Bonus Edition #1
I’m testing out what a bonus edition of this newsletter for my paying subscribers would look like and I’m sending this first edition out to everyone (as has been requested by some!).
Think of it like a free trial!
I plan to send it during the off-weeks from the main newsletter. Feedback and suggestions are welcome from paying and non-paying readers alike.
Thoughts
Is it a sign of success that we’re now the subject of scams? Someone is really out there claiming to be a “StoryGraph Librarian” (they are not) and part of the (non-existent) “StoryGraph Publishing Network” and asking for $75 to optimise authors’ book listings and promote their books in reading challenges. Is there anything we can do to mitigate this or is it now par for the course given our app’s recognition?
Should we merge buddy reads and readalongs and have one ultimate StoryGraph social reading experience? Read with up to 1000 people, have per-page/percent comments and/or forums for more thematic/broader discussions, etc.? We’ve also got some thoughts about offering an automated StoryGraph-hosted buddy read to groups of users who’ve all just started reading the same book. Would you like this?
The Em Dash has been my favourite punctuation mark for decades but AI has tainted it. I find myself editing it out of my writing so people don’t think AI wrote it. Is this necessary? I typically use two in a sentence in a parenthetical fashion, whereas I know AI typically (over)uses it pre a final clause. Am I safe?
Dev Diary
Show <1% Did Not Finish pill when DNF percentage rounds to zero
Add segment targeting to broadcast rake task
Center giveaway covers in For You carousel on desktop
Add sorting to book reviews and user reviews pages
Training Log
Tue Mar 24: 1hr Olympic Weightlifting class (60kg Clean and Push Jerk PB!)
Thu Mar 26: 1hr calisthenics session, 30min conditioning workout (vid will be posted on my Youtube on Thursday), 2hr dance session
Fri Mar 27: 1hr powerlifting, 1hr tennis coaching
Sun Mar 29: 1.5hr heels dance class
Upcoming Reads
Going to start M. L. Rio’s If We Were Villains this week. I love Dark Academia, with The Secret History being one of my faves. Anybody free to start it soon and want to join a buddy read or readalong?
Can’t wait to get my hands on London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe. He’s my favourite nonfiction writer! (It used to be Michael Lewis.) Here are my current rankings of his books:
1. Say Nothing (5 stars)
2. Empire of Pain (4.5 stars)
3. Rogues (4.5 stars)
4. The Snakehead (4 stars)
I thought I’d read all of PRK’s published books but while double-checking my ratings to do this ranking I’ve just discovered Chatter. I don’t understand how I’d missed it!
Top Ten 2026 Reads
The ranking so far:
The Lack of Light (4.5)
Friday Night Lights (4.5)
Hamnet (4.25)
The Talisman (4)
Foster (4)
Exit Lane (4)
Girl on Girl (4)
Let me know what you think of this sample bonus newsletter.
What would you want to see more of?
Have a great week,
Nadia
