# Goodreads Genre Bestsellers Scraper (`parseforge/goodreads-genre-bestsellers-scraper`) Actor

Extract genre bestseller books from Goodreads. Pull book titles, authors, book URLs, cover image URLs, and genre tags from homepage discovery modules and search results. Track reading trends, build recommendation engines, or analyze popular book patterns for market research and content curation.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/parseforge/goodreads-genre-bestsellers-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [ParseForge](https://apify.com/parseforge) (community)
- **Categories:** E-commerce, Marketing, Business
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $3.62 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

[![ParseForge](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ParseForge/apify-assets/main/banner.jpg)](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp)

### Goodreads Genre Bestsellers Scraper

**Scrape Goodreads genre bestsellers by search query, up to a million books per run.** Each book comes with its title, author, URL, image, and genre tags. No login or API key. Export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML.

Goodreads has no official API for genre bestseller lists, and scraping them by hand means copying rows from dozens of pages. This Actor reads the public Goodreads search results for any genre you name, filters them as they load, and returns each match in one fixed schema. It is built for researchers, booksellers, and content teams who need current genre data without writing a scraper.

| Who uses it | What they scrape Goodreads for |
|---|---|
| Market researchers | Which books dominate a genre this month |
| Book bloggers | Fresh titles to review in their niche |
| Publishers | Competitive titles in a genre before acquisition |
| Data analysts | Genre datasets for trend models |

### What it does

This Actor collects Goodreads books by search query and returns each one as a flat row with title, author, book URL, image URL, and genre tags.

- 🔍 **Search by genre:** type a genre like fantasy, romance, or science fiction and get the top matching books.
- 📊 **Flat row output:** every book is one row with title, author, URL, image, and genre tags, ready for spreadsheets.
- ⚡ **Fast and simple:** no login, no API key, no code. Set the query and max items, then run.
- 💾 **Multiple export formats:** download as CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML from the Apify dataset.

Results export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML, or straight from the API.

### What you can do with Goodreads data

**📈 Track genre trends.**

A market researcher runs the Actor weekly for 'romance' and 'science fiction' to see which titles keep appearing at the top of search results, then reports the shifts to an editorial team.

**📚 Build a niche reading list.**

A book blogger scrapes 'cozy mystery' to get 50 current titles with authors and covers, then picks the most promising ones for a monthly review post.

**🏆 Monitor competitor titles.**

A publisher scrapes 'fantasy' every Monday and compares the returned titles against their own catalog to spot breakout books early.

**🧪 Feed a recommendation model.**

A data analyst collects genre bestsellers for six genres over a month, exports the JSON, and uses the title and genre tags as training features.

### Why choose this scraper

| | What you get |
|---|---|
| **No official API** | Goodreads does not offer a public genre bestseller API, so this Actor reads the search results directly. |
| **One fixed schema** | Every book comes back with the same fields, so you can merge runs without cleaning. |
| **Scale on demand** | Free users get a 10-item preview; paid users can pull up to a million books per run. |
| **Export anywhere** | CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML, ready for your pipeline or spreadsheet. |

### How it compares

This Actor focuses on genre bestseller discovery via Goodreads search, while the competitors below offer broader book data from individual book pages or author profiles.

| Feature | ParseForge | Goodreads Book Scraper | Goodreads Scraper | Goodreads Scraper - Books, Authors, Ratings, Reviews & Leads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Search by genre query | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Returns genre tags | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Returns title and author | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Returns ratings and review counts | Not listed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Returns ISBN/ASIN | Not listed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Returns book URL and image URL | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |

### What a Goodreads record looks like

Every record returns as one flat JSON row. Here is a real one from a run:

```json
{
 "imageUrl": "https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1751820530l/29044._SX98_.jpg",
 "title": "The Secret History",
 "author": "Donna Tartt",
 "bookUrl": "https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29044.The_Secret_History",
 "bookId": "29044",
 "discoveryRole": "source",
 "recommendationReason": "Because Brian liked…",
 "scrapedAt": "2026-08-18T01:04:29.288Z"
}
```

Every value above comes from a real run. A field a record does not have comes back as `null`.

### Configure the run

Drive the Actor with a search query, usually a genre name, and set the maximum number of books to return. The query runs against Goodreads search and returns the top matches. The Input tab lists every parameter.

A first run with the defaults:

```json
{
 "searchQuery": "fantasy",
 "maxItems": 10
}
```

A larger pull:

```json
{
 "searchQuery": "fantasy",
 "maxItems": 200
}
```

### Free users

Free-plan runs return up to 10 results as a preview. [Upgrade your Apify plan](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp) to collect up to 1,000,000 results per run.

### Run it

1. [Create a free Apify account](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp).
2. Open the [Goodreads Genre Bestsellers Scraper](https://apify.com/parseforge/goodreads-genre-bestsellers-scraper?fpr=vmoqkp).
3. Set your inputs and any filters, then click **Start**.
4. Export the results as CSV, Excel, JSON, or XML from the **Dataset** tab.

Run it programmatically through the [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2) (`run-sync-get-dataset-items`) or the [ApifyClient](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js) for JavaScript and Python.

### Use with AI agents (MCP)

Give an AI agent live access to Goodreads through the Model Context Protocol. Add the Actor to Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client:

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http apify "https://mcp.apify.com?tools=parseforge/goodreads-genre-bestsellers-scraper"
```

Then prompt it in plain language to run the scraper and read back the results.

### Troubleshooting

**Why am I getting no results?**

Check your searchQuery. Goodreads search may return zero results for very specific or misspelled queries. Try a broader genre name like 'fantasy' or 'romance'.

**Why did I only get 10 items?**

Free users are limited to 10 items as a preview. Upgrade to a paid plan and set maxItems higher to get more results.

**Why are some books missing genre tags?**

Goodreads does not always display genre tags on every search result. The Actor returns whatever tags are present in the HTML; missing tags are left empty.

**Why did the run fail with a timeout?**

Goodreads may rate-limit or block automated requests. Try reducing maxItems, adding a delay, or running at a different time.

### FAQ

| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What exactly does this Actor scrape from Goodreads? | It scrapes the public Goodreads search results for a query you provide, typically a genre name. Each result includes the book title, author, book URL, image URL, and genre tags. |
| Does it scrape the official Goodreads genre bestseller pages? | The Actor uses Goodreads search, which returns popular and relevant books for a genre query. It does not access the dedicated genre bestseller pages because those URLs are not stable or publicly documented. |
| Do I need a Goodreads account or API key? | No. The Actor reads the public search results without login or API key. |
| How many books can I get in one run? | Free users are limited to 10 items as a preview. Paid users can set maxItems up to 1,000,000, though the actual number depends on how many results Goodreads returns for the query. |
| What export formats are supported? | You can export the dataset as CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML from the Apify platform. |
| Can I search by author or title instead of genre? | Yes, the searchQuery field accepts any text. If you enter an author name or book title, the Actor returns the matching Goodreads search results. |
| Does it include ratings or review counts? | No. The current output includes title, author, book URL, image URL, and genre tags. Ratings and review counts are not part of the schema. |
| Is this legal to scrape? | You are responsible for complying with Goodreads' terms of service and applicable laws. Apify provides the tool, not legal advice. |
| How often should I run it? | For trend tracking, weekly or daily runs work well. The data changes as Goodreads updates its search rankings. |
| Can I schedule this Actor? | Yes, you can schedule runs in the Apify console or via the API. |

### Related actors

Browse the full [ParseForge collection](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp) for more scrapers.

🆘 **Need help?** Email parseforge@protonmail.com with your run ID, your input, and what you expected.

⚠️ **Disclaimer.** This Actor is unofficial and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Goodreads, Inc. It collects only publicly available data. You are responsible for using the collected data in compliance with the source's terms of service and applicable data-protection laws, including GDPR, CCPA, and PIPL. Do not use it to collect personal data unlawfully.

### 💰 How much does it cost to scrape Goodreads Genre Bestsellers?

This Actor uses **pay-per-result** pricing: **$0.004 per result** collected. You are billed only for the results you receive, so a run that returns nothing costs nothing.

# Actor input Schema

## `searchQuery` (type: `string`):

Search term to find books on Goodreads. Use genre names like fantasy, romance, or science fiction to discover popular titles.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Free users: Limited to 10 items (preview). Paid users: Optional, max 1,000,000

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "searchQuery": "fantasy",
  "maxItems": 10
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

Complete dataset of all scraped records.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "searchQuery": "fantasy",
    "maxItems": 10
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("parseforge/goodreads-genre-bestsellers-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "searchQuery": "fantasy",
    "maxItems": 10,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("parseforge/goodreads-genre-bestsellers-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "searchQuery": "fantasy",
  "maxItems": 10
}' |
apify call parseforge/goodreads-genre-bestsellers-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,parseforge/goodreads-genre-bestsellers-scraper"
        }
    }
}

```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/bc3oaxSjPhd9OsTUz/builds/As5JoEjGRtHJtJ942/openapi.json