ask@AAR: What’s the point of an honest book review? : All About Romance %

I had a disappointing expertise this week. There’s one writer that AAR has reviewed 13 instances previously six years. Throughout that point, we have given her three A’s, three A’s, three B+’s, one B, a B- and a C’s. Since 2017, she’s solely gotten A’s and B+’s right here. She has a brand new ebook popping out subsequent month and I contacted her publicist to see if we might get a assessment copy.

At first, stated editor requested the place we’d publish our evaluations. After I informed her that we solely promise posts on our website and defined to her who we’re, she then wrote me this:

I do know you guys and I’ve given you ARCs earlier than, however I’ve by no means given one with out realizing who the reviewer is. As I am certain you possibly can perceive, I am unlikely to provide away a free ebook to somebody who hasn’t typically appreciated their books previously. Are you able to inform me who the examiner is?

I answered :

We don’t launch the names of evaluations to editors, nor can we promise constructive evaluations. We’re an expert and unbiased website.

I by no means heard from her once more.

Most AAR ebook evaluations come from Netgalley, Edelweiss, or publishers. I’ve by no means been requested earlier than who may be the reviewer for a sure ebook, and I’ve definitely by no means heard it implied that to get a ebook, AAR will need to have appreciated an writer’s work previously. Now I am certain the publicists needed it and we have been turned down – anonymously – as a result of we’re not a avenue crew. However this interplay was so bare we solely give ARCs to these we’re fairly certain will rave in regards to the ebook. (Do not even get me began on the free ebook factor. We do not cost for evaluations and we by no means inform anybody give us your ebook and we’ll do it totally free when you…..)

And I perceive. I do. Writing a ebook is each an act of affection and lots of work. Giving your hard-earned phrases to somebody who would possibly throw them away appears counter-intuitive and probably self-defeating. Why ought to authors allow us to assessment their books with none ensures?

I do know what I feel however I am curious? What do you assume?