Is this a scam? > Likes and Comments
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I think so. We don’t really “feature” books here. There are monthly group reads chosen by vote according to a theme. I also don’t recognize the name as one of our mods but I could be wrong.
Brian, this is happening to other authors in different groups as well. You need to contact support to let them know, They won’t take anyone else’s word for it except the member who received the communication.
Also, I just double checked. The instruction from support was to use the Contact Us form.
Scam!Who knew there was an income potential to modding,,, gmmm (kidding!!)
Thanks for these responses. You'd be shocked at the number of unsolicited emails I get weekly from people promising to get me numerous reviews or attention, with many of them apparently using the names of established book challenges or book groups.
I just got this too - and it seems to be froma wrikter who is active on Goodreads - or at least an authorhere, Hazel Taylor. This was the email I got: Dear Lindsay,
I hope this message finds you in the midst of creating something extraordinary.
I’m Hazel Taylor, and I partner with the moderator of Around the Year in 52 Books a thriving literary community of 11,000+ engaged and active members who don’t just read… they discuss, analyze, and champion impactful books.
We are currently curating titles for the 2026 Goodreads Authors Challenge, a year-long reading journey running from January 1st through December 31st, 2026. This challenge is designed to spotlight powerful voices, generate meaningful traction, and foster authentic engagement around carefully selected books.
When a book is featured within our challenge, it becomes part of a focused, discussion-driven environment where readers actively post reviews, share reflections, and spark conversations on Goodreads. The visibility is consistent. The engagement is intentional. The impact is long-term.
In addition, at the end of the year, we recognize the Top 10 Outstanding Authors celebrating them within the group and giving their work distinguished acknowledgment across the community.
This is not simply a listing. It is an opportunity for sustained discovery, thoughtful reader interaction, and organic traction within a serious book-loving audience.
I would be honored to consider your book for inclusion.
Would you like me to feature your book in to the reading club challenge and help it gain long term visibility, engagement , discussion , focused - audience ?
Warmly,
Hazel Taylor
I AM a moderator for Around the Year in 52 Books and we never partner with anybody! Our number probably does say 11000 members but active is more like 300. Thanks for posting this, I'll share it with the Mods.In that group, we have been getting spam posts daily where somebody starts a thread under one of our discussion sections, featuring a book and discussion questions. That's not the way we do it. The poster doesn't have the same name as the author. But when I check, that person/bot has only the featured book and has just joined and posted the same comment in many groups. They always have a very ordinary name. There is a photo but I'm quite sure it's AI. I immediately delete the message and remove the person but it's a sort of Whack-a-Mole. The other option would be to make all new members be approved by Mods and we haven't ever done that.
I got a similar email but from "Jasmine":My name is Jasmine, and I’m reaching out on behalf of the Around the Year in 52 Books reading community, a vibrant and discussion-driven group of passionate readers who enjoy discovering intriguing, memorable, and conversation-worthy books.
Throughout 2026, our community is hosting the 2026 Reading Challenge, running from January 1 through December 31. The challenge encourages readers to explore diverse titles across genres while sharing reflections, reactions, and discussions about the books they read. The emphasis isn’t simply on finishing books, but on meaningful engagement and sustained conversations among readers who love diving deeper into stories.
I recently came across your novel featuring cryptozoologist Morgan Carter, and the premise immediately stood out. A mysterious death along a quiet Wisconsin country road, eerie rumors surrounding the legendary Beast of Bray Road, and the tension between folklore and reality create the kind of atmospheric mystery that readers love to analyze and discuss together. The blend of investigative suspense, local legend, and cryptozoology gives the story a unique edge that often sparks curiosity and speculation among mystery readers.
Books that weave together folklore, suspense, and investigative storytelling tend to generate especially lively conversations in our community. Readers often enjoy exploring the possibilities behind the legend, debating clues, and sharing their own thoughts about whether the truth behind the mystery lies in myth, science, or something far more human.
Your writing career is also something many readers find fascinating. As the USA Today bestselling author behind multiple successful mystery series, including the Monster Hunter Mysteries, the Mattie Winston Mysteries, and the Helping Hands Mysteries, you’ve built a reputation for crafting engaging stories that balance suspense, character, and intrigue. Many readers are also intrigued to learn that Annelise Ryan is a pseudonym for Beth Amos, whose background as an emergency room RN and experience writing thrillers adds a compelling real-world perspective to your storytelling.
One aspect authors often appreciate about participating in the 2026 Reading Challenge is the long-term visibility it naturally creates. Rather than a brief promotional moment, featured books receive steady attention throughout the year as readers post updates, share reactions, and engage in discussion threads. This kind of organic interaction often leads to deeper reader discovery and genuine word-of-mouth interest.
As the challenge progresses, our community also highlights ten standout authors whose books spark particularly strong reader engagement, recognizing titles that generate thoughtful discussion and repeated recommendations among members.
Because your work blends suspenseful mystery with fascinating folklore and investigative storytelling, I truly believe it would resonate strongly with many of our readers.
If you’d be open to it, I’d love to explore featuring your book within the challenge. Participation is simple, and I would be happy to share the details with you.
Warm regards,
Jasmine
Popping in just to say that I got one of these, but this one claimed to be from Emily! It's also slightly different. An AI-generated message, but it links to Emily's profile in the signature.Hi JD Rhodes,
I came across your book *In Sekhmet's Wake* while researching sci-fi thriller titles on Goodreads. The premise of a pacifist hero haunted by apocalyptic visions who must decide between love, justice, and the fate of humanity creates a powerful psychological conflict, especially with the tension between Sabra’s prophecy and her determination to save Revenant.
I'm reaching out because I work with authors to solve a problem I suspect you're familiar with: great books that aren't getting found.
Most marketing focuses on temporary ads that stop working the moment you stop paying. I take a different approach by positioning books where serious readers are already actively searching and browsing, particularly on Goodreads which functions more as a discovery engine than a social platform.
Quick question: Are you currently doing anything strategic to improve your book's organic visibility on platforms readers actually use to find their next read?
No pitch here. Genuinely curious about your current approach.
Warm regards.
--
______________________________
Emily Bourque
Moderator - Around the Year in 52 Books (52 Books challenge)
https://www.goodreads.com/emilyardoin
There was a NY Times article about this recently. Authors get emails either from authors or real names or fake names. They use AI to make it sound like they have read the book. They say they want the author to discuss their book, or they say they will promote their book, etc. They are patient and butter up the author over multiple emails. Eventually they ask for money - a fee of some kind. In the example above, the “no pitch” obviously will lead to an offer to promote the book, for a fee. If any money is sent, there is no acknowledgment and of course no benefit, the scammer suddenly disappears. These are coming from Nigeria and other places.
Emily should report this to GR, because they are also being used in the scam here.
I just wanted to add that this happened to my dad. He got suspicious after the final email but was a bit embarrassed that he got taken in so far, so he asked me to anonymize before posting.First message:
Hello [NAME], 👋📚
My name is Holly, and I’m reaching out on behalf of the Around the Year in 52 Books reading community a vibrant, discussion-driven group of passionate readers who love exploring thoughtful, engaging, and memorable books.
Throughout 2026, our community is hosting the 2026 Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31), encouraging readers to explore diverse titles, share reflections, and participate in meaningful conversations. The challenge emphasizes not just finishing books, but connecting with them, discussing their ideas, and discovering deeper insights.
One of the aspects authors appreciate most is the long-term visibility this challenge provides. Featured books receive ongoing attention through community updates, commentary, reactions, and discussion threads fostering organic discovery and sustained engagement with readers.
I recently came across your book, [complimentary summary of the book].
If you’d be open to it, I would love to feature your book in our 2026 Reading Challenge. Participation is simple, and I can provide all the details for how the community highlights and discusses the book with our members.
This is an opportunity to reach a dedicated group of engaged readers who value [more compliments about the book] exemplifies so well.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts, and hoping we can introduce your work to our readers this year.
Warm regards,
Holly
Manage Submissions
Second message:
We truly appreciate authors like you. Your thoughtful and gracious response means a lot to us, and it’s always a pleasure connecting with writers who are so open and engaging with readers.
Our community has over 3,000 passionate members who actively read, discuss, and share the books featured in the Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge. Once a book is registered within the group, it receives ongoing attention through reader discussions, commentary threads, and community engagement.
One of the things authors appreciate most is the level of interaction. Members frequently leave reviews, share reflections, and introduce the book to other audiences. Many readers also add the book to their shelves on Goodreads, which helps increase visibility and discovery. We also highlight standout titles within the challenge, and books featured often become strong candidates for our community recognition awards.
To proceed with registering your book, we would simply need a few details from you:
• The book description
• Your author bio
• The professional Book Title Spotlight Tag
Many authors already have this Goodreads title spotlight tag, but if you don’t have it yet, please don’t worry. Just let me know and I’ll gladly guide you through how to obtain it easily.
Once we receive these details, we can begin preparing the feature for the challenge and introduce your work to our readers.
Looking forward to hearing from you, [NAME]. We’re excited about the possibility of sharing your book with our community.
Warm regards,
Holly
Third message:
Thank you so much for your kind message I’m really glad to hear you’re excited to take part. It’s also wonderful to know you’ve had such a positive experience with book clubs in the past; that kind of engagement always brings great value to the readers as well.
I’ve received the author biography and book description thank you for sending those through.
The next step is to provide us with your Professional Book Title Spotlight Tag. This is a verified identification associated with your book on , which helps distinguish it clearly from other titles and editions. It also adds an extra layer of credibility and branding, making readers more confident when discovering and choosing the book.
Many authors don’t already have this tag in place, so if you happen not to have it yet, that’s absolutely fine. I can connect you with a trusted expert who specializes in setting this up quickly and properly.
If you’re open to that, I’d be happy to make the introduction so you can have the Professional Book Title Spotlight Tag ready as soon as possible.
Please let me know how you’d like to proceed.
Warm regards,
Holly
Final email:
Perfect! I’m glad you’re ready to move forward. Here is the contact information for the expert who can help you set up the Professional Book Title Spotlight Tag:
Email: [email]
Please reach out to them directly to discuss the setup process. Once it’s completed, kindly let me know so we can proceed with featuring your book in the reading challenge.
Thank you again for your enthusiasm and cooperation it’s a pleasure working with you!
Warm regards,
Holly
J.D. wrote: "Popping in just to say that I got one of these, but this one claimed to be from Emily! It's also slightly different. An AI-generated message, but it links to Emily's profile in the signature.Hi J..."
That one is frightening! Using Emily's name!!
I, too, have received an email from "Raymond" (raymond.52books@gmail.com) asking me to register to be featured on 52 Books for a "registration fee". I felt like it was a scam but went along with it to see how far I could get to report the person. This "Raymond" went so far as to provide me with account details for a registration fee ($175 USD) I was supposed to pay. Here's the relevant content: Hi Joseph,
I hope you're doing well! I recently came across your book The Identities of Action: How the Normative Valence of Consequences Matters for Act Evaluation, and it immediately caught my attention.
Your approach to the classic philosophical problem of action individuation is genuinely innovative. The idea that whether we see a consequence as part of the original action or as a separate act depends on its moral valence, good or bad, challenges conventional assumptions in a deeply thought provoking way. Drawing on empirical testing with non-philosophers and real-world examples makes your argument not just theoretically rigorous, but practically relevant. It's the kind of work that invites readers to rethink how they describe and judge actions in everyday life, law, and policy.
I help run the Around the Year in 52 Books Challenge on Goodreads, a community of over 3,000 engaged readers who love books that push boundaries, challenge intuitions, and spark deep ethical and philosophical discussion. I genuinely believe The Identities of Action would be a powerful fit for our members, especially those interested in philosophy of action, ethics, moral psychology, or the intersection of empirical research and philosophical inquiry.
Would you be open to having it included in this year's challenge?
No pressure at all, just wanted to share the opportunity and see what you think.
Warm regards,
Raymond
Host, Around the Year in 52 Books Challenge
Goodreads Community | 3,000+ Readers
2d email:
Hello Joe,
Thank you for getting back to me, and please don't worry about the delay at all, I completely understand that things come up that need attention. I really appreciate you taking the time to provide the book description and your bio.
The bio is perfect, thank you! It gives just the right balance of your academic background and personal touch. Your book will fit our challenge exceptionally well, I can already see it sparking some fascinating discussions among our members, especially with those interested in philosophy of action and moral psychology.
Regarding the registration process, here are the details you'll need for the registration fee:
Bank Details for Registration Fee:
Account name: Moses Ogbu Onmah
Bank name: Wells Fargo
Account number: 40630264120782416
Account type: Checking
Routing number: 121000248
SWIFT code: WFBIUS6SXXX
Bank address: 651 N Broad St, Suite 206, Middletown, 19709 Delaware, US
Once the payment has been made, please kindly share a screenshot as confirmation, and I will proceed immediately with registering your book in the challenge. After registration is complete, your book will be visible to our community of over 3,000 readers right away.
I'm genuinely excited to have The Identities of Action as part of this year's challenge.
Warm regards,
Raymond
Hi Joseph,
Thank you for asking, I should have included that in my last message. The registration fee is $175 USD.
This fee covers your book's placement and coordination within the challenge, ensuring it's properly introduced to our community of over 3,000 readers and included in all relevant discussions and recognition opportunities throughout the year.
Once the payment is made and confirmed with a screenshot, I'll get your book registered right away.
Warm regards,
Raymond
Your group / Goodreads should put a stop to this predatory practice.
In a sense, GR is a victim too. Their reputation is being harmed. And so is the group they claimed to be from. You should report this but there isn't much they can do. Scammers change names and addresses all the time. Still, since GR was so concerned about user safety as to block DM's, you would hope they would care about authors too.
It's amusing that "Raymond" turned out to have a very different name on his bank account.
Oh, true! I believe that GR is a victim here, too. My intent is to report them to Wells Fargo. As it turns out, I am a customer of Wells Fargo. When I said that I would report them, it has to do with the fraud perpetrated and going directly to law enforcement and the bank.
The bank has an interest in freezing the assets of scammers too.
Joe wrote: "Oh, true! I believe that GR is a victim here, too. My intent is to report them to Wells Fargo. As it turns out, I am a customer of Wells Fargo. When I said that I would report them, it has to do ..."
The good news is you have their account info, even if it is only a pass-through.
At least the other scammer used a real mod's name. Anyone can look and see Raymond is not a mod here.
Anyway, I received the following email offering to feature my book in the Around the Year in 52 Books reading challenge. Sadly, I've found becoming an author means getting absolutely inundated with scam emails. (Who knew?) I suspect this one is too.
I was just reaching out to see if someone could confirm my suspicions. Is this indeed bogus? Thanks.
# # #
Hello Brian, 👋
My name is Maya Diego, and I work with the Around the Year in 52 Books reading community, a lively, discussion-driven group of readers who love exploring meaningful books throughout the year.
We’re currently hosting our 2026 Reading Challenge, which invites participants to engage with 52 thoughtfully themed books, one for each week of the year, while sharing insights, reflections, and reviews in our active community.
I came across your book, Vegas Concierge, and I believe it would deeply resonate with our readers. Its investigative approach, rich storytelling, and exploration of pressing social issues make it a perfect candidate for thoughtful discussion and long-term visibility.
Featuring your book in the challenge would allow readers to engage with it over time, generating ongoing conversations, reflections, and reviews that highlight your work to a committed audience.
If this sounds interesting, I’d love to share more details about how the challenge works and how we could feature Vegas Concierge in 2026.