Amazon is to buy Goodreads, a site that helps readers share their book recommendations for an undisclosed sum.
The online retailer, whose amazon.co.uk site is the UK’s most visited website, says the move will help authors to reach a wider audience and give readers access to writers new to them.
Russ Gradinetti, Amazon vice president, Kindle Content, said: “Amazon and Goodreads share a passion for reinventing reading. Goodreads has helped change how we discover and discuss books and, with Kindle, Amazon has helped expand reading around the world. In addition, both Amazon and Goodreads have helped thousands of authors reach a wider audience and make a better living at their craft. Together we intend to build many new ways to delight readers and authors alike.”
“Books – and the stories and ideas captured inside them – are part of our social fabric,” said Otis Chandler, Goodreads chief executive and co-founder.
“People love to talk about ideas and share their passion for the stories they read. I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to partner with Amazon and Kindle. We’re now going to be able to move faster in bringing the Goodreads experience to millions of readers around the world. We’re looking forward to inspiring greater literary discussion and helping more readers find great books, whether they read in print or digitally.”
Following the acquisition, Goodreads’s headquarters will remain in San Francisco. Founded in 2007, Goodreads now has more than 16 million members and there are more than 30,000 books clubs on the Goodreads site.
The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter.
