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Share Your Kindle Notes and Highlights with Your Friends (Beta)
At Goodreads, we believe books are better with friends, and we’re always looking for ways to help you share more of what you read. If you like to make notes and highlights in the Kindle books you’re reading, we have good news for you. With today’s beta launch of Kindle Notes & Highlights on Goodreads, you can now share your notes and highlights on Goodreads and spark great conversations with your friends!
Let your friends see what you “wrote in the margins”
You can now access and share your Kindle notes and highlights right from the book pages on Goodreads.com (PC or laptop). You can even edit your notes directly on Goodreads, and your changes will sync back to your Kindle book. By default, your Kindle notes and highlights are only viewable by you—you’re always in control. You can choose to share them with friends by marking any (or all) of your notes and highlights as “Visible,” and your friends will be able to view, like, and comment on them. You can also share them by sending the URL of your Kindle Notes & Highlights page to anyone you like—for instance, a colleague, professor, or classmate.
Power up your book club
If you’re in a book club, Goodreads and Kindle make it easier to share your thoughts and discuss books—even between meetings. First, make sure you’re all friends on Goodreads, and then those who read on Kindle can choose to make their notes and highlights visible. You’ll all be able to see those notes on Goodreads.com (whether you read with Kindle or not), and you can start liking and commenting on them right away.
And if you’re worried about spoilers, we’ve got you covered! You can mark individual notes and highlights as spoilers, so your friends can decide when they’re ready to read them.
Writing a review? Easily access all your Kindle notes and highlights
Whether you’re writing a book review or diving back into an old favorite, your notes and highlights are right there in one place, alongside your rating and when you read it. That makes it easier to glance through and incorporate them into your review while you write it. More than ever, Goodreads helps you capture your thoughts and feelings about a book over time, allowing you to re-visit the key moments months or years later.
How do I find my Kindle notes and highlights on Goodreads?
- If you haven’t already, you’ll first need to link your Goodreads and Amazon accounts. To do this, click here, sign in, and scroll to the Amazon section to connect your accounts.
- Shelve your book on Goodreads. If you are reading on Kindle, you can easily mark it as “Currently Reading” from the “About this Book” feature on Kindle. (Here’s a tip for Kindle iOS readers: With Auto-Update, you can now set your Kindle iOS app to automatically mark each book you start as “Currently Reading” when you first open it, and as “Read” when you finish. This is a small but powerful new feature designed to give you one less thing to do!)
- Highlight and add notes to interesting passages as you read on Kindle. Because you linked your Goodreads and Kindle accounts, the notes and highlights you make will be accessible on Goodreads.com—viewable only by you.
- Go to your book’s page on Goodreads.com (from your PC or laptop) and click on the Kindle Notes & Highlights link in the My Review section:
Found them! Now how do I share my Kindle notes and highlights on Goodreads?
You can share any of your notes and highlights by switching them to “Visible.” The more you share, the more there is for you and your friends to discuss!
This is currently available on Goodreads.com from my PC or laptop. When will this be available more widely?
We’re working on it! We plan to support mobile soon.
What does it mean that this feature is in “Beta”?
“Beta” means this feature is still early in its development, and we’re excited to get your feedback about it! We’re already hard at work on enhancements to make it even better. In the meantime, let us know what you think by using the Feedback widget on your Kindle Notes & Highlights pages on Goodreads.com.
In which markets is this supported?
This beta launch is supported within the following Kindle marketplaces: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India, for customers who have linked their Goodreads and Amazon accounts.
We can’t wait to see all the notes and highlights you share!
Comments Showing 1-50 of 183 (183 new)
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Lisa, Goodreads employee
(new)
Aug 10, 2016 07:59AM
Writing in the margins, with friends!
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One key thing that I love is that it's easy to select exactly which highlights and notes to share. Not everything is meant for my friends' consumption! (snarky comments, typo-catches etc.) :)
I do not read very many books on an electronic device. I prefer the tactile feel of an actual book in my hands. I also appreciate the ability to disconnect from all things electronic for a little while, and go old school or retro (whatever the kids are calling it these days). Separating myself from the electronic morass for a little while is good for my soul.
I think it would be great to have like a separate place JUST to easily access ALL your highlights/notes that are on your Amazon account instead of just going to each individual book. It is harder that way and I forget which books have them and which do not - it makes it harder to find specific notes as well.
This is a really nice idea! I take it it's limited to books purchased directly from Amazon, rather than those sent as Personal Documents?
Rob wrote: "This is a really nice idea! I take it it's limited to books purchased directly from Amazon, rather than those sent as Personal Documents?"Thanks! You are correct. Kindle Notes & Highlights requires that the book be obtained through the Kindle store.
Eric wrote: "Rob wrote: "This is a really nice idea! I take it it's limited to books purchased directly from Amazon, rather than those sent as Personal Documents?"Thanks! You are correct. Kindle Notes & Highl..."
Does this also apply to KU? Once the book is returned our notes and highlights are deleted - would they then be deleted on GR too?
So only purchased books on Kindle will work?
*Kayley* wrote: "Does this also apply to KU?"Hey Kayley,
Thanks for the question.
Kindle Notes & Highlights does not currently support KU.
I don't think it's correct to say that your notes and highlights are "deleted" when you return your book. If you check the book out again, it's my understanding that those notes and highlights will reappear. Additionally, on Kindle eReaders, Fire tablets, and the apps for Kindle on iOS and Android, it is possible to export those notes and highlights prior to returning the KU title, which is a help.
This is an area we will continue to explore and see what we can do.
This seems discriminatory to those that use a library, checking out hardbound, paperback, or audio books. Or buy used books from places like Salvation Army or Goodwill. Why would Goodreads withhold a feature from some of their members? Reading should always be encouraged in any form. Giving a new, helpful feature only to users of ebooks, those that link their online accounts, seems discriminatory and not in keeping with the spirit of promoting love of reading for all. Just my two cents.
I think it would be great to have like a separate place JUST to easily access ALL your highlights/notes that are on your Amazon account instead of just going to each individual book. It is harder that way and I forget which books have them and which do not - it makes it harder to find specific notes as well.
Thanks for your feedback! One of the reasons for launching this feature right now is so we can find out how our customers would like to use it.
CMDH wrote: "This seems discriminatory to those that use a library, checking out hardbound, paperback, or audio books. Or buy used books from places like Salvation Army or Goodwill. Why would Goodreads withhold..."Thank you for sharing your Feedback! Goodreads aims to enhance the reading experience for all users, and even though this feature is only applicable to our Kindle reader, we’ll continue to develop features that benefit both our print and ebook readers.
Does this work with the Kindle for PC app?
Does this only work with the auto update feature? Isn't that feature US only? So is this feature US only too then? I'm just trying to get it to work and it's not happening right now haha.
Stephanie wrote: "Does this work with the Kindle for PC app?"It does! You can also create Kindle Notes & Highlights using the free Kindle Cloud Reader on any web browser.
Chelsea wrote: "Does this only work with the auto update feature? Isn't that feature US only? So is this feature US only too then? I'm just trying to get it to work and it's not happening right now haha."
This feature is available to all members with linked Goodreads and Amazon accounts in one of our supported marketplaces (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and India). Have you made sure your accounts are linked?
I dont do a lot of reading on Kindle, but I use Scribd. it would be great if Scribd hilights could come over as well.
Cai wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Does this work with the Kindle for PC app?"It does! You can also create Kindle Notes & Highlights using the free Kindle Cloud Reader on any web browser.
Chelsea wrote: "Does th..."
Thank you.
I think I figured it out! The book I was reading just wasn't working but it worked great on a different book. It looks great and the notes section looks really easy to use! This is a great new feature!
Chelsea wrote: "I think I figured it out! The book I was reading just wasn't working but it worked great on a different book. It looks great and the notes section looks really easy to use! This is a great new feat..."Glad to hear that! Don't hesitate to let us know if you have any trouble.
Sarah wrote: "I think it would be great to have like a separate place JUST to easily access ALL your highlights/notes that are on your Amazon account instead of just going to each individual book. It is harder t..."Yes! I was thinking the exact same thing :)
Sarah wrote: "I think it would be great to have like a separate place JUST to easily access ALL your highlights/notes that are on your Amazon account instead of just going to each individual book. It is harder t..."Thanks for the feedback (to both Sarah and Jaclyn)! Unfortunately it isn’t currently possible to view all Kindle notes and highlights you or a friend have added to multiple ebooks, though it’s something we’d like to include in the future. You can always view individual notes and highlights by navigating to specific reviews on Goodreads and clicking on “Kindle Notes & Highlights” beneath the read dates.
I am sorry to post a negative reaction to this new feature, but I have to say that I always HATED when print books had "comments" scribbled in the margins. I consider it really annoying, like being served dinner on a dirty plate.I cannot think of any circumstance when I would WELCOME seeing others' comments on an ebook as I am reading it. No thank you. I prefer to experience my books in my own mind. Later on I do like discussing them with others on Goodreads, but that is different from having people's scribblings imposed on me as I am reading.
To each their own, but my reaction is "bad idea."
Silvio111 wrote: "I prefer to experience my books in my own mind. Later on I do like discussing them with others on Goodreads, but that is different from having people's scribblings imposed on me as I am reading."Hey Silvio. The good news is that that is exactly what this feature is - you see your friends' notes and highlight on Goodreads, away from the book.
EricThanks. I guess I read the description too fast and got carried away!
Sarah wrote: "I think it would be great to have like a separate place JUST to easily access ALL your highlights/notes that are on your Amazon account instead of just going to each individual book. It is harder t..."Since you at Amazon are collecting feedback about this beta feature, I think this comment from Sarah is very valuable: it will be useful as a reader to have a view with all highlights and notes for your books, so you don't have to go book by book fetching them.
Does this work with all Amazon sites?I successfully linked my Amazon.de account and the book page also shows that I have 1 Kindle Notes & Highlights. But when I click on the link I'm redirected to the homepage with the error message
"Could not find Kindle Notes & Highlights for that user and book."
Gosh, it would be nice if this site remembered that there were other eReaders besides Kindle ...
Rebecca wrote: "Does this work with all Amazon sites?I successfully linked my Amazon.de account and the book page also shows that I have 1 Kindle Notes & Highlights. But when I click on the link I'm redirected t..."
Hi Rebecca, this feature is available to all members with linked Goodreads and Amazon accounts in one of our supported marketplaces (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and India).
Any chance this works (or will work in future) with library eBooks checked out to my Kindle through Overdrive?
Thank you for introducing a wonderful new feature! I've been reading on the Scribd app lately but I may have to return to just reading books on my Kindle to take advantage of this feature.How can I search for books that I'm reading or have read on my Kindle in GoodReads?
How do I get rid of the "Goodreads News" thing at the top of my (incredibly ugly new) homepage? I don't CARE about sharing my kindle notes. Am I stuck with this crap?ETA: Sorry, I meant "Am I stuck with THIS crap TOO?"
CMDH wrote: "This seems discriminatory to those that use a library, checking out hardbound, paperback, or audio books. Or buy used books from places like Salvation Army or Goodwill. Why would Goodreads withhold..."Hey CMDH, I just wanted to let you know that we've long had the ability to add quotes from any book you're reading via Goodreads Quotes (https://www.goodreads.com/quotes) and it is one of our most popular features.
We strongly believe that Goodreads is a place for all readers, regardless of which format you choose to read - we just have a unique opportunity to do some special things with Kindle. Ultimately, these experiences benefit all Goodreads members by providing deeper, more engaging conversations about books.
I love this addition!! I would love if this could be switched to "visible" by default. I have notes and highlights on hundreds of books which I would love to share with friends.Also, will there be a merging of "highlights" and Liked "quotes" in the future, perhaps after Beta Testing??????? Many of my highlights I have "shared" on kindle but they don't always come through correctly... highlighting is less work and more accurate it would seem.
Nikki wrote: "Any chance this works (or will work in future) with library eBooks checked out to my Kindle through Overdrive?"Um, also... You might want to look into the fact that it seems like most users have been automatically opted-in to the email notifications for notes & highlights. That's SUPER annoying. =S
Oh man... I hope you will soon add a feature to see the notes/highlights of goodreads friends as you read in your actual kindle !! and you can join in the discussion directly from the book. That would be *amazing*.
Although I prefer reading paper books, for the Kindle books I have this is an AWESOME feature. Thank you so much, Goodreads team!
Nikki wrote: "Um, also... You might want to look into the fact that it seems like most users have been automatically opted-in to the email notifications for notes & highlights. That's SUPER annoying."Hi Nikki,
Sorry about that. The notifications require overlap of multiple criteria - your friend has to share notes and highlights from a Kindle book that is on your Read or Currently Reading shelf. Since you are a member with a large book and friend network, you are in rarified air - one of our luckiest power members!
Sharon wrote: "Gosh, it would be nice if this site remembered that there were other eReaders besides Kindle ..."Not to Amazon-owned Goodreads.
We need half stars and please revert back to the old homepage! It's very distracting when a summary shows up for everything and it's so spread out, I can't tell what is a review or a status.
^^I agree with Madi. This whole thing is damned pointless. Why are you developing things no one needs when there are definite flaws in the basic things you "upgrade" and "improve"?
CMDH wrote: "This seems discriminatory to those that use a library, checking out hardbound, paperback, or audio books. Or buy used books from places like Salvation Army or Goodwill. Why would Goodreads withhold..."Not everyone has access to physical library or thrift stores. My nearest library is over 60 miles away as is the nearest thrift store. So I rely on either buying books online, which I usually can't afford, or paying $60 for my kindle and having access to hundreds of thousands of ebooks for free or cheaper than a soda.
If you're not in to ebooks or using both then fine. But don't try to push the rest of us away because wet can't afford or don't have the opportunity you have to make that decision. Goodreads is for ALL of us. Trying to make it all about your ideals of what reading should be is actual discrimination.
Although I prefer the tactile feel of real books, I appreciate the portability of Kindle. One of the things that drives me crazy about KU is the unavailability of some form of parental screening. I don't want my children reading some of my books, nor seeing those notes I leave (although I would love to still be able to share them with my wife). I do not want to make a KU account for each child, but I also do not want to limit what they read (within certain bounds). I have contacted Amazon hoping for a fix, and they do not have one. I would love some parental controls so that my children cannot access my (and my wife's) adult-related reading but still not limit my children. While my wife and I prefer the old tactile feel of books, our children are of the digital age and voracious readers in electronic format.
CMDH wrote: "This seems discriminatory to those that use a library, checking out hardbound, paperback, or audio books. Or buy used books from places like Salvation Army or Goodwill. Why would Goodreads withhold..."This is a joke, right? How can Goodreads offer a similar service to people who read the books on paper?
People who complain about this only being available with Kindle do understand Goodreads is owned by Amazon, right?
If a friend of mine shares his/her notes/highlights on a book I have yet to read will it show up on the homepage feed? If so, I think this can lead to seeing unwanted spoilers.
eta: Just saw there is a option to click spoiler.
ooh this will make life so much easier! Certainly look forward to it. Does this integrate with other readers (moon +reader)? That would be awesome!
Just to clarify, are you saying the book I read on kindle will be free of notes? That this will be a choice thing?Because if these readers even friends notes start popping up like ads on TV's I am one of many who will be scrapping ebook reading and Goodreads and reverting to isolated reading with paper books only.
You already made a mess of home page...that many of us loathe. And it's not just change.
Then the Oprah type ads and Amazon ads there too. Why can't we have choice from you to block them? You have notification options on our profiles do everyone a favour and add one there for choice. Now that would be useful and progress. Bet most would turn it off.
you should be able to convert them into or at least share them as goodreads quotes?
carol wrote: "Just to clarify, are you saying the book I read on kindle will be free of notes? That this will be a choice thing?"That's correct. this is an opt-in feature, and your friends' notes will only be visible from the Goodreads book page and not on your actual Kindle.
