As the sales of physical book in America continue to fall, three leading book publishers are developing a new book recommendation website, called Bookish. com, to connect readers with books and authors.

The publishers, viz. Simon & Schuster Inc., Hachette Book Group and Penguin Group, are funding the independently-run website that will become operational sometime this summer.

The upcoming site will provide users with access a wide array of information regarding books and their authors as well as to recommend books to friends.

Andy Parsons, Bookish. com's chief technology officer, said that the site will likely sell titles in an “e-pub" format which will be supported by various companies.

Bookish. com will also link to other online book retailers, including those of independent book stores. However, it is still unclear which partners the site will work with.

AOL Huffington Post Media Group yesterday confirmed that it would support Bookish. com by publishing its content across its network of sites, also by providing advertising sales support for the site.

Online retailers such as Amazon. com are snatching a growing share of physical and digital book sales, threatening the existence and growth physical books businesses.