviews and other site content.

***There is really a lack of series features on a lot of booksites I have tried. I do like how fictiondb.com (really lacks a social side) handles series infir for single author, multiple and "franchised" (logo, multiple writers, same universe but not necessarily exact chronological order) series categories. I love stuff at fictfact like "next book in series" and "New releases in your series." Through several primary-for-me book sites including now defunct Visual Bookshelf, Shelfari, goodreads, etc., I have used fictfact to track my series. They are currently worrying me because (1) not answering email questions about "2"and (2) this year's new releases I checked out have all had purchase links only to amazon.

Like I said, haven't joined or checked out the site yet. Even if not what I want, will happily add my exported goodreads csv file to bulk up their database and check back into after they've been active a year or so.

D.A. - don't mock bully victims who suffered more than a star rating - wrote: "I'll check it out this week (have invite code). In general and before I've even looked at the website: what I'll need from a book site on 2015 (2014 is the year I expect lots of sites to start up..."

You might also copy your list of 'requirements' so it gives them something to work toward. I joined, tried all that's available, at this time,( it's in beta), which, in my opinion is very minimal. The people at the site are very responsive, but I'm going to wait awhile now before I look at it again. 3 things it doesn't have yet, that book database, review & lookup capability, ability to communicate with friends. You can post on a person's profile, but that's it. Everyone would post on the same thread, visible to everyone else & all 'mashed' together.

Do you have a link for their privacy policy or terms of service?

I went to use my invite code today and the site wants my email address before showing either of those things. And I don't give out my email without knowing what I am agreeing to by providing. (I never tried Anobii before it was sold to Italian publisher because their terms required me to receive marketing emails from third parties). If I email to ask them, then they have my email address.

I know, it's just in beta; but, still ... LOL, everyone is responsive when starting up.

D.A. - don't mock bully victims who suffered more than a star rating - wrote: "Do you have a link for their privacy policy or terms of service?

I went to use my invite code today and the site wants my email address before showing either of those things. And I don't give out ..."

Can't find any info on privacy settings or terms of service. I sent request for information on both. So, why don't you wait & I'll forward to you anything I get on these. Yeah, I hear what you're saying about their responsiveness, I think the same thing, except . . . A bug I found, and reported Friday has not been resolved - 'we are not impressed'!

Is it a review site? Or, I guess I should say "will it" eventually include reviews?

(I'm not judging any startup at all for not having all features at once, just curious)

D.A. - don't mock bully victims who suffered more than a star rating - wrote: "Is it a review site? Or, I guess I should say "will it" eventually include reviews?

(I'm not judging any startup at all for not having all features at once, just curious)"

Right now I haven't found anyway to review, it's also one of the user requests. There's a place where you can see user requests, sort of, & vote on your pick. But, no idea if that functionality is going to be added & if so, when. Right now you can add a book, ( Pick it from their listing), & add a friend. You can post a message on someone's profile. And badges, which I don't care about. The site's very easy to navigate, but then there isn't much to navigate.

D.A. - don't mock bully victims who suffered more than a star rating - wrote: "I went to use my invite code today and the site wants my email address before showing either of those things. And I don't give out ..."

Sign up with a temporary email address like Mailinator. You can always change it later if you want.

D.A. - don't mock bully victims who suffered more than a star rating - wrote: "Is it a review site? Or, I guess I should say "will it" eventually include reviews?

(I'm not judging any startup at all for not having all features at once, just curious)"

I feel the same, I will wait while a site adds features. I'm waiting around at Leafmarks as well.

Prime for me is non-fiction and literature. Most of the new sites I see are more to do with the latest releases in SPA, romance, fantasy etc, which are the biggest selling genres so it's understandable, but they don't interest me.

I have to say that I would be really happy at BookLikes if/when the promised database is any good.

Ms Bubbles SockieP wrote: "D.A. - don't mock bully victims who suffered more than a star rating - wrote: "Is it a review site? Or, I guess I should say "will it" eventually include reviews?

(I'm not judging any startup at..."

Agreed on database!

I have disposable emails. But, I don't like wasting time on sites without basic policies in place and accessible. Rather spend time reading than exploring those sites and trashing/getting more disposable emails (I know that's quick but it all adds up).

Hey a couple questions. I am someone who has used GoodReads strictly for book reviews. When reading the LeafMarks blog on GoodReads today I found a lot of comments in regards to Literally so I thought I would check it out. What I don't understand is why I should use Literally when they just seem to be serving up Amazon reviews that are biased and censored. If someone is ok with Amazon reviews it seems pointless to switch to something like Literally? Educate me a bit on why I should consider an alternative (please). Currently I am liking LeafMarks as I am sick of book sellers controlling reviews. Is Literally an Amazon owned site? Again I am just looking for unbiased book reviews and I am trying to find the best option. Thanks.

Hi Chris,

Literally is not about reviews. If you're looking for reviews, Literally is not for you.

In the future, we will allow users to add brief notes about a book, and you'll be able to tag/rate books but there won't be any reviews. This is intentional.

There are many reviews elsewhere and we don't believe that reviews are the best way to find books to read. Instead, we're focused on human recommendations - that means from your friends and those you know and trust. Again, this does not mean computer generated recommendations like most other sites. It means recommendations from actual people who are able to tell you what you'll most likely enjoy reading.

We currently show Amazon reviews because it was easy to include and we wanted to have something for people to look at while we build up an audience to make personal recommendations more rapid. As I've mentioned previously, we'll be removing the Amazon reviews very soon - it was only a temporary measure while we work out the kinks.

Literally is not an Amazon owned site.

Thanks for your questions, Chris.

Tim, are invite codes still being distributed? I sent a request to the email mentioned above (twice) but have not received one.

Tim wrote: "There are many reviews elsewhere and we don't believe that reviews are the best way to find books to read. Instead, we're focused on human recommendations - that means from your friends and those you know and trust. Again, this does not mean computer generated recommendations like most other sites. It means recommendations from actual people who are able to tell you what you'll most likely enjoy reading."

Interesting take on it.

GR has had personal recommendations for years, they are primarily a spam vector, or used by people who think "Oh I loved this book, EVERYONE I KNOW will love this book". Unfortunately, I can count on one hand the number of actually good, tailored to me recommendations I've had here (or anywhere, really.) Recommendations are invariably more about the recommender than the recommendee.

However, I find books via reviews all the time. I read reviews of books I've never heard of and think "oh that book looks crazy interesting". Or I look at a book I'm not sure about, and the reviews either convince me or put me off it.

On the other hand, I've got plenty of places to read reviews, as said.

But the badges are cute. I like badges.

Thanks Krazykiwi. I appreciate your perspective.

Just because GR is the dominant player and the way they've done it hasn't worked, doesn't mean it's not the most effective solution.

I think one problem is that GR is based on connecting with everyone and being open to everyone. Literally is focused on you and your core set of friends. In this way, recommendations are much more focused and the spam vector hopefully is not an issue.

But that's just one way we handle personal recommendations. There are several other ways which are new and much different than GR offers.

Glad you like the badges! :)

While I don't get anything from star ratings (except from friends whose reading tastes I know well enough to judge how they rate a book), I do pay attention to reviews if only from friends or followed reviewers and only when unsure. When I am on the fence about a book, negative detailed reviews have influenced me to buy books almost as often as positive ones. Things one reviewer dislikes might be exactly the things I enjoy.

I have zero note rest in the hundreds of sites offering book recommendations or to find my next read (definitely not if tied to booksellers, publishers or author groups rather than readers). Whether that's a programmed engine, from just friends or some readers-also-enjoyed algorithm. I want to track my reads, discuss books, see what everyone else has to say about books ...

I'll check out Literally right after they display privacy policies and terms of service.

If they keep showing amazon reviews or appear to be another amazon storefront, no thank you.

If they have series tracking and reminders, count me in.

After years of being happy tracking series reads at fictfact, I'm getting worried because fictfact is (a) ignoring my emails asking about and (b) removing all purchase links except to amazon from all new/newish releases I checked. Goodreads has ignored every request to add fictfact and fictiondb style series features—so that's one area where a booksite can really complete.

Even for beta testing, I need privacy and other site policy info before creating an account and importing my book catalog. With or without reviews.

I can make my own badges.

I can understand, given all the fakery and nasty meltdowns and attacks, a site not wanting to have reviews. And I can see the appeal for some readers; but, not as a goodreads replacement.

Just checking back in to see if anyone has heard back about site terms of service or privacy policies?

But that's just one way we handle personal recommendations. There are several other ways which are new and much different than GR offers.

And how do these work?

I also don't understand how your personal recommendations differs from 'friending' or following someone here who has similar tastes. With a much smaller reader base, how can you match my personal preferences any more accurately than GR, BookGorilla, etc?

Anyone still doing Literally? If so, what does it off you (apart from Amazon books)?

To be quite honest I gave up on the site. I tried twice to download my books and still I have only about 600 marked as read when GR has me at over 900. I find it impossible to change shelves, you can only change book status one at a time and I don't have time for that. The one feature I thought might come in handy is the comparing TBR books with each other but that is such a laborious effort as to be a waste of time. I still have my account though as I can't find out how to delete it.

I, too, gave up on the site. It's aims as a site don't interest me, and the import from GR didn't complete correctly. I still think there's enough promise in LeafMarks and BookLikes to stick with them.

There doesn't seem to be a way to delete your account on Literally, though.

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "...There doesn't seem to be a way to delete your account on Literally, though. ..."

It is in beta by invite only.

But that "no deleting your account" does concern me. (As does apparently no TOS and no privacy policy.). Did you email requesting account be deleted?

I actually don't mind sending my goodreads csv export (stripped of reviews and ratings) to any booksite to beef up their database -- if I either don't have to create an account or if I agree with their policies—because with the goodreads database getting so vandalized, I'm very happy to see the human corrected older data preserved on lots of sites.

I have no real idea about Literally because I haven't used the invite yet.

D.A. - don't mock bully victims who suffered more than a star rating - wrote: "But that no deleting your account does concern me. (As does apparently no TOS and no privacy policy.). Did you email requesting account be deleted?"

So far, I haven't cared about deleting the account enough to email anyone about it. I amended my profile so I don't get any emails from them and for now that will suffice. At some point I'll be bothered enough to make the effort.

D.A. - don't mock bully victims who suffered more than a star rating - wrote: "But that "no deleting your account" does concern me. (As does apparently no TOS and no privacy policy.). Did you email requesting account be deleted?..."

Me too. You can't even change your email on it. I deleted my books, changed my username and unchecked the email option. I did it because I really couldn't think the no reviews policy (which wasn't, it was no reviews except Amazon ones) had anything to offer me. GR is all about reviews and it may be that the site owner will recruit non-GR people who are more interested than we are.

Still, I do wish him luck. It's always good to have people thinking up new book sites but it's hard against what is already there.

Yes, and new book sites evolve all the time. Booklikes, for example, started just as a book recommendation engine then reinvented itself.

I'm planning on another 18 months of exploring book sites and seeing how the new ones evolve before determining my primary site. Checking out a handful each quarter in more detail and keeping an eye out for changing policies and features. I rule out ones owned by or for publishers, booksellers, authors or other "dog in this fight" owners or unacceptable privacy/TOS (many promising ones have been changed to unacceptable ownership).

I'm giving up on BookRabbit (although will check back next year). The features are absolutely wonderful and what I want, data import not impossible but needs more tweaking ... It's just utterly dead. Very little site activity so I'm wondering how many active members it even has.

The Reading Room is still great but needs more members. And, the most activity currently is in the bookclubs. The only other tiny issues there are only putting five books on currently reading and not exactly readily apparent how to post reading progress.

I'm starting to tire of waiting for booklikes to get a database and deal with spam followers. (Search google for "westhill site:booklikes.com" for one example). The Thursday candies have become more useful to blogging than book cataloging and reviewing. I didn't even bother checking the last two the day they were out ... and I used to get pathetically excited on Thursdays waiting to see what new goodie they rolled out for us readers.

Awaiting groups on Leafmarks (and they do need to do some backend improvements to handle better on tablets and additional browsers). But, they have that lovely "FAQ" link at page bottoms that includes a "Coming soon" and "What's New" that always re-energizes my enthusiasm. And from a librarian standpoint they've already made some very practical decisions goodreads librarians wanted for years. They do now have series information fields.

Series info a feature I really want everywhere (and I'm getting spoiled with half stars). Fictiondb has better series features than even goodreads but lacks social aspect. Fictfact I have always used to track but for recently released books the only buy links are to amazon which is really worrying me.

Goodreads had 20+ million members and even though that doesn't indicate how many active members -- of course smaller sites will at first be less exciting with less activity.

I like BookLikes, but then I enjoy it for it's blogging capabilities so I'm happy there. I can't see myself leaving unless I find another blogging site that has a focus on books that I like better. I do believe that within the next month we will have a book database there.

I've never had any spam on BL at all. I don't doubt it exists, just been lucky probably.

LeafMarks I'm willing to wait a long time for it to grow. I find it totally and utterly boring because they have started from the database rather than social end, the opposite of BookLikes, but I do believe they will get there.

I've checked out a few different booksites recently. Do you know http://bookpage.com/? It is a review site with the interesting concept of no reviews from SPAs or PODs. Hmmm

Then there is http://allreaders.com/ who pay between 0.50c and $7 per review. Well they give you credit anyway, and if you reach $40 they actually pay you. Then there is http://librarybooklists.org/ which is lists and listopias and http://www.booktalk.org/ which is just book discussions. All are interesting in their way.

I will of course stay on sites where my friends are. So many on booklikes now that I doubt I'll leave even if I make another site my primary one. For me, it's become more of a facebook type of thing than a goodreads replacement where what I share s book related. That could change with a database in place and more group options and participation. The group activity pretty dead there (not as lively on goodreads as it used to be).

On U.S. sites hosting consumer book reviews, reviews you were paid for that have to disclose payment received. Just in case an allreaders.com review ever gets cross-posted anywhere. That means goodreads and amazon. If it's posted in with community/consumer reviews -- has to state is a paid review.

Can you review on bookpage.com or just read reviews? "Upbeat reviews" = a turn-off for me.

Allreaders.com displayed strangely on my iPad; I couldn't see how to join, about us, privacy policies, etc. I'll check it out when back on desktop or laptop. It is a U.S. site (New York) and other forums say you have to be the first to write a review for full payment.

Not sure how accurate (a lot of people complaining about in forums have other people pointing out they just didn't read the specs for reviews) but I saw this: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/Steve-G.... True or false complaint it did at least give me a link for an "about us" type of page at http://allreaders.com/step1.asp and the fine print at http://allreaders.com/disclaimer.htm which also says they pay via paypal (completely disagrees with what complaint said). 14 years in business (http://urlm.co/www.allreaders.com).p makes me doubt the complaint. *sigh* all I can figure out from this device.

Has anyone else used allreaders.com?

"upbeat reviews" is a euphemism for "advertising copy".