Goodreads, Creepy Behavior and Things That Make A Person Appear Unbalanced
Mar
15
2011

So like many authors, I’ve noticed the rise in “reviews” at Goodreads for books that are not out yet. Not even with ARCs issued. Books that aren’t even written yet in some cases. So I wrote to them about one such review (just stars, not text) of a book that hasn’t even gone through copy edits yet. (Edited to remove the book name from the post. I don’t want to sic people on anyone, I was just making a specific reference).

I don’t take issue with people not liking my books and I make it a policy NOT to respond because people like what they like and that’s how it goes. I don’t ask for shitty reviews to be removed, hell I didn’t even argue with the woman who claimed I use rape as titillation in my books and that’s one of the worst things I can imagine someone saying about me (AND it’s not true). I can’t control how people react to my work and pretty much, it’s not my business anyway. Reading is intensely personal and that’s why I love it. Who you are and what you’ve experienced will absolutely affect how you read it. I know this in my own reading. Anyhoodle, I’m tangenting.

I do take issue with people going out of their way to rate books that aren’t out as a way to attack an author. I don’t think it’s very conducive to author participation at Goodreads and I certainly don’t think people who do this can group themselves with the vast majority of readers who can manage to not like things without lying or being stalkery over it.

But back to Goodreads and my contact with them. Now sometimes those early stars can be a mistake, a book is reviewed but the reviewer was mistaken about the title, etc. I usually just ask because this happens (and because I want to be sure no early copies of some draft aren’t out there somehow). But now, when you try to say anything to anyone there goodreads wants to slap you for something some dumbshit author did at some other time. But whatever. So I said, Hey, this book hasn’t even been copy edited, I know this person can’t have read it. Sometimes it can be a mistake or they rated the wrong book, but she can’t have read this book to rate it either way.”

I’m going to paste the response I got because I want authors to see just how much Goodreads respects what we do:

Hi Lauren,

Thanks for writing in with your feedback. While I can understand your frustration, it is not a requirement that a user read the book before rating it. While we would like it if our members reviewed as many of their books as possible, we cannot force them to.

Best,
Tessa

So, to cap up:

    it is not a requirement that a user read the book before rating it

Also, her last sentence makes no sense.

So, if you have a book up at GR and it’s not even written yet, someone can review it all they want. Because that’s Goodreads idea of community. Now, if I were to respond to be sure it wasn’t a mistake, GR has no problem telling ME to be nice, but apparently the niceness only goes one way at Goodreads.

It is unprofessional to allow people to DELIBERATELY go and lowball (or highball for that matter) books that are not available. Do you know what’s creepy? When you find out that someone is going around lowballing books of yours that aren’t out yet. The same sort of people who like to go to every negative review of your book and get involved in EVERY SINGLE negative thing they can find. It is creepy and scary to think some total stranger is so obsessed with you that they seek out opportunities to bring harm to you.

It’s not mandatory to like anyone or any book. But if you find yourself engaging in behavior designed to harm someone and you do it all the time, please stop. If it infuriates or makes you feel violent when you read my books or even think about them, for god’s sake, read books you DO like. Do you intend for me to think you’re a stalker and find you creepy? If so, go you I guess, but though I normally ignore such behavior, if you do this on purpose you’re a piece of shit. Yes, I’m sure people will get mad and all, but people who PURPOSELY bully to frighten or harm someone are pathetic.

Goodreads is worse than that because their policies are very one sided and not even one sided to anyone’s benefit. I STILL get spam even though I had to put a note in my friends request to say if you’re gong to spam me don’t friend me. What is Goodreads doing about that, huh? How about the metric ton of “buy my book” spam, or “look at this review of my book” spam? What community values and goals are met and enhanced by the way Goodreads does things?

This is the same site wherein a reviewer not only attacked an author’s weight and appearance, but included a link to the author’s website so others reading the review could go and join in. First of all, shame on every single one of you who participated in this like you’re in 5th grade. And second, shame on Goodreads for responding to the numerous complaints with a “meh, it’s her opinion” reply. Goodreads used to be a great community where you could talk with readers and authors who were there as readers. It used to be a place you could actually discuss books without calling anyone fat or mocking someone’s appearance. Now it’s focused on the lowest common denominator and apparently an appalling lack of basic behavioral expectations.

So spam on authors, and keep on rating books you’ve never read to live out some fantasy relationship with a total stranger in your head (and not even the good kind like I have with Michael Fassbender) because apparently it’s open season at Goodreads

51 comments to “Goodreads, Creepy Behavior and Things That Make A Person Appear Unbalanced”

  1. Sasha
    March 15th, 2011 at 4:50 pm · Link

    Hmm, I haven’t read Never Enough yet, but I think you’re a super-talented author. I should go give it 5 stars. *grin*



  2. Sarah G
    March 15th, 2011 at 5:03 pm · Link

    Hmm. Maybe Gwen and I should make up titles for books we haven’t written yet, then go over and 5-star one another. Create the demand before the product.

    Some people are very petty.



  3. Jennifer Leeland
    March 15th, 2011 at 5:04 pm · Link

    I just don’t get it. Where do people get the time for this? *sigh* I’m sorry that Goodreads has degenerated into this. It seems like every community that become popular starts attracting spammers, weirdos and stalkers.
    Frustrating.



  4. Mariselle
    March 15th, 2011 at 5:07 pm · Link

    I can’t believe some of the things authors are accused of from people that do not know them any better than they know the person that rings them out at the local Target.

    I’m glad you hit post. That reply makes no sense…isn’t the website called GoodREADS, as in you READ a book?



  5. Larissa
    March 15th, 2011 at 5:13 pm · Link

    I used to enjoy Goodreads, but it has become very author unfriendly, which makes me wonder why they bother allowing authors to set up accounts.

    Goodreads is not an integrated community; it’s a readers’-only community…which is perfectly fine, but maybe they should have decided that before they let authors in.



  6. J. A.
    March 15th, 2011 at 5:14 pm · Link

    Wow, I had no idea a reviewer attacked an authors weight and appearence. Is that saying goodreads supports bullying? We are hear to give our opinions on books we read, in no way is an authors looks has any effect in the way they craft their story. That is like when my son was made fun of at school for having freckles by kids, yes ‘kids’. People should grow past that stage, obviously it has skipped a few individuals



  7. smexys_sidekick
    March 15th, 2011 at 5:15 pm · Link

    I completely agree. There is NOTHING I hate more then going on GR and seeing books I know for fact haven’t been released much less copy edited and seeing any ratings. I have commented many times on the “reviews” asking why do they do this? I never get a rely. Oh wait. I did once. I was told to FO. lol
    I’ve gotten to the point where GR has become more of a playgrd for juveniles then an adult community to share a love of books.



  8. Mary
    March 15th, 2011 at 5:15 pm · Link

    As a reader it irked me to go to any site to see books reviewed Months in advance. I urge all readers to actually read a book. In the past reporters have been fired because they male things up or haven’t verified sources. A lie is a lie. A review where you haven’t read the book is s lie. I can’t even begin on personal attacks. Besides being bigoted and wrong it is obvious lacking in self respect to tear others down to make you feel better. So sad to see what should have been a place of fun and positivity turn into a place of negativity and disrespect.



  9. Stacie
    March 15th, 2011 at 5:16 pm · Link

    I’ve never been to Goodreads and I’m not sure I will now. I have no patience for people whose lives are so empty that they have to target people on the internet. What a messed up situation.



  10. Ren
    March 15th, 2011 at 5:22 pm · Link

    Hi Lauren,

    I’ve seen how some of the reviewers act on that site and its a damn shame.
    I didn’t know, however, that they can rate books that aren’t even out yet. That’s a new one on me.
    I enjoyed reading your post, thanks!



  11. Barbara Sheridan
    March 15th, 2011 at 6:08 pm · Link

    Good Reads does have quite a bit of mind boggling stuff going on.

    I’ve been on the receiving end of an unpublished book being “reviewed”. This by someone who joined up the day they posted the “review” and never rated anything else afterward.

    Also been subjected to the new GR warning to authors when trying to post to one of the discussion groups.



  12. Mia Rizzo
    March 15th, 2011 at 6:12 pm · Link

    I just signed up for a Good Reads account a week ago, thinking it would be a good way to find other books and authors to read that I haven’t already and interact with like minded readers. So far, I’ve been extremely unimpressed. I haven’t done too much on the site, as I read a book a day (Seriously, I read close to 1,000 words a minute. I devour books!) and I want to review each book I have in my library currently, which takes more free time than I have at the moment.

    Also, the “community” is a joke, all spam no actual interaction. And any interaction I see is vindictive and/or creepy-stalkerish. The code of conduct is a joke, no one is held accountable for any bad behavior.

    This just tops it off, reviewing a book that isn’t even out yet. That can be fixed on Good Reads side by simply removing the review feature from those books.

    Sure, you can’t really know if someone has actually read a book that’s in print, but you can definitely know they haven’t when the book isn’t even out yet.

    Anyway, I think that this has led me to the decision of abandoning my Good Reads account. I’ll stick to following blogs, Twitter and facebook.



  13. Mary G
    March 15th, 2011 at 6:16 pm · Link

    **it is not a requirement that a user read the book before rating it**

    Say it isn’t so!! I would laugh at the stupidity but it’s not funny professionally speaking. I don’t get how you can review a book you haven’t read. They should set up at a subsidiary at Goodreads called
    “Uninformed Opinions”. Call it like it is.



  14. Christine
    March 15th, 2011 at 6:54 pm · Link

    Isn’t the whole point of the site by definition that you read the books you review. It seems a little puzzling to say the least.



  15. Tracy Wolff
    March 15th, 2011 at 6:55 pm · Link

    Thank you, Lauren, for writing this. To be honest, I don’t pay much attention to Goodreads, but someone mentioned to me that two of my books that aren’t out yet and don’t have any review copies available had been rated, so I stopped by to check them out.

    I was then, and am still, completely annoyed that someone can rate a book that is in the copyedit stage or in the case of one of minne, hasn’t even been read by my editor for revisions yet. How is that beneficial to anyone?

    And as for stalking or bullying behavior on these sites– what is wrong with people? Every time I read a story like the one you mentioned above, I can’t help thinking terrible things about that person– and the site where the behavior takes place. I definitely won’t be visiting Goodreads again any time soon.



  16. Laurie London
    March 15th, 2011 at 7:08 pm · Link

    Wow, Lauren, that’s just wrong.

    I had no idea GR allowed a book to be rated when it wasn’t available yet. You’d think it’d be an easy coding fix to make. If (date) is equal to or less than (book release – 30 or 60), then allow. If not, send error message to reader. “Oops, this book isn’t out yet and can’t be reviewed.”

    Seems like they’re holding authors to a much different standard than readers. Not sure I want to be a part of a community like that.



  17. M. R. Sellars
    March 15th, 2011 at 7:13 pm · Link

    I’ve always wondered about Goodreads, based on some of the ridiculous rhetoric I’ve seen on the site. I’m there, but I’m “not there” if you get my meaning. Reading this now makes me feel quite a bit better about not having “utilized” it more.

    MRS



  18. Dave Sanchez
    March 15th, 2011 at 7:18 pm · Link

    As an aspiring author I find this to be a rather scary situation…I’m pretty self-conscious about what I’ve written and the thought that someone could lowball something that I haven’t even published yet scares me.

    The site should only allowed reviews on published books; I don’t have an issue with the site providing a list of upcoming books, but until those have been published, there should be no reviewing allowed.



  19. Limecello
    March 15th, 2011 at 10:20 pm · Link

    You’ve mentioned it before, and it was obviously wrong then, but this post just made me [more? especially?] freaked out on your behalf. 🙁
    Also… I… would say I can’t believe Goodreads said that, but sadly I can. It makes my head hurt. Really – it’s not beneficial to anyone to allow things like that to happen. It’s as if we’ve got some form of early livejournal going on. I only just started using GR to keep track of what books I’ve read this year, even though I signed up long ago. I’ve always found it best to avoid all the shitstorms and crazycakes. My head would explode. Sorry this is one that you not only can’t avoid, but keeps getting thrown in your face :\



  20. Stella (Ex Libris)
    March 16th, 2011 at 2:32 am · Link

    I’m so sorry to read what happened with Goodreads Lauren. Lately there have been all this buzz about some authors reacting badly to some negative although not attacking or snarky reviews and Goodreads reacted with a bunch of reader/reviewer protecting changes. Which is ok. But not reacting when the balance tips in the other way? I find that unjust and irritating.

    As a reader and reviewer I find it offensive and revolting that people state their opinion (because rating something is giving your opinion/judgement on something) without having the faintest clue or base to pass judgement! I mean rate books which are not even available?! WTF? (By the way, Amazon won’t let anyone post a review of a book before its release day! So even if you have read an ARC of the book, you cannot rate and review it before the official release date). This is so wrong on so many levels!

    I understand that Goodreads wants to protect readers/reviewers so they can share their thoughts and reviews unaffected and without fear of retribution of any negative comment from the author, but this not only oversteps the line big time but is highly harmful to both authors and READERS! Because how can I trust a rating and review when the reviewer has no idea what they are talking about since they never read the book? I undrestand GR cannot check or control that the reviewer/rater has read the book, but it should definitely be a requirement for review! Otherwise, what is the purpose of revioewing/rating a book? other than lowballing or highballing a novel?

    Sorry for the length, this issue really pushed my buttons.. 🙂



  21. Penny Watson
    March 16th, 2011 at 6:38 am · Link

    I noticed the same thing about books getting rated before their release date, and that has always bothered me. I have also recently received a bad rating from a “fake” member there…someone who is clearly giving out 1-star ratings for the heck of it. However, I think you have to take the good with the bad, just like with any public site. That includes Amazon, romance message boards, twitter, facebook, etc. The bulk of folks are sincere and have read the book. Some are jerks and are mean-spirited. This is true in every profession, not just the publishing industry. It comes down to a matter of trust…the truth is, some folks will do the right thing, and some will not. And no amount of policing by Goodreads will be able to stop this.



  22. Rachel Riddles
    March 16th, 2011 at 8:00 am · Link

    Wow I guess I’m cancelling my account there. I really can’t believe they attacked a book that has been published as well as the way an author looks.

    Just know that there are those of us who respect you and the words you write, and I would never review a book that I’ve never read and coming from personal experience I would never insult the way someone looks.

    Sorry this has happened to you.



  23. Juliana Stone
    March 16th, 2011 at 8:24 am · Link

    Hey Lauren

    Something has changed over at goodreads. I complained about this issue last year….someone had gone and given a whole bunch of books a 1star rating books that hadn’t been written or out for review etc. After a few back and forth they removed the person who rated all these books. Wonder why they’ve swung the other way? i wish I’d have kept their correspondence with me…but I’ve decided to avoid all these sites for my own sanity…



  24. Emma
    March 16th, 2011 at 8:36 am · Link

    I’m sorry, this just begs the question…who on earth is running things over at GR, I’m not a member, I neither have the time nor the inclination to even access the website.

    I’ve heard more times than I care to think of this issue happening, as previous commentors have stated, it don’t take much to change their settings so that a book can’t be rated before the publishing date…I mean for goodness sake, what on earth is the world coming to when these sad-saps are not only allowed by are stood up for by GR itself…and please, don’t get me even started over what GR response was to your e-mail Lauren, they really must have the maturity level of a turnip.

    This is as bad as bad reviewing a book on Amazon because you don’t like the cover or the flaming release date.

    And as people have said, how on earth can you “seriously” rate a book that hasn’t even been copy edited yet…it’s seriously making me question the intellect and sanity of some of the members of GR.

    Clearly GR need to realise without authors they have no site! Honestly!



  25. Mia Amato
    March 16th, 2011 at 2:23 pm · Link

    Thanks for calling this out. As poster Laurie mentioned, it should be fairly easy for Goodreads to restrict reviews to titles after release. From what others say, readers are getting turned off from the mean-spirited theatre and heading out to other review sites (such as http://www.AReCafe.com and even Amazon) which at least restrict reviews to people who have purchased books. Sure we know that reviews on Amazon are often planted by friends/enemies of authors who have books out, but condemning titles before release just seems to have no point besides just being mean.



  26. Kristin
    March 17th, 2011 at 4:55 pm · Link

    This must be INCREDIBLY frustrating for authors. As for me, I’ve been on GR since 2008, and have made friends with people who ACTUALLY read the books they review, and we discuss them together, and get and give recommendations that way. But it’s getting to the point that I will not trust a reviewer so much anymore, unless they’re someone I’ve enteracted with frequently on GR, and know they’re actually on GR because they READ!

    The GR peeps should be ashamed of themselves for not at least TRYING to fix this issue.



  27. Nicole Peeler
    March 17th, 2011 at 5:10 pm · Link

    I have two five star reviews on Goodreads for a book I MIGHT start outlining this weekend.

    OUTLINING.

    Although maybe I won’t even write it since people are enjoying it so much, unwritten. 😉



  28. Kristle
    March 17th, 2011 at 5:16 pm · Link

    This is disturbing on so many levels. I’m new to GoodReads. So far, my experience as a reader has been good, but I’m not sure I want to continue associating with a group that lets you rate books that aren’t on the market yet.

    As for GoodReads…um, aren’t they a book community, meaning the members are supposed to read books?

    Bizarre.



  29. Debra
    March 17th, 2011 at 5:49 pm · Link

    I have never been to Goodreads and after reading your post I won’t be going over anytime soon. I hate reading a nasty review and anybody who puts down a author. Until you start writing a book and do what the authors do I don’t feel you have the right to put them down. When I do a review I talk about the book, if I like it or not, but I always remember that just because I don’t like the book it doesn;t mean somebody else will love it. And that has happened to me.

    And to review a book that hasn’t even been published is just wrong and Goodreads should not support that at all.



  30. Ann
    March 17th, 2011 at 8:52 pm · Link

    That’s just balls.

    My issue is this: if they don’t want authors on the site at all, they need to discontinue our accounts, discontinue their giveaway program, and stop trying to take our advertising money. It’s hypocritical of them to be like, “Authors! Come in, talk to readers! Just not about anything important, and don’t make them mad, okay? No matter what they say or do. Meanwhile, give away books on our site and pay us to advertise for you. But mostly, shut up.”

    They really can’t have it both ways.



  31. HelenKay Dimon
    March 17th, 2011 at 9:32 pm · Link

    This is incredible. Tha response from Goodreads…I have no words. Very sorry about the situation and the stalker. That is beyond creepy. I don’t spend much time on GR and I’m thinking that’s probably the right call.



  32. SJR
    March 17th, 2011 at 10:21 pm · Link

    uh, it’s called crowdsourcing. There is no policing in a crowdsourcing site. What they want is activity, so spammers etc love it.

    You can’t put rules (reading book required for rating or opinion) on a crowd.



  33. admin
    March 17th, 2011 at 10:38 pm · Link

    HelenKay – Just to clarify, I’m not saying the one review before the book had even finished copy editing was done by a stalker or to try and harm me.

    I didn’t know the reason. GR popped up a spanking when I began to reply to inquire so I just wrote to GR instead and said this book hasn’t gone thruogh copy edits, I know it hasn’t been read. Sometimes it’s a mistake of titles, whatever, it’s still not something anyone could have read to give stars to so please remove it.

    That’s when they emailed me with the comments I quoted above.

    I just know this happens sitewide to many authors across genres – the ratings on books sometimes not even written yet – a simple time fix could deal with this effectively. No reviews within even 60 days (ARCS often go out early, so it’s totally plausible to start seeing reviews. And that way the people who do it by mistake (which I’d wager is actually the large percentage) would see the error and find the book they’re looking for and the others? Well you can’t force anyone to be honest, of course, but at least it’s not so ridiculously blatant.

    The unbalanced stuff is connected in theme, but not by that person.



  34. BookAddict
    March 18th, 2011 at 9:14 am · Link

    I find this an interesting post. While I did join GR from a friend back 2008 or 2009, I didn’t actually use it much until January this year. I’d like to note that GR is a classified as a social network website and it is a FREE website. You get what you pay for. I’m not seeing how the reviews are going to be any different than the nasty ones I’ve seen on Amazon and other websites and people’s blogs. For readers who have experienced bad things, that’s too bad. I guess my advice is, pick the groups you join better to suit YOUR needs. I’m in a select few groups which is adult only and the moderators are pretty good at making sure we also talk about books and new authors. We also try to highlight authors in our group so that they receive some limelight.

    What it looks like when you sent an email to GR, and I’m just guessing here, but a volunteer Librarian answered back to you. I’m not defending them, but if it is a volunteer, my guess is you’re not going to get a professional answer because volunteers are well, free labour.

    I do know many of the authors who are in the groups I’ve joined will work directly with the librarians w/i our groups when something odd happpens.

    Personally, maybe it is the newness of the site for me and I was lucky to join 3 very good groups that I haven’t run into any of these issues mentioned above.

    Regarding the person who did rate it as 1. I did read a thread about it. This person just did it across the board and I think most serious readers ignore it. This being said, I’ve also read some very snarky reviews. Most of those, I ignore because like another person mentioned above, I only really trust those I’ve interacted with.

    I think that any website, this type of snarkiness and pettiness will occur. The reason why is kind of long and I don’t really want to bore the choir with a lecture. Essentially – 1. Children w/o adult guidance on proper behaviour. 2. Adults who weren’t spanked or disciplined as children who are now still juvenile and immature. 3. The removed feeling by not standing in front of the person saying what they are writing. The internet lets a lot of people become cyber bullies.

    There are times where reviewers do come across a book that just doesn’t suit them. I received a giveaway that I was super excited to receive. The cover looked awesome and the concepts looked great. Then I read the book. It took me days to write the review because I didn’t want to hurt the author’s feelings. I haven’t had a response from the author nor do I expect to receive one. I asked a couple of others to review my review before I posted it. Among the friends to review it, they were authors too. So to generalize and say the reviewers are bad is not true.

    I am sadden to hear that some authors, apparently all the ones who have posted here are going to leave GR. But that is a choice. I’d just like to point out, not many people thought Facebook would take over Myspace. I’d also like to point out that Shelfari is rarely heard about anymore. I’d also like to point out how strong FB is still going.

    Just something to think about.

    Lastly, Ms. Dane receives lots of love in the group I’m in. Even though some of us aren’t thrilled with some of the books, we still like most of them and we introduce them to new readers. Some of the other authors who also decry against GR in these comments, well, I’ve seen your names mentioned in the group too.



  35. Diane Nelson
    March 18th, 2011 at 9:35 am · Link

    Thank you for sharing your experience. I too have noticed rather unethical practices. It is good to keep informed.



  36. admin
    March 18th, 2011 at 9:41 am · Link

    I said several times that the majority of reviewers were awesome and totally capable of not liking things WITHOUT being angry or stalkery. I also spent several paragraphs defending anyone’s rights to how they feel about a book good or bad. I believe very strongly that reading is totally personal, which means who we are and what we’ve experienced will make one book a person’s 5 star read and the same book another person’s DNF.

    I don’t think all reviewers are bad in any way.



  37. BookAddict
    March 18th, 2011 at 9:47 am · Link

    True – my comment was pointed to some of the others.

    I do find that some of the reviewers who do say bad things, well, they can dish it out, but they can’t take it! Example, one person said something very negative about one of Ms. Joey Hill’s book. Gave it a rating of 1. My answer back, “Did you read the blurb? Sex with multiple guys focused on solely one woman while she’s tied down and forced to experience orgasm. . . . What part of that was confusing? Don’t read books you can’t handle, little girl. ” The person went off in a huff. I still giggle over people crying over books that have too rough of sex and yet there are specific warnings about it.



  38. admin
    March 18th, 2011 at 9:54 am · Link

    LOL, bookaddict! I love Joey Hill’s writing. She’s such an amazingly talented person



  39. Sinful
    March 18th, 2011 at 9:56 am · Link

    Goodness, as a self confessed GR junkie I am so sad to read this. I can’t even begin to understand the mindset behind a reply like that.

    **Knocking on wood.** I’ve been a top reviewer for two years and haven’t gotten any spam email. I must have clicked correctly on one of the account preference boxes. That or my name scares them off.

    Now, I will confess that when I have clicked the little “to be read” button, on occasion I somehow managed to click the stars. Those sat there for a while until I finally found the little ‘clear’ button that eluded me. At least I left them at 5 star ratings. But the clear button could be more obvious if I’m not the only mental blond on the site.

    To the commenters thinking about having the system prevent pre-published ratings: much of what I read is sent to me as an ARC. Maybe what should happen is one of those boxes (like the authors now see when they PM) that says “This book has yet to be published. Are you sure you want to rate it?” Many authors want my good comments and reviews posted before actual publication.

    I am a member of a number of groups, mostly adult only due to the erotic content of many of our BOMs. We are pretty open minded and troll free. I feel so much more welcome on GR than Amazon. We try exceptionally hard to be supportive of not only the new/up and coming authors and the powerhouse god(dess) authors, but also the aspiring authors. It breaks my heart that anyone over there would be so ugly and heartless with a comment or actions. Clearly, you should all just come hang out with the smutty crowd. We’ll shower you all with da love.

    In all the talk that has gone on around the 1 star account, I learned I am not the only one who finds herself reading the comments whether on Amazon, BN or GR rather than just looking at the stars. What chaps my hide is when any reviewer anywhere says they didn’t finish it and then they rated it. LOTS of people do this figuring if it couldn’t hold their interest they should spread the word to avoid the book. BUT how many books have I trudged through the world building and then ended up loving the end result? Some journeys aren’t smooth, but the end destination is amazing… SO now I read comments to find someone of a like mind.

    Stars might get me to look. Comments will get me to buy.

    BTW Lauren. I LURVE everything I have read that you’ve written. Consider yourself hugged. I apologize for the numnuts.



  40. BookAddict
    March 18th, 2011 at 10:13 am · Link

    ME TOO! I LURVE (not sure why people tell me it should be spelled that way) her books. I have all of them. Every time my DH sees me reading one of her books, he gets all excited. He gets ready because he knows he’ll receive some kinky. . . well, er hem. Anyway, I love your books too. 🙂 I have all of them. I shamelessly purchase both paper and eBooks. I like it in duplicate. I have to say, I love the Federation ones. Delightful! The first one was my favourite. The sexual tension, mmm mmm. Tasty! I’m really hoping the last Brown Siblings book you write will have edgier rough sex, like the first one. (wink wink, hint hint) And my DH would thank you for that. *smirk*



  41. Underwater Attack Cat
    March 18th, 2011 at 10:34 am · Link

    Programming the site to prevent reviewing books that haven’t been released yet would be nice and logical.

    I don’t agree with reviewing a book you know nothing about, but I also don’t agree with authors who review their own book with a 5 star rating. It’s your baby, of course you’re going to like it…but it’s still trying to stack the deck. (not saying Ms. Dane does this, but I see it all the time and find it off putting.)

    I’ve done reveiws that were complimentary, and I’ve done reviews that are not so complimentary. The reviews aren’t personal attacks, just my opinion on a product that was paid for. But, I HAVE had an author come screaming back at me for a negative review. I didn’t complain, just blew it off.

    If by smacking the author down, you are speaking of the text that shows in the inbox section..{{shrug}}..I’d think of it as a gentle reminder to be professional. The only spamming emails I’ve received were from authors.

    I am a volunteer librarian, but of my experience it’s only to correct spelling errors in author’s names and to merge the different copies of the same book together, or adding new books and/or covers. I don’t get or send emails from people on behalf of GR, but maybe this is the case for someone else.

    BTW, as with Book Addict, The GR groups I belong to are very friendly to authors, but are also 18 or older groups.



  42. Matthew Brown
    March 18th, 2011 at 11:34 am · Link

    I think simply as the site gets more popular, while the actual proportion of jerks does not go up, their absolute number does — and that’s easier to notice, because just one jerk can ruin your whole day.

    No excuse for allowing reviews of books that it’s impossible for someone to have read, though.



  43. H
    March 18th, 2011 at 1:55 pm · Link

    first, I came over from goodreads, because this discussion about ratings for unread books is such an old one between goodreads users. If you want to hear my opinion, here goes.

    But before that, I am pretty shocked you are getting a lot of “buy my book” spam! I am on goodreads for years and I think I never got one. I am sort of picky about accepting friendship requests and tend to go particularly uhuh at selfpublished authors, and that might explain it. I think there are reporting spam or flagging users features available.

    A rating on goodreads is not a review, it is the grade a person assigns to the book. It might be how good they thought the book was, or how much they liked it (not the same things). Or some other internal logic, how much they want to read a book, or they might be judging it for the cover or something. NOBODY HAS TO PROVE THEY HAVE READ A CERTAIN BOOK or to justify how they use the rating system, or even if they are right or wrong to have liked or thought a book was good. I feel pretty strongly about it.

    The drawback is these sort of cases, and believe me it´s a problem as well because of fangirls ( of any gender) giving 5 stars in masse to books not yet written though authors never ever complain about unpublished and unfinished books getting 5 stars. But I consider that a fair price to pay. Keep in mind that over time and a large enough sample, people using rating systems eccentrically (as they are entitled to) will average out. Also keep in mind that goodreads is a very social media, most users will pay much more attention to ratings and reviews by people they know about.



  44. Lily
    March 18th, 2011 at 2:33 pm · Link

    You know, I found this link through another author’s blog and I have to say I agree whole heartedly with you.
    I have a book blog where I get to post my thoughts and reviews and share with other readers it’s great, I have found new authors this way that I love. I have the “power” to monitor what people say on my site and if they are rude, the comment simply isn’t published. (Thankfully I have not had this problem.)

    Back to GR, there is a reviewer on there I have come across several times and what’s sad is they rarely have anything nice to say about a book. It’s not just the books, they have personally attacked the author and called them names and called their book a steaming pile of ****.
    Yes, everyone can have their opinion, but be diplomatic about it. I mean, if there is a book I don’t like and I say but I also say what worked and I encourage people to find more favorable reviews. I believe there is always SOMETHING you can find in a book that is good, even if it’s a minor character or the idea was good.
    I have noticed as well that GR doesn’t seem to care when an author is being personally attacked. I worked with a girl who was self-published, I LOVED her book, however it’s defiantly not for everyone. What a lot of reviewers seem to forget is the author is a person too with feelings. It’s almost like the people who are Negative Nancy’s are out there to make themselves feel better by tearing others down. Welcome to 1rst grade.

    What I really don’t like is the people who go to Amazon and vote on reviews based on if they agree or not, not if it’s a well written or thought out review.



  45. GretavdR
    March 18th, 2011 at 2:51 pm · Link

    I think Lauren has written a well-balanced post about her own experience. Trollish behaviour is awful but it happens on all sites. I think most people reading comments will recognise the obviously ridiculous ones.
    I’m interested in the notion that GR can program to prevent people from commenting on books they haven’t read. How? All they can do is say ‘have you read this book? Y/N’. (I’m an ex-programmer) Let’s face it, it’s easy enough for people to leave disparaging comments about books they haven’t read on Amazon, too. Not published is another matter. I don’t think unpublished work should be allowed on the site.



  46. CK
    March 18th, 2011 at 4:23 pm · Link

    How disheartening. I’ve only really started using GR this year and I have to say it’s really disappointing to see the GR response to what should be an easy fix. (Unless the coding for the site was written by 100 rabid monkeys just randomly typing away.)

    I also find the idea of targeting/stalking authors for the purpose of low-balling their books (esp unpublished ones) to be rather juvenile. It just seems like so much effort when there are so many other books to read. But I’ve also seen the results of several authors behaving badly (not you of course). So the bad behavior goes both ways.

    Having said that, GR needs to swing back to the middle and protect authors as well as reviewers. Very interesting post. Looking forward to reading your Cascadia Wolves 😉



  47. Christopher Dunbar
    March 18th, 2011 at 4:28 pm · Link

    I had not considered this as a problem in the past. My artist, who, for inspiration in drawing the cover art, read the next three novels we have coming out before being published, rated on GR each book she had read. Since she had actually read the books, I had no problem with her rating them. However, a perfect stranger who has not read a book providing a rating and/or a review? Umm… no thank you!

    Has this subject been brought up on the Goodreads Author Feedback Group? Not that I expect resolution, but my understanding is that the GR admins follow that discussion group and follow-up on issues. I haven’t had this problem, but it sounds like something I should follow-up on.

    Cheers!

    Christopher



  48. KB/KT Grant
    March 21st, 2011 at 9:03 am · Link

    I just look up a book on GRs that doesn’t come out until May nad it has over 300 reviews or stars given. WTF is up with that?



  49. Christopher Dunbar
    March 21st, 2011 at 9:36 am · Link

    I started a discussion on Goodreads Author Talk commenting on this very same issue, after I read Lauren’s article. Here is the link to that discussion: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/515626.

    One of the first things GR people said was that this discussion had occurred before (http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/300795-disabling-ratings-reviews-before-a-book-s-publish-date) and that they had decided to do nothing about the issue.

    Now, don’t get riled up yet… The case several authors made, and continue to make with the new discussion, was that they wanted pre-release reviews and ratings from ARCs to be posted to GR, and for whatever reason, any controls GR could put on reviews and ratings would block legitimate pre-release postings.

    I don’t know if that means they don’t care about authors, their developers aren’t very creative, or whether other conclusions drawn in this discussion are true. However, I recommend that anyone wishing to learn more and perhaps participate in the discussion visit the link I posted above.

    Cheers!

    Christopher



  50. BlithelyBookish
    July 7th, 2011 at 9:00 am · Link

    I came in search of this post because yesterday I came across a review on Goodreads. It was of a book that hasn’t been released yet, and this is the review –

    “What did I think? Honestly, I didn’t read the book yet, but one thing for sure, I read most of [removed author’s name] books. And I love them all. So I know for sure that I will love this book just like her other books, no doubt about that.”

    I call that padding the ratings and crystal ball reviewing, and as a reader I really don’t appreciate it.

    As was stated above, the idea of not allowing any reviews before the book’s release date has been discussed quite a bit on Goodreads and in the Goodreads Feedback forum. The problem is that then ARCs from authors and places like netgalley won’t be reviewable either. And I suppose asking prospective Goodreads members to take some kind of mental stability test is out of the question. Damn!

    A couple of years ago I read a book that I got from smashwords. It wasn’t yet listed on Goodreads so I added it and reviewed it. Within hours I got an email from Goodreads telling me that the book and my review had been removed at the author’s request because the author didn’t want her “less than polished” works listed there. Well, okay then! That made no sense to me at all, but I bring it up because when it comes to Goodreads relationship with their authors, nothing makes sense.