Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme created by Rukky @Eternity Books and co-hosted by Aria @Book Nook Bits and Dini @DiniPandaReads! In this discussion meme, participants get to talk about certain topics, share opinions, and spread the love by visiting each other’s posts! Learn more about LTB, past topics and future topics HERE.

Today’s prompt: Writing & Posting Book Reviews (Laurie @ Laurie is Reading) Writing book reviews is a huge part of running a book blog. Do book reviews make up a big part of your blog content? Do you prefer to write long or short reviews? How does reviewing advance copies (ARCs) and working directly with authors and publishers change your approach to writing the reviews? Do you post on platforms other than your blog (i.e. Goodreads, The Storygraph, social media) and do those reviews differ from what you share on your blog?

---

Happy Friday, all! I hope your readings are going well and that you are healthier than we are! We came down with the flu last night, so a lot of runny noses and a mountain of tissues and cold medicines are piling up around the flat… Anywhooo, we are fine, it’s just the weather has decided to play Loki and is tricking us.

1. Writing book reviews is a huge part of running a book blog. Do book reviews make up a big part of your blog content?

Absolutely yes. I started off this blog with the idea of documenting my thoughts and sharing my views on the books I am reading. Hence, reviews make up 90% of my content on the blog. However, I now tend to also participate in book memes, book blitzes, cover reveals and book tours since I also enjoy this part of being a book blogger and helping out authors whenever I can. Additionally this is a great way of getting to know more fellow book lovers and enjoy their content as well.

2. Do you prefer to write long or short reviews?

This really depends on the book and the impact it had on me. If I must choose, I fall somewhere in the middle, neither short nor too long. I do have a Mini Reviews category, especially for those books that can be summed up with a brief review. I usually reserve those for graphic novels or books I read quite some time ago, and I do not recall all the details so I write a mini-review of what my thoughts and emotions were from what I can remember.

3. How does reviewing advance copies (ARCs) and working directly with authors and publishers change your approach to writing the reviews?

It is simple. It doesn’t. I retain myself to be true to my beliefs, and if I don’t like something or the book doesn’t click with me, I will voice it out. Of course, I am not here to offend or attack anyone personally. Just to share my honest opinion on the material I’ve been given. I always try to be fair in my judgment whilst staying true to myself as well. I must tell you there have been books with very low ratings that I have loved and others with high ratings that I simply for the life of me could not click with and were a NOPE for me. But absolutely regardless if it is big or small press or self-published etc. it will not change the way I review/rate an ARC.

Prioritising the books I have kindly been sent by authors, publishers, etc., is based on whoever contacted me first or if there is a due date that they would like me to respect for the review or the content that is going to be published by me.

4. Do you post on platforms other than your blog (i.e. Goodreads, The Storygraph, social media) and do those reviews differ from what you share on your blog?

Yes, I tend to cross-post my reviews on my other social media. Mainly on Goodreads, Amazon, X, The StoryGraph and Fable.

No, what I post on my blog is the same throughout my other platforms. It is possible that in NetGalley, I will post a shorter version and then link the full review to my blog, but other than that, they are the same.

Have a lovely day, and happy reading 🙂