Amazon-owned Goodreads has come under fire for its lack of user verification, which critics argue allows for review-bombing. Review-bombing occurs when a book is inundated with negative reviews, often from fake accounts, in an attempt to lower its rating. Goodreads does little to verify users, making it easy for this practice to take place. This controversy came to light when author Cait Corrain admitted to writing fake Goodreads reviews to promote her own novel and disparage other authors’ works. Corrain’s publisher cancelled the publication of her book, and her literary agent severed ties with her. Goodreads has faced previous review-related controversies, risking the reputations of lesser-known authors.
https://www.npr.org/2023/12/17/1219599404/goodreads-review-bombing-cait-corrain