Beauty and the Alchemist is up on Goodreads! You can find it here if you’d like to add it to your “Want to Read” shelf. You can also check out my page and review The Carousel Capers while you’re there. 😉 (Hi, friends who read this blog on Goodreads!)
Why Goodreads? Well, mostly for a chance to share it–essentially, for the exposure. While books aren’t sold directly through Goodreads, the site has become a social place with tons of book reviews. It’s really more for readers than for authors, and here’s why: some of the reviews can be harsh (yikes!). Most reviews are kind or helpful–some incredibly detailed–but all the same, authors are often advised not to look at their reviews too closely.
And why is that? Well, it’s the internet, for one thing. I think some reviewers base their “personas” around being very direct or critical. But also, like I said above, Goodreads is for readers first and foremost. I myself use it–primarily as a log of what I’ve read. And when you’re using it that way, books become more a matter of personal opinion, and it’s easier to forget about the business side of things, or the feelings of their authors. Writing Goodreads reviews can fill a gap for readers who don’t get the chance to discuss what they read with friends directly. I myself have gotten carried away once or twice, I must admit. 🙂 To be honest, reviews in general are a bit of a sticky issue–authors need them, particularly self-published authors; but they can also be terrifying!
All that said, the book must be published, even if some bad comes along with the good. And on the whole, I love Goodreads, both as an author and as a reader. Having my books listed on the site is a milestone all its own! 😀
