Review Group discussion

Hi Jay, may I join the next session please? I have a novel that could do with a review. Thanks.

Hi, Jay, Patricia Hamill graciously filled in for my last review in Group 16. Another offered a review of Train to Nowhere, and I know she downloaded a free copy, but I haven't heard from her. I can only hope. Anyway, I'd like to join another review group and should be ready to review in February. Many thanks for all you do, and may your holidays be pleasant.

Folks, you need to post on the thread for the group that's 'forming now' - currently Group 25. That'll get you stuck in there faster!

Hi... I'd like to join a review group and I've read through all the rules I could find, but despite the fact that I was in a group last year, I have no idea how to join a group now. Help please!

Hi Jacqueline, wait for the next group to be put up it'll be group 51, then add your author link and book link to the thread.

thanks!

Hi,
I'm looking to join a review group, and this time I want one that is clean. Any groups like that forming soon?

That can be arranged Gloria!

Hi Mods! I'm in review group 49 (general) and I noticed that I'm missing one review for my book. I went back to the rules to see what happens then, as I remember readings something about that when I signed up, but I can't seem to find it again. Any advice? Thanks!

Group 49 doesn't finish till December? So I think you are jumping the gun a little. Your group mod should always be your first port of call, in this case it's Hock.

I'm taking part in a review group(my first!). I've just written my first review. I've posted it to Amazon.com and Goodreads.

But when I went to Amazon Uk, it says I can only post a review if I have bought something there. I have not, so what do I do? I see that it will not let me buy Kindle books on there either. I live in New Zealand, so would rather not buy a physical item on Amazon UK.

Hi, I just joined this group and will take part in a Review Group as soon as the appropriate one opens...looking forward to reading one of your books!

I've held off joining a group because I was searching the group for information on series books, but I still haven't found anything. I'm sure it's because I'm usually distracted by a rather noisy 2yr old! So, could I just ask here?

How does the group handle books in a series where the earlier books contain an overlapping plot theme?
Are there any other authors in a similar position, who might be willing to do a "series swap", where we commit to more than one book from the same series?

We don't do reciprocal reviews on this group, but of course you are free to message other authors privately.

I suggest that if you want to include a book in a review round that is further on in a series, you provide a synopsis of the other books to the reviewer, if they are not 'stand alone' books.

Thank you Emma, providing a synopsis might work in this situation.
Each book has their own secondary plots, and follows different characters, so it's just a case of trying to explain the larger plot which connects them all.
Now I just need to get something written that doesn't completely spoil the earlier books, but still gives the reader a good handle on what is happening.

If the synopsis is only going to go to a reviewer in this group, its unlikely that 'spoiling' the earlier books will be a problem.

Hi. I would like to participate in this group, but I don't know how. It's a bit confusing...where do I register?

Wait for the next group sign up to open, it'll be group 61. Then add your author link and book link. Glad to have you aboard Fleur.

Thanks Emma.^^

I have been trying to get a handle on things here as I am just new to this group. I would like to sign up for a review group and will do so when I find out what my author link and book link are? Is the author link the URL? How do I determine the book link?
Please pardon my inexperience with the technical stuff.

Hi Hm, yes it's just the url's for your author page, and your book page.
Cut and paste into the message box like this:

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

book link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

group 61 is currently still looking for one more member, but be quick!

Thanks for the info Emma. I just checked group 61 and it looks like you have your 10th member of the group, so I will just wait for the next group. Please count me in on the next group and I will try to watch carefully for it.

I have tried to send several messages in the past week to three different people and also to Goodreads support. I am using the compose spot on the envelope. Every time I have received the message that the site is not available and to come back another time. As I say, this happened to me many times in the last week. Where can I go for help? Perhaps I am doing something wrong. Please advise.

Sounds like there is a problem in your own internet, because the site has been working fine.
I'll send you a private message to check.

Emma wrote: "Sounds like there is a problem in your own internet, because the site has been working fine.
I'll send you a private message to check."
Thanks Emma. Received your message and tried to send you a thank you privately. It came back, "Page not found, an error occurred, try again later." What do I need to do to get my problem corrected?

no idea Harvey, sorry. I'm not a computer expert. But its a problem on your end not the site.

Hi - I'm new, and just wanted to be sure I understand. I want to join a review group -- do I need to let you know, or just wait til a new group is open?

Thank you :)

wait for a new group to be posted, it depends on when we have a mod available to mod the group. Hopefully it'll be sooner rather than later.

Hi everyone! I am fairly new to Goodreads and just joined up with this group. I'm probably missing something but just not sure how all this works with the reviews. Is there somewhere that I can submit my book for people to read and review and how do I join up to review other peoples books also?

Hi Helen, scroll down to the 'review rounds' section. We currently have two round open for authors, one 18+ and the other 'clean'. Anything goes in the 18+ round although authors must be comfortable with reading explicit material. Your work doesn't have to contain either to be included.

Clean groups are the only ones where the books included are restricted. No explicit sex or violence is allowed.

I look forward to seeing you in a group soon.

Please help me - would love to join the "clean" round and do reviews, but I don't see which one it is. I'm new to this site and not completely familiar (well, I've read reviews on Goodreads many times before - but I've only become active recently). Thanks!

Hi John,

Try this link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Hello everyone! I may have just overlooked it, but how often are the groups restarted. I was interested in getting into an 18+. Thank you!

Groups are restarted when we have a mod who says they can take on a group, so very unhelpfully, the answer is, it depends.

That is still helpful! Thank you!

Hi Mods,
I've just joined group. Sounds a great idea. Sorry if this question has been addressed before but I couldn't find any previous query. I write rural mysteries based in SW England and a rural detective series (think Midsomers Murders). There's no excessive sex or graphic violence but obviously there are murders to be investigated. I would place my books in "clean reads" section but I'm not totally sure and don't want to contravene the rules before I start! Please could you clarify which group I should join?

The clean group sounds perfect. Essentially if you consider your book to be 'before the watershed' reading, then it would fit in the 'clean' category.
Hope that helps.

Emma wrote: "The clean group sounds perfect. Essentially if you consider your book to be 'before the watershed' reading, then it would fit in the 'clean' category.
Hope that helps."

Brilliant thanks. Off to sign up now!

@Emma, I'd like the mods take on the following post:

IS THIS AMAZON'S TOP 100 REVIEWER ASKING FOR MONEY?
https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

As an author I was tempted - the new book Catharsis is good, I know it, and who doesn't want to have great sales riding on the elusive Top100 Reviewers, but then the journalist in me saw a story and wanted to make it public!

Did I do the right thing? ;) is what I would like mods feedback on.....

I would have done exactly the same thing, but that is my personal opinion.
Although the reviewer claims he is not asking for money for his review, the options including the number of reviews you can by for a certain amount of money certainly give that impression. His reply doesn't imply you are buying a favourable review, no matter the quality of the book, but I don't suppose anyone who paid for a review would be happy of they received a negative one.
Personally I'd like to see amazon change the allocation of a 3 star review as a 'negative' one. It means you thought the book was ok, not bad.

I think Noorilhuda did the right thing, too. In fact it all sounds well dodgy to me...

@Emma, @Mike, okay, though I've started to feel bad for myself! I have a good book this time around and DV's reviews are still online - in fact he just posted new reviews! - and all are unknowns (except Mary Higgins Clark of course!) that are now bestsellers - so Amazon apparently didn't even bat an eye! My loss! Being given the choice between being right or being successful, which one is okay?!

Being right. Although it would not have been the crime of the century! But at the end of the day, independent publishing can only prosper if people feel they can read unbiased reviews; only then will they not feel that conventional publishers are needed as gatekeepers.

Ok, I'm lost... How do I sign up for a review group (18+)?

Keep an eye on the review rounds thread, and sign up when a new group is posted. I usually mod the 18+ groups, and my hands are a little full right now, but you shouldn't have to wait long.
In the meantime, make sure you have an author page set up on goodreads, as we use that link (and a goodreads link to your book page) when the groups are set up.

Bridgette wrote: "Ok, I'm lost... How do I sign up for a review group (18+)?"

For now you could get in on the one for one reviews while you wait for another 18+. :)

Emma wrote: "Keep an eye on the review rounds thread, and sign up when a new group is posted. I usually mod the 18+ groups, and my hands are a little full right now, but you shouldn't have to wait long.
In the ..."

Emma, Though I would post this from our 69 18+ group regarding cross genre reviews and generally about participation. Some of it has been mentioned before but not for awhile. Rory

The current format works well, really. Reviewers outside their genre just need to be professional and review based on writing skills such as: Character development, pacing, dialogue, POV development, grammar and sentence/paragraph structure, etc. and be cognizant of the fact that most readers of their reviews will likely be readers of that genre and the peculiarities of those genre. In other words, I think, give the author the benefit of the doubt when it is not your cup-of-tea. You have spelled this out pretty well in you instructions to reviewing authors. All that being said, I would encourage all participants to have their manuscripts well vetted by critique groups and Beta readers before joining these groups and having potentially, what could be an appropriately scathing review - or four, posted for all the world to see. Thanks again.

I am so excited to be part of the group, but I am a bit lost. Where do I sign up to be in one of the review groups? Would LOVE to get some new reads and have a few of you guys read my new book. Thanks

Hi Kat, wait for the next 'now forming' thread in the review rounds section.

Perfect I will keep an eye out!! Thanks so much :)