Hey again, friends! It’s me coming back to you with another discussion entry.
We’re here to discuss why I don’t have a review policy on my blog, and why I’m thinking of finally making one.
I’m such a mood reader, that I’m open to reading almost anything — contemporary, drama, comedy, YA, NA, children’s lit, memoirs, biographies, etc. The only genre I won’t read is horror/thriller because I don’t like being scared! I didn’t want to seem picky in choosing my reading tastes so I opened all options when it came to requests.
However, I’ve been getting more requests to read ARCs, from debut or seasoned authors, from social media. This most recent one (I won’t say from whom) is what has triggered me into thinking more critically about how I want to be approached to read and review books.
Basically, this one author kindly suggested her book to me, through a DM on Twitter. I did some research on her book and came to find out it was on NetGalley. I don’t use my NetGalley account or profile very frequently, but I was curious to find out how this book was being perceived. I later found out that the book wasn’t YA like she had suggested; it was middle grade! Aside from Harry Potter books, I don’t read middle grade; there’s nothing against it, it’s just not a genre I’m drawn to read.
I saw some mixed reviews on this author’s book, as well. Here’s where I might have made a slight mistake because I told her that both the book was being perceived as MG and that there were mixed reviews. Her tone was a bit defensive on both cases because she claimed that this was, in fact, YA contemporary fantasy, and it was her first book, so her publisher said it was YA…. a bit sketchy!
I should have told her that I don’t read MG, I mostly read YA or NA, if NA is really good. But in any case, I’m starting to feel uncomfortable with being contacted through DMs on social media. I know these new authors mean well and want to get the proper recognition by established bloggers out there. And I’m flattered that anyone at all wants to reach out to me personally because it’s rare that I do get those kinds of requests. I don’t consider myself to be a brand-new blogger, having been doing this for 5 years now. However, I know opportunities like these are hard to come by.
Also, another reason why I don’t have a formal review policy is that I don’t review books all of the time. Almost all of my content here is weekly memes, discussions, wrap-ups, poetry, and occasional reviews. With a hectic work schedule, I barely have time to sit down and read one book, let alone review one on the blog every week. Which is why I created the One-Sentence Review segment on the blog, to compromise some form of review.
I don’t want to turn anyone down, but I hope this new review “policy” will set the record straight.
Do you have a review policy on your platform (blog, social media, Booktube)? Comment below!
