General Information for Reviews
I am currently accepting books from the Adult category (see genres below) for review. Please feel free to send me a message through the “Contact Me” form located under the contact link. If you prefer, you may also send me an email to hello@trulybookish.com. The snail mail address located under the contact link is current for anyone wishing to send me physical review material. Please know, if you send me physical material for review through snail mail, without contacting me first via email or the contact form, I can not commit to reading it.
Formats Accepted: I will accept any of the following formats for review: Advanced Review Copies (either print or digital), galleys, and completed publications. I will also consider self-published books and Indie books.
Please Note: If you are requesting for me to review your most recent book, and it is a part of a series, then I may request you also send me the previous book(s) to include in the review.
Books Accepted for Review
If I accept your material, I will make every effort to read/review it by the expected deadline; although, I can make no guarantees. In an effort to meet deadlines, I prefer to receive review material at least ten (10) weeks prior to the expected due date. Below is a list of genres I am willing to accept at this time. If in doubt, feel free to send me an email inquiry.
Currently Accepting Adult Books in the Following Genres:
- Chick-Lit
- Horror (US, UK, or Swedish)
- Paranormal
- Suspense/Thriller (US, UK, or Swedish)
- Crime Fiction (US, UK, or Swedish)
- Mystery (US, UK, or Swedish)
- Historical Fiction (US or UK)
- Contemporary Literature
- Anthologies (Horror or Contemporary Literature)
NOT Currently Accepting Books in the Following Genres:
- Romance (I may consider a YA book from this genre, but no “steamy adult novels”.)
- Political
- Medical/Diet/Lifestyle
- Self-Help
- Religious/New Age
Book Reviews
My reviews are written in a relaxed manner, reminiscent of a conversation I might have at a book club meeting with close friends. I state my opinions solely based on whether or not I enjoyed the book. Since I despise spoilers, I avoid them at all costs. My hope is that my recommendation is enough to make a reader want to pick the book up for themselves.
Please know, if I did not enjoy a book, then my reviews will reflect as much. Not all my reviews will be positive. If I write a less than favorable review for a book, I will make every attempt to explain why I found it to not receive my highest marks.
Please know, I will never post unfair/dishonest reviews or personal attacks on the author. Writing a book is a lot of work — I completely understand all the time and dedication it takes — my review is solely on the actual content of the writing, never the author. With that said, my reviews are solely my thoughts and opinions regarding the book. They are not meant to be objective literary critiques. I am purely a reader for enjoyment, not a literary specialist.
*I usually write a small review for every book I begin. Many times I only post these short reviews to Goodreads and/or Amazon. I reserve my more lengthy reviews for the blog.
Rating System
I rate books using my own “1-5 Scale”:
1/5 – I was unable to finish the book due to many grammatical errors and/or lack of substance. Essentially, the book was terrible and I was unable to muddle through it. I reserve this rating for books I feel should really revisit the editor.
2/5 – I finished the book, but I did not care for it. It lacked depth and/or author understanding of the subject matter at hand. The book had too many holes in the storyline, if you will. I only use this rating if I feel people with my similar reading interests would not enjoy the book.
3/5 – I use this rating to describe books I feel are an okay read. I may not have been captivated by the story, but I found parts of it to be enjoyable. I give this rating to books that are well-written, but just not my “cuppa tea”. This rating also means that I think a lot of people would enjoy the book, it was just not for me.
4/5 – These are the books I thoroughly enjoyed. The writing was very thoughtful and excellently written. The story has very few, if any, holes. The subject/plot is mapped out expertly, making the story flow seamlessly. The author was able to draw me into the story, keeping my attention for the duration of the book. I would recommend these books.
5/5 – I reserve this rating for the excellent reads, the books that immediately catch my attention and will not let me go. These are the books I am unable to put down because I MUST know what happens. Books in this category are ones that spoke to me in some way and I will never forget. These are the books I insist on keeping a personal copy of for later reading. Of course these books come with the highest recommendation and are, in my opinion, a “must-read” for most.
*Because I believe in fairness, half-ratings are also used when I feel the book falls between two of my rating categories.
Unfinishable Books – I will attempt to finish every book I accept for review. With that said, after college I vowed to never be forced to read another book that I strongly oppose the views of, etc. In my opinion, not every book is meant for every reader. Although very few books fall into this category, some books are simply “Unfinishable”. If I am provided a book I deem to be in this category, I will explain why I have given it this rating. I will also disclose how many pages I read before putting it aside, as well as if I plan to revisit it at later date. Furthermore, I will make an attempt to rate what I did read with the “1-5 Scale” explained above. Just because I may find it unfinishable does not mean someone else may not find it a good read. Sometimes a book is very well-written, but it just does not resonate with the reader enough to be finished.
Giveaways
I am honored you have considered my little blog to host a giveaway for you! I will be happy to host a giveaway for any books that fall into the genres I am currently accepting for review. Please note: I am only willing to host giveaways for books that are ARCs or final publications, either print or electronic. Also if you would like my endorsement, I ask you also send me a copy for review prior to the listing of the giveaway.
If you wish for me to host your giveaway, please include the following information in your request:
- Title/Author
- Format of Book (ARC, hardcover, paperback, e-book)
- Shipping Requirements (US, US/CAN, or International)
- Length of time you would like me to run the giveaway
- Any additional information you would like me include in the giveaway post (photos, blurbs, autographed copy?, link to the author, Goodreads link, etc.)
*All enteries for a giveaway will be entered using Rafflecopter. I will not host a giveaway that requires entrants to “like”, “follow”, “tweet”, or make any other endorsements. Extra entries may be offered for these types of endorsements, but I will not require it for an initial entry.
Guest Posts and Interviews
If you are an author, I would love to host you on TrulyBookish.com.
If you would like to be a “Featured Author” on TrulyBookish.com, please send the following information with your request:
- Author Name/Title of the Book/Release Date of Book
- Synopsis of the book you would like me to advertise (or Goodreads Link)
- Whether you would like to do a guest post and/or interview
- The month and day you would like to be featured
- If you would also like to host a giveaway
*Currently, I am hosting authors whose books I have either read or are on my “To Be Read” list.
Truly,
