Sometimes we all need a little help in deciding what to read next. Here are a few recommended sites for readers to explore, they are great for offering up suggestions according to your reading preferences.

If you know of any more, get in touch by leaving a comment below.....

General Recommendation Web Sites

Whichbook gives you an enjoyable and intuitive way to find books to match your mood. The recommendation process starts with your own reading preferences and enables you to choose your favourite elements of a book in order to find you a read that matches your plot and character requirements.

Fantastic Fiction is a truly fantastic resource. Search this encyclopedic website for information on authors and book titles, series and awards. It has details on newly published books, and specialises in science-fiction, fantasy and horror.

With the Literature Map you can widen your reading and find authors who write just like your favourites. It also has sections on films and music.

Ask Chris is Essex Libraries book review website. Reading recommendations are organised by category, for example 'Humour' or 'Action Packed'. Each recommendation has a review from an Essex Libraries member.

Graphic Novels

No Flying No Tights is a graphic novel review site for children, teens and adults. It features news and gossip and organises graphic novels into genres, such as 'Crime' or 'Science Fiction'. It also lists the best and not to be missed graphic novels around.


Artbomb has more graphic novel news, previews and reviews which are organised into categories to help you choose the right book.

Crime and Mystery

The Tangled Web is the best UK based website for crime fiction reviews, news, author interviews and details of crime awards. It also profiles crime authors, features essays on crime fiction and lists newly published books.


The Bastulli Mystery Library is an American website where you will find crime author biographies, bibliographies, reviews, literary criticisms, interviews and news of the winners of the most prestigious mystery awards. Bastulli also organises crime novels into categories such as 'Cosy', 'Psychological' or 'Forensic' so you can make an informed choice that suits you best.

Science Fiction and Fantasy

The SF Site is the homepage for Science Fiction and Fantasy. This Canadian site has book reviews as well as author features and interviews. It provides lists of their recommended reads within the genre and also gives details of the past winners of book awards such as the Hugo helping you choose your next decent read.

Children and Young People

Reading matters is a site about books and ideas for children and teenagers who are keen to choose their own books. It has reviews of outstanding books, articles about book issues and lists of books on a theme such as 'Adventure' or 'Time Travel'. There is also the Bookchooser feature, a children's version of whichbook.net, that helps young people find good books with just the right amount of romance, adventure and 'scaryness'.

Cool Reads features hundreds of book reviews written by teenagers. The reviews are organised into themes like 'Suspense' or 'Sport'.

The Grouchy Cafe specialises in books for angst ridden teenagers. Book reviews are arranged in themes which are relevant to young people.

The Book Hive is your guide to children's literature. Once again reviews are organised by theme, but The Book Hive also divides books by age so you can quickly find an age appropriate reading recommendation.

Kids at Random House has loads of book ideas, organised by age range and all published by the Random House Publishing Group. The site also has author interviews, video clips and activities to download.

Audio Books

Audiobooks is an audio-book bookshop. These talking books are organised into categories such as 'Biography' and 'Self-improvement'. You can also download talking books onto your computer, but you must pay for this service.