Group 392. In This World - Mod Gene > Likes and Comments
Hi, everyone. As you're aware, we no longer have the Direct Message feature on Goodreads. The mods have discussed the best way to go forward, and have determined that we will need an email address from everyone, which will be collected in an online form.(Please refer to the revised Rule 8 above.)
I'll open this round with my new novella. If you'd like to join, please remember that I can't add you until I have links to your Goodreads book and your email address, provided in this form. For the sake of everyone's privacy, we're asking participants to list the email address on the form and not in the actual thread where it's visible to all online.
**link removed, as the round has begun
As before, I will also need to know your review conflicts with the authors listed in the opening post. Once I have 1. your Goodreads info 2. your email address (sent via the confidential form) and 3. your conflicts, I will add you to the list.
I realize this is a change, and we're trying to make the transition as painless as possible. As mentioned above, if you're wary of giving out your email address, you could create a new account that's used exclusively for Review Group. You can register free ones here https://support.google.com/mail/answe... and here https://login.yahoo.com/account/create
Hi, can I join with my book "Who am I" please? I have read Gene's "Gutbuster."I have submitted the email form.
Thanks for filling out the form, Jane. I've added you to the list.
Attn: S.S. Jung --Thanks for filling out the form. I would still need you to respond here and list your review conflicts with the other authors. Additionally, your book appears to be science fiction, which would not be eligible for this round.
Hi. Am I able to join this round with my slightly spicy novella "Grease Monkey"? I have filled out the form. As of now, I don't have any conflicts.
Welcome, Evie. Thanks for filling out the form.
Hi Gene, I'd be grateful if you could add me to this review group with my book "Cutter's Charges".I've submitted the form.
I haven't read any of the books currently listed for the group.
Thanks,
Clive
Hi, Clive. I've added you tentatively to the list. Just to clarify, have you reviewed, or been reviewed, by any of the people on the list? Even if you haven't reviewed these specific books, you might still have conflicts.
Hi Gene,I would like to join with my book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
I have filled the Google form.
You've reviewed all my books. I've reviewed Jane's and Clive's books
Evie has reviewed my book, not this one.
Thank you.
Hi, Balroop:On your author page, I see two books I haven't reviewed. You can't fit unless I end up reviewing one of those books.
I'll rearrange the list and hopefully work everyone in. These are the conflicts I have now. Everyone, I need you to give any corrections or list any that I have missed.
Gene can't send to Balroop.
Jane can't send to Gene.
Balroop can't send to Jane.
Balroop can't send to Clive.
Evie can't send to Balroop.
Clive can't send to Gene
Clive, I'll need you to look over your conflicts, because I've already discovered one that wasn't listed. How to do this?
1. Locate the menu at the top of your screen. Find "My Books"
2. Click on "My Books"
3. On the next screen, locate the little box that says "Search and add books"
4. Type an author's name into that. It also works to type part of their name. Then click the icon of the magnifying glass in the box.
5. The next screen will show if you have ever reviewed that person.
To check if someone has reviewed you.
1. Click on their profile.
2. Find their picture, or the place where they could put a picture if they have one.
3. Find the middle link under their picture. It should say "[x] reviews" Click on that.
4. On the next page, find the small search box that says "Search and add books".
5. Type your name into that box, then click on the magnifying glass in the box.
6. The next page will show if that person has ever reviewed you
I reviewed Balroop about a week or so ago; however, it was a different book. I should be okay to review this one. As far as I can tell, I still have no other conflicts.
I would like to join with my debut novel https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... please. I have completed the form
Thanks for filling out the form, Christopher. It doesn't look as if you have any reviews on your Goodreads profile. Please let me know if you have reviewed anyone in this thread, or been reviewed by them, under a different account name.
Hi Gene, I would like to join the group, if possible, with the second installment of my Jeanne Baret series:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
I have reviewed you, Balroop, and Janet. Evie has reviewed me.
Thanks, CR
Sorry, but I don't think you can fit with those conflicts, C.R.
Hi Gene, My memoir would certainly qualify as "in the world" if there is room under that category, and I have time and interest in reading 4 other authors' books in the 12 weeks and writing honest reviews. Here is my Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
I do not have any conflicts with anyone here. My email address:
kbaphd@gmail.com. Let me know if this is sufficient...I could also include the link to my book??
Hi Gene,Im just checking if I can join this group as well? I'm currently about to start group 393. I read full-time so will complete those reviews in 2-3 weeks.
If allowed, I have no conflicts with those listed in your group so far, and I would like to join with my memoir Amor Fati: An Incredible True Story of Survival, Hope & Healing
Christopher -- thanks for confirming you have no conflicts.Kathryn -- I've added you to the list. Thanks for filling out the form.
Zoe -- sorry, but the rules are you can only participate in one round at a time.
Hi Gene, I have just completed my participation with group 393, which has been confirmed by the admin for that group (see message 166 over there).If possible, I would still like to join this group with my memoir Amor Fati: An Incredible True Story of Survival, Hope & Healing
I have filled out the Google form and can confirm that I have no conflicts with any of the names listed so far - they have not reviewed me before, and I have not reviewed any of them.
This is my only Goodreads account here.
Hi Gene, my apologies for not getting back to you sooner with this. I went through the process you helpfully set out and the only conflicts for me are, so far, the two you've identified involving you and Balroop.
Thanks to Zoe and Clive. I've added Zoe to the list, so we only need two more authors. If anyone knows of an author who might fit, please send the link their way.
Hi Gene,Just checking if I can squeeze into this round: you and Balroop have reviewed me and I have reviewed Jane Reid. No problem if it won't work.
Thanks.
Audrey Driscoll
Hi Gene,Can I join this round with A Scarred Drifter?
I have reviewed you and this book, it will work if you have another book for me.
Ballrop had reviewed me, but I have other books for her.
If Audrey joins the round, she has reviewed me, but I have other books for her.
I have reviewed Jane, but not this book.
I believe I can fit into number 6/7/8/9 depends on where Audrey will be.
Thanks in advance.
I believe Audrey and Sotto can fit with the below order:Gene Kendall
Evie Del Rey
Christopher
Kathryn
Balroop
Audrey
Zoe
Clive Hawkswood
Sotto
Jane C.R. Reid
These are the conflicts as I have them:
Gene can't send to Balroop.
Gene can't send to Audrey.
Jane can't send to Gene.
Balroop can't send to Jane.
Balroop can't send to Clive.
Balroop can't send to Audrey.
Evie can't send to Balroop.
Clive can't send to Gene
Audrey can't send to Jane.
Sotto can't send to Jane
Sotto can't send to Gene
Balroop can't send to Sotto
Aurdey can't send to Sotto
If anyone sees a conflict not listed, or an error in the order of ten I've created, please let me know.
Remember you're SENDING your book to the four names above you (the list wraps so 10 is above 1) -- and you're RECEIVING books from the four names below you on the first post of the thread. If you’ve reviewed someone before, you can review them again IF they have a new book to offer.
And before I can add them, I'll need both Audrey (who also needs to link to her book) and Sotto to fill out the email form: https://forms.gle/7edYq2cSscPhGuge7
Gene, I have reviewed your book Gutbuster, also Dog Teeth and Efficient & Divine (Honey Locus). Do you have another I can read?
OK, I'll supply the needed info later this morning. (Pacific time.)
Hi Gene,I have filled the form, and I don’t see other conflict besides what you had mentioned.
Thanks
I have just filled in the form.Book for this round: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
I have also reviewed Sotto, who has just joined this round.
Thanks, Audrey.Everyone - please post to tell me if you have reviewed any of the four people above you on the list (the list wraps around so (10) is 'above' (1) ). Please also check that if you have already reviewed any of the four people 'below' you on the list they have more books available that you have not yet reviewed and post to tell me if they have not.
If you write under a pen name or have additional Goodreads profiles, then you'll have to follow these instructions for every pen name or additional Goodreads profile.
Remember that you can check if you have reviewed anyone before by going to your reviews through your profile (the link is under your portrait), and searching their name. You can check if someone has reviewed you in the same way through their profile and searching for your name.
Please check all those who are the 4 above and 4 below you.
If you have no review clashes - or if you are scheduled to review someone who you have reviewed before but can see they have another book available just post 'Good to go :)' or words to that effect.
If you spot a clash or someone in the four below you who has no book you can review, please say.
When everyone has posted 'Good to go' we will be :)
If you are new to these rounds do not worry, full instructions will be provided at every stage.
Sorry Gene,Can you change my book to The Bet of the Monsters so that it fits better to the theme.
For Ballrop, since you have read this one, my other available book for you
In Ora is set in the future. If you mind, I understand and I am willing to pull myself out of the round.
If it's okay. then I'm good to go.
Thank you
I've changed Sotto's book. And just to let everyone know, alternates offered in a round don't have to match the round's theme (as it would be even harder to get rounds like this going if someone was unable to offer an alternate.)
Hi ,I am new to Good read & Learning how to navigate .
I have filled the form .
I would also be thankful if anyone can guide me on the navigation & what is expected of Me .
Like how this works .
Thanks to everyone who's checked in. Right now we're waiting on:Evie Del Rey
Christopher
Kathryn
Clive
Arbaaz -- this round is in the check-in stage, the last step before we begin. We'll only be looking for a new participant if someone is unable to continue.
Sorry for the delay - no conflicts above or below for me - good to go!Kathryn Adams
Thanks, everyone, for checking in. I'll soon be sending out a group email providing the participants' email addresses. You'll send download links and attachments via email.Member Links | Book Links
1. Gene Kendall | Gutbuster
2. Evie Del Rey | Grease Monkey
3. Christopher Cooke | The White Room
4. Kathryn Betts Adams |The Pianist's Only Daughter: A Memoir
5. Balroop Singh |Beyond the Fetters
6. Audrey Driscoll | Winter Journeys: A Novel of Music and Memory
7. Zoë Collins |Amor Fati: An Incredible True Story of Survival, Hope & Healing
8. Clive Hawkswood | Cutter's Charges
9. Sotto Voce | The Bet of the Monsters
10. Jane C.R. Reid | Who Am I?
START DATE: April 22, 2026
END DATE: June 24, 2026
Round 1 – post your review by April 22, 2026
Round 2 – post your review by May 13, 2026
Round 3 – post your review by June 3, 2026
Round 4 – post your review by June 24, 2026
As AUTHORS you SEND your book file to:
-01__ Gene Kendall
Jane C.R. Reid for round 1
Sotto Voce for round 2
Clive Hawkswood for round 3
Zoë Collins for round 4
-02__ Evie Del Rey
Gene Kendall for round 1
Jane C.R. Reid for round 2
Sotto Voce for round 3
Clive Hawkswood for round 4
-03__Christopher Cooke
Evie Del Rey for round 1
Gene Kendall for round 2
Jane C.R. Reid for round 3
Sotto Voce for round 4
-04__ Kathryn Betts Adams
Christopher Cooke for round 1
Evie Del Rey for round 2
Gene Kendall for round 3
Jane C.R. Reid for round 4
-05__ Balroop Singh
Kathryn Betts Adams for round 1
Christopher Cooke for round 2
Evie Del Rey for round 3
Gene Kendall for round 4
-06__ Audrey Driscoll
Balroop Singh for round 1
Kathryn Betts Adams for round 2
Christopher Cooke for round 3
Evie Del Rey for round 4
-07__ Zoë Collins
Audrey Driscoll for round 1
Balroop Singh for round 2
Kathryn Betts Adams for round 3
Christopher Cooke for round 4
-08__ Clive Hawkswood
Zoë Collins for round 1
Audrey Driscoll for round 2
Balroop Singh for round 3
Kathryn Betts Adams for round 4
-09__ Sotto Voce
Clive Hawkswood for round 1
Zoë Collins for round 2
Audrey Driscoll for round 3
Balroop Singh for round 4
-10__ Jane C.R. Reid
Sotto Voce for round 1
Clive Hawkswood for round 2
Zoë Collins for round 3
Audrey Driscoll for round 4
As REVIEWERS you will receive books for review from:
-01__Gene Kendall
Evie Del Rey for round 1
Christopher Cooke for round 2
Kathryn Betts Adams for round 3
Balroop Singh for round 4
-02__Evie Del Rey
Christopher Cooke for round 1
Kathryn Betts Adams for round 2
Balroop Singh for round 3
Audrey Driscoll for round 4
-03__Christopher Cooke
Kathryn Betts Adams for round 1
Balroop Singh for round 2
Audrey Driscoll for round 3
Zoë Collins for round 4
-04__ Kathryn Betts Adams
Balroop Singh for round 1
Audrey Driscoll for round 2
Zoë Collins for round 3
Clive Hawkswood for round 4
-05__ Balroop Singh
Audrey Driscoll for round 1
Zoë Collins for round 2
Clive Hawkswood for round 3
Sotto Voce for round 4
-06__ Audrey Driscoll
Zoë Collins for round 1
Clive Hawkswood for round 2
Sotto Voce for round 3
Jane C.R. Reid for round 4
-07__ Zoë Collins
Clive Hawkswood for round 1
Sotto Voce for round 2
Jane C.R. Reid for round 3
Gene Kendall for round 4
-08__ Clive Hawkswood
Sotto Voce for round 1
Jane C.R. Reid for round 2
Gene Kendall for round 3
Evie Del Rey for round 4
-09__Sotto Voce
Jane C.R. Reid for round 1
Gene Kendall for round 2
Evie Del Rey for round 3
Christopher Cooke for round 4
-10__ Jane C.R. Reid
Gene Kendall for round 1
Evie Del Rey for round 2
Christopher Cooke for round 3
Kathryn Betts Adams for round 4
Please remember the commitment you are making to your fellow group members. If you pull out after the start date for any reason it is the other members who will be faced with the problem of finding a replacement, or missing out on reads/reviews, through no fault of their own. Please don’t ask the moderators to chase after replacements as we just don’t have the time.
It is the responsibility of the author to get their book to their readers in a format the reviewer can manage. Everyone must be able to provide and accept PDF. You may buy or borrow the books you are due to read if you wish, and I’m sure the author will appreciate the verified review, but IT IS NOT COMPULSORY. There are no set dates for the start of each round. You can each work at your own pace, within the limits of the round deadlines.
All reviews must be posted to GR. We also encourage members to post on Amazon. When you have posted your reviews, please post the links to each of your reviews, not the book page in this thread.
The mod of each round will record whether members have posted reviews on Amazon and for the good of all, members who persistently fail to post reviews or DNF reviews to Amazon, will find mods less than willing to add them to subsequent groups.
Postings to other sites are by agreement by both author and reviewer.
If I’ve missed something that results in you being asked to review someone who has already reviewed you, please let me know asap.
Setting up and modding these rounds is a labor of love, with a lot of emphasis on the ‘labor’. If you want to show appreciation for all the hard work we admins put in for the group, you could download one of our books as a ‘thank you’.
Happy reviewing, everyone :)
GUIDE FOR THOSE NEW TO THESE ROUNDS.Quick 'start-up' summary for anyone new who might be scratching their heads. You are reviewing the four books 'below' you on the list.
You can, of course, choose to buy any or all of the books or read the books on KU, if you are a subscriber and the books are available there. If you can buy it adds weight to your review as it gives the 'Verified Purchase' stamp on Amazon.
However, as not everyone can buy, you will receive a listing of the email addresses of the other round participants.
Please make sure you have exchanged ALL FOUR books - or have been assured by your reviewers they will buy your book or read it through KU - as soon as possible. Some people read fast and it can be very frustrating to have to wait a long time to get hold of a book you are committed to review.
Don't forget to post the links to your reviews here so you can be signed off for them.
Please post your review to Goodreads, your own Amazon store and any other Amazon stores you might have access to as well.
Please contact me ongoing with any issues. Thanks.
The Amazon rules state that authors/publishers are not allowed to specifically supply published books in return for reviews on Amazon. To comply with this rule, we don’t insist members review on Amazon, but we do insist that every participant in the round has the capacity to leave a review on their local Amazon store, so we all start with the same options.
The founding principle of the group is honest, non-reciprocal reviews, so please help maintain the integrity of the group by letting me know as you sign up if you have been reviewed by, or have reviewed another author in the group and do check back as the group fills to report any clashes. Usually places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Communication & Contact Details
As Goodreads has disabled private messaging, participation in this round requires providing a contact email address via a Google Form (or an alternative method specified by the moderator). This email will be used by the moderator to resolve round-related issues and, only where necessary, may be shared with other participants solely for the purpose of exchanging review copies. Email addresses must not be used for marketing or shared more widely. The form with all collected email addresses will be deleted once the round has closed. If you are not comfortable with this, please do not sign up for the round.
Any participant who knowingly uses the email addresses for marketing, or is caught selling them, will be blacklisted from the group.
If you’re uncomfortable with sharing email addresses, you’re encouraged to establish a new free Gmail or Yahoo account, to be used exclusively for Review Group. Please refer to the below links:
https://support.google.com/mail/answe...
https://login.yahoo.com/account/create
This is an 'In This World' round
Non-fiction books or fiction books that could have actually happened in contemporary and/or historical settings. So nothing set in the future, no magic, ghosts, elves, talking animals or creatures from outer space.
Please note it is always possible that the books you are assigned may contain material you find upsetting or offensive. If you can't commit to this, please do not sign up.
Now for the boring stuff, but please read it, it saves a lot of time if everyone is on the same wavelength.
Before signing up below with your Goodreads author and Goodreads book link in the thread below, please ensure that:
1. You have enough time to read and review 4 books within the 12 weeks of time allowed.
2. Your book is currently available for sale on Amazon (not pre-order) and it complies with the individual round theme, if there is one.
3. Your book is written in English, or you can provide an English translation, and it is fit to be reviewed.
If it is not, due to editing or other issues, you risk poor reviews. This is your problem, not that of the reviewers or the groups. The number one error new authors make is not having their book beta read and edited, by non-family members.
4. You can submit reviews to Goodreads and Amazon.
Amazon allows only those people who have spent $50 in the last year to leave reviews in each of their stores. If you are unsure about your Amazon reviewer status, try posting a ‘test’ review before signing up. If you are unable to post reviews on Amazon, please do not sign up.
5. You can provide (and accept) at least PDF files.
You are not expected or required to buy the books you are allocated to review, but as this will give a ‘Verified Purchase’ review on Amazon, it is welcomed when you choose to do so. Many authors have books available via KU and others might provide smashwords coupons. Most authors can provide mobi and/or epub files directly by email. Please note: International Copyright laws apply. You cannot sell, or give away material you have received without the author’s express permission.
6. You have completed your reading if you are currently in another review round in this group. You can be involved in the ‘one for one’ list whilst you are in a round.
7. You have an author profile set up before you join.
8. You agree to provide a contact email address when requested by the moderator. This is required in order to participate in a round and replaces the previous requirement for Goodreads private messaging. Emails must not be sold, or used for marketing purposes.
The link to the mod's email form will be in the next post.
9. You declare any relationship you have with another member in the round.
Amazon will not allow reviews from the same household on the same book or if you are an editor, relative or close friend of another member.
10. You agree to finish assigned books before leaving a review, that your reviews will be unbiased and honest, whatever the star rating, and you will try to avoid ‘spoilers’. i.e. giving away the finale of a book. Please note the Review Group will back any reviewer's right to express their opinion about a book, but personal comments about a fellow author are against both Review Group and Goodreads policy. If you DNF (DO NOT FINISH) an assigned book, you run the risk of not being allowed into review rounds in the future.
11. You will not ask a fellow author to change a review of your book because you don’t agree with it.
If you think you have a legitimate concern, talk to the mod of your round, NOT the other author. Personal attacks, or pressuring other members WILL NOT BE TOLERATED and will result in you being blacklisted.
12. You declare all Goodreads accounts when signing up for rounds, including all pen names and additional user accounts, so that these can be checked by moderators and other group members to ensure that there are not previous review conflicts.
13. Books which include AI-generated writing are not permitted. Reviews may not be written by AI.
Please note:
We all want reviews, it’s why we joined the group. It is bad taste to expect other people to review your book and then not do the same for other people in the group. People that DNF and/or don’t post reviews will find it difficult to get into a subsequent group.
It is not necessary to leave any kind of disclaimer in your review, but ultimately, it is up to individuals. Reviews that state you received a copy ‘in return’ for a review will probably be removed/not allowed by amazon.com. ‘I received a free copy from the author without an obligation to review’ would be more acceptable if you feel the need to add a disclaimer.
Your Goodreads details and the rounds you participate in may be recorded by the admin mod on a database. We do not retain details of email addresses etc.
Allocation is entirely random and there will NOT be any rearranging of the listing to accommodate personal preference. The ONLY circumstance in which you may duck out of giving a review is if YOU provide a stand-in reviewer.
The only way this group can function is if we trust each other to behave honourably. And it IS perfectly possible to give a fair-minded review of a text that does not coincide with our normal choice of reading matter. If you need a few hints/tips, please see this thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I will do my best to fit everyone into the group they request, but occasionally, particularly in the case of our more prolific good standing members, I may have to decline a member request to fit the maximum number of people into a particular round. I will always endeavour to start another round as soon as possible with that member in mind.
It is permissible to review an author more than once if a different book is available.
If you need anything clarified please ask on the thread below before signing up. You can also contact the mod via the form linked in this thread.
Your group moderator will be:
Gene
Member Links | Book Links
1. Gene Kendall | Gutbuster
2. Evie Del Rey | Grease Monkey
3. Christopher Cooke | The White Room
4. Kathryn Betts Adams |The Pianist's Only Daughter: A Memoir
5. Balroop Singh |Beyond the Fetters
6. Audrey Driscoll | Winter Journeys: A Novel of Music and Memory
7. Zoë Collins |Amor Fati: An Incredible True Story of Survival, Hope & Healing
8. Clive Hawkswood | Cutter's Charges
9. Sotto Voce | The Bet of the Monsters
10. Jane C.R. Reid | Who Am I?