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 a General round
All fiction/ non-fiction accepted. This means you may be required to read anything from a book about tax returns to horror/erotica and everything in between.

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:
Trish Butler

Member Links
1. J.E. Rowney
2. William Collins
3. S.D. Brown
4. Ann Birdgenaw
5. P.L. Tavormina
6. Arriah Kiprujistho
7. Greg Kuznetsov
8. M. Sheehan
9. James W. George
10. Conner Steel

Book Links
1. The Book Swap
2. A Darker Shade of Sorcery
3. Alabaster Alibi
4. Ka'Azula
5. Aerovoyant
6. Those Were Not Love Letters But Still I Fell in Love
7. Music in the Mirrors
8. SkyView: Lord of the Wills
9. All the World's Colors
10. INVISI GIR1

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 add my book Captured With Love in this review round.

Please sign me up with my new book, The Book Swap

Welcome J.E. - as ever please check back frequently and report any review clashes you spot as the round fills.

Niharika - you are already signed up for a round so I can't add you here.

Sure sure! I wasn't sure if my book will be picked, so I replied in multiple rounds.

Niharika wrote: "Sure sure! I wasn't sure if my book will be picked, so I replied in multiple rounds."

It is always first come first served unless review clashes make that impossible.

Noted!

Hi, I would like to join with "All the World's Colors."

I will keep my eyes peeled for clashes.

Thanks!

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

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/sho......

Hi, I would like to join with "Lord of the WIlls"

SkyView: Lord of the Wills

Thanks!
M. Sheehan

James wrote: "Hi, I would like to join with "All the World's Colors."

I will keep my eyes peeled for clashes.

Thanks!

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

https://www.goodreads.com/e..."

I would love to add you but you need to change your messaging permissions first, as described at the bottomo f the first post on this thread :)

Welcome M - please keep checking back for any clashes as the round fills.

Any room for me?
I'd like to join with Alabaster Alibi.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3

JE has reviewed me but I have books she hasn't read.

Hi I think I fixed the email thing. Very odd, I don't know why it defaulted to that.
Thanks!

Thanks E.M!

James wrote: "Hi I think I fixed the email thing. Very odd, I don't know why it defaulted to that.
Thanks!"

Thanks for sorting that, James. Goodreads has a privacy reset a while ago and bumped everyone's status to friends only as default, unless you reset it.

Welcome James and SD - please do keep checking back for any other review clashes as the round fills up.

Can I join with my book for middle grade Black Hole Radio -, Ka'Azula

Here's the book link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

SD Brown has read one of my books

Welcome Ann - please check back for further clashes as the group fills.

I'd love to join this round with my book Music in the Mirrors! (Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... / Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0BB....)

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

S.D. has reviewed one of my previous books, I believe. Looks like I have no other review clashes.

Welcome Greg - please keep checking back to report on any further review clashes you spot as the group fills.

I'd love to join with A Darker Shade of Sorcery if possible.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

I've read one of S.D's books before and one of Ann's.

Thank you.

Welcome William - do please keep checking back for any further clashes as the group fills

I’ve read William’s book before but I see he has others available.

Hello! I'd like to join with my YA novel, Invisi Gir1

No clashes as yet....

Hi E.M.
I would like to join this group with my book, "Those were not love letters, but still I fell in love."

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

- Ann has read this book, but I can share another book with her.
- William and S.D. have read my other book, but not this one.

I am curious if I would fit in this round or the other general round.

I've reviewed Arriah (this title)... and William Collins and Ann Birdgenaw have reviewed me. I have another title they could read. I believe that is all the conflicts. (although, a lot of the names look familiar.)

I'm asking if I fit in both general rounds now forming, in the hopes that one will work out. ... trying to nudge one of my titles past 50 Amazon reviews. I'm finishing up in the current OOTW round (waiting on Amazon) and can join the new OOTW round if I don't fit here.)

If i fit here, my metrics are:

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

Aerovoyant: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

I've read & reviewed PL and would enjoy reading another

I'd like to join this round with my book Killers!

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

J.E. Rowney has reviewed several of my Natalie McMasters books, but there are still some she hasn't read.

P.L. wrote: "I am curious if I would fit in this round or the other general round.

I've reviewed Arriah (this title)... and William Collins and Ann Birdgenaw have reviewed me. I have another title they could ..."

P.L., haven't you reviewed one of my books JBD?

Ah yes, Jupiter's Black Diamond.

I don't see your name under my reviews, Greg. When I went to the book itself, it only showed me the rating, not the review I left. (I'm very puzzled. I wonder if it has to do with GR formatting changes.) I'll try to fix that, though I can't explain how it happened.

That means I've reviewed both Arriah and Greg in this round. I've been reviewed by William, Ann, and S.D.

(Weirder yet, when I re-shuffled the order of my reviews, Greg's name popped up ... as someone I had reviewed ... and there was the review of JBD, as if it had been there all along.)

Welcome Arriah, Connor and P.L.!

Thomas - apologies but the round seems to be full. However there are other rounds open your book would fit.

Everyone - please post to tell me if you have reviewed any of the four people above you on the list (the list wraps around so (10) is 'above' (1) ). Please also check that if you have already reviewed any of the four people 'below' you on the list they have more books available that you have not yet reviewed and post to tell me if they have not.

Remember that you can check if you have reviewed anyone before by going to your reviews through your profile (the link is under your portrait), and searching their name. You can check if someone has reviewed you in the same way through their profile and searching for your name.

Please check all those who are the 4 above and 4 below you.

If you have no review clashes - or if you are scheduled to review someone who you have reviewed before but can see they have another book available just post 'Good to go :)' or words to that effect.

If you spot a clash or someone in the four below who has no book you can review, please say.

When everyone has posted 'Good to go' we will be :)

If you are new to these rounds do not worry, full instructions will be provided at every stage.

No clashes. Good to go.
Thanks!

Good to go

I have already read the books listed by PL and Arriah. I assume they have another that I could read? There is only 1 book of Arriah's that I have not read.

Hi Ann,

I have three titles and am happy to send you the sequel to the listed book. :)

I have checked Connor (because the name sounded familiar) and I have a conflict there--I think--he has reviewed me before.

At least, this is what I see when I look at his messages/posts on his home page. When I go to his reviews, I do not see myself or my title. (I had this same issue with Greg's titles/reviews, and I don't understand what's going on.)

But my spreadsheet here at home also indicates he reviewed me.

So I cannot review him.

I think it might be easier if I step aside and allow Thomas to take a spot.

P.L. wrote: "I have checked Connor (because the name sounded familiar) and I have a conflict there--I think--he has reviewed me before.

At least, this is what I see when I look at his messages/posts on his ho..."

Hey PL you are correct. Conner did review you but his reviews aren't under his name - I found it by searching for Conner's posts in the group. Here you go...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I will give the group a look to see if you will still fit. Just hope my cup of tea will give me some inspiration.

I'm going in...

Trish

Everyone should double-check for clashes with Conner under this reviewer.
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...

Thank you.

Trish

Looks fine to me thanks

Ok, I think I've found a solution for you, PL.

Providing there are no more previously undeclared clashes. This is the stage for those folks, so please check thoroughly!!

I'm going to PM E.M. Swift-Hook to double-check my solution.

Cheers.

Trish

J.E. wrote: "Looks fine to me thanks"

I know you're fast JE, so don't start reading yet cos we've not finalized the list yet!!

Trish

Thanks for your suggestion Trish. Let's see if it flys :)

As we were folks.

Please re-report your status as stated in Message 34 and if you have to review or be reviewed by Connor please check this account too:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...

When everyone has reported they re good to go, we will be :)

Double checked and it looks okay for me.

Oh Trish, thank you for playing tetris here! Did you change the original post?

I know I can fit in the OOTW round that's forming now, and Thomas might fit here.

But if you changed post one (?), then connor would still be one of the people I review, and I believe I cannot review him.

Here are my known clashes:

3. William Collins
4. S.D. Brown
5. Ann Birdgenaw
10. Conner Steel

^^ have reviewed me. I think this means they cannot be below me, in those four spots.

I've reviewed:

7. Arriah Kiprujistho
8. Greg Kuznetsov

So they can be below me, but not above me in those four spots.

I do not recognize the following two authors (they are nowhere in my spreadsheet):

1. J.E. Rowney
2. M. Sheehan

But that makes my needs very tight, which makes the puzzle hard to solve for everyone. I promise I am content to step aside if Thomas wants to step in. I will certainly fit in another round.

But I also appreciate your work. I just wish I had seen these clashes when I first tried to sign up. From now on, I will check my spreadsheet and not rely on the goodreads housekeeping.

:)

I'm holding tight. I'm happy to step aside. Bless you, Trish! XOXO

Still good, thanks

Ooops, yes - i did review PL's Aerovoyant. For the remainder, no clashes...

P.L. wrote: "Oh Trish, thank you for playing tetris here! Did you change the original post?

I know I can fit in the OOTW round that's forming now, and Thomas might fit here.

But if you changed post one (?),..."

PL, the first post with the list has changed. You and Conner are now in each other's blind spots. We moved M. Sheehan from above to below, so you are one spot higher on the list.

I hope that assuages your fears. Please double-check the list one more time and confirm you're good to go - assuming you are.

You are welcome.

Trish