[ SECRET POST #6594 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #6594 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.


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07. [WARNING for discussion of sexual assault]




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08. [WARNING for discussion of sexual assault]

















Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 00 pages, 00 secrets from Secret Submission Post #942.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

Goodreads review etiquette

[(Anonymous)]

The book reviews question reminded me. I recently finished a book written by an acquaintance, and it's also their debut novel. I would say it's a 4 star book, which is pretty good, but I've noticed that reviews on Goodreads tend to go for the full 5 stars when the reviewer is a friend of the author. Is this just the way it's expected to be done? Would it be a faux pas to give the book 4 stars instead of 5 when I know the person?

Re: Goodreads review etiquette

[(Anonymous)]

Maybe!

You know your friend, would they value an 80%? Or would they ask "If it was pretty good, why didn't you give me 5 stars?" If you think it would hurt their feelings ask yourself, would the potential damage to my friendship be worth my Goodreads integrity?

I won't lie, when my friend's have projects I am their community sponsored hype man. I'm here to gas them up. Even if it is some embarrassingly self published id nonsense I will rate it 5/5 stars on the self published id nonsense scale. I'll praise the things that are good, even if it's just the daring honesty! The world is full of people who can be objective and most of them have fun being snarky, my friends don't need that from me.

Now, when it comes to rating something I'm not connected to I wouldn't rate something 4 stars without mentioning why it isn't 5. If I can't put my finger on why I don't like it that much, it's probably a 3.

Re: Goodreads review etiquette

[(Anonymous)]

Hm, for some added context that I probably should have realized was important, I think my friend knows that their book isn't one that I would genuinely find 5-star worthy. My rating style is that I put personal enjoyment over objective quality, and don't give 5 stars terribly often at all. I also enjoy the genre of book theirs is in, but it's not one of my very favorites and I tend to give books in that genre 3 or 4 stars. So if I give it 5 stars I think either way I don't really mean it, and my worry is whether they'll be glad that I'm supporting them despite their book being not precisely my jam, or angry that I'm being insincere. (Also I'm using "friend" loosely, they're more someone I met online a long time ago and am friendly with, so I don't know them well enough to tell how they'd react.)

Re: Goodreads review etiquette

[(Anonymous)]

objective quality

No such thing.

Re: Goodreads review etiquette

[(Anonymous)]

AYART

I think you should give it 5/5. You enjoyed it well enough despite being in a genre you don't prefer. If you really want to cover your bases you can send your friend a message like "Hey, my affection for you might have colored my review. If it comes off as cringey I'm sorry, I could tone it down!" Or whatever.

But also, do some background checking: Do THEY rarely rate things 5/5? Have they shared how insincere the other reviews feel? Have they shared struggles about getting this book finished/published?