A Better Way to Track & Discover Books
Looking for a Goodreads alternative or a StoryGraph alternative? MenrvaBooks is a free, indie-friendly book tracker and discovery platform built by readers, for readers.
Why readers are switching to MenrvaBooks
🔍 Fair, organic search
No paid placements, no sponsored results. Every book gets a fair chance to be discovered through our search algorithm — unlike platforms where money determines visibility.
📚 Indie-first philosophy
We champion independent authors and small publishers. MenrvaBooks connects readers with stories they'd never find on larger platforms dominated by major publishers.
🏷️ Deep taxonomy
Browse by genre, subgenre, keyword, and community tag. Our hierarchical taxonomy makes finding your next read intuitive — no more scrolling through irrelevant results.
🤝 Independent & reader-owned
MenrvaBooks is independently built and operated — not owned by Amazon, not beholden to advertisers. Our incentives are aligned with readers and authors, not corporations.
MenrvaBooks vs Goodreads vs StoryGraph
See how MenrvaBooks compares to the most popular book tracking platforms.
| Feature | MenrvaBooks | Goodreads | StoryGraph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free to use | |||
| No ads in search results | |||
| Indie author friendly | |||
| Organic search — no paid placement | |||
| Genre, subgenre & keyword taxonomy | Limited | ||
| Series tracking | |||
| Reading status tracking | |||
| └ Read | |||
| └ TBR | |||
| └ In-progress | |||
| └ Favorite | |||
| └ DNF | |||
| Community likes & comments | Limited | ||
| Author profiles with social links | |||
| Not owned by Amazon | |||
| Dark mode | |||
| Modern, accessible UI |
Everything you need in a book tracker
- ✓Reading status tracking — Mark books as Read, Currently Reading, or Want to Read and build your TBR list.
- ✓Personalized recommendations — Get suggestions based on your reading history and preferences.
- ✓Series tracking — Follow multi-book series and track your completion progress.
- ✓Community interactions — Like, comment on, and discuss books with other readers.
- ✓Rich author profiles — Explore bibliographies, bios, and social media links for your favorite authors.
- ✓Advanced search — Find books by title, author, genre, subgenre, keyword, tag, ISBN, or series.
- ✓Dark mode & modern UI — A clean, accessible interface that looks great on any device.
Frequently asked questions
Is MenrvaBooks really free?
Yes! Our Explorer tier is completely free and includes book search, browsing, and reading status tracking. Premium features like comments, favorites, and reading lists are available with a Bibliophile subscription.
Can I import my Goodreads or StoryGraph data?
We're working on import tools to make switching from Goodreads and StoryGraph seamless. In the meantime, you can start fresh and discover new books through our search and recommendation features.
What makes MenrvaBooks different from Goodreads?
Unlike Goodreads, MenrvaBooks is independently owned (not by Amazon), has no paid placements in search results, features a modern dark-mode UI, and actively champions indie authors. Every book gets a fair chance to be discovered.
How is MenrvaBooks different from The StoryGraph?
MenrvaBooks and The StoryGraph share a commitment to independence. Where we differ is in our deep indie-author support, integrated author profiles with social links, community comments, and our comprehensive genre-subgenre-keyword taxonomy for discovery.
Is MenrvaBooks good for indie and self-published authors?
Absolutely. We built MenrvaBooks with indie authors in mind. No book is boosted by paid promotion — our search is organic and fair. Authors can also manage their own profiles with our Author subscription tier.
Ready to make the switch?
Join a growing community of readers who chose a book platform that puts them first — not advertisers.