Marquise > Status Update

Wait! Where are you going? I must follow you! (You probably already posted where you're going, I'm sorry D:)

There's nothing wrong with people who mostly read ARCs or free books. Some people just don't have the budget.

I wouldn't trust reviews of people who demand money for it though. I prefer reading reviews of people who write them because they're actually passionate about books.

I might get into trouble by saying this, but I just want to state that one of the best reviews I've ever gotten was from a paid service. It was for my newest release, and the reviewer wrote a thorough and beautiful review that outlined what they liked. The reviewer indicated great understanding of the subject matter, and I was thankful for that. If you don't have a talent for marketing or know what to do to compete in getting your work noticed, you have to find ways to hopefully get the word out.
That being said, I do often wonder if paying to have a book reviewed is worth the money, especially if there is no improvement in sales.
The only experience I've ever had with ARC reviewers is that hardly any of them left reviews in exchange for free books, (which is good if they didn't like the book but frustrating if they didn't even read it). LOL!
You write because you have something you hope to convey to the world, so the art is worth it in that case. However, it can be disheartening when it seems no one notices.
Know that was more than you wanted to hear, but it was a good question. Thanks.

Honestly? No, I don’t trust them. The self interest and manipulation risk is too high.

I'm a paid reviewer on another site and I wouldn't believe a word I write there, generally. When I review here for free, I'm honest.

I am sorry to see you leaving for sure. I must have missed something.

I don’t knowingly read any paid reviewers reviews.
I very rarely pay attention to literary critics.

Reviews that I get a little suspicious of (though this might be unfair of me) is when they have 5⭐️ ratings for every book they have read (ARC or not). While I suppose it is possible to love every single book a person reads, I am too picky of a reader to understand that, I guess.
If someone rates an ARC book as 5⭐️’s but the review doesn’t seem to reflect that they did indeed LOVE the book, I have a hard time with that. But we all have different criteria for what makes a book a 5⭐️ book.
I guess it boils down to the individual. If I don’t trust their reviews, I simply don’t read them anymore!

I read tons of ARCs when I worked for a really big indie bookstore (& wrote reviews though not great ones & definitely not paid) mainly because I worked in the kids section & being up to date with new stuff was super important. When I look back on those years of reading lists I read almost exclusively middle & young adult titles with a smattering of adult books thrown in.

No, no, and no. On GR, I generally dismiss ARC reviews unless I know the reviewer. I still read reviews in places like the NYT and WSJ. If Dwight Garner likes a book, there is a 95% chance that I will hate it. Useful info, in its way. Paid reviewers are worthless, professional critics less than worthless. I read and reread the classics and the relatively few modern authors that I like (mostly mysteries/spies and sf/fantasy, with a few more literary books and historical books thrown in). Occasionally I try something new based on reviews and recommendations from GR and other friends (people whose taste and judgement I know from experience).

One other thing I wanted to add is that libraries won't consider adding your book to their collection unless it receives a positive review from a credible source, (at least, that's what I've been told). The Library for Accessible Books and Media is adding my newest book to their collection because of the positive review it received from Kirkus.
While I agree that critical reviews shouldn't matter, I'm grateful it convinced the library to add the book. So, the book world is very complicated.s

I do not trust paid reviews because most of them I’ve seen aren’t genuine as people would say anything for a bag which I get cause times are hard but yeah. As for ARC reviews, sometimes. I’ve seen some arc reviews that say they didn’t enjoy the book and I’ve seen some that says they have and they’ve made decent points sometimes

I tend to read ARC reviewers that I know from Goodreads. Even Tho sometimes my tastes are different. I read what they write rather just the star reviews. I read maybe 4 or 5 ARC's a year and I try to be as honest as possible without being harsh. I try to list the positives first and the less positive parts of the review in the last half. I tend not to trust books with all 5* ARC reviews.

Thibault wrote: "There's nothing wrong with people who mostly read ARCs or free books. Some people just don't have the budget."

You can't say you don't trust paid reviews in the same sentence you say there's nothing wrong with those that review only ARCs/free books, because the underlying principle is the same: their neutrality and honesty is compromised by the fact that they get rewarded.

I'm not talking of the average reader that does ARCs/free books, to be clear, but of those that do it all the time and almost exclusively. At what point do you stop being a simple reader and become a book moocher? When you start asking ARCs from everywhere and everyone: NetGalley, Edelweiss, BookSirens, BookFunnel, etc., and every author you cross paths with.

That's no longer "I don't have money for books," that's leeching off of free stuff. Most influencers are like that, chronic moochers, and so are a few reviewers here and at other platforms that don't seem to buy a single book even when it's $2.99. The 'no budget for books' has its limitations as an argument.

Mikey wrote: "Wait! Where are you going? I must follow you! (You probably already posted where you're going, I'm sorry D:)"

I'm leaving GR and moving to my website for my reviews, Mikey. :) The link is in my bio, hope to see you there once I begin posting.

Meredith wrote: "I might get into trouble by saying this, but I just want to state that one of the best reviews I've ever gotten was from a paid service."

The point of my distrust isn't that I think authors shouldn't hire paid reviewers, no. I don't think it's unethical to pay for a review of a book if you're an author or a publicist for a publishing house, that's how business works and writing/publishing is a business as much as it's an art. I don't oppose paid reviews for the same reason I don't oppose paid ads and paid publicity.

But that doesn't mean I will trust what a paid reviewer says, the payment is a transaction that places limitations on the reviewer in the eyes of the reader.

Emiliya wrote: "Honestly? No, I don’t trust them. The self interest and manipulation risk is too high."

Yes, and the catering to the author/publisher. You can see it so easily all 'round us, it's sometimes so blatant. On Instagram there's many accounts that explicity say they do paid reviews.

It's not just for books, this is the new marketing tool for everything that is sold, and it's creating a subculture of incorrectly called 'influencers' that are only moochers and bon vivants that go about life asking for free stuff in exchange for "exposure."

Left Coast Justin wrote: "I'm a paid reviewer on another site and I wouldn't believe a word I write there, generally. When I review here for free, I'm honest."

Big Pharma is paying you to say Ozempic cures everything from excess weight to broken marriages to idiocy? :P

Marta wrote: "I guess it boils down to the individual. If I don’t trust their reviews, I simply don’t read them anymore!"

Yeah, that makes sense.

Heh, I thought you had seen my updates, I've been posting all week about leaving GR for my site. :D

ARC reviewers yes, I've had some give 2 stars, DNF, etc. In my experience, most of them are honest. Paid reviews are a big no no in my book

Linda wrote: "I read tons of ARCs when I worked for a really big indie bookstore (& wrote reviews though not great ones & definitely not paid) mainly because I worked in the kids section & being up to date with ..."

You're not the type of ARC reviewer I mean. It's not just anyone who reads lots of ARC.

Fred wrote: "No, no, and no. On GR, I generally dismiss ARC reviews unless I know the reviewer."

Yeah, and that's how I know when it applies and when it doesn't.

Meredith wrote: "One other thing I wanted to add is that libraries won't consider adding your book to their collection unless it receives a positive review from a credible source,"

We are talking about the perceptions of the everyday Jane and Joe who read and pick books based on reviews, not of what authors/publicists have to do or think, much less libraries. They are on the other side, and this question doesn't apply to them.

Erica🤍 wrote: "I do not trust paid reviews because most of them I’ve seen aren’t genuine as people would say anything for a bag which I get cause times are hard but yeah. As for ARC reviews, sometimes."

Publishers do play favourites with those that do ARCs on the regular, it's something not everyone knows or notices.

Merry wrote: "I tend to read ARC reviewers that I know from Goodreads. Even Tho sometimes my tastes are different. I read what they write rather just the star reviews. I read maybe 4 or 5 ARC's a year and I try ..."

I don't include just anyone and everyone in the 'no trusting ARC reviewers' bag, I do them myself and thus know the limitations and the realities of such a practice. It's a very specific type of ARC/free books reviewer, which I'm sure you've noticed because they're no strangers to this site and other platforms.

ive also started to see ARC reviews that were clearly wrotten by a chatbot, compounding the offense.

I trust no one.

Ellen wrote: "ARC reviewers yes, I've had some give 2 stars, DNF, etc. In my experience, most of them are honest."

I am getting the impression, by the answers here, that peeps are understanding the question alludes to all and any ARC reviewers. Ugh, maybe I wasn't as clear as I should have...

As an author, have you ever paid for reviews or have your publishers on your behalf?

Juho wrote: "I trust no one."

Pfft, we all know Arya Stark doesn't review books. :P

Left Coast Justin wrote: "ive also started to see ARC reviews that were clearly wrotten by a chatbot, compounding the offense."

That previous question from the other week sent you into a Spot the AI hidden egg hunt? Or was this from before?

Depends on if I feel the reviewer is being honest or has either been paid off to say nice things or required by the author to do so (yes, some authors do this which I find crazy, but to each their own I guess). As an arc reviewer myself I sign up for books that interest me or for authors I already like so the chances of me giving them a good review and rating is high, HOWEVER I have and always will hold myself to a high and honest standard which means if I don’t like the book I’m going to say so whether I got it for free or not and I’m not shy about saying so. Even though it’s hard to do so sometimes I will not lie just to make someone happy.

I never give much thought about whether I trust other people's reviews, because I tend to pick the majority of my books without reading reviews or even their description. Cover, title, creator name, and availability at my local library play the biggest roles in my selection process, though I do make special projects of a few "best of" lists every year.

But now you've made me self-conscious. Time for a systems check.

I know I’m not the sort of ARC reviewer you meant since they make up a small percent of my annual reviews, but having signed up with NetGalley to access a book I won in a LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway six months ago, I’ve since ended up downloading and reviewing 39 books. (For scale, last year I read 754 books according to my GR Year in Books, 942 books according to my GR Reading Challenge, and 724 books according to LibraryThing. And I have no idea why none of these numbers agree, but there we go.)

So far for my NetGalley books I've given six 4-star reviews, eighteen 3-stars, and fifteen 2-stars. My math says that's an average of a cheery 2.77 stars.

My overall Goodreads average is a dour 2.66 stars.

Hmm, now I'll have to I wonder if my NetGalley average is higher due to a subconscious easing of negativity or because I was cherry-picking titles I was actually eager to read first because I was more likely to enjoy them.

Since I get more than 95% of my books from the public library, I'd have to guess the access to free books isn't a big lure, especially since NetGalley takes them back just like the library after a certain period of time, but there is the appeal of getting a book early, before other fans or readers. That could lead to rating inflation..

Well, until we have some further data, I suppose anyone who bothers to trust me better have some second thoughts about that.

Rod wrote: "Hmm, now I'll have to I wonder if my NetGalley average is higher due to a subconscious easing of negativity or because I was cherry-picking titles I was actually eager to read first because I was more likely to enjoy them."

Interesting! External factors always have some sort of influence.

ARCs/free books are complicated, they may be "free" but they're not free of strings attached. Some are gorgeous/limited edition copies given to certain reviewers and obviously they have a higher monetary value than an uncorrected PDF that you won't even have anymore once the expiration date arrives. Is that payment? Yes, I think it is, because they're getting actual valuable goods (down the road some of those books might become expensive/rare collectibles depending on the author). I've already seen some that are deluded about this fact because it's uncomfortable to them.

Sarah wrote: "Depends on if I feel the reviewer is being honest or has either been paid off to say nice things or required by the author to do so (yes, some authors do this which I find crazy, but to each their own ..."

Yeah, I know there are authors who give "guidelines" as to what they'd prefer to see in a review to those they've paid or given goods to (physical books, merch, mementos).

I read a lot of ARCs. People can believe my reviews or not, but they're honest. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I don't really buy books, so I'm either getting them free as an e-ARC from NetGalley or I'm getting them free from the library after they're published. It's just a hobby and it doesn't save me money in any way, so there's really no incentive to lie. I assume that most ARC reviewers are similarly honest unless they're giving everything raving five-star reviews, so to answer your question, yes, I trust ARC reviewers unless I see a reason not to. I can't say that I've run into any paid influencers, at least not as far as I know, so I can't comment there. 😊

Jamie wrote: "It's just a hobby and it doesn't save me money in any way, so there's really no incentive to lie."

If you don't invest a cent in books and reading is a regular hobby, then you're definitely saving money because otherwise you'd have to buy the books you get as ARCs or wait for them to hit the library (if they do at all, niche genres don't end up at libraries).

Marquise wrote: "Ellen wrote: "ARC reviewers yes, I've had some give 2 stars, DNF, etc. In my experience, most of them are honest."

I am getting the impression, by the answers here, that peeps are understanding th..."

I've never paid for a review as an author. I don't know what my previous publisher did before I got my rights back, but I don't think they did either. Even when Foreword wrote a review for Saints & Monsters, that was not a paid but through their traditional submission. A lot of contests will have an "add on" paid review but I don't like those. There are so many places where it begins to look like a slippery slope, and I understand how ARCs could feel that way. My understanding is that authors aren't supposed to require a review for an ARC, and it's often better if a third party handles ARCs so the readers don't feel indebted to the author.

Thank you, Ellen. I was wondering how authors who don't like paid reviews deal with publishers doing it. I imagine that because they have more of a "business" mindset, they'd be more likely to do it as part of their toolkit to create buzz and sell more.

Marquise wrote: "Thank you, Ellen. I was wondering how authors who don't like paid reviews deal with publishers doing it. I imagine that because they have more of a "business" mindset, they'd be more likely to do i..."

I think most big publishers see it as part of their toolkit for sure and pay big bucks for Kirkus, blog tours with paid reviews, etc. but the author may not be aware of how much is being spent on it or if it's going to paid reviews. Publishing is truly a wild west.

Ellen wrote: "Publishing is truly a wild west."

Yeah, I can imagine that from what insider friends have told me. Before I joined GR, I sometimes beta-ed for a friend who did it for a professional site (I was her one-person "sensitivity/test group" of sorts) and the stories she'd tell me about authors calling/emailing with complaints and about other reviewers were wild. She didn't last long there.

She warned me against joining GR, and most of what she told me would happen did in fact happen. I didn't listen, I said it would be different as "just one average fan reviewer" like me and not a pro like her... and here we are. 😂

I understand, and I agree, which is why I get so frustrated by the need for marketing when the object is simply to find readers that you think might enjoy a particular type of story. If no one knows about the story, how will it be found? I think any type of review should be taken with a grain of salt as reading is subjective. That's the beauty of art in any form. One thing you might enjoy, someone else won't, so every creative person should know that it takes courage to put themselves out there. But, as a reader, I understand the hesitancy to trust paid reviewers in particular. I apologize for the confusion.

No need to apologise, Meredith! I do get your point too, honestly.

I'm not on Toktok or Instagram and have no intention of joining, and I've done a pretty good job curating my YouTube and GR to emphasize users who are honest and whose tastes are close-ish to mine. I think I avoid ARC centric users fairly well because I have little interest in hot books anyway. In general I've done a good job avoiding the most egregious corporate booty smooching. 😁

I tend to trust ARC readers if I’m familiar with their tastes (I’d be suspicious if a reviewer was suddenly posting 5 stars in a genre outside their norm or everything an author wrote in a short short time). As for paid reviewers… I don’t know how to feel. I wouldn’t say I distrust them if there made in the context of a publication (like kirkus though I don’t care much either way) but if they are paid that does muddy the opinion for me a bit. Hope this helps… but I rarely pick up anything on the word of one person. And I definitely wouldn’t pay money unless it was endorsed by a source I trust !

Let the world burn :D

I wonder how many Goodreads users are paid to write positive reviews. I know it's against Goodreads policy, but do you ever wonder how many of them get paid in secret?

same and I would add, reviewers who instead of a review write a book synopsis, sometimes taken verbatim from book blurb. It's as obnoxious as AI "reviews"

The first two, no way. As for literary critics? Sometimes.

Phil wrote: "The first two, no way. As for literary critics? Sometimes."

Hehehe, I can understand you making exceptions. Two lit critics in particular come to mind as people I'd make an exception for myself, but I don't read what they do so I don't follow them.

Morena wrote: "same and I would add, reviewers who instead of a review write a book synopsis, sometimes taken verbatim from book blurb.""

They're around here still? There was one famous Arab chap who did it and his "reviews" are still up. But who else does that on the regular that has become as popular?

Persephone's Pomegranate wrote: "I wonder how many Goodreads users are paid to write positive reviews. I know it's against Goodreads policy, but do you ever wonder how many of them get paid in secret?"

Oh, yes, I have. Many, many times.

Considering that there's reviewers here whose primary account is on the 'toks/'tubes/'grams, all of which are platforms that allow paid reviews, and then they come to post here to redirect traffic to their main channels, it's a given that there ARE paid reviews here.

But that's only the obvious ones. The non-disclosed ones? Who knows? ARC disclosure is mandatory, and it's maybe possible to guess there's been something more under the table in some cases? I would think so.

Baba wrote: "Let the world burn :D"

Hehehe, we need fire in the winter. ;)