What do we owe publishers and authors?
If we accept ARC’s do we “owe” anything to them or just an honest review to our followers? As book bloggers are we obligated to do more than just review books? Post covers – participate in book tours – host guest posts – promote authors?
I think that accepting an ARC means you should provide an honest review, but since life gets in the way for all of us and book blogging is not our source of income, I don’t think you are obligated to review it if you can’t get to it before release date. Just try your best and don’t let the stress get to you. Also, don’t accept more ARCs than you can read. That’s just fair, methinks. Of course, I’ve accepted some in the past and was not able to read them in time for release, but I’ve let go of that guilt.
As far as book blogging goes, I think your book blog should be what you want it to be. There are no rules. If you want to do nothing but cover releases, do it. If you want to highlight all book trailers, fine. If you only want to post reviews or participate in memes or just review audiobooks – GREAT. Do what you want to do. This is your hobby. If you bring your personality and creativity, they will come and enjoy.
© 2012, Smash Attack Reads. All rights reserved.
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I definitely agree with your comments about reviewing ARCs and release dates. I don’t understand when authors request that reviews go up on their release date whether they’re committing to honest (read: potentially negative) reviews. I’ve also seen several authors make it a requirement that the review be posted on the book’s release date to get an ARC.
O.O
I think it makes sense if you as an author are putting together a blog tour, but on those blog tours, I generally assume the reviews (as opposed to interviews or character interviews or trailers) will be all positive.
I know of several blogs that are up front about how they only post positive reviews. As a reader of reviews, I don’t read those blogs, because I’m not convinced that’s not just shiling for free ARCs.
And even when you get a free ARC, I think it’s a null-sum game, this owing thing: the author put a lot of heart and soul into writing the book, but as a reader, my time’s valuable too.
Yea, If you just all positive reviews, I would be hella skeptical about your opinions. I like when people are honest but respectful. I need that from people in all facets of life.
I think you hit the nail on the head
it is a hobby and while you should try to get to all the books you have accepted, you shouldn’t stress. Have fun, try to be responsible in asking for or accepting review requests, and just do what you feel comfortable. 
This.
I have to remind myself of that sometimes–this is a HOBBY. I don’t get paid. I’m using MY free time to do this. Actually, I think the publishers know this. There are some smaller presses/indies/newbies who might expect every ARC they send out to be reviewed but most are realistic.
They publishing industry seems to be becoming more and more demanding of us bloggers lately. I can understand being choosy about who you send your ARCs to, but making demands is annoying.
Yes…yes…yes… It’s your blog!!! It’s a hobby!! Do whatever you want.
I really try not to take on more than I can read/review anymore. I even have it in my policy now that I might not review the book. You have no idea how overwhelmed you will get with reading & reviewing when you first start blogging.
I’m someone who can read a book a day and I couldn’t’ keep up with it all.
If the publisher has review date requirements that I can’t meet then I just let that book go. I don’t want to HAVE to read a book that I may not be in the right mood for.
I used to take more than I can review and I’ve nipped that shit in the bud. No more requests for a long while now.
I agree with date requirements. I do like participating in blog tours (for books I want to read, of course) because that date makes sure I get the book read. Otherwise, I’m kinda bad about picking up review requests in a timely manner. I think I should just stop accepting them forever…lol
I agree its a hobby , but when we ask for the we should do the honest review. I do think life does get in the way, but I do try to keep up with all the reviews.
As you should, but you should also realize that we all have limitations. I’ve stopped taking review requests and aside from authors I’ve worked with in the past, I’m not sure I will take them for a few years now…
Perfectly said! I totally agree with all of that. Book blogging is a hobby for most of us, so with that said, we should all write about what we like on our blogs We should handle our blogs as we want and make no apologies nor harbor guilty feelings about it.
Amen. We do what we can, but we are all people with real-life problems and dinners to cook and kids to bathe or night classes to attend. This is our hobby. We write about books because we want to share our passion. No obligations needed.
Well put!
Yes! I used to FREAK OUT hard if I could review an ARC by the release date, now I seriously just TRY my best… And still rarely get there! But I do try damnit!
I think book blogging is what you make it dude… It like, if I MAKE IT stressful- then it will be. It’s not like publishers are knocking down my door asking me WHY my review wasn’t posted ON TIME?! So why do I stress about it????
That is why I don’t want to accept review requests anymore. I have a bazillion of my own books to read. At this point in life, I don’t need any more books for about 5 good years…lol
I love how you said not to let the stress get to you. That’s really why I don’t seek out ARCs…I can’t take the pressure!
And yes, totally agree with you that your book blog is yours and you should be free to do whatever you want with it.
So what if you win a book from a contest? I don’t have my own blog, but always try to post reviews on the books that were awesome.
In my mind, if you won it, it’s like a gift. It is definitely nice and helpful to review that book, but in my opinion, it’s your choice.
Also, have you ever reviewed books you did not like? I’ve heard from many authors that those critiques from readers (as long as they are honest and professional and not attacking the author or being a douche) are really helpful.
This is such a hard question to answer. I once thought that I had to do everything that publishers sent my way but now I’m starting to learn the line of what to ask for, what to help promote and how to avoid reader’s guilt.
This is a tough line to be at but I love that you said it is ultimately about what each blogger wants to do on their own blog. At the end of the day we started a blog that made us happy so we need to stick with making ourselves happy first and foremost before branching out to make others happy.
I think we all need to be careful about what we request, but at the end of the day, we shouldn’t carry around stress and guilt about a book we didn’t review in a timely manner. Get it done as soon as you can.
I think if you accept a book for review it should be reviewed. Otherwise why take it? People need to be aware of the size of their own review piles and handle them accordingly. Otherwise the pub isn’t utilizing their marketing material as effectively as they could and it could leave a sour taste in their mouths about a blogger that takes a book and then is disappears. ARCs cost money so if you’re going to accept it you need to be responsible for it. If you don’t think it can be fit into your schedule then pass and acquire it later.
Of course. I don’t think accepting them and not reading and reviewing them is ok. However, real life takes priority and for many it can screw up reading schedules and review time. I don’t think people should stress about it. If you can’t review it by release date, then get the review out ASAP. At least it is still being reviewed. And of course don’t bite off more than you can chew. I had that issue when I first started blogging. I’ve learned a LOT about passing over the past year. This issue is pretty much why I’m not taking requests for the indefinite future.
You mean I don’t get paid for this? Shit, I was wondering when my check would come in the mail – must stop stalking mailman now.
In all seriousness, you’ve got it spot on – this is fun, it’s a hobby, it’s something we do because we love books and reading – not because some publisher (who, let’s face it, probably doesn’t know us from the next blogger) can offer us shiny things in exchange for doing their publicity. So we should post whatever we want – whenever we want – and enjoy doing it!
You post really encouraged me. I am a new blogger. I just wanted a place to write about what I wanted to write about. I looked at other blogs and felt I should make my blog this way or that. But really it is a HOBBY and it is FUN to me. So, I’ll do what I like and what makes me happy. Even if I’m the only one who will ever read it!
I guess this is pretty easy for me. I’ve stopped asking for Net Galleys and I’m not any publishers ARC list. I think if you ask for it that you should put out more effort than if it shows up unsolicited publishers should probably do a better job spreading around the ARCs so that their requests can be accomidated.
I think if you only post positive reviews than I’m probably going to stop following that reviewer. One, are they just whoring themselves out? Two, I’m looking to that blogger to figure out where we line up in our tastes and what I should read. I can’t do that, if you don’t give me the good and the bad. Now I dont think a bad review should be nasty and I’m sure there are nice things to be said.