AAR wants you!
Today, we are running a review by Elaine S, a regular commenter at AAR. She’d contacted me and suggested we consider reader reviews which, historically, we have published but in recent years haven’t had any. To say I was thrilled with her suggestion would be an understatement.
We’d love to have a reader review from you too! If there’s a romance/women’s fiction novel you love that we’ve not reviewed or one we did and you disagree with, submit a review. We’ll look it over, see if it needs any significant editing, work with you to make sure it works for you and for us, and publish it.
Interested? Email me at dabneygrinnan@allaboutromance.com.
Thanks! And thanks Elaine!
I really like the idea of reader reviews. There seems to be a lot of talent around here for sure. Again and again I’ve seen people analyze books with such depth, insight and intelligence in the comment sections that I’ve been just blown away. It is certainly something I never could do at such a level.
Thank you, it sounds like a lovely offer.
I would certainly enjoy reading other readers’ views, and reviews.
As to a review I could contribute:
I am thinking about any book or author that I would like to review, though I am a bit intimidated by the very high quality of your reviews – synopsis, analysis, opinions so clearly labeled. I would have to care a great deal about a book to actually refine my thoughts and ideas up to your standard!
Due to that:
I would like such reviews to be clearly labeled as reader’s reviews, so we know to be fair and kind (I think you do that anyway, if I remember – “guest review” or so?)
Anyqay – great idea, and I will think whether I have a contribution to make!
Reviews that don’t come from “regular” AAR reviewers are indeed attributed to “Guest Reviewer” (although the reviewer’s name is included at the end).
I’m super excited to read this and would love to participate, but I have a question! My absolute best read of 2020 thus far is a book that a) while new to me, was published 20 years ago and is out of print (though very easy to find), b) was reviewed by AAR way back when, and c) I totally agree with its positive review. Would a review of my own be wanted or needed? It’s a historical that I think has not only held up, but also deals with several still-relevant themes which would fit right in with a lot of what’s being done in current historicals, and I’d love to do a modern take!
We are absolutely open to reviews of older books – have at it!
The book I reviewed, Tina, was published in 2019 although it was a “new” find for me in 2020. When I contacted Dabney I said that often it’s books from the past that attract me, having found them here when commentators mention them and I do a bit of research. I also believe that new perspectives on older books that have been reviewed here are incredibly valuable and offer new insights that make me think and often reconsider my initial thoughts. It would be so interesting to see what AAR members have to say about what they read so I hope you do submit something soon!
I’d add that your perspective may be very different than the one at AAR’s and so even it shares the same assessment that AAR’s did, it’s still of interest.
Ahhh, I sent it in! Thanks so much for your encouragement, everyone!
Well done, look forward to seeing it!