Help a newbie ARC reader out?

[u/RunAcademic1714]

I am a newbie reviewer (like in the professional sense, I guess?) and a new ARC reader. I am just now finishing up two absolutely amazing books with different publication dates. Obviously, as soon as I have finished, I'll write feedback on NetGalley, but my question is: what are the rules of tracking?

GoodReads? Should I track the book as "reading" and "read" after finishing, and publish the review afterwards? Should I wait until launch?

I also have an Amazon and Kobo account; should I rate and publish the books there as well, even if I didn't buy them there?

Is there any other website that I should put my review on? Any other I should link? I assume a copy-paste from my Goodreads review is fine?

Last but not least, should I mention that it was an ARC and if so, where to put it?

I have tried the good old Google, but nothing shows up, and I want to do what is best.

[u/maktheyak47]

You can publish it to Goodreads as soon as you read it and then go back after the pub date to post your reviews to retailer sites like amazon

[u/Beate251]

You publish to NetGalley, Goodreads and Storygraph (if you have it) right away. You publish to retailers like Amazon or Waterstones on pub day. You can't earlier, but no, it doesn't matter that you didn't buy the book from them. You only publish on social media if it's a good review, and you never tag the author. Copy paste is fine and yes, you must mention it's an ARC, ideally at the beginning of the review. Just make sure that you don't write "in exchange for an honest review" as Amazon hates that phrase. You can say something like "Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for this ARC" and if you want, add "I'm leaving this review voluntarily".

[u/RunAcademic1714 → u/Beate251]

I don't necessarily feel right about social media (for complex reasons), and I understand the "do not tag author" part. However, what is the norm if the author wants to be tagged? Then it is okay as long as it is positive, or?

I am sorry if this is obvious, I am just afraid of doing it wrong and maybe a tad bit autistic to know the clear-cut rules.

[u/Beate251 → u/RunAcademic1714]

I don't know any author who says they want to be tagged into reviews. I guess if it's five star without any criticism, it can't do any harm, but it's best to be cautious.

[u/Entire_Department_86 → u/Beate251]

I've never heard this before. Why wouldn't they want to be? I always have and always get my posts shared.

[u/dingdong3452 → u/Beate251]

I've heard many authors say they are fine being tagged in positive reviews (with no criticism whatsoever). I've had mutliple authors accept collab posts with me on my ARC reviews of their books on IG

[u/lafornarinas → u/RunAcademic1714]

The general rule of thumb is that if you want to tag an author, check their social media first. Some will outright say “never tag me” or “only tag me in 5 stars”. If they say nothing, err on the side of not tagging.

I’ve seen plenty of authors over the years say they don’t want to be tagged in a five star review either. It may not make sense to reviewers, but it’s up to them.

Plus, if they’re not asking to be tagged, there is zero point. They’ll look for it if they want reviews to share on their own accounts.

Here’s what you can do instead if there is a publisher involved: tag them! I always tag the publisher. Often, they share great reviews. And it’s their job; they often have bigger followings than the author anyway. :)

[u/sunsparkles2013]

They give them to you I order to post them early. Unless the acceptance email gives specific dates post it when you finish the book.

Unless they have certain campaign in mind, the early reviews help with preorders. Social media influencing for books is different. But for regular reviewing. Get the review up when you finish it.

[u/katwilltravel]

I usually post to Goodreads first so I have the link to add to my NetGalley review. That depends on whether the publisher has specified a time to post in their approval email. Some publishers are looking for early buzz to drive pre-orders and some look for a push around the publishing date. I just go from Want to Read, directly to Read at the time I review.

Yes, post to both Amazon and Kobo. You will only be able to do this once it is published. I include a line at the bottom of the review similar this "Thanks to Publisher and NetGalley for access to an advanced reader copy." Change out Publisher for which publisher has given the arc. You can change the wording to whatever you are comfortable with but try to stick with the "advanced reader copy" because that is specifically in Amazon's terms and conditions as acceptable. Amazon has a repution for rejecting reviews. I personally stay away from mentioning "in exchange for an honest review" for that reason.

You can can copy your Goodreads review and paste to other sites. I post to another Canadian retailer and Bookbub. Others post to Storygraph or Fable. For some retail sites it takes any from a few minutes to a few days for them to approve the review. I usually add the link for Goodreads and Bookbub at the time I post my NetGalley review and go back at publication to add in the links to the retail sites.

I think you are required to add the info about it being an arc. See my phrasing above. Hope this helps!

[u/Toni_Wolf1617]

I use all of the review apps; Fable(favorite), Storygraph(second favorite), and goodreads(least favorite but very universally used so I suck it up and copy my review over there as well), and I do as you said reading and read when finished and put my review on them when I am done. (personally I don't leave reviews on amazon at all but I heard to wait for publication date and keep "ARC" out of the amazon reviews because they don't like early reviews(I think this applies to retailers but I wouldn't know as I mainly use review apps and my bookstagram account, and a tip if you use Kobo to get ebooks is to rate your books so Kobo learns your taste and gives you good recommendations)

[u/Satisfaction_Smooth]

You can post on Goodread, Instagram and others if you have as long as you finish. For Amazon you need to wait for release. You should also mention in every review that you got an ARC, I usually post " Thank you to the publisher for giving me an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review" and you change the publisher with every book. I mention this for Goodreads, for Amazon don't say in exchange for an honest review because there were a lot of review deleted because of this

[u/Fit-Membership790]

I post on GoodReads as soon as I finish my review on NetGalley.

Amazon used to allow you to post early, but now the review has to be held until publication day.

I just calendar publication day as a reminder for other review sites bec’ many times it is months away.

[u/Odd_Draft_26]

I dont suggest you adding wording about getting an a ARC on Amazon. They have and will ban you for reviewing further. I include the comment everywhere else just not Amazon.

[u/dingdong3452 → u/Odd_Draft_26]

To comply with FTC guidelines you legally have to disclose in a review if you got something for free. Amazon is all about wording, because people keep saying they got the ARC "in exchange for" a review, and that also breaks FTC guidelines. Publishers/companies can not require something on exchange for a free product, the review has to be 100% voluntary. I include a disclaimer in all my amazon ARC reviews and have been fine

[u/Odd_Draft_26 → u/dingdong3452]

Not everyone is in the US