Note to authors and publishers:
I would love to review or promote your book. I read primarily young adult novels. I also read some middle grade/tween novels. I prefer contemporary fiction, paranormal romance, historical fiction, and fantasy. I read dystopias, mysteries, and science fiction as well, but they are not my favorite genres, so I am less disposed to view such books favorably. If the book is part of a series, I would prefer to read prior books before starting in the middle.
I will accept Young Adult and Middle Grade novels, preferably in the genres listed above. I will accept ARCs and finished copies. I also have a Sony e-Reader and will accept e-books. I will NOT accept self-published books.
All books will be reviewed in a timely manner, one to two months after receiving them. If you would prefer that a review be posted close to the book's publication date, please state so. I cross-post all my reviews to Amazon. I will not post a review if I cannot finish the book. I usually give books 50-100 pages before giving up. It's rare that I do not finish a book, although I will sometimes put it down and try it again later.
My reviews are fair and honest. I include a mixture of things I like and didn't like about a book. I will never trash a book, but I will not hide criticism either. I rate my books using a 1-5 system, including half ratings.
Any books received are subject to being passed on through Giveaways, unless you specifically state otherwise.
Please contact me at AlisonCanRead [at] gmail [dot] com.
Blog Tours
I would love to participate in a blog tour. Please give me at least a month between when the book arrives and the tour date. Please contact me at AlisonCanRead [at] gmail [dot] com.
Interview and Guest Post
If you're a Young Adult or Middle Grade author interested in doing an interview or guest post, please contact me at AlisonCanRead [at] gmail [dot] com. I would prefer to read an author's book before doing an interview or posting a guest post.
How I Rate Books
I started recording every book I read in March 2002. I rated each book using a 1 to 5 star ratio, including half stars. I'm continuing that policy in my blog.
I'm pretty generous with my ratings. I usually pick books that I'm fairly confident I'll like. And I can find enjoyment out of a book for many different reasons. My most common ratings are 3.5 and 4.
1 Star: Really bad. I almost never give this rating, because I usually don't finish these books
1.5 Stars: Some redeeming value but not much. Once again, this rating is very rare since I'll usually stop reading the book.
2 Stars: Good enough to keep reading but that's about it.
2.5 Stars: It held my interest but wasn't anything special.
3 Stars: One of two reasons - The book was good but not great or I really liked the book but had some major issue with it.
3.5 Stars: The book was fun and interesting. Nothing to write home about, but I'm glad I read it. I probably also have a few quibbles about plot points or writing style.
4 Stars: I really liked this book and I'll recommend it to all my friends.
4.5 Stars: I loved the book. It was either super-fun or really made me think and reflect. The book lingers in my mind long after I've read it.
5 Stars: Incredible, mind-altering, life-changing book. Well, not all all 5 Stars are life-changing, but these are the books I treasure, re-read, and never forget. I average one 5 star every month to two months.
