BookStack Directory: Grand Finale
Curate your what-to-read-feed from this list of 100+ quality BookStacks
Here it is, the grand finale of the BookStack directory series. It began when I found Substack’s keyword search capabilities lacking and the algorithms for its leaderboard categories of Literature, Fiction and Nonfiction seemed mostly to pick up on self-promotion by traditionally published writers in those genres. There was no easy way to find and connect with Substack writers posting analysis, reviews or read-alongs of literature written by others.
Since I began, the platform has added categories to the Notes app that include Book Clubs & Reading Groups, Literary Criticism & Analysis. If you trust the algorithm to direct your attention, this list may no longer be needed.
But if you prefer human filtration when it comes to curating your own what-to-read feed, here you’ll find a list of 100+ active newsletters meeting this criteria:
regularly posting about books and literature not written by the Substack author
fun-to-read, thought-provoking, quality writing, warm and friendly or humorously prickly— sometimes all of the above. As determined by me and my human mind!
I’ve included a best-of selection of some newsletters by personalities who have built large audience and are making a living off selling their reading guides, premium podcasts, in-depth guided read alongs, etc. But most of these newsletters rarely if ever promote any kind of affiliated business or product upsell. What you see is what you get and you’ll get good free content—so that you can find and pay willingly for full access to your favorites, keeping these writers inspired.
This is an old-fashioned alphabetical list of links and the short descriptions of the Substacks. You can subscribe directly by entering your email. For my annotations on a portion of these, see the six earlier posts (including Part 4 featuring a few personal faves) that are part of this series.
If you appreciate what I’m doing here, please click that little heart, restack it on the app and if you’d like to help your subscribers find great reads, consider linking to this list in a post—I’d be happy to talk to some other Substackers about this process and what I learned that might help their subscribers find good book content to follow.
The Booktender is not on the list (is that weird?) so click the green button if you want to receive my monthly themed lists and related essays and to be notified when I update this directory. Comments also welcome— let me know if I missed you and you’d like to be included in the next update.
Scrolling fingers ready? Go!!
Final thoughts
If I had known how many of these there are who knows if I would have even bothered to start The Booktender? If you’re here because you’re just getting started with writing about books on Substack and you want to see what’s already out there, please don’t let this long list discourage you. Instead, let it inspire you. If you’re here to connect with others and build a group of subscribers based on mutual trust and meaningful interaction around books—they’re proof you can find your people. Some of these writers might even help you do that.
If you’re reading this post as someone who has no intention to start writing a Substack because duh! Obviously your time would be better spent reading books or reading about books—I hope you’ve found this list helpful in curating your own feed of voices that will enhance your reading life.
Cheers,
Abra
If you made it to the bottom of this post, you know it was a labor of love. I wouldn’t be sad if you wanted to buy me a coffee. I’ve been donating all the proceeds in 2024 to organizations supporting libraries and fighting book bans.
Thank you, Abra! The Substack book community is the best.
this must have took forever! Have you got room for 101??