Goodreads

~ beetleypete

Many of you will be familiar with this company. I know that some of you take the book-reading challenges, and write about them on your blogs. I checked it out, and found that I could leave book reviews, choose my favourite type of genres, and receive suggestions for books I might like to read.

That sounded pretty good, as it is also free of charge. Since I have been determined to read more, after buying the Amazon Kindle Fire, I concluded that joining Goodreads might be worthwhile. So I created an account, using the app on my Kindle Fire. I soon received confirmation, along with some suggested titles, and an invitation to participate in a challenge. (Which I declined)

Early days, but it looked like something I would come back to in the future, and might make some use of. Either way, I didn’t see how it could do any harm. Two days later, and I have started to receive emails from them, advising me of new followers to my profile, others wanting to read my reviews. I thought this was strange, as I haven’t posted any reviews, but I checked one out anyway, by clicking on the email sent by Goodreads.

I was surprised to discover that the woman in question claimed to be a ‘Chef’, and was looking for ‘good sex’. There was a link to her private contact page, which of course I didn’t click on. A few more arrived, all with nice profile pictures, and a variety of ‘occupations’. Each offered something different, from ‘Private contact’, to ‘Hook-ups’, or access to ‘More photos’. I know better than to click on any of their links, but I wonder if others might be fooled?

After all, it comes from a literary site with a solid reputation, (owned by Amazon) and on the surface may seem innocent, if you don’t read the ‘small print’. I am not suggesting Goodreads encourages or facilitates this. It would appear to be outsiders using the ‘follow’ option to facilitate contact with genuine members.

But sadly, it seems like the scammers have found yet another way through, making me ever more convinced that this stuff will never end.

79 thoughts on “Goodreads”

  8. I’ve had mainly positive experiences with Goodreads and even do the Reading Challenge. Only had two weird friend requests that got deleted. I post my reviews on my blog, then Goodreads and finally to Amazon as followers vary.

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    1. Thanks for letting me know about your GR experience, Roland. I’m sure I am not ‘doing it right’ on GR, as I can’t seem to get used to the way it operates. πŸ™‚
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  9. It is almost an epidemic….hackers and scammers everywhere…..I have now just not trust any site I go to completely and always looking for these guys…..good heads up Pete…well done….chuq

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. I doubt I will bother to continue with it, Jack. Especially since I found out it is just another tentacle of Amazon. I already review things there, and I am on the product testing panel. No need for me to duplicate everything on GR too. πŸ™‚
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  11. IҀ™m sorry youҀ™re having trouble with Goodreads.

    I have a good experience. Follow many authors, as well as friends. Have some fellow authors who blog there and have a great result.

    Not anything IҀ™ve ever dealt with the things youҀ™re dealing with.

    You might want to check your computer security as this is honestly the first time IҀ™ve ever heard of any such problem.

    Not saying itҀ™s not happening just never had the experience.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thanks, Patty. I have a good anti-virus and other security features. This is coming from Goodreads, who I obviously approved, by way of a notification emal. It’s not that big an issue, and I suspect it mainly affects men who have joined, rather than female members. πŸ™‚
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  12. Great post πŸ™‚ Sorry that happened to you. Scammers seem to pop-up everywhere. If it is not through the phones (“we have an amazing deal for you”), it is through one’s own computer. I hope you do not have any further trouble. Anyway, keep up the great work as always πŸ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

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  14. Sorry to hear about it Pete. been in Goodreads for so many years now but I haven’t experienced receiving e-mails like the ones you received. They only remind me what to read next and I have finished.

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  18. I’m tempted to sign up straight away. I thought I would begin by reviewing the Fifty Shades series, but Amazon usefully suggests that people who buy those are also interested in the After Dark series and the Dirty series, so I’d better do them as well.

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  20. I signed up for Goodreads a few years ago but rarely visit the site – for one thing I always forget my password and it’s a faff getting a new one (which I’ll forget before I next go on the site) each time. All the notifications I receive are about new reviews from people I must have followed or new books by authors whose books I read. No sexy chefs 😦

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  22. I’m a member of Goodreads, but I almost never visit the site. And I certainly have never received any sexual solicitations stemming from my membership. I guess that means I’m just not as desirable as you are.
    I’m not too sexy for my shirt.
    I’m not too sexy for my car.
    I’m not too sexy for my cat.
    I’m too sexy for this blog.

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  23. I have been on Goodreads for awhile, never had that happen, but also not quite sure the point of it all,,,not much interaction from anyone, posting reviews there seems duplicative of what I do on my blog, so don’t utilize it as much as I should

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