1. The Want to Read shelf sale

This is by far my favorite thing Goodreads does. When a book on your Want to Read shelf is discounted, Goodreads sends you a quick little email telling you so. For me, this works wonders. Typically, the things stopping me from buying a book are the price (especially for traditionally published books that tend to be $9.99 or more) and already having more books to read than I have time for.

Enter this email. First, it brings books down to the $0.99 - $2.99 price range, often with 60%, 70%, or 80% off (who can resist a good sale?). Then it says something like "today only," making the decision easy for an indecisive reader like me. Hmm, I can get 90% off but only if I buy it today? Done. And now it's at the top of my reading list since I actually bought the book.

P.S. Yes, I bought the book shown in the picture. No, I haven't started it yet (still working on The Mortal Instruments series).

2. The generic sale

This is a good option if you're looking for books that you haven't considered yet or in a different genre from what you usually read. Here, Goodreads emails you a list of popular books in a variety of genres that are on sale (again, 60%, 70%, or 80% off, usually in that $0.99 - $2.99 price range).

I have to say that I have yet to buy a book off this one. That said, I always find books that I want to read on it. But I usually don't pull the trigger since again, I have too many books to read as it is. For prolific readers, this is a great option.

3. The Want to Read shelf giveaway

Again, Goodreads uses your Want to Read shelf to send you a targeted email. This time, it's for a giveaway, usually for a certain number of print books of one of the books on your Want to Read shelf. You enter to win and hope for the best.

I have entered a giveaway using this option. I didn't win, but hey, I gave it a go. Bonus: Entering the giveaway didn't result in any extra emails from Goodreads or anyone else. (Again, I love a clean inbox.)