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Home / Book Writing / How to Find a Book Title by Plot: 5 Crucial Book Search Techniques

How to Find a Book Title by Plot: 5 Crucial Book Search Techniques

Everyone knows the inhuman torture of having a melody stuck in their head while the song's title is just out of reach, hiding from the light of the conscious mind.

But even worse is when you're trying to remember the title of a book, but your brain is being particularly uncooperative. You've already asked a couple of family members and friends, and tried a Google search, but….nothing.

Well don't worry. I've got you covered in this article.

  • Take a Moment to Remember
  • Try One of These Sites
  • Put Out a Call on Social Media
  • Ask Your Local Librarian or Book Store Employee
  • Sleep On It

Table of contents

  • 1. Take a Moment to Remember
  • Google Books
  • Amazon's Advanced Book Search
  • Library of Congress
  • Social Media Groups
  • 4. Ask Your Local Librarian or Book Store Employee
  • 5. Sleep On It
  • Did it Work?

(If you're an author trying to find good book title ideas for your own novel, check out these book title generators .)

The brain works in mysterious ways. For some reason, sitting down in front of a blank Google search bar is not all that conducive to remembering. That blank bar seems to reach out and blank your mind when you don't know exactly what words to use for your search.

(At least that's what happens to me. I could be weird.)

This is why it's important to put the phone down or step away from the computer. Instead, grab a pen and a pad of paper, and take a moment to remember. Write down anything you can recall about the book, even if it seems like nonsense to you. Handwriting seems to help the synapses fire like good synapses should.

Think about (and write down) any of the following you can remember:

  • Genre – Get as specific as you can – Post-Apocalyptic Zombie Romance, Female Protagonist Spy Thriller Set During the Cold War, Spiritual Self-Help Transcendental Meditation, etc.
  • Plot Details – No matter how hazy. Anything you can remember about the plot can help. Did the first chapter hook you? If so, what do you remember about it?
  • Character Names/Descriptions – Again, anything you can remember will help. Even if you think you're misremembering, write it down. Not just the main character(s), but any secondary characters.
  • Standalone or Part of a Book Series – This can help narrow your search even further.
  • Time of Publication – Try to remember when you read it or heard about it. Was it a new book at the time? Or had it been around for a while?
  • Author Details – If you knew the author's name, you could easily find the book. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to brainstorm. Sometimes the winds of a brainstorm will clear away cobwebs covering important details. Maybe you remember it was the author's debut novel and that his or her name was hard to pronounce. Use these details to refine your search!
  • Book Cover – Any details you can remember about the cover can help you in the steps below.
  • Random Details – Anything else you can remember can aid you in your search. Whether it be a joke, quote, monologue, memorable plot twist, or even a feeling you had when you read the book, write it down.

Now that you have at least a vague description, you can turn to some handy websites that will likely help you find the book title.

2. Try One of These Sites

When a simple Google search isn't enough, try one of the sites below. Chances are, one of them will lead you to your answer.

Yes, trusty old Google has a search tool just for books! You can go as broad or targeted as you like. Obviously, the more specific you get, the fewer results you'll have to comb through. You can also try the Google Books Advanced Search if you're not having any luck with the regular.

Why not go to Amazon, the original online bookstore? The advanced search asks for things like title, author, and publisher, but you can also search using keywords, age range, publication date, and subject.

Need Help with Your Keywords?

Take my full featured video course on how to select the best keywords and categories for your book.

If you're not familiar, BookBub is a great search engine for books. (If you're a writer, it's also a powerful book marketing platform to help you reach potential readers.)

From nonfiction to historical fiction and everything in between, they are in the business of books. You can refine your search using category tags, which you can pull from your book summary or vague description.

(Read my BookBub review here !)

Search through the largest online library in the world by visiting the Library of Congress Website and using the Advanced Search feature . Narrow your search by using keywords you pull from any story beats you remember and choosing categories like “children's book,” “graphic novel,” or “young adult.

The Amazon-owned GoodReads is a good place to search for books in general.

But specifically, the group, What's the Name of That Book? is dedicated to helping people find book titles based on things like the book's plot, narrative type, genre, or synopsis.

You'll need to have a GoodReads account to post in the group, if you don't already (it's free).

Sometimes what stays with us the longest is the feel of a book. This is why WhichBook is a great search site, as it lets you browse books by mood and emotion. You can also search by character and plot as well.

There's a subreddit for everything. So you may not be surprised to learn there's one dedicated to helping readers remember book titles called Tip of My Tongue . Post what you can remember about the book, even if it's a vague description, and wait to see if anyone recognizes it.

Reddit and Quora are similar in that you can post a question about a book and get answers from book lovers. Include genre, a book description (if you can), and anything else you can remember. Chances are someone will know the novel you're talking about.

3. Put Out a Call on Social Media

If you have no luck with the websites above, you can turn to social media. Since your friends likely have similar tastes, you may be able to find the book's title simply by posting on Facebook or Twitter about it. Use hashtags to help people locate your post.

A good one is #findthisbook. Or you can find social media groups of readers and ask them.

Facebook is a great place to find a book club or ten that can help you find the novel title you're looking for. The group Help Name That Book has (at the time of this writing) over 20,000 members. It's a good place to start.

Finally, if you're having absolutely no luck, try asking a librarian. It's likely your local librarian is an avid reader, plus he or she works around books all day. The same goes for book store employees or owners. You can also use the Library of Congress's “ Ask a Librarian ” feature to send an email to a librarian who will get back to you with (hopefully) the right answer!

Sometimes the brain is stubborn. When you really want to remember something, your mind gets all bottled up.

When this happens, it's best to just let it go and think about something else for a while. Sleep on it and then try again the next day. Or the next week. It'll come to you!

Finding a book with limited information can be tough. However, there are a ton of tools to help you search.

Just keep in mind that, if none of the tools are working for you, it's possible you're misremembering some crucial detail. I often muddle two or three different books in my mind, especially if it has been many years since I read them and they were in the same genre.

When this happens, the best thing to do is narrow your search to one or two details you're absolutely certain about, and start looking for the book again.

And to prevent it from happening in the future, use a book review site like GoodReads to create a reading list of all the books you've read for future reference. 

Dave Chesson

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

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10 Great Sites to Search for Books by Plot or Subject

Looking for your next book? These sites let you perform a book search by plot or subject, helping you find the perfect read.

Books are wonderful things; they give you a pathway to enter the world of fantasies, delve into history, solve mysteries, and so much more. But two things that haunt readers around the world are not knowing which book to read next and forgetting the name of that one amazing book they read long ago.

That's when the internet comes to the rescue. There are many websites that not only give you suggestions for new books according to your taste, but also help you conduct a book search by the plot.

1. Google Books

Google Books Search Engine

Google Books works the way Google's primary search engine operates. It has a library of digitized books. So, when you look for a book by its plot, it conducts the search within seconds and presents you with appropriate results from millions of books.

If you need a deep dive, you can go to Google's Advanced Book Search , which allows you to narrow down your search by mentioning details like the publisher's name, book title, and subject. Even if you half-remember the book title, you will likely be able to find what you're looking for.

2. GoodReads: What's the Name of That Book?

Goodreads book group

GoodReads has a group that goes by the name: "What's the Name of That Book?" You can post a summary of a book's plot or storyline, and people will jump to the occasion of helping you find the title.

Make sure that you mention the genre of the book and its plot details in your post. Without this information, it can be quite difficult for users to give their suggestions. Mentioning when you read it or the year it was published can make it even easier to find the book without knowing its title as well.

3. TripFiction

tripfiction

TripFiction lets you match a location with a book. It features novels, travelogues, and memoirs set across the globe. Whether you're going on vacation and want to read something set in that destination, or you want to transport yourself to another country through the power of words, TripFiction has you covered.

The books are rated based not only on their content, but also location accuracy. This means you can seek out the books that give you that truly authentic travel experience. You can also check the books against other book review websites to get more opinions.

4. WhichBook

Whichbook mood search

WhichBook is a mood-oriented book suggester web app for when you need just the right book for your mood. Just navigate to the site, and select the Books by Mood & Emotion tab to get started. Here, you can use the sliders to describe what type of mood you're looking for. WhichBook will then adjust your suggestions accordingly, helping you find books that match your tastes.

For example, you can search for books that are somewhat happy (closer to the Happy side of the slider). You can also drag the slider closer to Serious and Unpredictable to get a book that matches this exact mood.

But if you're looking to do a book search by plot, just head to the Books by Character & Plot tab, and check off plot-specific parameters to start your search.

5. BookBrowse

bookbrowse

BookBrowse calls itself "your guide to exceptional books" and it certainly lives up to that promise. You can explore books across genres, settings, time periods, themes, and more. The site directs you to retailers to make your purchase. Alternatively, if you prefer digital, see our guide on where to buy ebooks .

But BookBrowse offers more than helping you find a book. It also lets you delve into it further, with discussion questions that analyze the story and themes of the book, along with additional educational information about the background of the book or the author.

6. LibraryThing Book Suggester

librarything book recommendations

LibraryThing's Book Suggester does exactly what you would expect: it suggests books, fortunately, extraordinarily well. Upon visiting the homepage, you are given the option to search using the Book Suggester .

Searching using the Book Suggesting feature, LibraryThing gives you a list of over 200 books that match the search term. It also yields a list of 30 of the most relevant and related titles based on over 187 million books in LibraryThing's user-submitted database.

However, you can view an additional 30 similar books as well as books by the same author.

7. FictionDB

Search book by plot using FictionDB

Finding that one fiction book that will satisfy your cravings can be a challenge. Imagine browsing through hundreds of books, remaining dissatisfied with each book you find.

You can turn this scenario around by heading to FictionDB, which allows you to find the book you want, based on characters, age level, series, plot snippets, genres, themes, and whatnot! It's easy to use and gives phenomenal results.

8. Book Cave

Search for books using BookCave

Book Cave is one of the best websites to find content-rated books. The site rates books depending on their content—this ranges from Mild to Adult+, with Mild targeted towards children and young adults. That means if you're specifically looking for a children's book, you will only get children's book results.

Similarly, you can look for books for adults without having to go through a hoard of mild book results.

9. AllReaders.com

allreaders search screenshot

AllReaders.com is your go-to site if you have a very specific type of book in mind. Powered by the Gordonator Precision Search Engine (GPSE), its advanced search feature lets you find books by plot, setting, main characters, and even writing style.

For searching by plot, you can choose the different plot options from the drop-down menu and select the tone and time of the book. When you select a particular option, AllReaders.com shows more questions to narrow down the results. You can also specify if you want violence, romance, or puzzles.

If you want to read about any specific type of character, search by the main character and specify their gender, age, characteristics, profession, and ethnicity.

10. ChatGPT

chatgpt book search

Finding a book is one of the many things you can do with ChatGPT . You can experiment with the prompts to find books that suit your preferences better. For example, we asked ChatGPT to suggest a book set in Africa with lots of twists and turns, and it came up with Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.

Likewise, It recommended a few decent books when we asked for “memoirs about growing up in a cult and finding freedom” and “story of a person who was exiled from his homeland.”

Similarly, you can specify a genre, the time the book is set, details about the protagonist/antagonist, and other details. You can regenerate responses if you do not find the suggested books appealing. Better still, ask ChatGPT to recommend five to ten books that fulfill your criteria.

Additional Tips to Find a Book by Plot Search

When you have almost given up on finding a book, head to book databases, such as:

  • The Library of Congress
  • Amazon's Advanced Book Search

These are like online libraries that give you a host of options to choose from. In fact, the Library of Congress has an amazing option called Ask a Librarian that allows you to send in an email with a book's details, and get authentic suggestions from real librarians.

Another interesting option is to head to Reddit with your queries. There are many Subreddits, such as r/TipOfMyTongue and r/WhatsThatBook , that can help you find a book that you've been searching for. You can put in your request, and you will be showered with suggestions.

In fact, if you only remember the book cover, you can describe it thoroughly and people will help you find it. Speaking of, there is a website dedicated to looking for books based on covers: Big Book Search . Just head to the website and enter the details of the cover that you remember. In no time, you will see a list of book covers, and you can pick the one that looks the most similar.

Finding a Book by Plot Isn't as Hard as You Think

All these amazing websites were curated specially for book lovers. However, if you don't find what you need here, head to a local library and speak to the librarian. Chances are, they will be able to help you find the book you've been looking for when the internet fails to do it. And once you've found the book you're looking for, why not use similar tools for future recommendations?

How can I search for a book or author on Goodreads?

Sep 18, 2019 • knowledge, information.

If you'd like to search for a specific book or author on Goodreads, you'll need to do this from the main Goodreads site (and not on Goodreads Help). Once there, simply type your search term into the search bar at the top of the page. Alternatively, please feel welcome to visit the search page  directly.

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Book Title Generator

10,000+ good book titles to inspire you..

Generate a random story title that’s relevant to your genre. You can pick between fantasy, crime, mystery, romance, or sci-fi. Simply click the button below to get started.

The International Bestseller

Day of Ceres

How to come up with book title ideas.

Need an original book title, and fast? We got you. Here are 8 ways to come up with book title ideas. 

1. Start free writing to find keywords

Write absolutely anything that comes into your head: words, phrases, names, places, adjectives — the works. You’ll be surprised how much workable content comes out from such a strange exercise.

2. Experiment with word patterns

Obviously, we’re not advocating plagiarism, but try playing around with formats like:

“The _____ of _______”
“______ and the _____”

These will work for certain genres, though they are by no means the only patterns you can play around with. Have you noticed how many blockbuster thrillers these days feature the word “woman” or “ girl” somewhere in the title?

3. Draw inspiration from your characters 

If your central character has a quirky name or a title (like Doctor or Detective) you can definitely incorporate this into your book title. Just look at Jane Eyre, Percy Jackson, or Harry Potter, for instance — working with one or more or your characters’ names is a surefire way to get some title ideas down. Equally, you can add a little detail, like Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure, to add a little color to a name and make it title-worthy.

4. Keep your setting in mind

Is your book set somewhere particularly interesting or significant? Even if your title isn’t just where the action takes place (like Middlemarch by George Eliot), it’s something to have in the back of your mind. You can include other details, like The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum or Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay, to give your readers a sense of action and character, as well as setting (which tend to be linked).

5. Look for book title ideas in famous phrases 

Think Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird here — this is a central symbol and significant piece of dialogue in the novel. It’s enigmatic (what does it even mean? Is it a warning? An instruction?) and makes us really sit up when these words appear in the text itself. Try and think of your inspiration for writing your book or sum up your central theme in a few words, and see if these inspire anything.

6. Analyze the book titles of other books

You might be surprised at how many books refer to other works in their titles ( The Fault in Our Stars by John Green comes from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar , and Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men takes its inspiration from a Robert Burns poem). Going this route allows authors to use an already beautiful and poetic turn of phrase that alludes to a theme in their own book. From Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls to Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials , so many books have used this technique that might also work for you.

7. Don’t forget the subtitle

In non-fiction publishing, there’s a trend of evocative or abstract titles, followed by a subtitle that communicates the content (and is packed with delicious keywords that the Amazon search engine can’t resist). This is also another way to get around long titles — and to add a little panache to an otherwise dry subject matter. In the United States, it’s also quite common to have “A Novel” as a subtitle (if, you know, it’s a novel). In the United Kingdom, this practice is much rarer.

8. Generate a book name through a book title generator

If you’ve gone through all of the above and are still wringing out your brain trying to come up with the golden formula — fear not! There are other ways to get the cogs whirring and inspiration brewing, such as title generators.

And speaking of cogs whirring, let us present you with the...

15 best book titles of all time

Witty, eye-catching, memorable — these famous book titles have it all. Without further ado, here are 15 best book titles you can take inspiration from.

  • I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
  • East of Eden by John Steinbeck
  • The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
  • Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
  • The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
  • Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
  • Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
  • The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
  • Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler
  • And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
  • Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
  • The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
  • Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
  • Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
  • The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton

Looking for even more story title ideas?

If you’re agonizing over your book title, you’re not alone! Some of the best book titles today emerged only after much teeth gnashing. The Sun Also Rises was once titled Fiesta ; Pride and Prejudice was once First Impressions . Then there was F. Scott Fitzgerald, who reportedly took forever to think of a good title. He ultimately discarded a dozen ( Gold-Hatted Gatsby , The High-Bouncing Lover , and Trimalchio in West Egg included) before reluctantly picking The Great Gatsby .

So it’s tough out there for a novelist, which is why we built this generator: to try and give you some inspiration. Any of the titles that you score through it are yours to use. We’d be even more delighted if you dropped us the success story at [email protected] ! If you find that you need even more of a spark beyond our generator, the Internet’s got you covered. Here are some of our other favorite generators on the web:

Fantasy Book Title Generators : Fantasy Name Generator , Serendipity: Fantasy Novel Titles

  • Sci-Fi Novel Title Generators : Book Title Creator , Story Title Generator

Romance Book Title Generators : Romance Title Generator

Crime Book Title Generators : Tara Sparling’s Crime Thriller Titles , Ruddenberg’s Generator

Mystery Novel Title Generators : The Generator .

Or if you think that generators are fun and all — but that you’d rather create your own book title? Great 👍 Kick off with this post, which is all about how to choose your book title . And once you've got the words down, make sure you capitalize your title correctly .

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Book title generator.

Find the perfect title for your nonfiction or fiction book with our Book Title Generator. Save time and unleash your creativity by generating a unique and captivating title tailored to your target audience.

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Why use a book title generator tool?

Do you need help coming up with a title for your book? Have too many ideas and need help narrowing it down? Our book title generator tool can help!

It will create a working title that sets the stage for your book, with the ability to instantly come up with 1000s of variations to choose from. Simply follow the prompts on the tool and click “Generate” to get your title and subtitle ideas. Use it as many times as you need to come up with new combinations and get the creative juices flowing. 

No book (yet)? No problem! 

You can use our title generator for book inspiration. For many, having an initial idea for their book title inspires them to get started. But for others, it is a daunting task that towers over the actual act of writing their book. 

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How to craft the perfect book title (with a generator tool)

When people ask us how to write a book , we help them break it down into smaller, achievable steps. And one of those early steps is creating a working title.

A “working” title is meant to be used as a placeholder when you first start writing your book. And a quick way to craft one is with a book title generator.

Here are some tips for using an AI book title generator to come up with the winning book title ideas:

1. Start with a few specific words or phrases

A great nonfiction book title should reflect what the book is about, what the person will learn, or the end result they’ll achieve after reading your book.

Fiction books aren’t as straightforward. It’s a creative process that requires establishing the style and tone you want for your title and book cover – and then using a book title generator to help you rapidly test different word combinations, phrases, and title lengths.

2. Do some research within your genre

Search for other books in your genre and subgenre, taking note of the types of titles and trends you see. Which are you drawn to? Do they include a lot of adjectives? Are they long or short? This will help you create a running list of the type of title format you want, and help you steer clear of title formats you want to avoid.

If you aren’t sure about your genre, you can use a list of book genres to find where your story is best aligned.

3. Get inspiration from your characters, setting, or location

Many books have been named after the hero (think: Harry Potter, Oliver Twist , or Macbeth ), the location in which the story or a significant scene occurs ( The Wizard of Oz ), or something that makes a character stand out ( The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ). A unique name or fantasy world can create intrigue and mystery in your book title.

4. Use – or imply – foreshadowing

They Both Die at the End tells the reader what’s going to happen before they even turn to the first page. But that’s part of the reason you want to pick it up. How could the author possibly surprise you after spoiling the ending?

Meanwhile, titles like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King or As I Lay Dying , aren’t as obvious but still pull you in.

5. Consider your audience

Writing a YA book title is different from writing an adult high fantasy book title. That’s why our book title generator asks who your audience is. It will help you brainstorm an age (and genre) appropriate title for your book.

6. Draft a book description

A description will give the book title generator tool keywords and context, resulting in more specific titles.

Understanding how to write a book description that captures someone’s attention and draws them into the story is an art form in itself. It’s like the trailer of your book. And should be intentionally thought out before you publish and market your book. But at this point in the journey, you don’t need to have your description in its final form.

7. Input everything into the book title generator tool

While it’s certainly not required, taking the time to think about all of the above points will help you create stronger inputs for the AI book title generator. Changing the different things you choose to highlight in the tool’s fields will give you a wide mix of titles. You could even come up with 1000’s of book titles (though we don’t recommend that)!

8. Choose between your top three ideas

We recommend using the “Generate” button on the book title generator until you find a couple of possible working titles. You don’t want to give yourself so many options that you are overwhelmed, but 3-4 solid working book titles are just enough to help you move on to the rough draft .

Related: How to Title a Book

Remember that the first milestone for writing a book is getting (imperfect) words on paper.

Then, when you actually write your entire book and complete it, you can revisit the idea of your book title and dig more into how to subtitle your book . You will have a more fine-tuned approach as to what your book title should include, and you’ll be better prepared to hone in on your best-selling idea.

As a self-published author, your title is not set in stone. In fact, many independent authors change their book titles even after they have published their book; they simply release their book with a new title name, especially if they discover after publication that the original isn’t effective in communicating what the book is about.

So, ready to get started?

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Can You Find the 10 International Thrillers Hidden in This Text Puzzle?

By J. D. Biersdorfer Feb. 20, 2024

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An illustration of a book cover/door opening and casting light on a small figure in front of it.

In the mood for some globe-hopping from a comfy chair? This month’s Title Search encourages you to discover 10 thrillers with settings around the world. The titles of the novels are hidden below within an unrelated text passage. As you read along, tap or click the words when you think you’ve found a title. Correct answers stay highlighted. When you uncover each title, the answer section at the bottom of the screen grows to create a reading list with more information and links to the books.

A new literary quiz lands on the Books page each week and you can match wits with previous puzzles in the Book Review Quiz Bowl archive .

“I just heard through a back channel that Solo slipped away from the Hydra Head bar,” said the deputy director.

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  24. Can You Uncover the 10 International Thrillers Hidden in This Text

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  25. Painting US Empire: Nineteenth-Century Art and Its Legacies, Cao

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