This Week’s Topic:
Where do you get your review books from?
Where do you get your review books from?
As book bloggers, we require a steady stream of new books, and many people get their books from multiple sources, me included. Getting a physical book from a publisher is considered a blogger achievement, but I seem to have an aversion to reading physical books. I have read some of the physical books I received, but those are few and far between.
Exhibit A: My walls mostly of unread books
Because of that, I almost all my books electronically.
I probably get the most review books from NetGalley, because this is the site the publishers prefer bloggers to make their requests there.
However, I have had some luck on Edelweiss. I have a few publishers that pre-approve me there, and there are some publishers on there, who do not tend to list their books on NetGalley.
My public library has lots of ebooks available via OverDrive. It's the best way for me to borrow books, because I struggle with finding time to get to the library. It's not the most ideal way to get new releases, because the waits can be really long.
Fortunately, my library card gets me access to Hoopla. I primarily use it for audiobooks, but every once in a while, I will take out an ebook. The best part about Hoopla is that it is transaction based, so no waiting for titles to become available.
Now it's your turn!
Where do you get your review books from?
Let us know in the comments!
Wow, that's a lot of unread books! I thought my shelf of unread books was bad, LOL! I get most of my books from the library, and my sister and I share a lot of books, too.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty criminal, but we used to go to a LOT of book events, and those are mine and my daughter's books (I hate to admit, there are more in the hallway). Some are read, but more are not, though, I did read or listen to some of them in an electronic format.
DeleteYou have a lot of unread books! I get all of my books from the library or used bookstores. I also download classics when they’re free on Amazon.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
A good amount are unread, though I have enjoyed some of them via ebook or audio. Classics were never my thing, but I think it's great they are available for free.
DeleteThat's a big beautiful stack of books!!!
ReplyDeleteI tend to read more physical books, and the VAST majority of those are from the library (I was just there last night for book group and another library book, which I had JUST added to my TBR the night before and which practically jumped out from the new books shelf and slapped me in the face like a fish out of water, followed me home). I do love ebooks, though, and I absolutely adore that my library has such a fabulous collection of them. I read either on my kindle or iPad (I've discovered that I don't hate this as much as I thought I would. I still prefer kindle, but iPad will do!), and I'm perfectly happy with a digital copy. Just as long as I'm reading, I'm a happy camper!
I know! I am actually trying to find an English teacher or another place to re-home these books. Some are signed, which I will probably keep, but many are good to go. I never get to the library, because I work so far away, and my weekends are books solid with errands and chores and blogging. An iPad would come in handy for those dastardly PDFs, but it's a little big for reading during my commute.
DeleteI don't have Hoopla but I did find a library that has Overdrive & Libby and it's changed my life. The selection and the ease of use was a game changer.
ReplyDeleteKaren @ For What It's Worth
I get home late, and borrowing and returning a physical book is just a burden for me. The ebooks are so easy to return, and I love having access to so many audiobooks for free.
DeleteI also have a lot of unread books. I tend to get mine from Edelweiss and Netgalley too!
ReplyDeleteKrystianna @ Downright Dystopian
I am all about the ebooks. I am more likely to read them and they are just easier for me to read.
DeleteYou have roughly a million books Sam! My kindle houses most of my unread books, doing my monthly "Amber Reads Her Shelves" has helped me get through my physical books!
ReplyDeleteIt's like a crime at this point. Thank goodness nobody can see all my unread ebooks, otherwise you would be calling me a hoarder. I have read some of them and so has Kiersten. I have even bought or checked out the ebooks and read them, but you me and physical books are not a thing. I am cooling on the ARC requests and going to make an honest effort to read at least 2 of my own books per month in the second half of the year. I read like 30 books a month, I should really be able to read 1 or 2 of my own. *shame*
DeleteOh man I have a lot of unread books too, physical and electronic. I only really have luck on NG. I don't get approved on EW anymore. I like overdrive and hoopla too though. I very very rarely get a physical ARC.
ReplyDeleteThe few physical ARCs I have received outside of book events were delightful, but I read the ebooks and usually gave way the physical books.
DeleteI'm the opposite -- I'm more likely to review a book if I have it in physical form. I still receive a fair number of paper books for review, probably at least 3 - 6 a week. It's not easy to store them all, but I prefer paper to electronic, so when I have a choice I request the former. The physical books come from publishers, publicists, and authors, many of whom I've worked with for years.
ReplyDeleteI get most of my e-books from NetGalley and Edelweiss. They're harder to keep track of for me, but easier to access in a lot of ways :)
Either way, I have A LOT of unread books I need to get to. *Sigh* So many books, so little time ...
Waaaaay too little time. I always log my review books in a spreadsheet by release date to keep track of them, and so far, it's worked pretty well.
DeleteI have definitely turned to the convenience of NetGalley and Edelweiss. I still enjoy reading physical books from the publisher, but they do take up way more space!
ReplyDeleteSo much space, but my issue with them is convenience, the loss of grip strength in my hands, and font-size being impossible for me to deal with. If I read a physical book, it has to be on the weekend, when I read at home, because I can use a book weight to hold it open and wear my stinking glasses to see the words.
DeleteI read mostly ebooks now, although I do buy physically if it's a book I really want. And can you believe I've never requested on Netgalley? Although I do have an account and like to browse the lists to see what's coming... :)
ReplyDeleteNG is my kryptonite. I now have access to a lot of electronic books via the eLibrary, but the wait for new releases is painful. Being able to get so many from NG/EW is an amazing perk for me.
DeleteI don't go anywhere for review books. If authors contact me through Goodreads or my blog I consider their request but I don't seek out review books the way I used to. I have too many of my own books to get through at the moment!
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with reading the books you own. I should do more of that myself.
DeleteI'm a mixed bag -- I have my own ebooks that I get, and I used to get a whole heap from NEtgalley. But then I started getting books from publishers, and find myself getting less and less books from netgalley, but I still have my own collection of ebooks too. I tried using Edelweiss but for the life of me, I can't understand how that thing works. It mystifies me,
ReplyDeleteEW definitely has a learning curve, but I like it for all the catalogs. I have good luck with certain pubs on there, who don't tend to list many books on NG, and I have some pre-approvals too, which are nice.
DeleteIt looks like we use a lot of the same sources! I adore Hoopla and I do use Overdrive quite a bit! I also get all of my electronic ARCs through Netgalley since EW hates me! XD
ReplyDeleteIt seems EW is tough to get approvals from, but I feel that once you are on their radar, you're in. I don't think I have been rejected for any Harper books I have requested, though Disney/Hachette rejects each and everyone of my requests. Gotta keep my ego in check.
DeleteWhoa, baby, at all the books! I request books less and less these days but when I do I typically go with NetGalley. I find it more use friendly and I tend to have better success there. Edelweiss can be hit or miss for me. When it comes to just borrowing books, I love using Overdrive. So easy, and such a good selection. And I use Hoopla sometimes too. I’ve come across some hard to find titles there.
ReplyDeleteI have no self control. I deprive myself in so many other areas of my life, that sometimes, I get too many books, but I am getting better. Hoopla and Overdrive selection depends upon your library. The romance audiobook selection is usually good, and I get almost all my audiobooks from there.
DeleteI have tons of unread books as well. I realized that I am not only a reader, I am a collector. I am trying to get caught up so I am trying not to add too many review books this year. I love NetGalley and think that Edelweiss is great. I do enjoy using the library and like the Hoopla app, although I will try for Overdrive first if that is an option since Hoopla can be a bit buggy for me. I have been getting a lot of print books this year and am finding that I love reading "real" books again.
ReplyDeleteThe Hoopla app does have some issues. I have figured out that if I turn my data/wifi off as I listen to the audiobook, I don't run into the problem of it losing my place and whatnot. I struggle with physical books for multiple reasons, and I read them a lot slower too. I am all about the ebook.
DeleteI used to be a physical copy only person, but since I've started blogging, I've really become attached to reading and reviewing e-copies. They're just more convenient. My main sources for review books are Netgalley and Overdrive, although I still buy a few physical copies here and there just because I have no self control, lol.
ReplyDeleteI only buy physical books for signings, and then I don't usually read them. The exception was Obsidio, because those books have to be read and enjoyed with a full page view.
DeleteI love physical books, but since physical books are expensive, I always end up getting e-copies from Kobo (I'll get a physical one it I truly love the book). My main source for review books is Netgalley. My Edelweiss requests are never accepted.
ReplyDeleteTânia @MyLovelySecret
I don't re-read, so having the books sitting around, taking up space is more of an annoyance than anything else for me. I am always trying to re-home my books.
DeleteWow, I thought my book problems were bad but that pile of unread books both stressed me out from all the books to read but also makes me a little jealous, is that weird? Most of my review books are from netgalley (because Edelweiss basically makes me feel like I need to sacrifice my first born son to get approved for a book on there) but to be honest I try and buy books now. I know this will make me poorer, but it takes the pressure off from reading a book by a set time.
ReplyDeleteI am super cheap and poor, so I don't buy many books. Usually only deep sales and ones I cannot get at the library. My reading habit would cost a fortune if I didn't have the resources I do. I probably would just go back to watching a lot of TV. Most of the books in the piles are about 2 years old, because that was the last time we did BEA, but I have some wins and books from pubs in there. I am having my daughter go through them the next time she is home, and then I am donating them somewhere.
DeleteFun topic! SO. I only review books I get FOR review basically. Like- every *so* often I do a tiny review which is mostly a GIF or just my quick reaction to "me" books. But every book I legitimately review on my blog is for review, and I post a review for every single book I get for review. I am kind of obsessive about it tbh! Now. That doesn't mean that I don't have walls and walls and shelves and boxes and a Kindle full of unread books I have bought, won, been gifted, gotten at conferences, etc. I just would never ever sleep again if I reviewed them all hahha. When I started blogging I did- and I really don't know how I managed!
ReplyDeleteI have started writing something for every book I read or listen to. Non-review books only get full blown reviews, if they blew me away and I need to fangirl and feature them on the blog. You're a boss reviewing every books you receive. Maybe there is more pressure with physical books. I don't feel so compelled with electronic ARCs, though, I am at 86%, which isn't bad.
DeleteI am so jealous you get access to Hoopla, they have great selection on there. But they are too expensive for any of my states libraries. I do like Overdrive and I like reading physical books. I don't read them quite as much, because reading on my Ipad is just easier but if I want a full reading experience or I am reading at home I like picking up a physical book and my local library has the BEST selection in romance in their physical books. I do use Edelweiss and Netgalley. But I also have a book budget every month that allows me to purchase books too.
ReplyDeleteApparently, what you can access on Hoopla depends upon the prince points your library agrees with. So, someone using a different library system would have access to different resources. It is a great resource for me, because the selection of romance audiobooks is great, and those are my favorite to listen to. I only go to my local library to renew my card every two years. I know they have more options there than on eLibrary, but making their hours is tough for me.
DeleteI also mostly use NG but sometimes use EW since sometimes they have books that NG doesn't. Although I have mediocre luck on EW. I mostly get the books you can download w/o approval, and there's one pub over there who seems to like me (or maybe just likes everyone lol) and approves me for books. But I also love using Hoopla, and my library also uses both Axis360 and Overdrive. I didn't even know about the third until recently, so now I've got even more books to choose from!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize how many apps there are to connect to your library. Axis360 is new to me. I have abandoned the Overdrive app for Libby to connect to my digital library. I like it better.
DeleteI get most review books via Netgalley, though I do still get physical books, which are nice! I get a lot of books from my library (physical and through Overdrive) and I also am trying to read more of the books that I actually own. haha
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I think the books I own are the LEAST likely to be read. There is seriously something wrong with me.
DeleteOh my goodness! You have so many books already and a huge pile to read! I love reading on ebook but I am a physical book lover. But admittedly, my stack to read looks round about like yours. I mostly get my books bought by myself or sent from publishers or wonderful online friends <3 Or giveaway sometimes!
ReplyDeleteI am a reading anomaly, but physical books are physically difficult for me to read.
DeleteI get most of my books from Book Tour companies, Netgalley and from plan old purchasing them. Most come that way - me getting the new release through buying it. I am ok with that too. I try to get to what I can and once school is done, I will be able to read much more.
ReplyDeleteMary
I have been signing up for tours, that I already have galleys of. It makes me even more accountable for the ARC. I have only really signed up for 1 or 2 tours this year, which I didn't already have an eGalley, but I knew it was the only way for me to get the book early.
DeleteI do this too, Sam! I need accountability and signing up for a tour is the perfect way to make that happen.
DeleteYes to ALL of these (including physical copies)! I pretty much get books in all the ways. LOL!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction