GUEST REVIEWER: Noa from Paperback Dolls

Receiving an email to guest blog on a new blog just getting ready to launch - asking me about my experience as a blogger, still seems a bit strange to me. I mean, I know the Paperback Dolls have been here for a year but it really does feel like yesterday since we started seeking out guests, reviews and special features.

This year has been so incredible and frankly, I'm a bit jealous about the experiences you have up ahead – the first time an author you love contacts you, the first Advanced Reader's Copy waiting in your mailbox, the first time someone posts a positive comment on your post or review and even the first negative one (mostly for the supportive comments that follow).

Paperback Dolls has not only given me a place to share my love of books with friends, it has given me an outlet to share my opinions and thoughts – and I'm so very thankful to my fellow Dolls and our spectacular followers for putting up with the rambling :D

So, how did it all happen for us?  We had all been visitors to various author forums and websites - that’s how we “met”, though we have never actually physically met each other.

Then one day, just over 18 months ago we had been discussing reviews and how confusing they can be; Do I really know if the person reviewing the book likes the same books that I do? What if we have different tastes? Must a bad review be so...cruel? Where can we hear about new authors, and really, what about all the readers around the world, who like us, have that one thing in common in spite of different ages, personalities and backgrounds - their love of books.

We decided to do something about it. Why not create a review site where different opinions each bring something unique to the table. Where we encourage our friends to share their thoughts with more people who have a shared passion - reading. Paperback Dolls was born (Kitt has a flare with names).

We soon had honorary dolls, a Tween reviewer ( and doll in training), Passport, Paperback Prousts and well, the ideas just kept coming. We now even have an honorary Paperback action figure in the form of author Anton Strout! It wasn’t all fun and games, lots of hard work, some difficult decisions, but in the end, something we can be truly proud of. We were also introduced to the fabulous world of blogging - so many amazing men and women who, I hope, we can now call our friends, who have helped us out and shared their insight.

This week I’m personally expanding my knowledge of the blogging world - heading out to Book Expo America fir the very first time - can’t wait!

I still haven’t met my fellow dolls, but they are now part of my daily life and I honestly don’t know what I would do without them! I hope you all have fun on your blog adventure - I know we are!