Review Group discussion

The review group is the most successful group for peer reviews on Goodreads. It hosts non-reciprocal reading/review rounds of ten authors with a variety of themes and genres, as well as ‘general’ rounds where any book is permitted, from non-fiction, to horror. When a round has ‘now forming’ in the title, there are places available, you can sign up. If it doesn’t, it’s full – look for another round or check back another time.

The Amazon rules state that authors/publishers are not allowed to specifically supply published books in return for reviews on Amazon. To comply with this rule, we don’t insist members review on Amazon, but we do insist that every participant in the round has the capacity to leave a review on their local Amazon store, so we all start with the same options.

The founding principle of the group is honest, non-reciprocal reviews, so please help maintain the integrity of the group by letting me know as you sign up if you have been reviewed by, or have reviewed another author in the group and do check back as the group fills to report any clashes. Usually places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

This is an '18+' round
Books that may contain explicit material. Including but by no means limited to horror and erotica. Books in other genres may be submitted. All authors must be comfortable with reading extreme and explicit material.

Please note it is always possible that the books you are assigned may contain material you find upsetting or offensive. If you can't commit to this, please do not sign up.

Now for the boring stuff, but please read it, it saves a lot of time if everyone is on the same wavelength.
Before signing up below with your Goodreads author and Goodreads book link in the thread below, please ensure that:

1. You have enough time to read and review 4 books within the 12 weeks of time allowed.

2. Your book is currently available for sale on Amazon (not pre-order) and it complies with the individual round theme, if there is one.

3. Your book is fit to be reviewed.
If it is not, due to editing or other issues, you risk poor reviews. This is your problem, not that of the reviewers or the groups. For a small fee, the group admin will look at the first few pages of your book to advise. The number one error new authors make is not having their book beta read and edited, by non-family members.

4. You can submit reviews to Goodreads and Amazon.
Amazon allows only those people who have spent $50 in the last year to leave reviews in each of their stores. If you are unsure about your Amazon reviewer status, try posting a ‘test’ review before signing up. If you are unable to post reviews on Amazon, please do not sign up.

5. You can provide (and accept) at least PDF files.
You are not expected or required to buy the books you are allocated to review, but as this will give a ‘Verified Purchase’ review on Amazon, it is welcomed when you choose to do so. Many authors have books available via KU and others might provide smashwords coupons. Most authors can provide mobi and/or epub files directly by email. Please note: International Copyright laws apply. You cannot sell, or give away material you have received without the author’s express permission.

6. You have completed your reading if you are currently in another review round in this group. You can be involved in the ‘one for one’ list whilst you are in a round.

7. You have an author profile set up before you join.

8. Your Goodreads profile allows people to message you, i.e. your profile is not set to private.

9. You declare any relationship you have with another member in the round.
Amazon will not allow reviews from the same household on the same book or if you are an editor, relative or close friend of another member.

10. You agree that your reviews will be unbiased and honest, whatever the star rating, and you will try to avoid ‘spoilers’. i.e. giving away the finale of a book. Please note the Review Group will back any reviewer's right to express their opinion about a book, but personal comments about a fellow author are against both Review Group and Goodreads policy.

11. You will not ask a fellow author to change a review of your book because you don’t agree with it.
If you think you have a legitimate concern, talk to the mod of your round, NOT the other author. Personal attacks, or pressurising other members WILL NOT BE TOLERATED and will result in you being blacklisted.

Please note:
We all want reviews, it’s why we joined the group. It is bad taste to expect other people to review your book and then not do the same for other people in the group. People that DNF and/or don’t post reviews will find it difficult to get into a subsequent group.

It is not necessary to leave any kind of disclaimer in your review, but ultimately, it is up to individuals. Reviews that state you received a copy ‘in return’ for a review will probably be removed/not allowed by amazon.com. ‘I received a free copy from the author without an obligation to review’ would be more acceptable if you feel the need to add a disclaimer.

Your Goodreads details and the rounds you participate in may be recorded by the admin mod on a database. We do not retain details of email addresses etc.

Allocation is entirely random and there will NOT be any rearranging of the listing to accommodate personal preference. The ONLY circumstance in which you may duck out of giving a review is if YOU provide a stand-in reviewer.

The only way this group can function is if we trust each other to behave honourably. And it IS perfectly possible to give a fair-minded review of a text that does not coincide with our normal choice of reading matter. If you need a few hints/tips, please see this thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I will do my best to fit everyone into the group they request, but occasionally, particularly in the case of our more prolific good standing members, I may have to decline a member request to fit the maximum number of people into a particular round. I will always endeavour to start another round as soon as possible with that member in mind.

It is permissible to review an author more than once if a different book is available.
If you need anything clarified please ask, either by goodreads personal message to me or on the thread below, before signing up. It’s a pain to have to keep rearranging the list because people haven’t read the above.

Your group moderator will be:
Kat Kinney

Member Links
1. Marcel Eschauzier
2. Thomas A. Burns Jr.
3. Seth Hobbs
4. Florian Armas
5. Laura Koerber
6. Clive Hawkswood
7. Josie Johnston
8. Catherine Spruill
9. Celyn Kendrick
10. Diane Hatz

Book Links
1. Without Opposite: A Philosophical Adventure
2. Killers!
3. A Sword of the Three Rivers
4. The Game and the Board
5. Coyote's Road Trip
6. Status Green
7. Starred
8. Alpha's Lost Prophecy
9. Green Hills and Daffodils
10. Rock Gods & Messy Monsters

In order to participate in this round, your setting for 'Who Can Send Me Private Messages' needs to be 'anyone'.
Please follow this link to check - and if necessary change - your privacy setting.
https://www.goodreads.com/user/edit?t...

Hi there!
I would like to get my book Captured With Love added for this round.

Niharika wrote: "Hi there!
I would like to get my book Captured With Love added for this round."

I have signed you up for a different round. if you prefer to be in this one please let me know and i will move you to this one.

Hi E.M.,
Hope you are doing well today! Another set of review rounds, how great is that! :)
In this round, I would like to sign up with
Without Opposite: A Philosophical Adventure
Thank you,
Marcel

Welcome Marcel - please keep checking back frequently for any clashes as the group fills.

Hi EM
I will have finished with group 313 by this weekend, and would love to join this group with my book Starred.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
Thank you,
Josie

Josie - very happy to add you as soon as you are signed off from your previous round. Please let me know when that has happened.

I would like to join with Killers!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

I’d love to join with my book Alpha’s Lost Prophecy. I’m a new author and new to GoodReads, so I’d love feedback on my book and guidance if I’ve signed up incorrectly 😀

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0BCY6...

Thomas - please can you let me know if you have any review clashes with anyone in the group or say not if you have not. Thanks :)

Catherine - Great to see you here and welcome! Always wonderful to see new members and you'll get talked through all you need to do as we go. But in order to take part in these rounds, you need to first claim your author page on Goodreads and sign up as an author. If you follow this link it will walk you through how to do that.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/program
It usually takes a couple of days to come through and then you can sign up here - with the Goodreads link to your book, please, not an Amazon one :)

So far, the only clash is with Josie (if she joins) - I just reviewed Starred in another group.

Welcome Thomas - please do keep checking back frequently for any other clashes you spot.

Hi again, I've completed my commitment to 313 (apart from the link to Amazon which is taking its sweet time) so I'm free to join if that's OK. I don't have another book for Thomas to review as he's reviewed the 2 I have out.

Welcome Josie - Please don't forget to keep checking back frequently for any other clashes as the group fills.

Hello!! I just got my author page approved! Do I need to provide any specific GoodReads link for my book? I couldn’t see a link that offered it for this purpose. It is on kindle unlimited, is that sufficient?
Sorry for all the questions! Thanks!

https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Al...

Catherine wrote: "Hello!! I just got my author page approved! Do I need to provide any specific GoodReads link for my book? I couldn’t see a link that offered it for this purpose. It is on kindle unlimited, is that ..."

Hi Catherine! If you click on your author page, you will see where it says "Catherine Spruill's books" and under that heading will be listed all the books you have written that Goodreads is aware of. Right now there is only one listed, The Alpha's Lost Prophecy.

So for example, the following are your author page and your book page, which you can bookmark for the future:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Welcome Catherine - congrats on sorting your page. Do keep checking back frequently as the group fills.

Kat _ thanks so much for that :)

I would like to join with The Game and the Board (or something else)

I was reviewed by Thomas (another book)

Welcome Florian -You know the drill :)

Hi, I'd like to join the group with:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Clive - happy to add you. Can you check and confirm any clashes you might have with others in the group please

Thomas reviewed one of my other books a couple of years ago.

Welcome Clive - please keep checking back to let me know if you spot any other clashes as the group fills.

Will do!

Hello! I would like to add my book to the review group! Thanks! (Sorry, the featured cover is now much better, but I had trouble fixing it on GR.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Hi Seth! Have you read any of the authors on the list previously or been read by them?

Please scroll up to post number one, at the bottom, and follow the instructions to fix your privacy settings so that anyone in the round may send you private messages.

To fix your book cover on Goodreads, go here to the Librarian's group and put in a request:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

Hi Kat! No, I am quite new to the group and all of this. This site can be a little tough to navigate, but I am learning it. I have not read or reviewed anyone, or had them review my work yet.

Okay, great, thanks for fixing your privacy settings! EM should be by shortly and she'll check things over and hopefully be able to add you into the round at that time.

The Goodreads Librarians can usually fix things like cover requests within a day or so.

Welcome to the group and we are happy to help!

Hey there!
I would like to join with my book "The Girl who Painted Death.
I have reviewed "Killers" by Thomas, and "Starred" by Josie.

Andrea wrote: "Hey there!
I would like to join with my book "The Girl who Painted Death.
I have reviewed "Killers" by Thomas, and "Starred" by Josie."

Hi I have another book that Andrea could review if that helps.

I received a review from Andrea (for another book)

Andrea - sorry but I can't fit you in with the existing clashes in the group.

Oh, okay.

I would like to join with my group if I can please

Stop Stuffing Your Face; How you can Control Emotional Eating and Overcome Food Addiction

Thomas A Burns Jr has reviewed it before

I have reviewed "Starred" by Josie Johnson in the previous round I was in

Jason wrote: "I would like to join with my group if I can please

Stop Stuffing Your Face; How you can Control Emotional Eating and Overcome Food Addiction

Thomas A Burns Jr has reviewed it befo..."

Jason, you've also reviewed Walker so I don't have another book you could review at present.

Jason - I'm sorry I can't fit you in this round

Hi EM! Is Seth able to fit into the round? (Message 25) Sorry, I know there were a lot of posts and I may have confused things. He has gotten his messaging status sorted out.

Welcome Seth - I think I found the correct cover edition of your book, if not please let me know. Please keep checking back for any clashes as the group fills.

Thanks for the heads up Kat :)

I'd like to join with Coyote's Road Trip https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

I haven't read any of the books on the list. I have reviewed Florian (different book) and been reviewed by Thomas.

I will check the other names shortly.

I think Clive has reviewed me but not this book. I think I am clear on everyone else.

Welcome Laura - I think we have a fit! Please keep checking back.

I am reading Without Opposite: A Philosophical Adventure by Marcel Eschauzier. I hope that is ok.

Seth wrote: "I am reading Without Opposite: A Philosophical Adventure by Marcel Eschauzier. I hope that is ok."

Seth - Please don't read any books until the round starts. First, we have to fill the group and then you will be told which four books you will be reviewing. For now, all that is needed is that you check in frequently to make sure you have no review clashes with anyone who joins the group :)

Oh, I am sorry. There is so much info on this site, that I miss stuff sometimes. Ok, I will keep checking in.

Hi Celyn! Once the round is full and all ten people have signed up, the mods will assign which four books you will read and which four (different) people will read your book.

On that note, can you please look at the first post of the thread and see if you have read any of authors who have already signed up before, or if any of them have ever reviewed you?

I've reviewed Laura, so we have to switch places (I will go an 4 and she on 5). It will not affect anyone else.

Thank you for the correction, FLorian. I had it backwards.

Welcome Celyn - please keep checking back.

Florian - thanks for the information

Hi, I am Claire and would like to participate with my book The Molki Bride
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08X9KVJ1J

Mrs. wrote: "Hi, I am Claire and would like to participate with my book The Molki Bride
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08X9KVJ1J"

I'd be happy to add you but In order to participate in this round, your setting for 'Who Can Send Me Private Messages' needs to be 'anyone'.
Please follow this link to check and change your privacy setting.
https://www.goodreads.com/user/edit?t...

I also need you to check and see if you have any review clashes with anyone else in the group and let me know what they are if you do.