"Scared Sexy Collection" - problems continue

[Asterope]

Amazon put out a collection of original short stories:
www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLJHDGY1

"Fall for something wicked
They lurk in shadows and haunt your dreams, but these supernatural creatures want more than just your soul. From amnesiac vampire slayers to fallen angels, space vampires to cursed tattoo artists, sleep paralysis demons to ancient wish-granting entities—six steamy stories prove that even the most dangerous monsters deserve their happily ever after. This Halloween, treat yourself to a collection that’s equal parts spooky and swoon-worthy."

They are calling it the "Scared Sexy Collection."

It was placed as a series, I deleted that info and added it as a list instead. Someone remade it a series and said it was one because it was listed on Audible as a series.
But Amazon and audible often add things as series that are not considered as such on GR.

From my understanding they are not a series per GR definition.

--Hot for Slayer - Vampires, Manhattan
--Spicy Little Curses - French Quarter
--Space Vampire - deserted space station, human-vampire clone, aliens

None of the reviews I saw mentioned any connection between the stories either.

My listopia for it:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

The series that someone made again -
https://www.goodreads.com/series/4273...

Can someone weigh in on this so there is a definitive answer? Thanks!

[lethe]

You are right, it is not a series according to GR standards. Collections never are (in my experience).

[Asterope]

Thanks. I will go and deal with that and hopefully, this won't occur again. (Making it a series and undoing my edits) :-)

[Jonetta]

I’m the one who restored the books to a series after you removed it. At least you could have contacted me for discussion.

Here’s what’s not being conveyed. Even though these are themed collections, there’s also an edition that includes each of the editions (books 1-6). There are many of these themed collections already out there connected in this manner as it’s the only option to include the edition that has all of the books, which I have. It’s not only clearer for the members and reduces confusion, the reviews connect back to the theme and evaluate the books collectively.

While it may be a “general” rule of thumb to not put themed books in a series, when it’s the publisher’s desire to do so and is designed to be in a group, I believe it qualifies as an acceptable exception. There are many others of these type “collections” that have been combined as such. Members are including these in their series challenges. And, I don’t see anywhere in the guidelines that limit connecting books as a series under these conditions.

I’m changing it back because as it stands now, it’s creating confusion. To make this change without considering the impact is inexplicable to me.

Here’s the copy of the cover that includes all of the editions:

[Jonetta]

Asteropê wrote: "Thanks. I will go and deal with that and hopefully, this won't occur again. (Making it a series and undoing my edits) :-)"

You undid mine. I couldn’t contact you because your profile is private.

[Scott]

Jonetta wrote: "While it may be a “general” rule of thumb to not put themed books in a series, when it’s the publisher’s desire to do so and is designed to be in a group, I believe it qualifies as an acceptable exception."

Whether publishers or authors consider something a series has nothing to do with whether Goodreads does.

[Jonetta]

I get that and don’t just follow what a publisher or author states. This is based on my own assessment as to whether or not it serves the community. This is not arbitrary. Have you read my entire statement???

[lethe]

Jonetta wrote: "Even though these are themed collections, there’s also an edition that includes each of the editions (books 1-6)."

It doesn't matter if they are all in one book. That still doesn't make it a series according to GR policy.

There are also omnibus editions that contain 3 totally unrelated novels. Just like those, this themed collection should not be made into a series.

[Jonetta]

Have you even looked at the books??? They are being collectively reviewed and posted as a series on blogs and other social media platforms.

These are GR guidelines and I don’t get your rigid stance on these type collections. It is consistent with how many others are handled. I’m reading all of the books and this shouldn’t be compared to an omnibus with unrelated editions. The authors collaborate on the stories.

[Asterope]

Why is the record changed after this was discussed and understood?

In the librarian note I wrote after all this discussion, which is visible to anyone with access it says:
"PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE RECORD OF THIS BOOK. THESE ARE NOT A SERIES.
I asked in the GR Librarian group and Librarian Lethe confirmed they are not a series.
See:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

From the Manual:
"To be a series, books should have characters and/or universes in common."
These books do not share a universe, characters, etc. They only share a THEME. And that means it is regulated to a list, not a series. The books are not interconnected, one is set in an abandoned space station, the other in Manhattan. They only share the theme of being "deliciously dark collection of Halloween romance" -- and it's right there in the summary and title - COLLECTION. Collections are not series.

It does not matter that Audible lists them as a "series" -- Amazon and Audible consider things as series that GR does not all the time.

Here is the list for them:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2..."

Yet at Oct 20, 2025 -
They were given series listings (with #s even) in the title by well, you can all see in the edit logs.

What should be done here?
I am at a loss. It was clearly discussed. If someone made in into a series, which is bound to happen, that series should have been deleted. Not to add series listings to a title to something that is not a series.

Was a new, different decision made on this COLLECTION made since this discussion? If so and GR staff have given this collection a different ruling, then fine, but I can't see any indication of that?

EDIT: The new series listing:
https://www.goodreads.com/series/4279...
I was going to delete it, but wanted to yet again ask to see what to do before changing records.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

I'd ask Jaclyn for a ruling in the Questions (Librarians only) folder & link to this thread.

It doesn't sound like a series to me either.

[lethe]

Agreed with Carol.

(Edit: but I would remove the librarian's name from your comment.)

[Asterope]

Okay, posted in the section Carol mentioned. I didn't even know that area existed. Thanks for suggesting.

I also edited the person's name out in my above comment. Though...it's not hard to figure out who is doing things when looking at the book's edit logs.

;o)

[Emily]

Regarding this omnibus, it was added without an ASIN and not imported from Amazon.
When adding ebooks and audiobooks we have to make sure we put the ISBN in now that Amazon imports bogus ASINs to every record without one and we can't remove them.

If an Audible edition is available on Amazon [.] com it will be imported directly from Amazon (with the format "Audible") and we can add any missing info.
If manually adding an audiobook or ebook we HAVE to add the ISBN if one is available.

If it is an Audible edition available from certain other countries or Audible [.]com then it won't necessarily import.

Here is the entry on the Audible site:
https://www.audible.com/search?keywor...

Do you think I should ask Support if they can add this one with the correct Audible ASIN and merge it with the existing one, or do you think it is not worth it in this case?