If you have been reading my blog for a while you will know that I posted “reviews” about books that I had recently read, but I did it with the following precursor before the review.
The Recently Read posts are not typical book reviews. As a writer, I do not believe I should be reviewing the hard work of other writers. These posts are simply books I have recently read and enjoyed and will share with you. They will not always be crime books as I am trying to widen my reading selection. I hope you enjoy some of these with me.
Over time my view has shifted – in relation to the actually reviewing part, not the widening my reading selection!
Time and again I’ve been asked to leave reviews for books I’m reading. Authors want their books read and reviewed. They encourage people to leave reviews. I’m an active member on Goodreads so I’m reviewing over there anyway because it’s Goodreads that is important for the authors as well as Amazon. I also now realise that if I am published, I will want my work to be reviewed – hopefully positively! And it won’t matter if the person is a reader or a writer/reader.
So with that in mind I checked out and joined NetGalley a little over a week ago.
NetGalley is a website where booklovers, “professional readers”, reviewers, booksellers, etc can get hold of electronic advance copies of books for reviewing purposes. You need toย able to show you are a serious reader and reviewer. I linked in my Goodreads account which is active and is also linked to my Twitter account which has a high follower rate. I then requested some books and was thrilled to be accepted by some publishers for some advance copies.
So you will now see some reviews ย – and yes, I will admit they are reviews, because lets admit that the Recently Read posts were reviews anyway, no matter what the disclaimer said, I was still giving my opinion on a book, – so now some reviews will say that the book was provided with thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.
What this is already doing to my TBR list is just shocking. I love physical books and buy from bookshops, I’m addicted to downloading onto my kindle so have nearly 400 on there already, I use the library for ordering old books I want to catch up on and now I’ve joined NetGalley!
Did you realise if you blog about books or are simply an active Goodreads user, you can join and obtain advance copies of some great titles? And it’s not just UK based, they have titles that are in all territories and can only be downloaded in those territories.
So, I suppose my original question in the title was about reviewing and it came from my original stance and change in that. Do you review books and are you happy in doing that?
Steph says
I love reviewing, tend not to publish to amazon so much, unless the book is from netgalley or sent direct from the publisher. All reviews though are published on goodreads and Booklikes. One thing I’ve noticed, I’m more anxious over those reviews rather than a book I’ve bought.
Rebecca Bradley says
I’ve not heard of Booklikes. I’ll have to look that one up Steph. I can understand why you’d be more anxious about those reviews, but after reading through the site and seeing some of their comments about readers making sure they still read their own bought books as well, I wouldn’t worry. I think they just want that first feeling of getting the book out there. Enjoy, don’t worry ๐
danpentagram says
As an author myself, I think I agree with your above comment regarding that I would want my books read and reviewed. Net Galley is a great platform and one I’ve had to put to one side for the time being to concentrate on my own writing. I know you read my blog occasionally, Rebecca, but I posted a while ago that I wouldn’t be writing lengthy reviews anymore. I still write short and snappy reviews with a few pros and cons etc. I then post to goodreads, amazon, amazon US, Book Depository and Waterstones.
Rebecca Bradley says
I do read your blog Dan, though I’m guilty of missing some posts because I don’t keep up with all, every day. But saying that, I do think I remember that specific post and I can understand the reasoning behind it. But wow, your posting that short review to a lot of places!
danpentagram says
hehehe ๐ I only do it in the hope that someone contemplating whether or not to buy a book will see my review and help them make up their mind.
readingwritingandriesling says
I get a lot of my books from NetGalley – it is a brilliant way of discovering what is new in the book world and getting advanced copies – and I too leave reviews on GR (it seems preferred by publishers) and The Reading Room and my blog – – I must admit GR has a huge data base of books. I don’t mention anything about where I get my books – because my opinion is honest – it is not related to where/how I source my books – though I do admit to not publishing anything I have absolutely hated – because opinions are personal and someone else may enjoy what I don’t and I don’t want to harm the writer just because their book didn’t suit me. Thankfully this year I have only had about 4 books that I either did not finish or hated, not bad out of 100. If it is a NetGalley book I dislike I don’t offer a review but a comment on why I disliked the book – usually seems to be due to depraved violence.
I hate to see your TBR list now Rebecca:)
PS has anyone heard of Bookfari?
D.A.Cairns says
I write short reviews, heavy on opinion and light on details about the book. I post on goodread, smashwordd and amazon. I’m a hard marker. I want my books reviewed as well. The problem is there are too many 5 star books around. I don’t purchase books based solely on reviews.
readingwritingandriesling says
I don’t summarise that is what the blub/description is for and I don’t critique – I too write heavy on opinion. I think there are a lot of 5 star reviews – but then I think you do get better at choosing genres/authors you like to read so that sways the numbers- saying that I have had some pretty average reads too…reviews help me choose books but so do a number of other factors. The reviews help me to short list.
readingwritingandriesling says
PS
And I get to “virtually” met and chat with other bloggers/reviewers – a bonus.
Rebecca Bradley says
No, I don’t purchase based on reviews either. In fact I try not to read the reviews on GR and Amazon because I find I can be influenced by them. I am influenced to buy, by reviews on blogs however. But I do tend to only give 4 & 5 star reviews or if it’s a 3 star I don’t leave a review because it’s subjective and we all like different things. I generally enjoy the books I pick up because I’m a good judge of what I like. Plus I don’t read books I’m not enjoying. I put them down.
Rebecca Bradley says
The only reason I was going to say that I obtained some copies from there was because I’d seen it done on other blogs, but like you, my reviews will, as you’ve seen, usually be positive. I pick up, ask for books that sound like books I read and enjoy and like you, if I don’t like it, I won’t say so because it is subjective and we all like different things. That’s why all my book reviews on the blog are positive. I like to share the books I’ve enjoyed. I’m not interested in sharing the negativity.
readingwritingandriesling says
PS
The only draw back with NG is scheduling your reviews to meet the publishing dates…I find I download a few books and discover they are not published for months ahead and so I need other than NG reads to keep my blog looking reasonable. At the moment I have 9 scheduled reviews – some not till Oct.
Rebecca Bradley says
Oh, and I’ve not heard of Bookfair. Is it a GR’s type thing or NetGalley?
readingwritingandriesling says
It has a book blog but also sells books – not sure if just for Australian market.
Rebecca Bradley says
I’ll have a look and see. Thanks ๐
readingwritingandriesling says
So what will your first NG book be Rebecca?
Rebecca Bradley says
I’ve already read it and the review will be up tomorrow. (Already written) Cop Town by Karin Slaughter. She is my favourite author and I was so giddy when accepted for an ARC! ๐
But, saying that, you might be surprised at the review…
readingwritingandriesling says
I really loved it – a great stand alone and some wonderful feminist commentary – I look forward to your review.
MarinaSofia says
I do use Netgalley and also Edelweiss – I had to join them because some publishers make books available to you via these sites rather than send you an advance copy. Of course, then the temptation is to request lots of other books, and it’s been a disaster for my reading practices (and I also feel pressured to provide a review earlier rather than later – which may not fit in with my timetable). I provide honest reviews anyway, no matter what. Although if it’s a first-time author who sends me a book directly and I think it’s not very good, I may get in touch with them and ask if they really want an honest write-up or if they would rather I did not mention their book…
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
I’m such a slow reader, it wouldn’t be worth it.
But if someone asks me to review or supply a blurb, then I will get it done in a timely fashion.
Sometimes I leave a review on Goodreads. Sometimes just the star rating.
Elizabeth Hein says
I use NetGalley sparingly. I think it is a great service (my own book is listed there right now) that can get a book out to the right people before publication. It can be like being a kid in a candy shop though, so I have to hold myself back and only download books I know I can read and review before they are released. I am looking into BookLikes. I met one of their reps in NY in May and was very impressed with their ideas.
Margot Kinberg says
Rebecca – NetGalley is a terrific source for books, so I’m glad you have access to it now. Of course, it’s not very good for keeping the TBR under control, but I’ve been introduced to some excellent novels there that I wouldn’t otherwise have found.
FictionFan says
I’ve been with NetGalley for over a year now and it’s brilliant! However it’s also extremely bad for the TBR. I’m much better at controlling my urges now and only requesting books that I would be tempted to buy but even so I usually have twenty or so waiting for review. I always state in my review if I got a book free from anywhere – partly I think the reader has a right to know and to decided for themselves whether this has made me biased (I don’t think so, but I’m not the best person to judge that) and partly because Amazon rules say that you must state it in any review you place on their site. Loads of people ignore that, but I’m a rule follower…
I find NetGalley great for feeding my addiction to factual books – they’re usually so expensive that I wouldn’t read so many of them if I had to pay for them all.
Jacqui Murray says
Looks like a good site. I do a lot of reviewing for Amazon as a Vine Voice. They used to only allow 4 books a month (which doesn’t satisfy my reading appetite), but now they allow reviewers to get as many books as we want as long as they’re reviewed within a month.
Linda King says
Wow, you’ve got an even longer TBR list than I have! That makes me feel better! I occasionally review books if I feel really strongly about one, but I’m a chicken when it comes to reviewing books I haven’t liked. If the book is badly written – especially if it’s self-published – I just can’t do it. What I find unbearable to read, others may read quite happily! It’s all down to personal taste on the whole.
diannegray says
I have a real struggle on my hands with this, Rebecca. I rarely do reviews, however we’re told we should do reviews if we want reviews. I don’t believe it is up to me as a writer to judge other writer’s work, but I have to get out of this mindset and I’m not sure how to do this. I was recently asked to review a book (from someone who gave me a glowing five star review) and I agreed (I wish I hadn’t!). The book is not good so now I’m left with this feeling of guilt that I said I’d review, but don’t want to give them a bad review. What do you do in a situation like this?
Rebecca Bradley says
Ooh that’s difficult. I suppose the options are gritting your teeth and writing a good – not glowing – review or going back and saying it wasn’t your kind of book, we all like different things and this one unfortunately wasn’t something you like and you can’t review it. I suppose that depends on who the person is to you as well. Drafting an email to an Internet writing friend is easier than dealing with a real life friend situation…
diannegray says
I don’t know this person ‘personally’ – only through the net. It’s not going to be easy, but you’re very right about it not being ‘my kind of book’. Thank you for the great advice ๐
Annalisa Crawford says
I think I change my mind on reviews every time I think about writing a new one! I fear Net Galley would mean never doing anything but read ever again!!
Rebecca Bradley says
NetGalley is slightly addictive. You could be right about doing nothing but reading. I think I’m going to have to start to control myself now. The review thing is difficult. It took a long time for me to change my mind but so many authors asked for me to leave reviews after reading their books I didn’t see the difference.
KK Ghost Writer says
Thanks for sharing this and giving me a heads up on Net Galley.
I am now signed up (and what a delightfully addictive reading rabbit hole I have fallen down ๐ ).
– Kim
Rebecca Bradley says
I’m woefully behind on all the books I’ve requested. Enjoy! ๐