There’s no denying it, books are really expensive. For a hardcover edition of a new release I’ll be paying anywhere between £10 and £15 and while it’s slightly better for paperback releases, I’ll only pay £5 or £7 for paperback editions, when you consider all the new releases we rave about in our blogs, all the new releases we can’t wait for, it adds up.
I spend a lot of money on books, most of us do, but there are lot of other things our pay checks have to go towards, and books are more of a luxury than anything else. But when you’re blog hopping you see book hauls or monthly recaps from people who have managed to buy tons of books and you just wonder ‘how?’ Well, I do at least.
Do You Feel You Have to Buy Books to be a “Good” Blogger?
The short answer to this question is no. In my mind book blogging isn’t about having shiny new copies of books the day they’re released, or even before they’re released if you’re lucky enough to snag an ARC from the publisher, it’s about passion and enjoying what you’re writing. There are some books I want the second they’re released, simply because they’re highly anticipated releases of mine and I know chances are I’ll get around to them before too long, but there are plenty more releases, releases I’ve said are books I can’t wait for that I’ve taken a year or even longer to finally get around to.
Some books I don’t mind paying the hardcover price for, there are others where I am content to wait for the cheaper paperback edition to be released, and there are even more where I simply go for the cheapest Kindle option. However, when you’re blog hopping you see posts from other people (and this post isn’t calling anyone or any blog out) where they’ve taken so many incredible photos of their shiny new releases, and you can’t help feeling a little jealous.
As cheap as Kindle editions are, and as much as I love my Kindle simply for how many books I can carry on such a small and portable device, it’s not quite the same taking photos of a Kindle as it is taking photos of a shiny new hardcover edition of a highly anticipated release.
Also there’s that little matter of hype. A lot of books have so much hype surrounding their release that it seems like the world is eagerly awaiting finally getting their hands on them, and once they have been released it seems like everyone is posting a review or taking a photo of the copy they have for their monthly recap or book haul posts. Then, before too long, it seems to fade from the bookish community for the next eagerly anticipated, hyped release. So it begs the question do you need to get your hands on a copy to read and review before your too late?
Labyrinth Lost, The Bone Witch, even The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue are all books that were everywhere in the run up to their release but that have now dropped off the map a little for the bookish community.
Yes, there are other options out there if you don’t have the money to buy new books. Libraries are great places, and second-hand book stores are always good for finding a bargain. However I come from a town where we don’t have any second-hand book stores (I only live near London, not in the city) and a town where my local library hasn’t been updated in years. For me this does kind of leave buying books from places like Amazon and Waterstones my only option if I want to read new releases.
There are also places like NetGalley and even the publishers themselves you can request books and ARCs from, but let’s face it sometimes it feels like the odds of winning the lottery are better than getting anything from them given how many people are surely requesting the same.
When it comes down to it we’re all humans; we probably all have feelings of jealously when we see other bloggers book hauls, we probably all feel a little gutted when we never seem to have the same amount of new releases or ARCs for our own blogs. However for me it’s not the newest releases that make a blogger stand out, it’s passion, and when you consider the fact that reviews are the posts that generate the least amount of traffic on blogs (which is another discussion topic all together) I feel like the answer to this discussion question is obvious.
Now Onto the Discussion Part of This Post:
Do you feel like you need new books the second they’ve been released, or do you not mind waiting until you can find a cheaper copy?
Does the hype surrounding new releases ever play into what books you decide to buy?
In your mind what makes a good blogger?
What are your tips for finding new releases, or just books in general, at a more affordable price?
Let me know in the comments below.
Reading Every Night 
I haven’t been able to afford a new book in forever. I envy my favorite author John Scalzi who gets books and ARCs sent to him! How can I become that kind of writer?!
But seriously, my personal style is that whenever I choose to review anything, which is rare, I wait until a whole after release to do so. I know that I won’t be able to be the first to get my hands on a book and read it even if I buy it on Day 1, and even if I fly through it and get a review written it will be merely one of many hot off the press reviews. But if I wait a few months or whatever when interest does down, I can write a review that might have a better shot of being read because people will be over the review fatigue
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Yeah ARCs are great because you don’t have to pay for them. Who’s going to say no to free books? 🙂
That’s a good way to go about it I think. A lot of the time I notice that looking back at some books I read and reviewed straight away after their release weren’t as good as I thought they would be (sometimes it works the other way around too). There’s so much on my TBR list I can probably leave a few releases for a little longer so I can give a more honest review. 🙂
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I’m just glad I like obscure books. So when I request there’s a higher chance of getting it xD although after NetGalley basically kicked us internationals out, I don’t really get many wishes granted. I used to get a lot of approved copies back when this wasn’t the case. And taking pics of the Kindle does suck! But unfortunately, living in a little weird country, there’s not so many ways to get books that don’t involve your whole paycheck xD so Kindle it is. I’m glad I have it! I don’t think I’d be very good at instagram anyway even if I had print copies 😀
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Ha, yeah that’s definitely a good thing, but oh yeah I heard about the NetGalley thing regarding international readers when it was announced and that just completely sucks. Well I keep my fingers crossed you start getting some more wishes granted in that case. I just keep requesting no matter what. 🙂
Yeah books are so much cheaper on the Kindle, and at the end of the day the main thing is that you have a copy of the story, be it a physical copy or an eBook copy the story inside is the same. 🙂
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When I first started blogging, I was really susceptible to buying as many books as I could, especially new releases. I ended up going less to my library and buying more books off of Amazon and in bookstores — and though I love owning my favorite books, I’m now back where I started and am a fan of buying less books and borrowing more from the library. Sure, beautiful books look great on a shelf, but like you said, book blogging is all about the passion and interpretation of the words within stories rather than the physical book itself. 😊 Lovely post! 😄
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Yeah when I first starting blogging my budget for books shot up because I was buying so many, mainly because of the great reviews I was seeing. Now I have to be a little more selective because I can’t afford to buy every single book that catches my eye.
As long as you enjoy what you read and as long as you’re passionate about what you write those really are the main things.
Thanks so much! 🙂 ❤
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I think being a book blogger or book lover is more about the content of the book and not the ownership of it.. In the recent past I have grown a liking for kindle versions of books.. but I can’t deny my love for the physical editions.. Kindle versions are so much cheaper that they kind of win the game most of the times.. However, there are so many instances where I have read the e-version , loved it and then bought the paperback/hardback! 😀
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Oh yeah I do that as well. If I’m not sure whether I want to fork out the extra money for the paperback or hardcover edition, or just whether I’ll enjoy it enough to own a physical copy I’ll buy it on Kindle first. At the end of the day one version of the book is as good as any other, Kindle of paperback. 🙂
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That’s a very interesting discussion post! I definitely cannot buy all the new releases even though I want to, so I only buy those that I know I will read the second they arrive. I almost always wait for the paperback, because I don’t mind this format and would rather pay less. Sometimes it does feel like everyone is reading a hyped book, but like you said it’s about our passion for books and not about how many books we buy! 💕
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Thanks so much Caro. 🙂 I definitely want to buy all the new releases out there, but you’re better than me because I buy books I know I won’t be getting around to anytime soon.
Yep, there are some old series I’ve only recently discovered I’ve loved as much as the newest hyped release, simply because of how someone on WordPress talked about it with passion. 🙂 ❤
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while I totally agree with you that buying books doesn’t necessarily make you a good blogger, I feel like there might be pressure if some people compare themselves to other bloggers who seem to have lots of books they post about. The to-go answer is “No” yet I’m sure that those same people pressure themselves into book buying.
Also! I find it completely ridiculous the number of books some booktubers buy month after month. They show these huge stacks of books they’re not actually going to get around to reading. Weird.
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Yeah I completely get that. My answer to this question is “no” too but I still feel that pressure. Whenever I see book haul posts from people who have managed to get tons and tons of books I can sometimes feel a little like I’m falling behind, especially when it’s a haul full of ARCs and new releases.
I don’t really watch booktube videos but I’ve seen the thumbnails on YouTube and there always seem to be massive piles of books that are always more than I can afford to buy in three months combined!
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I know right! I usually tend to restrict my book buying to special editions, book I liked or books I think I might like.
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Yeah I do the same, still means I somehow end up with loads of books on my to-buy list! 😀
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I hardly ever buy new books. I buy a lot of secondhand books from charity shops, because that’s all there is in my hometown — there isn’t a single bookshop nearby. (In the entirety of our borough we’ve got a WHSmith’s and that’s it; it’s not even a very big one.) So if I wanted to buy books new I’d have to make a lengthy bus journey to the nearest Waterstones, which I’ve done in the past and found they didn’t have the book I wanted when I got there, or buy from Amazon. In my uni town it’s easier — Cambridge has several bookshops — so I’ve started buying new books slightly more often, usually when they’re discounted because of damage, or when I have a book token.
But mostly I read ARCs and library books and then buy books I like secondhand as and when I encounter them in charity shops. The only time I’ll unthinkingly buy a book new is when it’s by one of my absolutely favourite authors, and even then, I might wait for the paperback or buy Kindle edition. Books are expensive, especially when you read as many of them as I do.
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Oh wow, and in that case you’re kind of the opposite to me because we have a load of bookshops where I am but very few secondhand shops, and the few secondhand shops we have don’t really do books. I suppose yeah there’s always Amazon, and you know they’ll always have the book you’re looking for as well right? And that’s good, I guess you’re still getting new books but you’re getting them at a discount so they’re not as expensive (because books really are expensive aren’t they?)
I do wish I had a decent library near where I am. I’d get a lot more of my books from there and wouldn’t spend as much money, as it is I have to try and budget around the books I do buy because I need to read and buying new is one of the only options I have. 🙂
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I try to find a balance between hype, pretty covers, and books that I’ve been meaning to read for a while! I am the ideal consumer for publishers – I get trapped by pretty things!
I wish I could read from a Kindle, but I just can’t get absorbed into a story in the same way as when I’m holding the physical book. Reading is a very tactile experience for me! I never get to the ‘I don’t know what’s going on around me’ stage with an e-book. Libraries are a great solution to this, but I will always buy a book that I’ve loved anyway.
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I get trapped by pretty things too, and actually that’s kind of how I buy books too, with a little auto-buy added in for my favourite authors/series of course! 😀
Oh that’s interesting. I find I can honestly read anywhere with any kind of distraction around me. Honestly it doesn’t take me long to get into a story and when I do I’m sucked in until the end. I’ve nearly missed my train before because I’ve been stood on the platform reading my Kindle, so absorbed I didn’t notice it pull into the platform! 😀
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I agree that being a good blogger has doesn’t have anything to do with whether or not we buy each book we read. I had a phase where I bought books new, which only lasted a month because it was so darn expensive!
Yes it’s true that there are lots of posts where bloggers share photos of their book hauls, and of course there is bookstagram, but I think the focus should be on the content of the books rather than outside appearance. I believe we can appreciate a book without having to own it.
You are right that there is a lot of hype! I try not to get sucked into it. Usually I only read a new release if it is an author or a series that I really love (such as Obsidio and Here We Are Now). I find that my local library is great at stocking up on eBook/audiobook versions of new releases, however this can depend on the library!
Great post ❤ 🙂
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I don’t think I’ve ever managed to escape that phase. I dunno I’m kind of weird about liking things as perfect as possible so secondhand books don’t always appeal to me, but I do know if I had a decent selection at my library I’d be there a lot more often (and I’d likely save a lot of money as well!)
Yeah the bookstagram/Instagram angle isn’t one that appeals to me as much. I mean I love seeing the gorgeous photos on people’s blogs, and I love taking photos myself, but I could never get the hang of Instagram so I have up. Yes we can, but I still want my own personal copy of my favourites anyways. 🙂
I do think my book buying habits have calmed down a little, mainly as a result of my epic unhaul at the beginning of the year, but there are always going to be too many auto-buy authors and releases on my list.
Thanks so much Sophie! 🙂 ❤️
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Yes I think I am lucky that I have a good library- if this weren’t the case I would definitely be spending a lot more money on books.
I tried instagram for a bit but it just didn’t stick as well as blogging does. I really admire the amazing photos that other bookstagrammers take but I never have the patience to take nice photos of my books haha (I also don’t have enough physical books to take photos of!)
I think there’s nothing wrong with buying books as long as it is in our budget right? I might have another book haul soon but I will have to finish reading what’s on my current shelf first!
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I’m an example of that. I spend too much on books and I don’t have a decent library nearby.
Personally I feel like I’m very much an either/or person, I can only stick to either WordPress or Instagram so I chose WordPress in the end. It’s too much time to dedicate to commenting and writing posts and then taking gorgeous photos on top of it.
Ha, I tend to create a budget around my book buying, when I feel like it should really be the other way around! 🙂
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Yeah I get what you mean. Blogging and instagram both take a lot of time, and at the end of the day, I can only choose one! If I have to choose another social media platform to be more active in, it’ll probably be twitter, which seems like a bit less commitment than instagram lol 🙂
Lol 🙂 Well we make money so that we can do more of what we love right?
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Same here, one day I plan to get a Twitter account because I think alongside WordPress and Goodreads I can manage that. Bookstagram is just a little too much.
Ha, yeah good point! 😀
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I’m so new to the book blogger and bookstagram thing but I want to echo what all of these lovely people have been saying – that blogging should be about what you honestly like/love/love to hate. Your blog should be you, and what you want. I think genuine beats out “hype” any day.
In a way, I’m actually kind of excited to buy or be on the lookout for books again?? I haven’t bought a book in ages but I think it will be nice to go to a secondhand store or an online outlet and just splurge (sometime after a birthday methinks lol). I definitely use my library for reads. I’m very fortunate that my system is extensive and has a fab outside library loaning system, and I’m there every day lol. Terrible for my TBR list and perhaps terrible for my bookstagram – I haven’t really figured out if I’m going to care about spine labels if I take pics of library books or not. I don’t think I’ve seen a single one on bookstagram lol but IDK who cares? I’m having fun on there because I just find all the other pics so lovely and calming and pleasing and it will be awesome one day to reach that aesthetic height, but right now I’m just cruising along at my own bumble speed 😀 Thanks for the great post!
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Yes definitely, and the fact that you can see that when you haven’t been blogging and bookstagramming long just goes to show how true it is as well. 🙂 I’m the end you can have all the ARCs and hyped books in the world but if you don’t enjoy it what’s the point right?
Oh in that case definitely splurge. Whenever I don’t buy books for ages (and for me that normally means a month or two at most) I always go a little insane the next time I’m in a bookstore. 🙂 I think it’s great you have such a well stocked library, it will probably save you a little money in the long run, and in terms of the bookstagram I say like blogging do what you want. Who cares if there are no other pictures of spine labels you can start a new trend or something! 😀
Yeah I’m not really on bookstagram (I did try it but it wasn’t for me in the long run) but even now I still enjoy taking pretty pictures and seeing what pictures everyone else posts as well.
Thanks so much! 🙂 ❤️
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Fantastic post! I tend to buy books when I have birthday money and it’s normally for books that I really want to read and think I’ll enjoy rather than hyped up ones. I only pre-order books of authors I love or a series I’m already enjoying. I use the library a lot and love their digital apps for audiobooks. I also use NetGalley of course and Readers First. 🙂
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Thanks so much. 🙂
Oh I spend all my birthday money on books as well, and honestly I am trying to be a little more careful with what I buy but I’m weak unfortunately. I use NetGalley a lot as well, it’s probably saved me a fair bit of money and I love being able to download straight to my Kindle too. 🙂
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This is a great post! I know that in the beginning I felt pressure to keep up and review new titles ASAP. I admit to spending money as a result. But that quickly led to lackluster reading and loss of blogging enjoyment. Lesson learned. But I totally get how some still might feel this pressure while trying to establish themselves.
I personally am now all about libraries and sales. I love utilizing the blog to help support my local library and this includes by checking out review titles. Huge advocate for that and charity shops! I rarely buy on release except for the titles I am personally excited for and only when funss allow 😊
I am not sure I have any solid thoughts on what makes a good blog/blogger as we all have personal goals, but being honest, personable and passionate are a great start!
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That’s all right, and yeah I get what you mean because you see so many reviews for up and coming books and really hyped books and you just wonder if your blog is still relevant if you can’t review the same one. I think for me that’s partly where being a mood reader helps because I only ever read and review the books I know I’m in the mood to read you know? 🙂
Oh that sounds like a brilliant way to use your blog, and you’re probably getting loads of good books in return as well which is definitely an added bonus right? 🙂 I probably buy too many new releases but I can’t resist when it comes down to it.
Yeah that’s definitely a good start, and if that’s all it ever is it’s a good finish too right? 🙂
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Yeah I do wonder how other people manage to have regular hauls tbh (unless you’re counting library book hauls 😉 ) So no, I don’t think you have to buy books to be a good book blogger. And I barely ever get the hardcover versions- that’s the type of thing I usually get as gifts if I get them at all. And yes, I totally get what you mean about the hyped books (I usually have to wait quite a while for the book price to drop on kindle before I can get it and then the hype might have cooled down) I really loved what you said about passion being the main thing, cos I so agree!! Wonderful post!!
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Yeah library book hauls are different because you don’t have to spend money do you? For me when it comes to books I just very very carefully budget everything so I know exactly what I’ve got going on in terms of book buying each month.
I rarely buy hardcover editions (unless it’s come as part of my subscription box or a book I LOVE!) but oh that’s handy about hyped books. I always have to have them in my hands instantly so I never wait for the hype to cool down.
Thanks so much! 🙂 ❤️
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Yeah exactly. And I’m the same with budgeting for books- so I totally relate.
Oh that’s really cool- I love the look of those subscription boxes! And yeah it’s definitely a good thing that I usually have to wait for them 😊
You’re welcome! 🙂 ❤
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I guess the amount we buy means we need to be careful when it comes to budgeting right?! 🙂
They’re amazing, expensive but worth the money for sure. 😀
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Yeah for sure!
Cool!
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Great topic Beth! Sometimes I feel like I’m not your typical blogger because having the latest books doesn’t really make me jealous, or seeing people with a lot of books. I know that if I were to have a lot of books, it would make me anxious to read them all in a hurry to review them.
I get the majority of my books from my library. I’m really lucky and my library has pretty much all of the latest releases, so I don’t ever feel like I can’t get my hands on it. I just prefer the hype of a book to go down before I read it, I don’t know I’m weird like that 😛
I can’t justify purchasing all my books if I can get them from the library… especially if I’m never going to read the book again.
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Thanks so much Meghan. 🙂 Yeah I think when it comes down to it we all end up comparing ourselves to other bloggers, I know I do a lot sometimes. I have a huge backlist to get through, and honestly not enough time to get through it, but I’ve kind of just accepted that about myself now. I’ll still end up buying more books than I should and wanting to buy more books than I do each month as well. No there are a few people I know who do that. I’m just one of those people who can never resist the hype. 🙂
I feel like if my library had a better selection I’d be the same, as it is though I tend to buy more than borrow. 🙂
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You’re welcome! 🙂
Haha, if you can’t resist the hype, you can’t resist it, I get what you mean.
I feel very fortunate for my library system because I know the city next to me isn’t as good with new releases!
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Ah yeah, the city next to you is essentially my city when it comes to libraries, and second hand bookstores as well for the most part.
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It’s weird how different library systems are so vastly different even though they aren’t very far from one another!
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I know, it just always sucks when your closest one isn’t one that has a decent selection. 🙂
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I love this post so, SO much, Beth.
It’s hard as a book blogger, to see everyone getting new books, posting their amazing book hauls, hardcovers, paperbacks, everything, while you can’t necessarily have the same amount of books, or just get the same amount of books per month. I think what stresses me out the most, though is these hyped books you see EVERYONE has, suddenly own, yet, like you said, you feel like you have to get them in a certain time-frame to “be in the hype” somehow, to talk about the book at the same time everyone else is, so you’re sort of, “in”. Personally, I only buy new books every now and then and I often go for the paperback option (more practical) or the e-book option (quicker to have haha). I only ever get hardcovers for books I am way too eager to read and KNOW I will love. But I never have massive book hauls to share with the community, it’s always one, two, three books maybe tops at a time haha.
I don’t feel like we have to buy tons of books to be a good book blogger, though, even if we feel like we have to, sometimes, we don’t. What makes us book bloggers is the fact that we TALK about the books 😀 x
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Thanks so much Marie! 🙂 And yeah I completely get that, I do buy a lot of books some months but I always see hauls from other people and wonder how they manage it because they can get their hands on so so many incredible releases. There’s definitely that feeling of “I have to read this book while it’s hyped and current or I miss it”. Sometimes it feels very much like there’s a gap when it comes to books between when it’s a new release and when it’s an old-ish one you can discover as a new reader where it’s too late to talk about it because it’s not as relevant (I’m not sure how well I’ve described that).
Ha, yeah the quickness of ebooks arriving is definitely one positive for sure, and I just prefer reading on my Kindle to any other way you know?
I think as long as you have something to read it shouldn’t matter whether you’re only buying two or three books a month, or twenty or thirty. I guess it’s keeping your to-read list under control right?
Yes, definitely agree, we all enjoy what we’re doing here and I think that is what makes us good bloggers! 😀 ❤
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YES it feels almost, scary not to get a book that’s “relevant” anymore, because… I don’t know, we all want to be hyped, it’s only human, but… that’s frustrating and definitely influences us, too, when we get new books 😂
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Yeah, that there’s that other feeling of will people read my posts if I’m talking about a subject that’s already been and gone in the book blogging community. 🙂
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I really only buy new releases for books/authors I really enjoy. Otherwise I just wait until later since I have so many books anyways that it’s not like I’m going to run out of reading material.
I don’t feel like I need new copies of books to be a good blogger personally. I just feel like I have to have some kind of a book haul at the end of the month. Even though I don’t expect it of other blogs lol.
And hype plays in a little. I actually hate the word hype because I feel that a lot of people genuinely enjoy a book but it’s one of those books that people love or hate. So then when a bunch of people don’t like it they try to discredit the people that liked it by saying they “hyped it up”.
I just think that if I see a lot of positive reviews I’m going to definitely check out the book and see if the synopsis appeals to me. That’s what reviews do for me. They push me to check out a book, not buy it. Then if the synopsis does sound like something I’d like I’ll probably buy it.
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Yeah a lot of my pre-orders are either books from series I already love, or debuts from authors I already love, and I get what you mean about having enough reading materiel already to keep you going! 😀
There have been some months I haven’t even been able to have any kind of book haul, in fact April has been a quiet month for book purchases I have to admit. 🙂
Ohh, that’s actually an interesting way of looking at that, and yeah I’ve seen some reviews for books that have claimed they were “too hyped up” but were they? Or were the readers just disappointed. I’ve been disappointed by hyped books before, but I think that’s just because my expectations were too high, rather than everyone else’s (if that makes sense).
Yeah that’s how I buy books too, I normally spot the synopsis first and then check out the reviews, just to get a taste of whether people have enjoyed it or not. 🙂
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Yeah, I usually don’t bother with pre-orders since I have so many books. I make exceptions for some though if there’s some cool pre-order swag haha. And yeah, I haven’t really bought much this month either!
That’s true. I can understand having your expectations be too high and then feeling let down too. I just don’t like the people that think everyone else lies about the book being good. Not everyone sees it the same way, but that doesn’t mean they lied.
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I kind of have to pre-order if not I forget what’s being released when and before I know it months have passed before I’ve remembered a new release I was really excited for. Oh I’m weak for pre-order swag too. 😀
No that definitely doesn’t. Are there people that think that? I’ve been recommended some books that I haven’t enjoyed as much as the person who recommended them to me, doesn’t mean I think they lied, personally I’m just glad they enjoyed it so much even if it wasn’t my thing. 🙂
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Haha, that’s true. I just recently decided to make a list so I don’t forget those books I really, really want.
There are. I think that’s why that word bothers me so much because I see so many reviews (usually “popular” ones on goodreads) saying it was hyped but it actually sucks. And same here! I’m always happy at least someone likes the book. I try to end my reviews for books I didn’t like with a sentence about how it might’ve not been for me but people who like ” . . . ” might like it.
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I should probably create a list, but that’s a job for another day at the moment. 🙂
I think sometimes with hype it can be so hyped it makes me expectations a little too high and I end up being disappointed, but I think that’s more on me than on the hype, and it doesn’t mean I think people lied just because they loved it and I missed that something special they all got from the book. Yeah that’s a good idea, in my negative reviews I do try and think of a few positive, no book is 100% terrible is it? 🙂
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Whenever I buy books in bulk, it is from bookoutlet or from other cheap/discount stores. I personally can not afford to go to barnes and noble and pick up more than 2-3 books at a time. i definitely don’t think it makes me any less of a blogger! This was a great post and i agree with all of the things you say 🙂
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I need to start checking out some of the cheap-discount stores (nine times out of ten I buy from Amazon because it’s cheaper there than places like Barnes and Noble and Waterstones for me in the UK) but yeah definitely doesn’t mean we don’t still love books and aren’t passionate about them and blogging. 🙂
Thanks so much! 😀
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I don’t really pay attention to the hype around books. I only ever read books that I feel I will enjoy – hence why my average rating is 4.23 on goodreads. Also, I only ever read books on my Kindle, so that reduces the cost of new books for me (usually! Although they have been upping the price of ebooks lately!), but you’re right – you can’t take good pictures of them! Which is why I don’t have a bookstagram 😦
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Oh I tend to pay too much attention to hype, and luckily I’m not normally disappointed. 🙂 But yeah most times I read books I have a feeling I’ll enjoy and it works for me too. Yeah my Kindle is where most of my book purchases go to, I find it easier to read Kindle releases on the train than I do paperback or hardcover ones you know? Plus if I enjoy the book then I spend the money on the physical copy. 😀
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I’m like about purchasing books. Sometimes I prefer the hardback, mostly because I’ve the feel that I will really like that book, plus the fact that I love to watch how are the naked covers. But for other books I go for the pap4rback, especially if the series is really old or for some market reasons is impossibile to find the hardback. And I go for paperback too if I’m not so surer about that series but I want to read it anyway.
In my country getting English book out of the library is a huge no (I don’t even think that is free, I need to check) but if I didn’t like a series there’s always a good chance to sell it with markets or private ways.
For me is kinda impossibile to buy book on the release date because I will also pay the shipping cost (I’m not the UK or in the US) but also I’ve so many books to read… Sometimes I do exception but I usually wait like one or two weeks after the release, date because my country Amazon will probably have those titles at that point.
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I’m the same, I have some gorgeous hardcover editions because the naked covers are kind of what makes the book (my editions of Circe, Caraval and The Book of Dust are a few that come to mind) and yeah I get what you mean because I would love a hardcover edition of The Night Circus but I can just find the paperback editions. Also if there are a lot of books in the series I’ll go for paperback. I go for the Kindle editions too if I’m not sure about the series, they tend to be the cheapest.
Oh that sucks, but I get about having too many books to read because that’s one of my issues as well. I suppose one or two weeks isn’t so bad, I’m sure you have books you can read while you wait that time, right? 🙂
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I don’t think a good book blogger needs to have all the new releases, but if you only have a finite amount of books, you are eventually going to run out of books to talk about so …. I guess that means you have to buy books (if there are no libraries or such available where you live and publishing houses don’t send to you) at one point or another.
Still, I feel like new releases are overrated and often overhyped. Yes, there’s stuff I am definitely anticipating a lot and would like to get my hands on on release day, but I also know that my blog hasn’t suffered from me doing backlisted book reviews.I think the most important thing is to let your passion shine through and to sweep people off their feet with your enthusiasm for books.
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No I get what you mean, and I guess as book bloggers we all love books so we’re all going to buy them at one point or another. It’s just whether you feel you need to buy the books as soon as they’re released, and there are a lot of new releases aren’t there? 🙂
My blog hasn’t suffered from the same, I kind of mix new and old releases on my blog because as much as there brand new releases I can’t wait to get my hands on there are plenty of amazing series that have already been out for years I’m only just discovering. I agree, enjoyment is the main thing when it comes to blogging. 🙂
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Yeah, that I completely understand. I personally don’t feel like all the new releases are necessary right away, but I guess I do understand that there’s a pressure towards having to do that though.
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There are only so many books we can read at one time (I just get swept away by the hype and want everything the second it’s released even if I know I can’t read it right away.)
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I very rarely go out and buy a book immediately at release. I usually look up prices on Kindle and read reviews first – if I’m still intrigued by it, then I’ll wait for the paperback! Unfortunately, we don’t have that many good libraries in our country, so ebooks and second-hand shops are the cheapest available 🙂
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You have the same problem as me then when it comes to library, but I’m the opposite because I can never resist the lure of new books. I’m kind of weak in that way. 🙂 I do normally buy on my Kindle first because it’s cheaper, then if I love it I spend money on the physical copy, but paperback or hardcover it doesn’t matter to me in that aspect. 🙂
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I only prefer paperback as they’re easier to bring around, but hardcover books are really beautiful. 🙂
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They’re definitely more convenient than hardcovers, and actually convenience is why I prefer my Kindle over everything else actually. 🙂
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Oh my gosh I love this post! It’s all the stuff that has been going through my head! I want to review books that I genuinely feel something for, whether they are a day old or ten years old! I’m fortunate that my local library is pretty good and there are loads of charity shops near me. My latest haul was from the works because I ended up with 7 new books for about £11. But that’s the first in ages for me, I can’t justify the money and my pictures are always rubbish because if they are ARC’s, I often don’t even have a proper cover. It’s great to feel that I’m not alone in thinking I’m just going to plod along in the background with old books because I can’t keep up with new ones!
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Thanks so much Lindsey. Yeah at the end of the day I’m the same, I read the books I want to, that I’m in the mood for, and I post reviews for them whether they’re recent releases or older ones I’ve only just gotten around to. That is definitely fortunate, and wow that’s a great deal for seven new books, I’m kind of jealous because I could never find that amount of books for that amount of money. 🙂
I think at the end of the day most of us have the same insecurities when it comes to book blogging. Personally as long as you post what you enjoy, and what you’re passionate about, it doesn’t matter how long ago the book was published. 🙂
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I buy new release only if it from the authors I love, if it’s not, I usually read the review first then decide, if I’m not sure, I’ll borrow it first or buy the cheapest version, then if I reaaaallly love the book I’m gonna buy the HC edition and sell the cheaper one.
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Oh there are some really hyped books I just can’t resist, but I have a lot of favourite authors so I guess at the same time I’m always going to be buying a lot of books (my bank account is crying right now.) Yeah I buy books on my Kindle first, because it’s cheaper, and if I really love it then I splash out for the physical copy. 🙂
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I don’t buy a lot of books. I’m lucky to currently have a great library that does have the budget to buy a decent number of new releases. So I might not be reading the “latest thing” early as an ARC or even the day of release, but I should be able to get it within a couple weeks of release if I want.
I also just think there are different bloggers. Some are probably known for highlighting the “latest thing” consistently, but I don’t think my followers expect that from my blog (or even most blogs), so that works, too.
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That is lucky. I think if my library had the capacity to do the same thing I’d be there a lot more often, but honestly I’m not sure when the last time they updated their catalogue was because I don’t think they have any books released in the last three or so years on the shelves.
Yeah I get that, I review some ARCs and new releases but most of my book reviews are for books that have been out a while that I’m either re-reading or only just getting around to. Like you said it works. 😀
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I don’t generally buy new releases. I do get early copies through Netgalley, authors, and publishers. Otherwise, I use my library a lot and tend to buy books only when they’re on sale. I don’t think you have to buy a lot of new books to be a good book blogger – you just have to read and talk about books! 😀
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Yeah most of my early review copies come from NetGalley (I prefer being able to read on my Kindle to be honest) but I have so many pre-orders waiting on Amazon, I just can’t resist.
No I completely agree, for me a “good” blogger is someone who enjoys what they’re writing and is passionate about the subject; be it books or something completely different. 🙂
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When I think of book hauls… for me that means bringing a load of books home from the library! I like new books. I love old books. For me, it doesn’t matter if the books physically belong to me.
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When I was younger I used to borrow the maximum my library card would let me, and I’d always have to somehow carry them home with me. Now though given there’s a limit on what my library has to offer I tend to buy. Plus personally I like having all-time favourites on my bookshelves you know? 🙂
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I know what you mean about having your own all-time favourites on your bookshelves!
I had to whittle down my personal library after one too many moves! Now, I do buy/keep my all-time favourites. These are the ones I will pick up and re-read passages at random; then sit down and end up re-reading the whole book!
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Oh god I’m trying to imagine a big move with all my books and I’m really getting why you whittled down. That’s going to be hard but hopefully it’ll be worth it in the end. 🙂
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Especially hard-back books. I love old hard-back books, but packing them and moving them can be a pain. So, my hard-backs are all books I especially love!
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I have enough trouble taking a hardback into work when I want to read on my commute. I can’t imagine moving house with them! 🙂
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I rarely purchase books but if I do, it’s usually at second hand stores. I get all of mine from the library and the new releases are often available the day after. Like you, I live in a town where the library hasn’t been updated in decades. Fortunately, I’m able to use my card at 70 other libraries throughout the state so that’s been a life saver.
I think what makes a good book blogger is just someone who reads books and gives their honest thoughts. Even though I’d love to own more books, I also DNF a lot of books and I never read any book twice so it wouldn’t be feasible for me to buy books. But if I got to a point in my life, I probably would buy books to help support authors.
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I do need to check out my library and second hand bookstores more. I spend a lot of money on books but there are bound to be cheaper ways to get them, I just need to invest the time in finding them. That’s great, I wish I could do that with my library card. 🙂
Yeah I think that’s the most important thing. You want honestly in the reviews you read so you know whether a book is worth your time or not, also I think as long as bloggers are passionate and enjoy what they’re doing it shines through in the writing. That’s what I think makes “good” bloggers, being able to sense that enjoyment.
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Have you tried ebay? I’ve heard some good things about bookdepository.com too.
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Oh yeah I’ve used eBay before, but I had some bad experiences with Book Depository so I avoid them if I can.
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I’m a fussy physical book buyer….purely down to space and money!
I tend to buy the ebook first and if I really love it then I get the physical copy.
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I’ve definitely become more fussy when it comes to the books I buy for the same reason (I recently did a massive unhaul and cleared a lot of much needed space).
Oh that’s what I do too. It also helps me keep my books in a good condition. 😀
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I don’t think buying books is necessary, but then again, I don’t really consider myself a “good” blogger in a way. I rarely (if ever) write reviews, and definitely don’t keep up with new releases at all. I think it all depends on what kind of book blog the person wants to have. My blog for example is mostly about what’s on my TBR, and various Top 10 Tuesday and Top 5 Wednesday topics. I find it nearly impossible to write reviews without giving spoilers, so I tend not to.
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I think there are so many ways to be a “good” blogger, and everyone’s going to have a different idea of what that means. For me it’s about being passionate about what you write and enjoying what you’re writing. For me that’s a little bit of everything; I take part in the weekly memes like TTT, and I post discussions and reviews as well (I get what you mean about struggling with spoilers though, I have to face that battle myself every so often). 😀
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No, I don’t think so. I review a lot of older books as well. I do not really keep an eye on new releases, so maybe that makes me a bad book blogger? 😉 I just read what I like the sound of and I do not really care that much whether it was released this year, last year or ten years or longer ago… If it floats my boat, it will get read and reviewed 🙂
I buy a lot of secondhand books.
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Yeah I get what you mean, a lot of the books I review are older releases but there are more than a few recent releases as well. There are always going to be series out there we still have yet to discover, that’s the joy about reading right? Yeah as long as you enjoy what you’re reading that’s the most important thing for sure. 😀
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Well it depends on the book and the author. I have “one click” authors and I know I’ll want their books the minute they are released. Other books have a big hype and I wait to see if it will last before buying it. What makes a good book blogger? I don’t really know. The bloggers I love are those posting true content. I mean not only promo posts and reviews but discussion topics, meme and of course reviews too. I need a blogger to be passionate. To be authentic. To want to connect. To rave and rant. These are the kind of bloggers I love 😉
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I have one click authors too, and one click books where the hype is so extreme I have to have it in my hands the second it’s released (I feel like maybe for hyped books I should do the same, wait and see if it lasts before buying it but I never have the self restraint you know?) Oh I definitely agree there, I don’t care about reviews for the most recent releases as much as I care about the content, if that makes sense. If someone is passionate about what they’re talking about it doesn’t matter to me if it’s a book that was released ages ago or a few days ago. 🙂
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I don’t buy books right on release… Unless it’s a Stephen King book 😀
I tend to buy books on Kindle, especially when they go on sale for £1, or grab some free ones when they are on promotion.
I buy physical copies mostly in charity shops for £1-£2, so i don’t really spend a lot of money on them.
I don’t think a blogger needs to buy the book. Or needs the newest book. I love finding reviews on older books that are already out and i can get them whenever i want and not have to wait ages for it to be published.
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I’m kind of the opposite because unless it’s a series I discover later most of the books I buy are on release. I do need to actually visit the library more, and check out second hand/charity shops too because there are definitely cheaper ways to get my hands on the books I read, but yeah my Kindle is kind of a life saver for me. 🙂
Yeah I get what you mean, as much as I love new releases and the hype that surrounds them there’s something about old series that is just as good. Plus the not having to wait for the next one to be released aspect is an added bonus for sure! 😀
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