Nadia Odunayo, a 33-year-old software engineer and developer from London, has become an unlikely hero for book lovers around the world. Her brainchild, The StoryGraph, has gained 3.8 million active users in just six years, many of whom have abandoned Goodreads due to its outdated interface and limited features.
The StoryGraph offers a range of innovative tools and trends using artificial intelligence to help readers discover their next great read. Odunayo’s vision for the app was initially inspired by her own struggles with book tracking and recommendations on Goodreads. She realized that her app could provide more personalized and user-friendly features, including buddy read-alongs and data-driven insights.
Odunyo’s journey into the tech industry began unexpectedly when she won a coding course for women. After studying philosophy, politics, and economics at Oxford University, she joined the tech world, where she found herself part of a predominantly white male-dominated sector. Despite this, she has been fortunate to work with supportive colleagues and companies.
The StoryGraph’s growth has raised questions about its long-term sustainability and potential acquisition by Amazon. Odunyo dismisses these concerns, stating that The StoryGraph is bootstrapped and not interested in external investment. Instead, she focuses on spreading awareness of her app and maintaining its independence.
For Odunayo, the love of reading remains at the heart of her mission. Her personal reading habits have increased significantly since launching The StoryGraph, with 70-80 books per year now a regular occurrence. As CEO of a company that tracks readers’ activities, she has become more aware of the power and impact of her work.
As The StoryGraph continues to grow in popularity, it remains to be seen whether Odunyo’s vision for an independent, woman-owned book app can overcome the challenges posed by Amazon’s dominance in the market.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/feb/16/goodreads-amazon-nadia-odunayo-the-storygraph