Bibliophiles Unite! This is a song that many of my fellow reviewers are sure to get on board with. Why, well, let's just say that in the world of the "Written Word" , books are one of the favorite topics here at Review This Reviews.com.
And why not? After all there are just so many ways that you can get lost in another world or find yourself in this one. It's all up to you and what you set before your eyes and mind.
I love reading and have been fortunate to be a part of a few different reading groups! What I love about some of these is that they also have their own "apps" (short for applications). These apps can be used on all your devices, phones, tablets and desktop computers to download books that are not yet published.
These books are known as ARC's (short for Advanced Reader's Copy) and you must belong to the group in order to get these books.
All of these books are FREE! Yes, you read that correctly, FREE!
So if you love to read, there is no greater happiness than to read a book by an author you may or may not have heard of before, and help them to become better known.
The whole idea behind these free reading apps, is that in exchange for the privilege of reading a not yet published work, you will give it an honest review! This way the author will gain some valuable feedback on their "story". It will not only help them with a reaction to their work, but may also contain some much needed constructive criticism, so they can work even better at their craft.
So what are these free reading apps and how do you become a member? It's really quite easy.
The first app I like is Netgalley!
When you join this group, you will be asked to complete a profile. This will include you name, email address and what types of books you like to read. They will also ask you for a place (website) where you will share your reviews. This could be your own website or another social media channel. The important part is sharing the titles that you have read and enjoyed. It's s small price to pay for the pleasure of reading some great books.
The next app I like is BookSirens!
While this app seems to focus more on Romance, it doesn't always have romance as it's only subject. Let the app know what you like and they will send you titles to choose from. Whether you choose one or not, it's entirely up to you. No one makes you read anything that you don't want to read and if you ask for a book but really don't like it, you can send in a DNF (DID NOT FINISH) review.
Voracious Readers Only is another app that can fill your mind with lots of stories. Four easy steps will get you started on being part of this group of readers.
I am a reader not a writer, so for me these services are free, but you can also use them if you are a writer. For that there will be some costs involved and you would have to get in touch with each platform to see what you are willing to spend as an author.
All of these services are very happy if you post a review to Amazon, BookBub, Goodreads etc. They are also happy if you are talking about books that you have read with friends and family. There is even help available if you want to organize a Book Club, so that more eyes can read and discuss the stories. Everything is done to help the authors get their names into the public eye.
Authors work very hard to get their stories written and can use all the help they can get to make sure their work is enjoyed by a good crowd. By writing reviews, you not only help yourself to some great stories, you help struggling authors hone their work and get their names out there. One of the best books I read as an ARC was "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus! I reviewed her book right here!
I think this is a WIN-WIN situation. I get all kinds of books to read (free of charge), I don't have to wait for my next great book and it's always fresh and new! The author gets, my honest opinion of their work and possibly some constructive criticism to help them better hone their skills.
This summer I will be busy with my Kindle, my Tablet, and my phone, so that wherever I am I will always have a book on hand!
Happy Reading to all my book reading friends, come and join me on one or all of these platforms and enjoy some really good new authors at the same time.
