GoodReads' First Readers discussion

I've been trying and trying to win a book on Goodreads giveaways. But still, no luck. I added every book that I've read onto my "read" shelf, I've also filled my other shelves up with books that I want to read, & I rated them and starred them as well. So, what am I doing wrong?? Every book that I enter to win on goodreads, are books that I would be more than happy to read & review on! I just don't understand why I haven't won any yet while I see others win some on their first try! It's extremely aggravating! Especially when you REALLY want to read a book on the giveaway that's not even in stores yet. But anyways, I'm just saying that since I'm doing everything that everyone else is, why am I not winning any books?!

Hmmm.

I put in for the ones that I really want to read. I also, ask friends to put in for them. I don't think I've actually won one of those.

What I have found, is that, by putting in for ones that are a maybe, I've found some great books. There have been some surprises: I would never have picked up Veronica Blade's "My Wolf's Bane" or many of the others I have won. However, they turned out to be really good, and expanded my book choices.

Check out my Shelves. Both Firstreads, and Gifts, for an interesting selection.

BTW: Some authors will email you after the giveaway and offer an ebook in exchange for a review. Which is even better. This is espcially true if you review what you read. Reviews are the life blood of new authors.

Just don't be afraid to take a chance on a new author, or a new genre of books. They might surprise you.

That's really helpful, thank you! I will defiantly try that Thomas! (:

Also, I heard something about a book swap of some sort? Do you know anything about it or how to do that??

I'm a bit frustrated with the Giveaways right now. I've been fortunate to win a few books but now I can't seem to win anything!

However, I've seen someone who actually puts EVERY single newly listed giveaway on their "To Read" shelf......then I saw how many books they "win" in just a month alone! At least 10+ books per month!
Man-O-man!!

I only request books I'm interested in and I have given reviews for 3 of the 4 books I've ever won. And I know the wins are random...but it is just frustrating when I just can't even win the same book offered 4 or 5 times!!

Seriously though...I've really enjoyed the books that I have won.

I just don't want to have to enter for over 10,000 books in order to win a bit more frequently! :-)

(what is the purpose of a "To Read" shelf with 10,000+ books anyway? Seems to defeat the purpose of categorizating books when every book is on the same shelf!)

LOL!

I still haven't won a book on the giveaways. I also only add books that interests me but still, haven't won zilch.

I used to get really frustrated and did everything I could to win a book like how others did, but after I found out that I haven't won the book I was absolutely dying to read, I kinda gave up getting excited and hoping to wake up and see that I have won something.

I've read that there's certain tricks to winning a book on the giveaways and I have tried them all, trust me. But it never has worked for me.

I have the worst luck ever I swear. Lol.

I somehow wound up browsing an Author's Group on GR and was fascinated to read about how frustrated the authors are about the giveaways! Apparently they are not happy with the way GR "randomly" (NOT) selects the winners. Goodreads tells authors that the winners are selected by their specific computer program that is NOT random.

Authors are finding that the winners are often readers who are GR members who have ZERO reviews, no books listed as "read", few or no friends, and are often not really interested in the type of book they are winning.

While the authors would like to contact entered readers who better match their demographics and who do review books they are forbidden to do so and if they do will never be allowed to offer books "to win"!

So it seems that both contest entrants and giveaway authors are not happy with the way GR runs the Giveaway program - the question now is why GR is not doing something to fix this to make it serve both the writers and the true readers!

GR should be supporting authors by helping them get their books into the hands of readers who will actually read the books and post reviews that will hopefully fuel sales for authors! Otherwise what is the purpose of the giveaways - to put books into the hands of people who will just resell them online??

Okay, so I just won my first book today on the giveaway! I am suuuuper excited!!!

I don't know if there's actually certain things I did to make me win, but I just know that I have been reading a lot lately and I always have rated and reviewed my books right after. So to me, it feels kinda randomized like it said.

Good luck! (:

Congrats!

Well done! I hope it's the first of many.

Thank you!!!! (:

Hi all,

I feel your frustration. I have been a member since 2011, added books, rated them and joined groups. Fair enough that I need to catch up on my reviews, but a lest I review book.

I have only won one book on the giveaway and get soooo frustrated when I see someone win who is new to the site, with no profile information, no friends and no books whatsoever.

What gives them the right to win other those who use the site regularly?

PS. Well done Stephanie n your very first win! What book did you win?

Anna wrote: "Hi all,

I feel your frustration. I have been a member since 2011, added books, rated them and joined groups. Fair enough that I need to catch up on my reviews, but a lest I review book.

I have on..."


Right? Like everyone says that you get more of a chance of winning when you have tons of books on your shelves and rate & review books.. But I don't think that's the case or else I would be winning books waay more than one! But I also haven't been on here long; I just started in August. Some people just have that kind of luck I guess.. (which isn't fair lol)

But thank you Anna! I won "The Beautiful and the Wicked". It says it's the second book in the series so when I read it, I'm not gonna have a clue what's going on exactly.. But I'll figure it out sometime lol. I haven't gotten it yet, but I won it like last sunday and it says 4-6 weeks. So yea, hopefully I get it soon, haha.

Stephanie wrote: "Anna wrote: "Hi all,

I feel your frustration. I have been a member since 2011, added books, rated them and joined groups. Fair enough that I need to catch up on my reviews, but a lest I review boo..."

I won't stop entering. I have to win again at some point.......

I hope you enjoy your book. Let me know how it is! =D

Anna wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Anna wrote: "Hi all,

I feel your frustration. I have been a member since 2011, added books, rated them and joined groups. Fair enough that I need to catch up on my reviews, but a..."

Haha, I keep entering too. Even though I like never win haha

& Thank you! I will defiantly let you know! (:

Whenever you guys do win make sure you read it and review it as quick as possible too or you never win again. Whenever I started winning I won like 22 in a month but after about 10 books needed a little break and after that I never won another book again.

Kristen wrote: "Whenever you guys do win make sure you read it and review it as quick as possible too or you never win again. Whenever I started winning I won like 22 in a month but after about 10 books needed a l..."

Yea I plan to read the book right after & review it, but I just haven't got it yet. When did your books come in? If you remember lol

Kristen wrote: "Whenever you guys do win make sure you read it and review it as quick as possible too or you never win again. Whenever I started winning I won like 22 in a month but after about 10 books needed a l..."

That isn't fair. What about if it takes you a few months to even read the book. Most of us will work a 9 till 5 job and have other responsibilities in between. I think regardless of how long it takes you to review a book you have won, you should still be in a chance of winning. At lest you gave the book a review.

Stephanie wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Whenever you guys do win make sure you read it and review it as quick as possible too or you never win again. Whenever I started winning I won like 22 in a month but after about 10 ..."

I received my book within 3-4 weeks. That was in May and have only just had a chance to finish and review the book.

I don't necessarily think that's the case. I've always read and reviewed the books right away. The main thing I noticed is that several other readers have had the same exact experience I've had with the first reads program according to what they've posted on another thread.

When I first joined, I won book after book. There were several occasions that I won a few different books on the same day. After I reviewed my first few books, I started importing all the books I own and adding reviews for them also, so that I have a good number in my profile. Since then, I hardly ever win. On the previous topic, users looked over giveaways and winners. It seems the majority of winners are users with low to zero reviews and books on their bookshelf. I'm not sure why that is, but you seem to have a much higher chance of winning as a low use/new Goodreads user than as a user that uses Goodreads frequently.

I guess we will just have to enter on a frequent basis and keep our fingers crossed. I understand rewarding new users, but they must also remember those that stay with the site.

Have you won since you have been active on the site?

Looking over my first reads bookshelf, I was able to determine when I won the books I've won. I started entering the giveaways in June of 2013 and didn't have any books on my bookshelf or reviews in the system yet. I won 4 books in June '13.

Around July '13, I started adding books on my bookshelf and put in some reviews. I didn't win anything in July.

In August, I entered another batch of books and reviews into Goodreads and didn't win anything.

In Sept , Oct & Nov of '13, I only added a few books as "read" and "to read" and only did a few reviews through that time. I won two books each of those months.

Since Nov '13, I've added quite a lot of books on my bookshelf, both as "read" and "to read" and "want to read", but I haven't won anything. I've entered the same amount as usual for me, which on average is under 15 giveaways a month since I only enter for books I think I'll read. There's another thread titled "Are Goodreads giveaway winners randomly selected" that has a bunch of good information in it, with several members that analyzed what they'd won and when.

It is a shame really. I am a genuine reviewer, just like most people out there. Yet they would prefer to allow new members win who may not even leave a review.

Thanks for your information. I will check that thread out. I think I have already read some of the posts on there.

Doesn't authors put their newest books that haven't even came out yet- on the giveaways so that the winners could read them and review them to get the word out to other readers that they should read their book?

I feel like the people on Goodreads who have lots of books on their shelves and reviews done, should have a higher chance of winning books. 'Cause unfortunately, I'm sure there's tons of people out there who don't even read the books then win, or tell anyone about them. I would be so mad as an author giving people free books away that some people won't even read.

It's not cheap to publish a book, and when you're putting all your time into something that people just set aside, it must be very aggravating!

I'm just saying, I feel like you should enter to win books that actually look interesting to you, and not enter to just win a free book. & I think people who actually enjoy reading should have a higher chance than somebody who doesn't like to read at all.

Just being completely honest. (:

Exactly. It is really unfair. I have also heard of people creating new accounts or joining goodreads just to enter the giveaways and then they sell the books they have won!

Most of the books I won came within a week or two but a few took way longer than that.

I just won my 2nd book on the giveaway. I think it may just be random. The last book I won was in May and I have only just read and reviewed it.

Now that's ridiculous! I don't understand why people would do that..

I won my book on the 7th of September and still haven't received it. I'm dying to get it though, I need something to read! Haaha.

& Congratulations Anna! What book did you win??(:

It is called Shetland. I really wanted it, but thought I had no chance. But I won it!!! Really excited and can't wait to win it.

You're book has only been 8 days. They tell you to wait at lest 30 days. It might be coming from a different country.

Oh cool!!! Yea there was this one book that I wanted suuuuuuperrr bad but I didn't win it ): lol. But that's amazing that you ended up winning that book!!! Yay!

& I know I'm just very inpatient. Lol

I'm also wondering if not receiving the book right now is making my chances of winning other books, slim. Ugh, all this stuff is so nerve racking! Lol. There's sooo many books on the giveaways that I wan't to read!!!

They say that delivery will take up to 6 weeks so they will take that into consideration.

However, I won my very first book in May and I have only just finished reading it and reviewed it on Saturday. Then today I won my second book. I don't think reviewing it straight away damages your chances to win another one.

Read the email they send you when with the book you won. It explains how to increase your chances in winning again. They do not say a time frame in which you have to read and review the book. They state that reviewing a book is not necessary.

Omg, I didn't even know that they emailed me. For some reason I didn't get a notification of that on my phone!

& Okay, good thank you. I was worried about that. Haha.

They basically say that those people who write reviews and add books to their selves have a better chance of winning. They also recommend adding a first-reads shelve and add all the books you win to it. They have made it clear in the email that writing a review of the book is not necessary and will not prevent you from winning again. They do say however, that authors expect you to write a review because that is the reason they are giving their book away for free.

On the safe side I would write a review. After all they have hosted the giveaway to which you won the book and it is a nice thing to do =)

I think it is a good idea to put the book you have won next in line to read and then review straight after you have read it.

Yea, it doesn't take me long to read a book and I reviewed all the books I have read, so that won't be an issue. I appreciate the authors giving away books for free! It's awesome how you could win a book that isn't even out yet!

The last couple of weeks actually, the publicist of a book called "Daddy Was a Punk Rocker", asked me to read and review the book because they're trying to get the word out there about their book. So I said yes, and she sent me a file on my email so I could read it off my laptop. It was such an honor that she wanted me to read that book! & I just found out about this site not to long ago, so I was brand new to this! It was so cool, and it was actually a very good book!

So right after I read it, I reviewed and starred it on Goodreads & she wanted me to do the same on Amazon. I messaged her back and told her I have finished & to go read the reviews, and she was very thankful that I have done what she wanted! She said that they are "trying to get the book out there to a wider audience" and she's sure my review will help!

So reading and reviewing books is something I love to do, that's why I get so excited winning a book or even buying a new book! There's so many great stories out there that just need a little help getting noticed!

I know if I was an author, I would probably have done the same thing that the publicist did to me. Find people who really liked a book similar to the book I have written, and ask them to read and review it. Or as most authors do, put it up on the giveaways.

I feel like that's something that some people don't get. Authors are putting their books up on the giveaways to get noticed! So if you win a free book, the least you can do is review it, even if it's bad or good! I'm sure it would really help the author, knowing what others think about their book. & I'm defiantly sure that they don't care how fast you finish it either. Everyone reads at their own pace.

I bet you felt really good when she approached you, that's awesome!

Everyone is different, some people are nicer then others and do what they can to help people. people may be really busy and just don't have the time. I know I have spent awhile thinking of what to say in reviews. Others may just not like the idea of reviewing a book and people reading what they have said. It's not for everyone.

Just keep entering. I check the giveaways every few days.

Stephanie. If you are happy to read e-books on your laptop or phone, and want more free books than you will ever be able to read, try getting the free kindle app (if you don't have an actual kindle). Quite a few of the books in the Goodreads giveaways are free at some point. I'm in the UK and I get loads of free Kindle books. I see you are in the USA but it seems to be pretty much the same. For example, Clarity by Loretta Lost has been in the giveaways very recently and it is currently free as an Amazon Kindle e-book in the USA as well as the UK.

Anna, It did! Haha, I was like of course I feel so honored! Lol. & I know.. I'm just the kind of person that thinks of others (maybe a little too much) and I would do anything for anybody. If they deserve it, that is. LOL

& Michelle, sadly I don't have a kindle.. I never really was interested in those because I personally, enjoy having the actual book in my hand while reading it! The ebook was new to me, and she only sent me an ebook because she said that they don't even have an actual copy made yet. So I'm assuming they're trying to get their book more noticed before making copies. I just read the ebook to help her out, and it looked very interesting to me.

But thank you for that information! I'll defiantly let my friends, who have kindles, know about that! 'Cause that is really cool!

Who doesn't love free stuff? Haha.

I know what you mean about the kindle. I swore I would never get one because I love the feel and smell (!) of a "real" book. I love it now though. The app is free for laptops and some phones (PC too), if you ever change your mind.

Yes! The smell of books is amazing! Haha, I normally don't tell people that though 'cause some people just don't get it. Haha, or they think it's weird that books smell good to me. I don't know.

But yea having a real book in my hand, reading it or finishing it, just leaves a better feeling then when I was reading it on my laptop. So I always felt like I shouldn't get a kindle if I just love reading real books that much. But who knows, later down the road, I might just look into getting one someday. (:

Oh my days! I love the smell of books. I can spend my days in library's and bookshops smelling them. Not like I do.......That would be weird.....

The first thing I do before I read my books is smell them. I can't believe I just confessed to that.

I will never switch to a kindle or anything like that. I hope the day doesn't come when a physical book is forgotten. I will be doomed.

The kindle is great for all the freebies you can get, and it's instant, just download your book and no waiting a week or more for the postman to deliver! I try to alternate and read a kindle book then a "proper book". I still find I read and buy more proper books than e-books. Hence my home is full of book shelves!

I have to agree about physical books. I use a a Kindle for free books and for books I know I might like but probably won't cherish. There are also a few Authors I read that mainly publish ebooks, but for my favorite authors, books I'm really excited about and books I want to show or tell others about, I stick with actual books over ebooks. I also have a habit of browsing in bookstores and buying books that sound interesting. I don't really browse ebooks that much, so I have a basement full of books also, lol.

With ebooks I just feel like I'm reading someones essay or bio on social media.. not a book. Haha, that might sound odd but to me, reading ebooks don't feel the same as reading a real book.

With real books, you don't have to charge them or put batteries in them! They will never die! Haha.

I don't know, I really don't hope that real books go instinct cause I will be lost....

& I would miss the feeling I get when I finished a book & put it on my bookshelf. I can't get that feeling with an ebook! Lol, I'm a nerd when it comes to reading.

But oh well what can you do. (:

Well, I actually won a book the other day! A memoir entitled "Home Sweet Anywhere: How We Sold Our House, Created a New Life, and Saw the World". I'm excited about it because I've been looking for a fun and light read, so this fits the bill. I was beginning to think my losing streak was permanent, so I was very happy to discover it wasn't.

Congrats! I'm glad you won!
You'll have to tell us how the book is (:

Anna wrote: "They basically say that those people who write reviews and add books to their selves have a better chance of winning. They also recommend adding a first-reads shelve and add all the books you win t..."

I thought adding the books I've entered to win to the "To Read" shelf would make a difference but every book I've won was not on that shelf. So, I don't think it matters.
(The only entries that I put on my "to read" shelf are books I've intended to purchase before or are on a "wish list" such as on Amazon.)

Also, I never read or reviewed the first book I won (in Feb. 2014), but DID read and review the following 3 books that I've won as soon as I could.
I also have added a "first reads" shelf.

However, I won a book in March, June and July this year and felt that was a decent time frame with which to get selected. I don't feel it had anything to do with my completion of a review though.

So, even if it does somehow make a difference (marking "to read", writing reviews, adding a "first read" shelf)....I haven't won recently and I haven't changed anything.

As I've said, its just frustrating. And I've actually had more entries the past couple months so it would seem logical the my chances would also increase. But it seems like despite doing all that is "required", I'm suddenly unable to win.

Does it have something to do with posting a comment here complaining about it? I would hope not!!!

I guess the bottom line is that "random" means that none of the things people do or don't do would or SHOULD matter anyway.

«shrug»

Oh, but I'm glad to hear Stephanie ended up finally winning!!

:-)

Haha, why thank you Niknik! (:

Michelle wrote: "I know what you mean about the kindle. I swore I would never get one because I love the feel and smell (!) of a "real" book. I love it now though. The app is free for laptops and some phones (PC..."

I, too, felt the same way about sticking with physical books until I received my Kindle as a gift.

Now, I enjoy the ease of e-books!

It's great for those freebies (like thru BookBub or Early Bird books) because otherwise I'd have way too many physical books than I'd be able to handle! LOL!

Stephanie wrote: "With ebooks I just feel like I'm reading someones essay or bio on social media.. not a book. Haha, that might sound odd but to me, reading ebooks don't feel the same as reading a real book.

With ..."

I think you're the only other person I've heard phrase it that way. I also dislike ebooks because it feels as though I'm reading a blog rather then a book. :)