By Tessa Pulyer Posted on

#BookBloggerHop | Choosing Books to Read

The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Jennifer @ Crazy-For-Books in March 2010 and ended on December 31, 2012. With Jennifer’s permission, Billy @ Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer relaunched the hop on February 15, 2013. Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end the following Thursday. There will be a weekly prompt featuring a book related question. The hop’s purpose is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to their own blog.

Are you able to choose your favorite books?

(submitted by Julie @ Stepping Stone Book Reviews)

I’ll be honest – I’m not sure exactly what this question is asking. Every book I choose, whether requesting an ARC, taking advantage of a widget, purchasing, or borrowing from the library are all books that I think have the potential of becoming a favorite.

The only exception is possibly blog tour books. Some of them have been favorites, but I do occasionally agree to participate in a tour to be helpful knowing that the book won’t likely be one I enjoy.

I have a pretty good record on NetGalley getting approved for books that I really want (other than Berkley books, but I haven’t seen any of theirs that I just had to have). I think that’s because of my profile. I do update it often and make sure to share stats in a way that puts more emphasis on the numbers that are more impressive. I even calculate growth quarterly and annually and share that info as well. Also, in my profile, I share a list of authors I enjoy over and above what I’ve read on NetGalley, to give them a good idea of what I like. Lastly, I explain my blog schedule, including the memes, emphasizing what that will mean for exposure regarding their books. I always keep in mind that ARC approvals are part of a publisher’s marketing campaign, so I focus on how I can help them in regards to getting the book exposure as well as my philosophy on book reviews.

Of the 400 books I requested over the last few years, I’ve been approved for 375 of them and of the ones that declined, most of those were in the beginning (plus I still have 3 books pending approval). That means my approval rating is around 95%. So, I guess that would translate to: with NetGalley, I have a 95% chance to get my favorite books and, with buying, I have a 100% chance.

Are you able to choose your favorite books? What do you think this prompt is asking specifically?

28 Replies to “#BookBloggerHop | Choosing Books to Read”

  4. Renee Nash says:

    Berkley is my nemesis! I’ve signed up for a few book buddy reading tours on Instagram, but they so far are only for not my usual genres. I am hoping I get out of my genre box and maybe they will look more favorably upon any requests I am foolish enough to eagerly await their decline!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      Berkley is just too much. I don’t know why they aren’t just honest in their who they approve section. Because by that, neither one of us should have a problem with approval- you through IG and me through my blog. Go figure.

      Like

  5. Teri Polen says:

    My approval rating would be about the same if I didn’t have 33 ARCs on my shelf (right now it’s 92%), lol. I really like that you’ve included all that info in your profile – gives me some ideas about changing mine. Thanks, Tessa!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      I won’t tell you how many I have 😳 but I’m still at 80% feedback ratio. I think that’s the important number.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Janette says:

    I hadn’t thought about altering my favourite authors in my profile to encourage publishers to approve my requests. I haven’t any idea what my approval rating is but I seem to get most of the books that I request. Interestingly, the ones I don’t are often the ones I really want but maybe that just means that those books are ultra popular. I’m definitely going to look at my profile 😃

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      Or sometimes those are the books that are only on NetGalley because they sent out widgets – so it’s like a “by invitation only” kind of thing.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Jonetta | Blue Mood Café says:

    I find the question curious, too, so I’ll go with your explanation😏

    The only time I’m reading a book where it might not end up being a favorite is when I participate in a Goodreads group read. As a moderator, I feel obligated to read the series that are selected and so far, I’ve been fortunate. To date, there’s only been one where I discontinued, but so did the rest of the participants. Otherwise, I’m almost destined to choose favorites from my shelf because I vet them before adding. It’s why my Goodreads average rating is high.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      Exactly! If they are good then they become a favorite and why would you choose a book that didn’t have that potential.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Books Teacup and Reviews says:

    That’s a vague question. No one can exactly choose a favorite book and the choice only becomes clear after we finish the book. I’ve good approval ratio too but now I don’t request much looking at my ratio of 60%. That is not going up anytime soon as I get many preapproved widgets from publishers and they are too irresistible to not download plus I’m an average reader who can’t read more than 7 books a month! It’s also a reason I don’t participate in blog tours anymore as I don’t want to add another book on the top of long list of “Still haven’t read”. But I very rarely request on NetGalley when I see a book that I really really want and I’m sure I’m not getting that widget directly from the publisher. And though I’m around for long time, I still get rejection sometimes and I bet it’s because of the ratio.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Louise H says:

    I’m wondering if the question means can you choose one single book that is your favourite, or would a list of 100 be as close as you could get?
    I could *maybe* give a top 3 for each genre – no, that’s a lie. It would be like asking me who my favourite child is!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Mae Clair says:

    You have an awesome approval rating on Net Galley, but given how much work you put into reviewing that’s understandable.
    I’m not sure I understand the prompt either, but the books I choose–whether requesting them on NG, purchasing from Amazon or a brick-and-mortar store, or borrowing them from the library–they’re books that sound appealing to me, and thus have a good chance of becoming a favorite. I just hit a local bookstore today and picked up another seven books!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. WendyW says:

    I hope that every book I choose becomes my favorite, but of course only a few will.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Carla says:

    I was thinking the question is asking if someone asks me what my favourite book is, could I answer? My short answer is no because I have loved so many. I am impressed by your stats, Tessa. I have requested books that I thought I would enjoy and they bombed, but that is bound to happen when I read so many.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      For sure! My list of favorites is unapologetically long. That’s probably why I couldn’t figure out that’s what the question was asking. 🤣

      Liked by 1 person

  13. D. Wallace Peach says:

    I’ve always wondered about NetGalley, either as a writer or reader. It’s expensive to use as a writer and seems a little complicated as a reader/reviewer. I’m not sure I’d like the rules, since I just read for fun and relaxation. But you’ve clearly gone all in, Tessa, which must make it a much better experience. 375 books is awesome! Happy Reading!

    Liked by 1 person

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