Here’s How to Use Read-alikes in NoveList

Key takeaways:

• NoveList read-alikes are special because they help library staff make book recommendations that perfectly match reader preferences and moods.
• NoveList read-alikes can be used in a number of situations for library staff to help their readers.
• When you know what your reader likes about books, you can use NoveList read-alikes to help them find their next great read.

We know libraries find the read-alikes in NoveList Plus to be an essential tool in their readers’ advisory work. A couple days ago we announced some new updates in NoveList Plus, including how it’s now easier to find read-alikes! Just why are they so great, you ask?

What makes NoveList read-alikes special?  

NoveList Plus is the most trusted source for read-alikes and reading suggestions. Our book recommendations are hand-crafted by human experts, and NoveList Plus can be searched using tools designed around how readers actually talk about books.

Our titles are extensively tagged using story elements such as genres and subgenres, appeal factors like mood and style, character identities, and themes. We use appeal factors to describe books with tags like intricately plotted, well-crafted dialogue, and likeable characters. Readers can discover the butler did it and race against time mysteries or chosen one and defend the realm fantasies.

Equipped with these story elements, you can help your readers find books that truly connect with them.

How to use NoveList read-alikes to help your readers

Here are some common situations in which NoveList Plus can help you help your readers:

1. If a patron finished a great book and they’re looking for something just like it, you’ve got instant recommendations at your fingertips. This is especially helpful if you’re not familiar with the book or genre the patron liked so much.
2. If a hot new debut title has racked up hundreds of holds, be ready with a list of read-alikes for patrons to enjoy while they wait.
3. If you’re helping a young reader, they may not be able to tell you exactly what it is about a book they like (although you can help them learn some book vocabulary by searching with various story elements). But you can start by asking them what their favorite book is and then look for its read-alikes.  

Here are some more common scenarios in readers’ advisory conversations, and tips for using NoveList’s read-alikes to help.

Here’s a sample list of NoveList read-alikes

It’s so fun to find read-alikes, so I wanted to share these quick NoveList recommendations with you:

• If your sci-fi reader adored Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, tell them about The Last Astronaut by David Wellington.
• If your romance fan loved Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian, make sure they know about I Think They Love You by Julian Winters.  
• If your reader is 63rd in line for Matt Dinniman’s latest Dungeon Crawler Carl title, let them know about Intergalactic Feast by Lavanya Lakshminarayan.
• If your reflective reader loved The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, they might also like the Pulitzer prize-winning title Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout or Theo of Golden by Allen Levi.
• If your reader really connected with Go as a River by Shelley Read, tell them about A Good Animal by Sara Maurer or Under the Bayou Moon by Valerie Fraser Luesse.

Tips for moving forward with read-alikes

• Log into NoveList Plus and start finding read-alikes for your own favorite books.  
• Learn about the story elements in the indexes under “Discover NoveList” in the left-hand navigation bar.  
• Use the “Explore Titles by Story Element” tool on the homepage to get a feel for them.  
• If you’re not sure whether your library has NoveList Plus, find out here. 

Leigh Gaddy is the Marketing Specialist at NoveList. She is currently reading Nell O’Dell Hates Quests by Emily B. Martin.