How it works
How Matchbook works
Matchbook is a free book recommendation search engine built for readers who are a little too specific for “What genre do you like?”
Tell us exactly what you want
Instead of choosing from rigid categories, describe what you want to read naturally — the same way you'd ask a bookish friend.
- “I want a mystery that's impossible to put down, but nothing too scary or disturbing.”
- “Give me an epic fantasy without too much romance.”
- “I want a summer romance full of Canadian cottage nostalgia.”
- “I want something similar to The Nightingale.”
Matchbook finds your matches
Matchbook interprets your request and recommends real published books that genuinely fit it. Every book is verified before it's shown to you, so you only see titles that actually exist.
Get specific
The more you tell Matchbook, the more precise your recommendations become. You can describe things like:
- mood or atmosphere
- genre and subgenre
- favourite tropes
- setting or time period
- pacing
- romance and spice level
- length
- books or authors you love
- things you specifically don't want
Include what you love and what you'd rather avoid — both shape your matches.
Save the ones you love
Create a free account to keep track of the books Matchbook finds for you. Save books you want to read, mark books you've already read so they won't be recommended again, and share your saved list with anyone using a link.
Your saved books and reading history stay with your account and help Matchbook keep your recommendations relevant.
Frequently asked questions
What is Matchbook?
Matchbook is a free book recommendation search engine. You describe what you want to read in your own words, and Matchbook finds real published books that fit your request.
Is Matchbook free?
Yes. Matchbook is free to use. You can search for book recommendations without creating an account.
Can Matchbook recommend books similar to one I already love?
Yes. Describe what you loved about a book — the mood, characters, pacing, romance, spice level or anything else — and Matchbook will recommend books that fit those qualities. You can also browse Matchbook's Books Like pages for curated recommendations similar to popular reads.
Can I search by mood or trope?
Yes. Mood, tropes, setting, pacing, spice level and many other preferences can all be part of your search. You describe what you want in plain language.
Can I tell Matchbook what I don't want?
Yes. You can include things you'd rather avoid — too much spice, graphic violence, a particular trope — and Matchbook factors that into your recommendations.
Does Matchbook recommend real published books?
Yes. Matchbook only shows books it can verify are real, published titles before displaying them.
Can I save my recommendations?
Yes. Create a free account to save books to your Matchbook, track what you've already read, and share your saved list with a link.
Books, but exactly your type.