Advance Reader Copies – Review Sooner or Later?
“Thoughtful Ramblings” is a feature where we discuss bookish subjects. These posts are just our own thoughts about certain topics that may get us hot under the collar and we need a good rant or just things we want to share with fellow bloggers and readers.
ARCs – Review Sooner or Later?
I have a bit of a dilemma.
Getting books sent for review it pretty fantastic. I can honestly say that getting books through the post is the highlight of my day (actually, that makes me sound a bit sad, let’s say most days..ahem). However, the more I get the more I feel there’s a need to prioritise. The problem is I’m not a machine. My reading choices come from inside me, I don’t know what it is but if I see a book and like the synopsis and it takes my fancy, then that’s the book I will read 
However, with all the books I’m sent my thoughts inevitably gravitate towards certain questions: which book should I read first? How should I prioritise? My biggest dilemma is ARC’s. When I receive them they can be months in advance of publication date. Do I read and review early, with the possibility of readers becoming annoyed because they can’t get their hands on a copy themselves? Or with the chance of the book being forgotten by the time it’s released? But on the positive side the possibility of creating early buzz?
Or do I review it nearer the publication date, so readers have the chance to actually pick the book up at their local bookshop? So it’s still fresh in people’s minds? But, on the negative side, having the guilt of leaving the ARC on the shelf for weeks and weeks, causing sleepless nights? (only kidding, I have insomnia anyway…).
I put a feeler out on Twitter and these were some of the responses from bloggers and publishers:
“Online reviews are great for creating buzz so we love early reviews. Ideal situation would be a revisit or reminder on or near publication date” (publisher)
“my feeling is it’s your blog, I can’t make demands on content or timing but always grateful if blogger checks for early ones.” (publisher)
“Early reviews build word of mouth, but if it’s a great book people want it there and then! so it’s a bit of both” (publisher)
“I’m fed up of reading reviews for same book over and over. I don’t think publishers realise the power of waiting” (blogger)
“Shouldn’t main concern be with readers? And readers tend to prefer closer to release date” (blogger)
No definitive answer there, but I didn’t think I would get one. Every publisher and blogger will have a different idea on the subject. So where does that leave me? Yes, my reviews are written for the reader and I will always write an honest review of all books sent my way from publishers or authors. However, the publicists I deal with are pretty great. They are helpful, generous and always willing to help when I email about new feature ideas. So, I want to help them in return. I also want to do what’s best for the author and their book.
So how do I get around this dilemma? What do you do with your ARC’s? Do you review them sooner or later?
53 Comments
I can only wish someone would send me an ARC.
I actually agree with all you said but can only employ it on the books that are published. Sometimes I buy them the instant they are out but don't feel it's the right moment for me to read them so they wait. The best thing to do is read as you feel and write about it when the timing is right for you.
Btw, I hate reading a good review of a book I am not going to be able to read soon (because it won't be published tomorrow).
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I think that a month before publication feels about right – at least to me. Anything earlier than that can either cause the early buzz (which is great) – or will be forgotten by publication (not so good).
I will put my hands up and say that I am guilty of posting more than a month before publication at times, but sometimes a book comes along that makes you want to shout about it early and try and get others interested.
At the end of the day, if a publisher doesn't want a book reviewed too early then they should let the reviewers know. If an ARC comes through my letterbox I consider it fair game…
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Hmmm…I pretty much do my own thing. I've posted a few reviews really early. Those tend to be the ones that get the most attention. However, I have also noticed that posting reviews much later also get noticed. I don't really worry about it though. If people get mad oh well. You can't please everyone.
I just don't like it when everyone is reviewing the same books at the same time. This is why id rather post a reviewer early or a couple weeks later. I think that people get tired of seeing the same books reviewed and are more likely to ignore these reviews. I know I do.
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I try to review my ARCs a few weeks before the book comes out. Sometimes I'll review them sooner if I am just dying to read the book myself! Usually I don't review them too much sooner just because I have so many other books I want to read too.
Also sometimes I don't get an ARC of a book until right before it comes out or even after the book comes out (through Amazon Vine).
I agree with you that sometimes you get an ARC and just don't want to read it right away.
As a reader, I like to read the reviews for books a week or two before the book is released. That way I can keep my eye out for it and have some time to be excited about it before I get the book. Much sooner than that and I might forget about the book by the time it is released.
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Ines – it's nice to get a view point from the reader and that you dislike good reviews too early as you can't get the book yourself. Thanks
Mark – I must say that I am leaning towards reviewing a few weeks ahead of publication date. I think you're right when you say a month is about right. But I always feel guilty with the ARC just sitting waiting
Sharon – I hear what you are saying and it is my blog so most of the time I do what I like, but I also care about the publishers/authors and want to help them out too. That's my dilemma
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What Mark says, exactly. All the publishers and publicists I've had the pleasure of dealing with in the past say a month before publication is the perfect time… but the very fact they'll often send ARCs out as much as six months in advance tends to suggest they're open, equally, to us helping to stir up some early buzz.
If I miss the window in which it seems every other blog is reviewing the same book – the last one I can recall was N. K. Jemisin's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms – I'll generally put any coverage on TSS off until I can experience said book on its own merits, rather than off the back of a hundred opinions that aren't my own.
Fascinating question, though.
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I try to publish mine on or just before the publication date, actually. I started out as an American blogger and that seems to be general practice over there. I still don't get too many British ARCs even though I live in the UK now, so maybe if/when I do I'll have to change my methods!
As a reader, I know I'll forget a book if I hear about it once a month before release date. If I see it a fair amount leading up to the release date, then I'll remember. It's a delicate balance, which is why I try to be the one closer to the release date!
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Being a new reviewer and fairly new blogger, I enjoyed this post and the follow-up answers. I'm not sure if it is correct but before I accept a book for review, I ask the request person to please first read my policy and I try to stick to that. Thinking that most want to see their title out there, I have a section on my blog where I list my current read and then the books I receive and the order in which received ( which reminds me I need to update).
Thank you for this discussion.
CMashLovesToRead
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I've only won ARCs through contests. One was received after the book had already released. The other was won through an author's blog. One of the requirement for the contest was that the winner had a blog in which to post a review, and that the review had to be posted before the release date. I got the ARC in time to not have to rush, but only received it about a month early.
As a blogger, I've only received finished review copies. Some are for books already released, and I get that must read now feeling because I don't want the author/publisher to think I've forgotten. The ones that I receive before they are released only come a couple weeks early, so I'm not left with your dilemna.
I personally find out about new books really early through blogs/amazon/etc so I probably want a lot of these books before there's even cover art to be released. To me, it doesn't matter when reviews are posted compared to release dates because I only skim them anyway (I'm one of those people that find even small details spoilers, so I don't necessarily like to read long reviews with a lot of detail).
Sometimes early reviews help me decide if I should put a book on my "run to the bookstore the moment it comes out" list. Sometimes, if it's a book I'm already aware of and really, really want, early reviews make me jealous. (I'm human, I can't help it. Lol.)
But in the end, I have sooo many books in my TBR pile (I've only read about a third of the books I own) that even if I run to the bookstore on Tuesday, I probably won't read it right away anyway. So I think you should read an ARC and post your review whenever you want.
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I think publishing reviews the same month the book will be published is best. I think if the reviews are published months ahead of release date then that is too long to maintain the buzz about a book and I tend to forget about the book by the time it is actually released. There are alot of books out there and book bloggers and it's easy to get distracted by so many good books coming out.
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Good topic. I don't have a lot to say, but i do have a link to a good article by Larry of Of Blog here , specifically number 3 where he says you're part of a business. This is your baby and no one else's so you do what you want when you want even if you get an ARC.
This is a mutually beneficial deal, it's not one-sided like I've been thinking until I read the above article.
My $.02 – about what it's worth.
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What about read and review your ARC and schedule your post 1-2 weeks before release day? That's the way I do it. I need to review a book within the week after I read it, otherwise my thoughts and feelings lose some of its intensity that I felt while reading the novel. But who says I immediately have to post that review? It is to my understanding to generate a buzz 1-2 weeks before release-day is preferable.
Sometimes I read an ARC 1-2 months before release, other times it is as close to 1 week before release, if the latter happens I just schedule my post to a date 2 weeks before release. It keeps my stress level to a managable level
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This is an excellent question! I too wondered what to do, or what others did. What I do, is read the book when I get it, and if the publication date isn't for awhile I write the review and schedule the post to post the month that the book comes out. Usually a week or two in advance that way the buzz is there, but people aren't over run with reviews of the same book. Because I know personally I tend to skip over reviews if I've read a bunch on the same book.
-Jess
(Find the Time to Read)
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I say do whatever works best for you. Personally, I read the book whenever it fits into my schedule and post the review right after I finish the book. Sometimes that's 2 or 3 months before a book is released and sometimes it's days after the book releases. Less stress that way. Of course, I always post if there is an agreed upon window between me and the ARC sender, but usually that isn't the case.
I can tell you that I get a lot (A LOT) more traffic from the reviews posted months in advance, usually from people searching Google. That tells me there is a desire to read reviews of unreleased books. Plus, in the days and weeks before, it's easy to get lost among all the other reviews begin posted.
I don't the timing issue is a big deal to publishers or readers. I think it's one of those things we book bloggers fret over which isn't as important as we think it may be.
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As a book blogger myself I tend towards reading an ARC a month or so before it's released (if there's time) and setting up my review that way.
Because as a reader I don't want to read a review of a book I'm dying to get my hands on three whole months before it's released. That would drive me bananas!
But as everyone says, it's up to you!
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Ophelia – it seems that a review a few weeks before pub. date is a popular choice. Thanks for your input
N.R. – As you can see from my quotes, not all publishers say a month in advance is perfect. Also, when dealing with publishers, preferred review dates never arises. I'm with Sharon in that I don't care if I'm part of the book trend and tend to review a book that's being reviewed on numerous blogs at a later time. I don't want to jump on the bad wagon so to speak and I also get bored with seeing the same book over and over again.
Meghan – thanks for your comments, I appreciate your feedback. As I said, I think reviewing a few weeks before pub date is the consensus.
Mash – I'm glad you enjoyed the post! I don't actually have a review policy at this time, maybe I should look into that. But as yet I haven't had the need for one
Sara – I also get sent a lot of finished copies and I too feel the need to review them asap so the publisher/author doesn't think I've forgotten it. But as I've said, I'm not a machine and most of the time can only read a book that takes my fancy lol.
Heather – I agree, sometimes it's difficult to keep buzz going about a book on my blog. I mean I've posted a review, done a giveaway etc there's not more I can do. So most of the time I don't mention the book again.
Seak – My blog is my baby, it's a labour of love that's for sure. However, I'm not sure I can see it as a business as it's really a passion. I understand where Larry of the Blog is coming from but I don't think I can be that cut and dried about it. I don't think it's one sided either, I think publishers and authors are genuinely thankful for what we as bloggers do, or is that me just being naive.. not sure
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A lot of times I'll read an ARC a month or so before it's published, but that's usually so I can do an interview with the author (which I won't do until I've read the book). However, I hold the review until the book's publication date or later, just because I feel a bit odd pushing something that no one can buy yet. Since I'm small potatoes anyway, I'll let the big dogs (Publisher's Weekly, Library Journal) create the buzz.
I think about it like movie reviews… most of the critics wait until the movie has been released, and so do I.
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PS: I do understand with the volume of ARC you're receiving you can get the feeling of being swamped. A PR publicist once told me that a review I the release month can create good buzz too
Perhaps an ARC agenda to keep things in the clear before when you need to read and review a book?
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Leontine – that's a good idea to read the book but schedule the review. But I was really wondering when the best time to post the review was. I think that the majority say a month or so before release date.
Jess – I agree, I don't like to review a book when practically every other blogger is reviewing the same book. I think that it just saturates the reader and they just switch off.
Jennifer – I wish I could be that easy about it, but I can't. I do tend to stress about books I haven't gotten around to yet, that's just me
You are the first one to say that readers tend to like reviews of books before they're released. Thanks for your input!
Rebecca – Good point, but I think publishers do tend to want the books reviewed before publication date, which is fine by me. I just want to know how far. I agree that most of us bloggers individually are small potatoes, but if we all band together over a particular book then I think our voice is as loud as PW – so I think it's possible for bloggers to create buzz
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Its a fine balance. I definitely want to hear about a book but I dislike when all my favorite book bloggers are talking about the same book. I'm with Sharon.
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Well I've only received one ARC so…but what I did then and what I do with my classic circuit books is about the same. I can write the review when I am done the book and then I just schedule it for the tour date or publication window. Best of both worlds for me. I read when I can but publish when the publisher wants.
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Here's my idea:
I've read a few ARC's prior to their publication date.
I read them, type up the review & I'm planning to post them like 2 weeks before the release.
I read what interests me at the time, unless the book belongs to someone else & I need to get it read.
I've seen a few people do mini reviews right after they read it so people know they liked & the review is coming. That's not a bad idea either.
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A review Months or even weeks in advance, well people tend to forget. I mostly go on a week or around the date. I mean some want it that way. It all depends on what they want.
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I tend to review as I go if a publisher doesn't give me a specific time frame. I know with Sourcebooks they have a specific time frame, but S&S will just send willy-nilly without specific instructions.
I try to keep within a month before/month after block, and with blogger I can schedule the review that way (which is really nice), but if I don't read it then I don't read it you know?
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I don't get as many ARCs as you, but I struggled with this with a recent review. I decided to do it about a week about from publication as that worked with my schedule better. Do what works for you.
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I face the same issue and i figure, from conversations with publishers and other bloggers, that they know people will read their books at different times. It's actually a good thing. The more variety in review dates the longer the book is floating around the collective consciousness. If they have a particular period in mind they can let me know and I will try to oblige, but at the end of the day yeah, I read according to mood, I cannot possibly read every book I would like to and I will not feel bad about this.
Sorry full of cold so not as coherant i'd have liked.
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Great post!
I definitely understand where you are coming from with the "not a machine" bit. When I am lucky enough to get an ARC, I prioritize to the extent of putting them in the "stack" according to release date/month. I try to have the book read and review posted right before the release date….or at the very least during that same month. This way I can usually side step one for a bit if its not calling to me at that moment, thus allowing the joy of reading and book blogging to remain.
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I learned a few years back to not worry about this. I get lots of books – sometimes several months in advance, sometime pretty much at the time of release, and sometimes a bit after the release. I get far more books than I'll ever have the time to read. So, I try to not let any of it pressure me and I choose whatever book to read than I'm in the mood for.
But I do give consideration for the release date. Ideally I aim for doing my review within a week or two on either side of a release. In practice I don't hit that all the time. Sometimes I do publish a review far in advance, but it's pretty rare for me to do so. And sometimes I'll finally get around to reading an ARC (or finished copy) a year or two after it was originally sent.
It all really depends on what your goals are as a blogger. Are you trying to be something of an official critic/reviewer? Or are you primarily a fan who loves books and uses the blog to talk about the books you love. If the answer is more toward the latter, then try not let it worry you and remember that you are doing this for fun and the love of reading.
If it's the former then you'll probably need more of a rigid schedule – in that case I'd read the book quite a bit in advance, write the review and then schedule the publication time for the review to be around the release (whether it's 1 week in advance, 1 day, the day of, or whatever).
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Just getting into this dilemma. What I've been doing is reviewing the book near to the launch date, but if I really want to read it I'll review and then do a recap at the launch time. Unless it was really bad and then sometimes I just want to forget it LOL. But I've only had one of those.
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Leah – I know what you mean, waiting is torture!
Juju – I agree, it's not fun seeing the same book over and over. I usually steer clear of reviewing the book while the frenzy is going on and review mine a little later.
Catie – Not really interested in doing mini reviews, to be honest I don't see the point. By the time you've written a small amount you may as well carry on and just write the full review. But I think you are among the majority with posting reviews a few weeks before pub. date
Lexie – Most of my finished copies and ARC's are unsolicited, although I have requested on occasion but rarely now.
Ronnica – I think I'm getting to the point where a month in advance is good time
Haglerat – Most of my publicists never give me a time frame, but after all the comments I think I am going to go for within a month of pub date
*hope you feel better soon*
GMR – Thanks, I'm glad you like the post! I really am finding the prioritising bit difficult. I do try and then when I get round to it if the book isn't speaking to me then I sometimes find reading it a struggle, which hinders my review. It's a toughie that's for sure
Neth – I wish I was more like you Neth! You sound as though you have everything under control lol – I'm the latter. I'm a blogger who just loves books. I am by no means an official critic and don't advertise myself as such. Books are my passion and I love reading and talking about them. But like you I get lots of books and because of this I feel the need for some kind of professionalism on my part. I have reviewed most of my books when the fancy to read them takes me and I do choose to read them when I'm in the mood for them but I still feel the pressure – maybe that will never change, I just wondered how other bloggers did it
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Parajunkie – what do you do for the recap?
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I usually read the ARCs I receive the month before they are to be release. Then I post the review the last week of the month or during the first few weeks of the release month.
Sometimes I do read the books earlier than necessary but not often. With this situation, after reading the book I'll write up a review and wait until It gets close to the release date, then I'll post the review.
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I just had major dilemma with an ARC I just read that doesn't come out for months. I loved it and really wanted to start talking about it, but I didn't want to post my review this early and have the book forgotten about later. I ended getting a guest blog from the author to post this week that lets me start bragging on this book now and still save the review for right before the publication date. Win win
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I've tried both and can't honestly say which works best! Readers tend to get confused when I post a review early for a book that won't get released for another few months. They see the review, and if they want the book, want to get it now. Publishers like the early buzz.
What I'm going to try doing is putting up the review once, then revisiting it again closer to the release date. It's all about trial and error!
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I'm more likely to read a review of a book if it isn't within a slew of a million other reviews for the same book. As for when to publish your review, I published mine for Alice I Have Been 3 months in advance of the release date, and I get hits every day still for that review. I'm a fan of creating early buzz/getting excited for a book. I don't immediately buy a book as soon as it comes out, but I do put it on my wishlist. Also, I enjoy reading reviews of older books as well, which really has nothing to do with ARCs, but it's cool to read how a book which has been out for awhile has affected someone.
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I love a great review when I can actually buy the book. I have had one book on my LibraryThing for months but obviously it worked for getting my attention.
I am a mood reader so I am unsure how I would respond to having lots of choice for ARC's.
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Without reading what anyone else has said…
I say I will post ARC reviews prior to the release date, but that's also very dependent on my personal schedule. Sometimes it's just not possible. However, I have held off on publishing a review if I notice that a ton of other sites are doing the same thing. I don't want my review to get lost, and I don't want to oversaturate the blogosphere, so I'll wait a week or two before posting it. That way, even though it's later than what I originally said I would, it still creates a buzz after a lot of other people have talked about it.
As for when I read it, it depends on what I have on my desk. If I have other books that will be released first, I'll read those. OR if it's an author I really love, I'll read it, write a review, but schedule it for later. I'll do a post on it when I read it, but it's more of a promo than a review.
Does this help?
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My most asked for time period by publicists/publishers is about 2 weeks prior and 2 weeks after the release date. This kind of works with what you were talking about the readers. It starts to create the buzz, but the release date isn't too far off.
The only down side, that's when a lot of other sites will also begin publishing their reviews, so it's possible to get stuck in a mob of them.
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WOW great topic and feedback
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I've thought about this too. I asked the publicist on a review I have coming up what her preference was and she asked that I post the review on the release date. I always thought earlier was better to create buzz, but I guess it makes sense that people will want to buy the book then. So I guess either way is fine.
I have posted reviews way in advance before but I think if I do that again I will re-post it again around the time of release.
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i dont get arcs
BUT i can say that if i did, firstly i would ask the dude that sent it too me, does he have a preference.
if he didnt then i would read it when i wanted but make sure there was a review up about one to two months in advance of the release date.
so although i would be uber happy to even touch an arc, i would read and review, but wait to post…
unless you really really want to read something else right at that second…
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Remember there's always the option of reviewing early and scheduling posts for a later date. It may put less stress on you if you wanted to read them early so they're out of the way, so to speak, but not worry too much about whent he review goes live. You have the choice.
When it comes to me, I have decided, whether I receive ARCs, proofs, or finished copies to review, I will read and review them when I want, regardless of publication date. Having read a similar post on The Bookette, and the comments posted there – and from having a conversation with a publicist at S&S UK who said publicists don't expect every book they send you to be reviewed, and that whenever a review is posted, even if it's weeks after publication date, interest will still be generated from the review, and so it's all good – I've decided this is the best way to go for me. There is absolutely no way I would be able to read and review every book I get by it's release date. I just get far too many. I think as long as something like this is stated in your review policy, there's no problem.
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Good question and interesting answers.
I don't receive as much ARCs as you do.
When I receive books from small publishers and/or authors directly I ask for a time frame for the review. Then I decide whether I can go for the date or not.
I'm far beyond to be a professional reviewer.
I can afford a maximum of four reviews per month. I try to have a mix between new and older books.
In case of new books I post reviews between four and two weeks before release date.
It has been mentioned before that you can write a review today and post it five months later. And these mini reviews are not that bad for "hype".
Finally it is your decision.
I would like to read and review a hundred books per month but that is just a dream. I have really limited time for reading and reviewing. I'm happy when I can post four reviews and read six books.
Most important thing is that you enjoy reading and reviewing.
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What I recently ran into was the difference in publication dates. I received an ARC for a book that was published at the beginning of February in the UK. I read it and posted my review. Then I realized that it won't actually be published in the US (where I am) until August! What do you do then? Take care of the folks at home or the ones who get it earlier?
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Great question…if only I could get some ARC's! Oh well. Honestly, I think you have to find that balance with a month beforehand to create buzz but not too soon that readers completely forget about it by the time it comes out. But if it doesnt even appeal to you I think you can pass it on to another blogger whom it does. A review is a review!
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Anna – I do like the idea to read a book and then schedule the review. I suppose then at least I feel I have read the book and it's not just sitting there
Abigail – I like your idea very much – I think this a great solution *and I'm gonna pinch it
*
Erika – I think I'm liking Abigail's idea of getting the author in for guest post and then posting the review nearer to pub date. That way publisher/author happy, reader happy!
April – me too, I do get a bit bored seeing the same book over and over again. That's why I made the decision not to participate in blog tours etc. I think you're right, personally I don't mind if a review is posted early as I just put it on my wishlist. I have enough books to keep me going in the mean time.
Marce – being a moody reader can make this extra difficult as I can't just force myself to read a book, otherwise my frustration will come out in my review. I have to *want* to read the book I'm reviewing.
Jackie – I don't think I've ever posted a review of a book which is everywhere. And most of the time my books are actually pretty random and quite different. I also choose not to participate in any blog tours either as I don't like seeing the same book on lots of different blogs all at the same time. Reading it isn't really my problem, it is when to post the review. I don't read a book because I have to I read it because I want to. I think the general consensus is within a month of pub date
CleverlyInked – thanks, glad you are enjoying it!
Jenny – when I first started my blog and I maybe got one or two books to review I did ask the publisher/author what their preference was. But not I get so many books that I couldn't possibly keep emailing them for every single book – it wold get too much!
Wings – the first part of your comment you can find in my comment above.
Jo – my problem was when to post the review more than when to read the book, but thanks. I understand that the publisher doesn't expect me to read every book they send, esp as I'm sometimes getting 10-15 books per week, it would be impossible. But it is interesting that the publisher was happy whenever the review was posted as it still created interest.
ediFanB – as I mentioned in another comment, I couldn't keep asking publishers their preference with every book they send otherwise I would be hassling them quite a bit ;as I get so many. Yes, I agree, I wish I could read 100 books per month, but it ain't gonna happen
Jennifer G – this isn't really the question asked but it's a good point. I always use the publication date for the actual book I've reviewed for the publisher who sent it. I can't use publication dates for every country so I just use the pub date for the book/ARC I was sent. I am from the UK and I have received quite a few ARC's/books from the states and I will use the publication date given on the press release.
Amused – if you read my In My Mailbox posts you will see that I give away a lot of the books I don't want to read/review or ones that don't fit in with my blog. I've been doing that for quite a few months now
I agree, a review is a review and I think the publishers appreciate it too!
THANKS EVERYONE FOR STOPPING BY TO GIVE ME YOUR IDEAS AND FEEDBACK, IT'S BEEN VERY INTERESTING!
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Oh I agree asking for each one would be too much, but I was saying that's what that specific publicist wanted. That made me think that from now on that's what I'll aim for. But then again I know that every publicist has different thoughts on it!
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So far I've ignored them. And now I feel like a terrible blogger….
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Great discussion! I have to admit that I tend to read books and post the review immediately afterwards, without taking the release date into consideration. I've just started scheduling reviews in advance, so may start looking at the release dates now.
I'm not a professional reviewer and don't think anyone would ever mistake me for one, so I try to do the best I can and not agonize over it too much…
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I like to review ARC's a couple weeks before the book is published. That way there is still some early buzz and the readers will have it on their radar for an upcoming book.
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Honestly, this isn't really a topic I've given much thought to as I'm new to the blog world and haven't really had the opportunity to get my hands on many ARCs. Still, as a reader, I just enjoy hearing about books. Knowing I can't get my hands on it right away doesn't really bother me that much. I'll write the title down if it really appeals to me and look for it whenever I get the chance. But, I'm a simple, pretty easy to please person.
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I've asked the pubs & usually am told the week before OR of release is best. Some are only on or after release so that if a reader wants it, they can go buy it.
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[...] ~ Book Chick City: ARCs – Review sooner or later? [...]