We’re back with another Sundays in Bed With… meme! This meme dares to ask you what book has been in your bed this morning and is hosted by Midnight Book Girl. Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed with, or which book you wish you had time to read today!
I’ll be spending the rest of my Sunday in Bed with Cast in Firelight. I’m reading this as part of the blog tour for next week. I’m definitely curious to know what #OwnVoices readers will think of it because the author states it’s not OV but she wrote it so her children can identify with characters who look like them. It’s still ‘early days’ in the book but I am enjoying it so far and can’t wait to keep it reading it in bed tonight.
Also, I know a lot of people have commented about how Bowater’s art is basically the same everywhere and yeah, I do agree (especially when looking at this cover), but that doesn’t make this cover any less beautiful! I absolutely LOVE it and it makes me even more excited to dive back into this story! Have you read it?
What are you currently reading?
This was my first week working part-time and wow. I missed my holidays? 🤣 It was honestly overwhelming as there was a lot I needed to catch up on and since I only work Mon-Wed, it felt like there wasn’t enough time to get anything done. That said, I’m so glad that I’m part-time and even though it’s just been one week so far, I can already see how much of a difference it has made for me personally! Let’s hope that positivity in my attitude towards work continues for the rest of the year, after which I hopefully will leave this job behind (for bigger and better things)!
I’ve slowed down a lot on playing Animal Crossing but one thing that did happen this week was that I found one of my dreamies when I went villager hunting! I found him on my 10th island and I was so happy to see Lucky on the other side of the river 😍 Lucky is a zombie dog with a lazy personality and he is adorable but his house is terrifying (it’s a graveyard) 😂 I love it! Also, Kidd, my little smug goat, is definitely my spirit animal/villager. I love him so much and he’s never going anywhere!
WHY IS HE SO CUTE
One thing I decided to do on a whim last week was pick up a reverse harem bully romance and I have no idea why? I’d seen this cover quite a few times and my curiosity won out. I still don’t get bully romance… and I was kinda horrified when I started reading but at the same time I was still intrigued, so I kept reading… And now I’m on the third book? LOL. I won’t be counting these towards my reading goal as I’m just skimming through now cos I wanna know how this wildly unbelievable story ends! 😅 Of course, I mean absolutely no offense to those who do like this sub-genre and to each their own. 😊
On another note, last week an author commented on a two-star review I left of their book on Goodreads. While the author didn’t leave negative comments it made me feel pretty uncomfortable and I was surprised by it. It honestly kinda put me off coming online and made me feel awkward and guilty for not liking the book. It also made me feel like I need to be more careful of what I post in my reviews…? Maybe I’m just being silly but I don’t know, it made me feel pretty weird. 🙈 Have any of you dealt with something like this before? What are your thoughts? How would you react?
Blog Tour Review: Kept from Cages by Phil Williams
Top 5 Saturday: Metals in the Title
Book Review: Among the Beasts & Briars by Ashley Poston
Blog Tour Review + Giveaway: Girl on the Ferris Wheel by Julie Halpern, Len Vlahos
#WWWWednesday: 13 January
ARC Review: Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night
#TopTenTuesday: Goals and Hopes for 2021
ARC Review: Ever After Always by Chloe Liese
#5OnMyTBR: Graphic Novels
Goodreads Monday: Mr Right Across the Street by Kathryn Freeman
TRACK HIGHLIGHT
I hope you’ve all had a good weekend and that you have a great week ahead! Take care of yourselves and of each other, friends 🖤
dinipandareads 
Cast in Firelight sounds very interesting! Hope you enjoy.😊💜
Sorry to hear an author commented on your 2 star review! Even if it wasn’t a negative comment, it is definitely a quick way to make bloggers uncomfortable – as it did you – hopefully it doesn’t happen again. Don’t fret over your reviews though, they are for readers you should feel comfortable saying what you want (your reviews are always respectful anyway no matter the rating so don’t worry!) Hugs 💜💜
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While I don’t think the author’s comments were negative per se it was definitely shocking that they’d even comment at all. I’ve never had that happen before and I really *really* hope it never happens again because it was just SO uncomfortable. I think what made it worse was that there weren’t many reviews and the majority were 4 or 5 stars, so it just made it feel even more awkward for me. Also kind of makes me hesitate reading indie authors, which is sad… (But I will continue because I know one author’s actions shouldn’t negatively impact other indies!)
I always try to be as respectful as I can even if I didn’t enjoy the book, so thanks for your kind words, KB! They’ve helped me push past this 🥰 Hope you’ve had a grand week!
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That’s definitely understandable! Definitely sad, I’m glad you’ll continue though!
You’re very welcome, glad I helped – love your reviews! 🥰thankyou hope you have too! 💜
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Ugh that’s not on at all! I wish authors would understand reviews aren’t for them and I’m sorry that author made you feel uncomfortable. Don’t let them stop doing what you love doing, and especially don’t let them stop you from writing the kind of reviews you want to write!
Charlie Bowater’s art is very pretty, but I haven’t been a fan of hers since her behaviour on Twitter last year when Mina Reads quite rightly pointed out that so many of the people in her art look the same (in terms of skin colour). She didn’t handle that criticism well at all, especially when she wasn’t even tagged in it and set all of her fans on Mina anyway. 😠
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Yeah, I just didn’t get the point of it and it was so uncomfortable! I’m moving on though. Won’t let it stop me from writing reviews honestly, but it was just shocking when it happened 😅
And whoa, I had no idea that Bowater set her fans on Mina! That’s so… messed up! As much as I like Bowater’s art style, critics aren’t wrong in saying that they’re all pretty much the same. *sigh* it’s so disheartening to see people you whose work you admire and respect do something like this. 😔
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Don’t ever feel guilty about a review! Reviews are for readers, not authors. Once an author publishes their work, they are opening it up to praise AND critiques. I am sorry the author made you feel any kind of way, because how you relate to and interpret the book is completely your own and they have no right to it. I have really torn apart a book or two before (perhaps you might recall some nonsense last year around this time for a certain author who thought their work was a masterpiece and insulted and tried to bully anyone who disagreed? Side note – she wrote an entire rebuttal to my review, while constantly claiming she did not care and would not entertain any longer those who were “wrong” about her book. it was HILARIOUS) that deserved it, but I am always going to be honest in my reviews and you did the same thing. You are not required to like everything you read and you are not required to only review things you did like. Keep on reviewing however you want to!
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Ooh, I know about that hot mess. Wow, yeah, I was fuming following the discourse about that on Twitter! That author was… Yikes! I mean, I get these books are their ‘babies’ but getting aggressive and bullying readers does not make people want to read your books! How do they think people are going to react? Ugh… I really appreciate your encouraging words here! I will definitely keep on being honest with my reviews and try to not let this bother me anymore. Thank you ❤️
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Aw Lucky is the cutest! I also adore Dom – I haven’t seen him on any islands but if I had the chance I’d grab him in a heartbeat!! (:
I’d also feel super uncomfortable if an author commented on my review! Even if it wasn’t negative, I still totally get why you feel a little unnerved by it! You’d think with all the discourse these days about authors staying out of readers spaces that authors would finally back off, but clearly not!!!
Sending you lots of good vibes as you start back up at work!! ♥♥
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I love Lucky so much! 🥰 I know Dom is super popular but before I got him I was like “meh, I could take him or leave him” but now that he’s been on my island I don’t think I’ll ever let him go 😂 I got really lucky villager hunting at the start of the game when I came across Dom on my 4th island!
Yeah, I don’t get why authors continue to cross the line when time and again, they’ve been told not to cross into our spaces. *sigh* Oh well, I’m moving on from this and hopefully it won’t discourage me from posting on Goodreads still. I definitely won’t stop being honest with my reviews! I hope you had a great week, Erin! Thanks for the positive vibes 🥰
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I remember thinking that the cover art looked really similar, but I don’t mind it at all. I think that they are both beautiful covers!
I definitely would feel uncomfortable if any author commented on a review of mine! You are definitely not alone on that. The importance thing is, you were honest with your review. Authors should know that not everyone is going to be head over heels for their book. Some readers will love it, some will not like it and then there will be those in between! And that is totally okay! 🙂
I hope you have a great week, Dini!
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An author** I can’t type apparently 😂
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Yeah, I think what had me even more shook was that it happened to me and I never thought it would 😂 All your encouraging words on this post has been reassuring for me though and I’m just gonna push it aside and pretend it never happened so I can move on and keep reviewing honestly! 😊 I hope you’ve had a great week as well 🥰
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I’m with you – I love that cover for Cast in Firelight! However, I can see why others don’t share that opinion. I really enjoyed the story too. Can’t wait to see how you feel about it when you’re done!
And that’s kind of messed up that the author commented on your review. No one should make you feel uncomfortable for your opinions or your honesty. Hope you have a nice week and read some amazing books!
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Thanks for your kind words, Julie! It was uncomfortable and it’s definitely put me off reading more of her books in the future but everyone’s encouraging words on here has given me the reassurance I’ve needed to shake it off! I hope you’ve had a good week as well and have a great one ahead! 🥰
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I am very excited for Cast in Firelight! That cover style is definitely popular right now, but it is stunning so I can’t complain!
I would also feel super uncomfortable if an author commented on a not-so-great review I wrote. But like others said, book reviews are for the readers and not the authors. I love reading honest reviews and they honestly really help me pick out what I will read/buy. As I reader I definitely appreciate total honesty in reviews!
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I really enjoyed Cast in Firelight. It’s not perfect but I thought it was a solid debut. I hope you enjoy it! 😊
Also, yeah, I don’t know what the author’s point was but it was so off-putting. I’ll definitely try to push the incident aside in my mind and not let it stop me from being honest because that’s what this is all about and that’s what this space is for!
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I’m sorry that you had to deal with that. By now authors should know better. Your review is your place to express your feelings about a book. It’s where you engage with other readers. It is never ok for authors to try to intimidate people for less than stellar reviews.
I have had several authors like and comment on my reviews of their book. Usually I am flattered but there was this one time that an author seemed to be upset by my review. It was a 4 star review. None of my comments were derogatory so I guess that their only qualm was that it wasn’t 5 star. I don’t know. I just remembered being confused amd upset. Not sure if I will be reading that author anytime soon as a result.
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Yeah, it’s kind of funny because just before I checked my Goodreads, I was watching a booktube video about an author commenting on a reader’s update about their book and I was just thinking “why do authors continue to step over that boundary when it’s so uncalled for?!” And then it happened to me 🙃 I don’t know what the author’s point was but it was so uncomfortable…
And wow, for an author to get upset with you over a 4-star review?? That’s INSANE! I would’ve been so confused and upset as well. It would 100% put me off reading anything else by the author. I’m so sorry that happened to you!
Also, thank you for your supportive words–it’s reassured me that I’m not silly to be upset and I really needed that!
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[…] Dini […]
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I’m glad you are enjoying you new work schedule and sorry to hear about the author comment even if it wasnt negative would still pretty uncomfortable situation 💜
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Thank you! It was pretty uncomfortable and I hope it never happens again 😅 I hope you’ve had a great week!
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Cast in Firelight’s cover is beautiful! OMG why do authors do that? It’s definitely an uncomfortable situation but don’t give in to that kind of intimidation Dini, there’s nothing wrong in writing your honest opinion on that book or rating it two or one stars. There’s nothing more important to a reader that’s trying to decide what to read than honest reviews. 💜
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It is, right!? I love it! It’s also a great book so a double-win! 😊
Yeah… I don’t know why this had to happen. I’ve never had it happen to me before and it was kinda really shocking and really put me off. I think I was also surprised by my own reaction over it because I didn’t think it’d bother me as much but it really did… Thanks for your encouraging words, Andie! I really need this assurance after this happened ❤️
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