If you want me to review a book, please read my other reviews to see first and foremost if I will like the book. I usually tend to read BEAUTIFUL WRITING which leads me into a lot of literary fiction. I’m not opposed to young adult fiction that challenges young adults in major ways (and doesn’t treat them as “young adults” but insightful and unique individuals). I like historical fiction that matches with what history tells us, but imagines the in-between conversations. Other genres I like: poetry, non-fiction, memoir, and travel. Just read a few reviews and you will realize whether a book will work for this blog. If it doesn’t, I usually won’t answer a review request, or I will review the book and be unabashed in what I thought (which I always am).
Here’s what you can expect after you send me a book: It can take me anywhere from 1 week to 3 months to review a book. This means I may not finish a book by its publication date. Sometimes authors forget that bloggers have families and full-time jobs. I’m a student, as well as having two jobs, a nephew, and a bookish cat lady life. I like to keep my routine going. Please keep this in mind when you ask me for a review.
Another thing about my review process is that I don’t review every book I read. Sometimes I won’t like a book’s voice, the writing style, the language, or even the story and in that case I will usually write the publisher and ask where they would like me to go from there. I don’t enjoy writing negative reviews and sometimes I comfortably pass on books because I know that other readers will love the book, but it doesn’t match my particular taste.
If you’d still like a review, even after I email saying it wasn’t satisfactory in my opinion, you should know I will make this clear when I write the review. I don’t often write negative reviews, but if your book has spelling and grammar errors, or it just really needed work in areas – I will say what I feel. Please keep this in mind. With this, I would rather not read self-published books. None of this indicates that I am mean, it’s that I’m honest and the world needs honest reviewers.
With all that said, reading is my passion. If you know you have something I’ll swoon over, send it my way. I am more than willing to take chances on books (independent authors, and publishing house authors are all welcome). From time to time I will read a self-published book because the author pinpoints my direct interest (most of the time it’s after they’ve read quite a few of my blog posts and know what I like).
I prefer to get review requests via email: clmannes@gmail.com
