Bookish Thoughts: [redacted]

This sucks.

I’m sorry

But this book review is not going up. I can’t in good conscience promote a book published by a company that allows a person in their marketing team who spews vile and hateful things.

Both Netgalley (when I reached out for guidance) and St Martin’s press (in the MONTHS that they have known about the situation) have been silent on the issue.

So I will be silent about this book.

If all my friends are not welcome at the table, if they aren’t safe at the table, why would I want to be there?

Things I Never Thought I’d Say

I got a KU subscription and… I like it. There’s a wide variety and no wait time like with Libby. The app glitches on me all the time, but I’m figuring that out (it puts me back, page wise, in the book so I have to find my place again. It’s workable.)

Yes, I still buy books. Ahhh, don’t tell anyone tho. But it feels good to be able to dip in and see if I like an author or not, a book or not, and return it with no hassle or financial hit. And I am finding that I’m a voracious reader lol.

Second thing… I am severely disappointed in both Net Galley and St Martin’s press. I had emailed Net Galley, asking what their position was on the whole St Martin’s press boycott going on (boycotting reviews on their titles until they address the actions of a marketing employee who has not only said atrocious things, has also picked through ARC copies as to who was approved and who wasn’t). Other people explain it more eloquently over on the Klock App. I read an ARC that comes out in January and is a St Martin’s book… And as of right now I won’t be posting anything on it. And that sucks for the author. For all authors publishing within that company. I know I’m small potatoes. That’s ok. I’ll still abide. It would have been nice to get a response from Netgalley, tho. Any response.

Since starting this, I saw an ad for that company on the Klock app and saw one of the authors was Nora Roberts. It makes me sad, so I found a reader email for her and sent an email. But as I said, I am small and she is huge. But I always thought of her as one who would stand up against that type of hatred. All the comments under that ad on the Klock app had to do with the boycott & the marketing employee.

And Booktok is weird. And I love it. First, no it is not all smut. There are accounts that are dedicated to fantasy, mystery, general fiction, sweet romance, spicy romance, all of it. It’s just that what you interact with you see more of. So if you can’t help yourself and keep commenting on genres you hate… It’s going to keep showing them to you. If you scroll on by, they’ll eventually drop off. You can find like minded people there… Even when you read a wide variety. The search bar is your friend lol.

Booktok also holds authors accountable. One just spiraled so far out of control they lost their publishing deal AFTER cover art had been released. They even had a special edition box edition signed. Gone. All because they tried to harm other authors release ng at the same time as them. I can’t imagine NOT supporting other authors. The ones I’ve met have always been so helpful and kind to a baby author like me.

So is there anything else I never thought I’d say? Well yes

Merry almost Christmas from the Midwest.

Bookish Thoughts

Hello my lovelies,

Today, we’re going to discuss Meghan Quinn’s “He’s Not My Type,” a spicy hockey romance. A good romance, to boot. I was bawling at the end (don’t judge me, it’s been a rough day), in all the best ways.

But what I want to talk to you guys about is when an author goes meta. And it made me howl, it was so funny.

Ok, to get the scene a bunch of hockey teammates are sitting around, talking Bout 1 of them (our hero)wanting to get with the girl (heroine). But there’s a new player in the team, so they go through the other relationships really quickly (previous books in the series– I hadn’t read them so it was welcome!).

And then the following paragraph happens:

“”And he got her pregnant,” Posey says with gusto, the f***ing storyteller of the group. “It was a long road for them. Jesus the amount of time it took Eli to realize he could give in to loving her. Some might say the author of his story could have cut out the last 15% and everyone would have still been pleased with the outcome.”

— He’s Not My Type by Meghan Quinn, page 22 Kindle Edition

I howled. Omg it hit me so hard my kid thought I’d gone around the bend. She called out herself and her critics in the same breath and I was there for it.

That’s not to say it doesn’t pack an emotional punch as well. Grief is handled, as well as emotional trauma sustained from family (especially after the death). It really hit home and it was handled well.

Ms. Quinn, thank you so much for this book. I got it when I needed it.