How to Say Thank You for the Book on a Book Blog

[Joana]

This is something that has been bugging me for a while. When I first started doing book reviews, any time I received a book for review (whether it was from an author, publisher -whatever) I enclosed a thank you to them in the review. Something along the lines of "Special thanks to Author-Person for providing a free copy for review" at the end of the review after the rating. If they had a website I'd also give 'em a plug. I was told that looked tacky so I stopped.

I might get a handful of books from authors and publishers every other month or so, so I never really gave it much thought. But over the past month I've been receiving a lot of free books to review from a number of authors, publishers, and book groups. Now I feel kind of ungrateful by not mentioning them.

My question is this: Do you feel a "thank you" is necessary (or at least a mention) that you received the book in question for free and if so how? Does it make the review look tacky, devalue it, or make you look like a braggart? Those were actually some of the comments I once received, hence why I stopped.

[Mary @ The Sweet Bookshelf]

I would totally say thank you!! I would put it in my review, and also send a thank you email! It's NEVER tacky to send a thank you!!

AND, you got it for free! Why shouldn't you say thank you??!!?!?!

Mary
The Sweet Bookshelf

[Joana]

That's what I thought too, but then I started getting nasty comments on the posts where I received a free copy accusing me of being a braggart and how my review looked tacky so I stopped. I didn't want to come off as those things, but now it feels like I'm being ungrateful. lol

[Mary @ The Sweet Bookshelf]

well there are some people who like to go around and say nasty things to other blogger's. I got some of that last week.

But do what you feel is right for you and your blog. I would personally not be able to not say thank you, or send a heads up about it. They were nice to do it, and therefore deserve a shout out!

[Joana]

I email them and let them know still, it's just the thank you on the review I stopped doing. I'm thinking of going back and editing all past reviews that received a free copy and placing the thank you in it. Leaving it without it now leaves me feeling uncomfortable.

There seem to be a lot of people who have sour grapes when it comes to book bloggers. Not that long ago I got a nasty email regarding the number of books I receive from someone who follows me on Twitter apparently and I've seen other book bloggers posting about it on their blogs.

[Karoline]

whoever said it was tacky is insane. I don't think it is. I ALWAYS do it in the first paragraph of my review if it was sent by the publisher/author.

Ignore those people. It's your blog. You do what you want to do. If they don't like it, they can shove off.

[bethany (dreadlock girl)]

I have had this question too, but through all the debate negative comments about bragging or being bought out it really comes down to what you want to do. I usually send the author/publisher an email with a link to the review I have written up, and thank them in that email for the copy of the book.

That is just what I have decided to do, it isn't what I think everyone needs to do though. Feel free to do what you like to do....and those nasty comments-- well just don't worry about them.

This is a great thread!

[Parajunkee]

Nasty comments, really? You know some people just have to say something negative no-matter-what. I wouldn't second guess good manners just because of few snarky comments.

[haley mathiot]

people mad at you because you got a free book and they didnt'? they can go jump in a lake. they're the ones who look tacky, thanking someone for a review copy is very generous. if i was an author or a publisher, i'd feel bad if you didn't thank me. go for it! ignore the stuck up jerks.

[Stacy-Deanne (Novelist)]

The only time a reviewer ever thanked me for reviewing my book was through email, LOL. I've never heard of this being done by the reviewer publicly. It is nice of you to do it, but not necessary (may be seen as unprofessional) and I do agree with what others you said have told you. It's not tacky, but thanking someone for providing a book isn't something that belongs in your review. You can thank in private and that's what most people do. Usually a reviewer will thank an author/pub when they receive the book or even when the author or pub has agreed to let them review the book. Beyond that, no. I have heard back from reviewers who really enjoyed my books and they wrote me to say thank you and they really enjoyed it, but no, you do not need to include that in your review. The review needs to be as professional as possible and thanking where you got the books from just doesn't fit.

Now, it is okay to thank a charity, organization, church or library if they provided you with a book you reviewed. That's a good sentiment but you don't ever have to thank the author/pub or publicist publicly. You're making things too hard for youself, LOL! Don't sweat the small stuff.

Also, some authors don't even read reviews of their books and I KNOW publishers don't read them, especially if they are big publishers. Once they send the ARC of copy then they don't think of the review, unless it appears in one of the big ones like NYT, Publisher's Weekly or something like that. Nope, the pub can't even keep up with stuff like reviews, believe me.

Best Wishes!

http://www.stacy-deanne.net

[Joana]

So just a private email is fine then? Well, now I don't feel so bad. I generally do that at the very least!

[Maw Books]

I work with a lot of large publishers and not only will most of them care but they also take time to promote the review via Twitter and such.

[Callista]

I wouldn't say publishers NEVER read them. I'm not sure how popular they have to be to be considered a big publisher but Annick Press always reads my reviews and even alerts me to other possibilities in the book blog community that would benefit both them and I.