ARC August 2017: Sign Up and Books I Want to Read

It's that time of the year again... no, I don't mean the end of summer! I mean it's time for ARC August!

Stacking the Shelves (18)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly feature/bookish meme hosted by Tynga on her blog, Tynga's Reviews, although I'm guilty of not posting every week! You know how life gets in the way, right?

The meme is all about sharing the books that you have added to your shelves and e-readers. This means that you can include any physical books that you buy in stores or online, but you can also include all of those e-books and eARCs for your digital reading device.

For more information on Stacking the Shelves, feel free to visit its official launch page on Tynga's Reviews.

Poll Results: ARC Reviews

Two weeks ago, I posted a poll about ARC (advance reader copy) reviews. More specifically, I asked everyone when they preferred to see ARC reviews posted on my blog. I reached out with this poll to see when seeing a review is best for my readers, and surprisingly, most of the votes went to the option I utilize most often.

I included the following options on the poll:

• One week before publication
• Two weeks before publication
• One month before publication
• Publication day
• Other

I've tried out all of these options on my blog before, including a few release day reviews. Lately, I've been sticking to posting my reviews one week before a book is published. As a review reader, I've found that this option isn't too early, plus it gives me just enough time to preorder any books that I might want to purchase.

Below are the results, as of April 6, 2014:

FYI: The poll is still open if you'd like to add your vote.

I'd like to thank everyone who left a comment on my original post because it was so much fun to see just what everyone thinks of ARC reviews and when they should be posted. Here are just a few tidbits of the great comments that were left.

"I would have to say that I love reading ARCS a month or two before they come out because that gives me enough time to read it"
     - Alex @ The Book's Buzz

"ACTUALLY although I like seeing ARC reviews a week before, I would also like to see them months before because I want to know if they are worth getting off of NG, you know? I rely a lot on word of mouth when it comes to requesting ARCs."
     - Val @ The Innocent Smiley

"I hate to be "that guy" who picks other, but... I picked other! And here is why: I like a variety. Basically, it drives me kind of insane when every. single. person. posts their review on the SAME day. Because at that point, am I really going to read them all? NOPE. So I love when I see a couple reviews a month out, then maybe a few more 2-3 weeks out, a few the week before, a few the week of, a few AFTER the release, and then some like, a year later when I almost forgot the book existed ;)
     - Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight

So... it looks like one week before a book's publication was the most popular option, but I am definitely going to keep some of you on your toes about when I post my reviews. Don't worry - I won't post them too far in advance, but definitely a month to one week before a book is published.

Hardcover Lover Confessions (5)

Hey there, everyone! By now, I hope that you've become a little more acquainted with my new every-once-in-a-while feature, Hardcover Lover Confessions. This is my fifth HCL Confessions post, and I've found that people seem to be enjoying them.

If you're new to The Hardcover Lover or just missed the first few posts, I'll fill you in. HCL Confessions are my discussion posts. Every few weeks, I'll post my thoughts on something going on in the book blogging world or just general bookish thoughts.

I'm encouraging all of my followers to join in and discuss your thoughts on each topic with me and with the other bloggers/people who leave comments. It's all about kindly expressing ourselves and making connections with other bloggers and readers while forming blogging friendships.  Don't be afraid to reply to a comment made by someone you've never spoken to! I can promise you that all of my followers are kind and outgoing.

HCL Confession on ARC Envy:

ARCs - (n.) advance reader/review copies; galley copies of books that are soon to be published that are sent to reviewers and bloggers for review purposes

related terms - eARCs, galley

Recently, people have been asking me a lot of crazy questions about my blog. Most of them are about ARCs and how I get them. Unfortunately, a few people have admitted to me that they are  jealous that certain bloggers are sent physical ARCs. A few people just want to start blogs for the ARCs. I understand feeling jealous sometimes, but I do not understand starting a blog just for free books. It's absurd, and that's not why book bloggers do what they do. We're here because we all share a love for reading.

I'm sure that many of you are familiar with the Twitter discussions on ARC Envy because it's literally been a huge issue within the book blogosphere. So what is ARC Envy? Well it's pretty simple. People get jealous of bloggers who have been granted access to digital galleys or sent physical ARCs. Things have been getting out of hand. People are extremely angry that some bloggers are able to obtain ARCs - so mad that they have pretty much thought that just because they also blog, they deserve these books. Here's the thing: ARCs are a privilege, not a right.

I'm sure that many of you already know that you just won't be sent ARCs because you already have a book review blog. Some people unfortunately don't know that. Being sent ARCs is a tricky business, and it all depends on the books and publishers. I won't speak for publishing houses, but all of them have their own preferences. They might send one blogger one ARC but another blogger might not be sent it. Why? They want to make sure that they are sending these ARCs to people who will read and review them, and most of the time, it's to bloggers who they trust.

Trust me. I don't get all of the ARCs that I request. It's all about waiting and doing your time. But the ARC Envy needs to stop. There are ways that you can prevent this:

1. Do not create a blog just for the ARCs - Mostly everyone who has a book blog keeps one because they love reading and sharing their thoughts with others. Many people do not wake up and create a book blog because they know that ARCs will be involved because that's not the case. Book bloggers are here for the community.
2. Only request ARCs that you want to read - When you've reached a certain point (usually around six months of active blogging), you can start to request ARCs. You should only request books that you want to read. If you get an ARC and decide not to read it, you're essentially taking it away from a reviewer who would have read and reviewed it. Advance reviews generate buzz, so it's best to pass on a book if you won't read and review it before it's published.
3. Sign up for an ARC tour - There are certain groups and authors that send out ARCs through snail mail. You don't get to keep the ARC, but you will be allotted a certain time to read it before sending it to another person. 
4. Enter giveaways - Goodreads always has giveaways, and many of these books are ARCs. This is how I got my first few ARCs, and it's nice, especially if you are just starting your blog.
5. Don't ask someone you don't know to send you their ARCs - I've had this happen. It's true that some bloggers (including me) will share their ARCs with other bloggers (if permitted by the publisher), but you can't just ask someone you don't really know to send you one. I'm all for sharing, but I share with the right people. I want to make sure that I get my ARCs back and that someone won't just steal them, so that's why I only share with my blogging friends or with trusted groups.
6. Do not engage in ARC drama - Too many times, I've heard about this happening. If you don't get an ARC, don't badmouth the author or publisher. It only makes you look bad, and it will probably cost you any ARCs in the future because you don't look professional.
7. Do not buy ARCs from other bloggers - This is something new I've noticed on Twitter and Instagram. People are selling their ARCs after they are done with them. This is illegal! They say "NOT FOR SALE" on the cover for a reason. Do not purchase any ARCs from another blogger because they are breaking the law. You should really report them to the publisher of that book. 

Now I want to hear from you! How do you prevent ARC envy? Have you ever had a case of it? What did you do to prevent ARC envy? Do you have any other tips to share with other bloggers?

Feel free to leave comments and share your thoughts, but please be kind, courteous, and professional. I don't want to see anyone naming names or calling out other bloggers.

February 2015 Wrap Up

Happy March, everyone! The year really is flying by, and pretty soon, it'll be summer. (Wishful thinking for some of you, right?)

As I'm typing this wrap-up post, the snow is still coming down, so it looks like the weather hasn't changed with the change of the month (but I'm used to that). I do live in Pennsylvania. It will probably be cold here for another few weeks.

February was an awesome blogging month for me! I was a stop on an amazing blog tour, and I also participated in my first ever Book Blogger Love-A-Thon! So let's take a look back and see what books I read and reviewed in February 2015.

Books I Read in February 2015:

• Kalahari by Jessica Khoury - Penguin Teen sent me an ARC of the last book in the Corpus series when they asked me to be a stop on the official blog tour. I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to read and review the book, and be a part of the tour. If you missed my review, you can check it out here. Oh, and be sure to grab a copy - it's in stores now!
• Katie Friedman Gives Up Texting! by Tommy Greenwald - I won an ARC of this middle grade title from the Macmillan Kids Twitter account. It was the first middle grade book that I read in months, and it was adorable! If you're a parent, grab this one for your kid(s). My review for this book can be found here.
• The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu - I read this book for a guest review on Amanda's blog, Of Spectacles and Books, and I loved it! If you'd like to read my review, please visit Amanda's blog (and leave a comment for her, too!)
• The Other Side of the Wall by Simon Schwartz - I read an advance copy of this translated graphic novel, and to be honest, I didn't really enjoy it. I just felt like something was missing. My review can be found here if you'd like to read it.
• The Little White Owl by Tracey Corderoy - I read this while babysitting one night, and it's such a cute children's book about a little owl who doesn't realize how alone he is until he discovers it. 
• Biggie by Derek E. Sullivan - I read this book for an upcoming blog tour (Xpresso Book Tours), and it's really good. My review will be posted this week if you're interested in learning more about this debut novel.
• The Tragic Age by Stephen Metcalfe - This is another ARC that I read in February. The book started off strong, but I strongly dislike it by the last page. My review can be found here if you're interested in reading it.

What to Expect in March:

I will be reading a few more ARCs for March, so there will be a lot of reviews posted on my blog. One ARC review might be posted tonight or tomorrow if I ever finish reading the book. I'm also participating in a few blog tours, so look out for those posts, reviews, and giveaways. 

One more thing: All About YA (a Goodreads group I mod for) will be reading Zodiac by Romina Russell this month. Romina has agreed to answer questions for us, so please join us if you are interested. 

Stacking the Shelves (8)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews. The meme is normally posted by Tynga on Saturdays, but I've noticed that other bloggers are posting it on other days of the week. 

 

That's good for me because I already have a Saturday meme and I don't like to post too many things on one day. Because of this, I post my Stacking the Shelves posts whenever I get the chance (or whenever I buy books). My Stacking the Shelves posts are also sporadic because I try not to buy books until I've finished quite a few. 

The meme is all about sharing the books you've added to your shelves throughout the week with your readers. The books you're adding to your shelves can be either physical books or digital books for your e-reader.

 

This week, most of my books are digital review copies. I'm already reading one of them, and I actually had the chance to read a physical copy of one through an ARC tour already.

 

• Positively Beautiful by Wendy Mills - I was really glad to be approved to read this on NetGalley because I actually already read it. I went in and submitted my review for this wonderful book right away. I'm waiting to post a review for this one here until closer to the publication date, but I really enjoyed it.
• When Reason Breaks by Cindy L. Rodriguez - I'm reading this one right now, and I'm enjoying it. It's refreshing because not only is it a diverse book, but there are poems by Emily Dickinson intertwined with the plot.
• Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton - I haven't started this one yet, but I will soon. It's fantasy, and I'm trying to read a little more fantasy this year.

I also won a copy of The Accidental Highwayman by Ben Tripp. I'm looking forward to reading that soon.

So what did you add to your shelves this week? Have you read any of these yet? Were you approved for any of these titles? Feel free to let me know in the comments, and check back soon for reviews!