Review Group discussion

The review group is the most successful group for peer reviews on Goodreads. It hosts non-reciprocal reading/review rounds of ten authors with a variety of themes and genres, as well as ‘general’ rounds where any book is permitted, from non-fiction, to horror. When a round has ‘now forming’ in the title, there are places available, you can sign up. If it doesn’t, it’s full – look for another round or check back another time.

The Amazon rules state that authors/publishers are not allowed to specifically supply published books in return for reviews on Amazon. To comply with this rule, we don’t insist members review on Amazon, but we do insist that every participant in the round has the capacity to leave a review on their local Amazon store, so we all start with the same options.

The founding principle of the group is honest, non-reciprocal reviews, so please help maintain the integrity of the group by letting me know as you sign up if you have been reviewed by, or have reviewed another author in the group and do check back as the group fills to report any clashes. Usually places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

This is a 'Novella' round.

Fiction and non-fiction, adult and children's books under 45,000 Words

Please note it is always possible that the books you are assigned may contain material you find upsetting or offensive. If you can't commit to this, please do not sign up.

Now for the boring stuff, but please read it, it saves a lot of time if everyone is on the same wavelength.
Before signing up below with your Goodreads author and Goodreads book link in the thread below, please ensure that:

1. You have enough time to read and review 4 books within the 12 weeks of time allowed.

2. Your book is currently available for sale on Amazon (not pre-order) and it complies with the individual round theme, if there is one.

3. Your book is fit to be reviewed.
If it is not, due to editing or other issues, you risk poor reviews. This is your problem, not that of the reviewers or the groups. For a small fee, the group admin will look at the first few pages of your book to advise. The number one error new authors make is not having their book beta read and edited, by non-family members.

4. You can submit reviews to Goodreads and Amazon.
Amazon allows only those people who have spent $50 in the last year to leave reviews in each of their stores. If you are unsure about your Amazon reviewer status, try posting a ‘test’ review before signing up. If you are unable to post reviews on Amazon, please do not sign up.

5. You can provide (and accept) at least PDF files.
You are not expected or required to buy the books you are allocated to review, but as this will give a ‘Verified Purchase’ review on Amazon, it is welcomed when you choose to do so. Many authors have books available via KU and others might provide smashwords coupons. Most authors can provide mobi and/or epub files directly by email. Please note: International Copyright laws apply. You cannot sell, or give away material you have received without the author’s express permission.

6. You have completed your reading if you are currently in another review round in this group. You can be involved in the ‘one for one’ list whilst you are in a round.

7. You have an author profile set up before you join.

8. Your Goodreads profile allows people to message you, i.e. your profile is not set to private.

9. You declare any relationship you have with another member in the round.
Amazon will not allow reviews from the same household on the same book or if you are an editor, relative or close friend of another member.

10. You agree that your reviews will be unbiased and honest, whatever the star rating, and you will try to avoid ‘spoilers’. i.e. giving away the finale of a book. Please note the Review Group will back any reviewer's right to express their opinion about a book, but personal comments about a fellow author are against both Review Group and Goodreads policy.

11. You will not ask a fellow author to change a review of your book because you don’t agree with it.
If you think you have a legitimate concern, talk to the mod of your round, NOT the other author. Personal attacks, or pressurising other members WILL NOT BE TOLERATED and will result in you being blacklisted.

Please note:
We all want reviews, it’s why we joined the group. It is bad taste to expect other people to review your book and then not do the same for other people in the group. People that DNF and/or don’t post reviews will find it difficult to get into a subsequent group.

It is not necessary to leave any kind of disclaimer in your review, but ultimately, it is up to individuals. Reviews that state you received a copy ‘in return’ for a review will probably be removed/not allowed by amazon.com. ‘I received a free copy from the author without an obligation to review’ would be more acceptable if you feel the need to add a disclaimer.

Your Goodreads details and the rounds you participate in may be recorded by the admin mod on a database. We do not retain details of email addresses etc.

Allocation is entirely random and there will NOT be any rearranging of the listing to accommodate personal preference. The ONLY circumstance in which you may duck out of giving a review is if YOU provide a stand-in reviewer.

The only way this group can function is if we trust each other to behave honourably. And it IS perfectly possible to give a fair-minded review of a text that does not coincide with our normal choice of reading matter. If you need a few hints/tips, please see this thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I will do my best to fit everyone into the group they request, but occasionally, particularly in the case of our more prolific good standing members, I may have to decline a member request to fit the maximum number of people into a particular round. I will always endeavour to start another round as soon as possible with that member in mind.

It is permissible to review an author more than once if a different book is available.
If you need anything clarified please ask, either by goodreads personal message to me or on the thread below, before signing up. It’s a pain to have to keep rearranging the list because people haven’t read the above.

Your group moderator will be:
Jeff Chapman

Member Links * Book Links
1. Jeff Chapman*Krampus Comes to Town
2. S. Lynn Helton*Trial Run
3. Whittney Corum*Simple Heart
4. Denis Roubien*Crete. Wonders of a glorious land: A different Greece travel book
5. P.L. Tavormina*Vengeance: A Tale from Turaset
6. E.K. Frances*The Compound: A YA Dark Dystopian
7. K.T. Munson*Half Gate
8. Sean DeLauder*Machines and Their Humans


In order to participate in this round, your setting for 'Who Can Send Me Private Messages' needs to be 'anyone'.
Please follow this link to check - and if necessary change - your privacy setting.

https://www.goodreads.com/user/edit?t...

I want to sign up with my novella Krampus Comes to Town. This is a horror story.

If someone does not want to read a horror story, I have fantasy or historical novellas that can be substituted.

Welcome, Jeff.

Thank you Kat! <3

I'd love to join with Vengeance, my newest work and a prequel to my science fantasy series. It's 38,000 words.

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

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

All, it will help me greatly if as people join the round, you will update me with anyone you have reviewed in the past, or who has reviewed you. I will try to check bookshelves as well, but the more eyes we have checking, the more likely we are to get an order that works for everyone from the get go. :)

To check if you have reviewed someone in the past, please go to your My Books, and type in the name of the author in question. That will tell you if you have reviewed them before.

To check if someone has reviewed YOU, go to their author profile, click under their avatar where it says 100 reviews (or whatever) and that will take you to their bookshelf. Then type in your name in their search bar to see if they have reviewed you before.

Hope this helps!

You're welcome. 💕

Welcome, PL.

Oh OOPPSS! Sorry Kat, I forget to do that every single danged time.

Jeff reviewed me in round 301. That was a different title, though, and according to my records he only reviewed me the one time!

I would like to join with my non-fiction book.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
I have reviewed P.L.

I'd like to join with my fantasy novella (~23,250 words) Trial Run, if I can fit.

Jeff and Balroop have both reviewed me before, but not this book. I've reviewed P.L. before - all of the Turaset books currently available - which leaves only an anthology ("Writers in Lockdown") in which she has a story. It's not a novella, but I could read and review it. It just wouldn't be reviewing only her. (None of the other authors in the anthology have reviewed me before - the best I can tell.)

-Lynn

My Goodreads book link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

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

Welcome, Lynn and Balroop.

I have reviewed Balroop Singh's Allow Yourself To Be A Better Person.

I have reviewed S. Lynn Helton's Bye-Bye Magpie and Crystalborne Sigils.

I have reviewed P.L. Tavormina'a Seven Strengths: A Tale from Turaset.

Hello all,
I would like to join the group with my short story listed below:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTTQL2X3
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

I have reviewed Balroop. Jeff and P.L. have reviewed Jane Digby's Diary.
Thanks, CR

CR, I apologize, but do not see a way that I can fit you in with those clashes. If someone else spots an order that works that I am not seeing, please feel free to message me.

Jeff and P.L. have reviewed Jane Digby's Diary, but not the short story I wish to have reviewed with this group. Does that help?

Hey CR :). With the clashes the previous four people have reported and the ones you have (you've reviewed Balroop, Jeff and PL have reviewed you), I cannot see a way to wiggle the order around and fit you in. However if you (or someone else) sees a way to reorder the list that works for everyone's clashes, please feel free to PM it to me.

Thanks Kat for trying!

I would like to enter with my novella
Antuna's Story
Terry Birdgenaw

This book has been reviewed by Lynn, Jeff and P.L. I have never reviewed or been reviewed by Balroop. Jeff and P.L. could read either of my other two books in the series, although they are too long to be called novellas. Lynn has read all my books.

Terry, I don't see a way to make it work out. I apologize. There are lots of people who have previously interacted before in this round, which makes it tricky.

Okay, I guessed that might happen.

Hi, I would like to join with the following book of 33,000 words. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
Jeff and Balroop have reviewed other books of mine. I think there are no other clashes.

Welcome, Denis.

I've reviewed Denis before. A different book.
-Lynn

S.Lynn wrote: "I've reviewed Denis before. A different book.
-Lynn"

Thank you. :)

I have reviewed Denis before, his book about Paris.

S.Lynn wrote: "I've reviewed Denis before. A different book.
-Lynn"

That's right, sorry for forgetting you!

Denis wrote: "That's right, sorry for forgetting you!"

No worries! :)

May I join with my book Happiness 4 U. I have reviewed A.lynn Helton but not this book and Balroop Singh has received mine.

This is the link to my book https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BN9F3FKN

Hi Cindy!

This is a novella round for books with words counts under 45,000 words. When I check your page count, it is 301 pages. Does your book fit in with this round?

Hi all. I don't believe there are any members of this group who have received or provided a review from or to me as yet, so if possible I'd like to submit a collection of related short stories that clocks in at about 30,000 words.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

If short-story collections do not fit the requirements I completely understand, in which case I have a book that fits the definition of novella and, incredibly, is also 30,000 words in length.

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

Thanks!

I am sorry I missed the word count and yes it over 45,000

That's okay, Cindy. We'll catch you on the next round. I believe Gene has just opened an "In This World" round if you think your book might fit there?

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Welcome, Sean.

Thank you, Kat:)

I have reviewed none of Sean's books, nor has he reviewed any of my books.

I would like to submit my story Simple Heart for this.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

I have no clashes with Whittney.
-Lynn

No clashes with Whittney.

No clash!

Hi Whittney!

Before I can add you, there is one review you still have outstanding from round 314. You can see the details of what you still need to post in the 314 thread (last post.) After you get that taken care of, I will be happy to add you to this round.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I just posted the review on the discussion on 314.

Perfect thanks, Whittney! Added you here.

I'd like to join with Half Gate which is right at 45,000, but I'm not sure I can fit because Balroop, P.L., and Denis have all read me (not this book though) and I've read S. Lynn. I'd really love to join, but understand if I can't fit.

I have no conflicts with K.T. in either direction.

Just wanted to say that I LOVE the idea of novella rounds!
My only novella under 45 is currently making the magazine rounds so I'm opting out for now - but good luck everybody! Glad to see this is part of the group

Happy to read another book by KT!

KT, I'm sorry but I don't think I can make it fit. It's hard for me to wiggle the order of the people in positions 1-5 at this point. We do have two other open rounds at the moment, however, a clean round and an IN this world round, if you have a book that might fit either of those categories?

Kat wrote: "KT, I'm sorry but I don't think I can make it fit. It's hard for me to wiggle the order of the people in positions 1-5 at this point. We do have two other open rounds at the moment, however, a clea..."

Thanks for taking a look!

Hi Kat,

Please can I sign up with The Compound.

Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Goodreads book page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

I've reviewed Lynn and Sean, although not the books they have listed. P.L. has reviewed me, but not the book listed. Not sure you can fit me in ...

The Compound is an ARC which should be available on Kobo / B&N in next 72 hours. I can provide a PDF or ePub. Happy to have reviews just on Goodreads, with BookBub / B&N / Kobo as a plus.

Thanks!!

Hi EK! I wish I could fit you in, but with those clashes, I am not able to move people around to do so.

No worries, thank you for trying :)