How Readers Actually Search for Books (And Why Authors Sometimes Miss the Mark)

There’s often a bigger gap than you think between how authors assume readers find books and what readers are actually doing when they search for their next read. If you’ve ever wondered why your book isn’t showing up the way you expected, this is probably why. Let’s break down what’s really happening behind the scenes—and walk through simple, practical ways to line up your book with real reader behavior so it shows up more often, reaches the right people, and feels a whole lot easier to discover.

What Authors Expect vs. What Readers Actually Do

Today, discovery usually begins with a search bar. 

Many authors assume readers find books the way that they do: a friend's recommendation, a social post, or a bookstore shelf. Those still matter, but they're no longer the main starting point for readers. 

They're typing questions into Google, Amazon, and AI tools, looking for something that fits their mood or interests. Before they read your first page, they’re scanning the information attached to your book—your title, description, keywords, and categories—to decide if it’s worth their attention.

This is where marketing efforts can quietly miss the mark. An author might focus entirely on getting their book into stores, while their ideal readers are searching online. Or they pour time into social media while overlooking the metadata that actually determines whether their book shows up in search results at all. Traditional promotion still matters—but it can’t be the only strategy.

The goal isn’t to replace those efforts, but to support them. You still want to create a compelling description that pulls readers in, along with engaging visuals that create excitement. But when you also use the words readers are actively searching for (and structure your metadata to match), you make it easier for the right readers to find you.

And here’s the part many authors don’t realize: most readers aren’t searching for your book by name. In fact, a majority of discovery comes from algorithms, browsing, and recommendations. Readers don’t go looking for your book specifically. They go looking for something that feels right—and your job is to make sure your book appears when they do.

How Broad Keywords Limit Your Book's Discoverability

A strong keyword strategy starts with thinking like a reader.

When authors rely on broad keywords like “fiction,” “mystery,” or “romance,” their books end up competing with hundreds of thousands of titles and can get buried in overcrowded categories. Those labels may be accurate, but they're not specific enough to help your book stand out.

Search "romance books" on a major retailer site and you'll sift through an overwhelming number of results. Use more specific keywords in your metadata, like "hockey romance" or "enemies to friends romance," and readers see a smaller, more targeted list, making it far more likely they'll choose your book.

Broad categories don’t reflect how readers actually search. Someone typing “mystery” is still browsing, but a reader searching “small town cozy mystery with cats” or “psychological thriller with unreliable narrator” is ready to buy. These long-tail phrases face less competition and convert better, yet many authors still rely on generic terms.

Move beyond basic genre labels and emphasize what makes your book distinct: setting (Victorian London, small-town Georgia, deep space), character types (disgruntled detective, ambitious chef, newly single parent), mood (eerie, heartwarming, laugh-out-loud), and comparable titles your ideal readers already love.

A historical romance set in Regency England with an intelligent, bookish heroine should use keywords that highlight those specifics—not just “historical romance.” The more precise your keywords, the more likely your book appears in searches from readers looking for exactly your kind of story.

The Power of Metadata in a Crowded Book Market

When your metadata is missing, incomplete, or unclear, your book becomes far more difficult to discover—even for the readers who would be most excited to find it.

Metadata tells retailers and readers what your book is and who it’s for. It’s often the first thing they encounter—before they ever see your cover or read your description. This includes your title, subtitle, author name, series details, categories, keywords, description, contributor roles, age ranges, and more.

Online retailers and libraries rely on this information to understand your book. It determines where your book appears in search results, how it’s categorized, and whether it shows up when readers filter for the kinds of stories they want. 

Readers don't scroll through endless lists...they filter. Someone might start their search with "Science Fiction & Fantasy" and then narrow down the search to "Space Opera." Then, they filter that list down to books published in the last year, and, finally, by customer ratings. At every step of this process, the system is relying on your metadata to decide if your book fits into each filtered list. 

Indie authors who see the best results treat metadata with the same care as their manuscript. This kind of thoughtful attention makes your book easier to discover—and when your book is easier to discover, it’s much easier to sell.

Increase book discoverability by learning how to best optimize your book's metadata with our FREE academy course.