Quote:
Originally Posted by AnemicOak
I agree.
The only time I've seen any type of "requirement" of a review are where authors will offer Arc's, either on their own or through Netgalley, in exchange for a review and require might be too strong of a word. I suppose if you got an Arc with the understanding you'd give a review you might not get one the next time they're offered if you hadn't followed through. I don't know any other way they could at all "require" a review. I have seen requests along the lines of "if you enjoyed this book please consider leaving a review at your favorite site/vendor...", but that's very far from a requirement.
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I was thinking more along the lines of an ARC. I used to do them, but readers do tend to feel an 'obligation' with the ARCs and honestly, I don't want anyone feeling "obligated." But I've seen authors try the hard line with giving books away and "expecting" reviews. Heck, I used to review for a large review site. I got PLENTY of email from authors asking me "when" I'd be reviewing the book and letting me know they had provided the book on condition of a review...blah, blah. There were the days of trad book too. One author went so far as to contact the guys who RAN the site and asked them to ask me to get on with it. Sometimes publishers were guilty as well--they'd send letters basically saying, "If you don't review x percent of what we send, we will no longer send..."
Reviews are unpaid by design/ethics and I don't think all authors are aware of just how many books a review site gets. I knew it was time for me to quit when the admins sent me TWO boxes of books that had piled up. We had over 12 reviewers and we each got one to two boxes. And I mean boxes that were packing-sized boxes, probably 48 long by 24 tall? And I already had several other books in the queue. I love books. I love to read. But it should never be an obligation whether it's an ARC, a gift, a review copy, the back of the cereal boxes...stop signs, okay. Those you are obligated to read or at least not ignore!!!