Cozy Mysteries not included in Goodreads Choice

[Bonnie]

I really think it needs it's own category. The sell a lot, are read a lot, and don't really fit in the general Mystery and Thriller category.

[QNPoohBear]

I agree but I just usually to a write-in vote for my favorite in the mystery category.

[Bonnie]

QNPoohBear wrote: "I agree but I just usually to a write-in vote for my favorite in the mystery category."

I thought of that, but read cozies off and on, so am not usually on the 2020 ones. Plus as mostly part of series I wonder if they have a fair chance of winning.

[L J]

I read a variety of books and yet the last couple of years there have been few books on the lists I've read or even know much about.

I used to have to chose between books I enjoyed in several categories. Now I look to see if there are any I've read.

[Lesley]

L J wrote: "I read a variety of books and yet the last couple of years there have been few books on the lists I've read or even know much about.

I used to have to chose between books I enjoyed in several cate..."

Exactly my sentiments, L.J. I have had a year of really good books many of which fall into the publishing band and all of which have a higher rating than most listed on GR's list for Mystery & Thrillers. Really makes me wonder just how/who does the selection. Obviously not necessarily selected by algorithm.

[Icewineanne]

Not many outside the GR community pay any attention to these awards run by amazon.

[Lesley]

Icewineanne wrote: "Not many outside the GR community pay any attention to these awards run by amazon."

The selections used to be far more balanced, but in the last two years that seems to have changed. I wondered if the selections are more reflective of Amazon sales wish list.

[MadameZelda]

I find I've read less than 5 of the 'nominees.' (I for one cannot afford bestsellers. I borrow 95 percent of my reading from libraries; some bestsellers aren't available to me for a year or more. By then I've lost interest.)

[Bonnie]

L J wrote: "I read a variety of books and yet the last couple of years there have been few books on the lists I've read or even know much about.

I used to have to chose between books I enjoyed in several cate..."

me too- and sometimes I just vote based on the author or that it's a book I want to read instead of my favorite since I have read none.

[Bonnie]

MadameZelda wrote: "I find I've read less than 5 of the 'nominees.' (I for one cannot afford bestsellers. I borrow 95 percent of my reading from libraries; some bestsellers aren't available to me for a year or more. B..."

yes, except for as gifts I seldom buy new hardback books.

[L J]

Lesley wrote: "Icewineanne wrote: "Not many outside the GR community pay any attention to these awards run by amazon."

The selections used to be far more balanced, but in the last two years that seems to have changed..."


I agree. Something must have changed about how they are selected.

I used to find books I'd read or had TBR in 10 or more categories with 2-5 books in some categories. Last year there were very few I'd read or had on TBR list.

This year there are none I've read. There is one book I read part of for a book discussion but DNF.

Two books on my TBR list.
Two books in series where I am so far behind I don't even have them on TBR list.
A few books by authors I read but they are books I have no interest in reading.
Several books that will probably be on Library reading lists, be used for book discussions or challenges but only one is something I would want to read and discuss.

At this point I see nothing to choose. Maybe write ins will add something.

[Barb, Co-Moderator Challenge Expert]

L J wrote: "I read a variety of books and yet the last couple of years there have been few books on the lists I've read or even know much about.

I used to have to chose between books I enjoyed in several cate..."

It seems to be more of a "most popular" author thing the past few years than the best books. I don't understand how books released just a few weeks ago can already be included -- and why something that's supposed to be about the best books in 2020 doesn't include the last two months of the year. IMO, GR should wait until January to start the voting process.

[Barb, Co-Moderator Challenge Expert]

L J wrote: "At this point I see nothing to choose. Maybe write ins will add something"

I've done the write-in thing a few times in the past couple of years, and it's a huge waste of time. Unless you can organize a huge group of people to write in the same book, it's not going to make a difference.

[L J]

Barb wrote: "L J wrote: "At this point I see nothing to choose. Maybe write ins will add something"

I've done the write-in thing a few times in the past couple of years, and it's a huge waste of time. Unless y..."

The things I would write in probably would not make the list but I've seen things added by others that were books I'd read.

[Santhiya]

Hi,

I have noticed books not yet released added in few lists. It is not fair to vote for a book we haven’t read. Goodreads made this into a promotional thing.

[Meg]

Santhiya wrote: "Hi,

I have noticed books not yet released added in few lists. It is not fair to vote for a book we haven’t read. Goodreads made this into a promotional thing."

Now that's interesting...

[Bonnie]

Meg wrote: "Santhiya wrote: "Hi,

I have noticed books not yet released added in few lists. It is not fair to vote for a book we haven’t read. Goodreads made this into a promotional thing."

Now that's interes..."
it is disappointing- last year I had at least read or heard of some in each area

[Gretchen]

I wish there was a cozy mystery category because I always look at the Goodreads Choice Awards for recommendations of books to read. I'd love to hear what people think are this years top cozies.

[Bonnie]

I don't know if I've read any published in 2020 yet, but did find this list on listopia. I'll check it out. https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

[Icewineanne]

My favorites this year Pride, Prejudice and Poison by Elizabeth Blake.....4 ⭐️

A Fatal Fiction by Kaitlyn Dunnett....3.5 ⭐️

[Santhiya]

Yes.

“Rhythm of War” by Brandon Sanderson is present in the fantasy category. I noticed the problem only because I have been waiting to read this book since I finished the third book in the series.

Barack Obama’s biography “The Promised Land” is present in memoirs and biographies category.

Both books are set to be released in November.

[Santhiya]

Perhaps instead of voting in Goodreads choice awards, we should make up our own list. Each member could nominate or vote books from their read shelf ( the read list can be sorted by publication year which would make to choose from 2020 easy)

[Nell]

There is a discussion/debate every year about subgenres in the GR Choice Awards. Readers want to see there favorite subgenre included but listing the subgenres in all of the general categories will make the poll unmanageable. There are several subgenres in the Mystery/Thriller category alone.

At the end of the year, the mods will open a discussion on your favorite reads of the year. It is too early to do that now. As eager as we may be to see the end of this tumultuous year, there are still two months left. Look for that discussion thread in December. In the meantime, members of this group can continue to share the cozy reads they enjoy (or not) in the What You're Reading thread.

[Bonnie]

Bonnie wrote: "I don't know if I've read any published in 2020 yet, but did find this list on listopia. I'll check it out. https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1..."

Well apparently I haven't read any cozy published in 2020- but I was able to put some first in series ones that sounded good on my tbr list plus go back a few books and buy a few cheaper ones (first in series) of some that sounded good but weren't first in series.

[Heather L]

Sorry I didn’t see this sooner, but—

For those wondering how books are chosen for the GR Choice Awards, in the “voting schedule” box there’s a link at bottom for “rules and eligibility” where it says:

We analyze statistics from the millions of books added, rated, and reviewed on Goodreads to nominate 15 books in each category. Opening round official nominees must have an average rating of 3.50 or higher at the time of launch. Write-in votes may be cast for eligible books with any average rating, and write-in votes will be weighted by the book's Goodreads statistics to determine the top five books to be added as official nominees in the Semifinal Round.

Personally, I don’t think they should include books that are only “added” to peoples’ shelves. Just because it’s “added” doesn’t mean it’s been read and rated/reviewed. As someone else noted, there were books in the poll that were not released before voting opened, simply because people added them to their “to read” shelf. Moot point, now that voting is nearly over. 😕

[Icewineanne]

So true Heather. I have “added” at least 175 books to my tbr this year based on “friend” recommendations, blogger, newspaper/magazine, reviews. Realistically, I will never get to 90% of the books on my tbr list. Book club commitments, “must-read” new releases + life all get in the way.
‘Added’ usually means that readers heard good things about the book or entered a GR giveaway. Books they might get to down the road, or perhaps not.