The Imposter in the Nook
How One NetGalley Approval Forced me to Face my "Bookseller" reality
Starting a bookstore and coffee shop is not for the faint of heart. For every ten steps I take towards the dream by setting up the LLC, joining ABA & CALIBA, and obsessing over the menu, it feels like I’m being shoved three steps back.
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I’ve reached a point where most of the backend is polished and ready, but I’m floundering to find a physical location that actually suits us. We’ve looked at it all - the one with environmental issues, the landlord that wants to micromanage my soul, the broker who ghosted me, and the tourist vs. community dilemma.
It is soul crushing to hit these walls after 3 months of active searching. On my best days, I’m creatively pitching solutions to my husband, trying to MacGyver a path forward. On my worst days? I wonder if I’ll fail before I even get a chance to start. Everyday is a struggle, and in those moments where the impostor syndrome peaks, I have to find bright spots to hold onto. Every checkmark on my to do list, every new follower, every relationship is a big freaking deal.
THE HUSTLE OF THE ARC
As a new “official” reviewer, I’ve quickly learned how important Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) are. They are a lifeline for book launches. But there is a bit of a dark side to the “bookstagram” hustle. I’ve seen a lot of indie authors bemoaning that only 20-30% of their ARCs reviewers are actually following through. It made me wonder - are people just overzealous requesting books they never intend to read?
As for me, I’ve been taking it slow. There is a fine line between the excitement of an early copy and turning your passion into a chore. I refuse to stop reading for the love of it. But that boundary comes with a price - accessibility is hard without a massive social media presence. I’ve faced rejections, even for digital copies. And don’t get me started on how getting physical ARCs is a whole other hustle of its own.
REVIEWER TO BOOKSELLER
A few weeks ago, I realized that my Netgalley account was still set to reviewer. Since I am a member of the American Booksellers Association (ABA), I updated my status to bookseller and everything changed overnight.
Suddenly, I was approved for TWO (!!!) major ARCs I’d wanted. Then came the auto-approvals - the holy grail when basically a publisher says they trust you and agree to automatically approve your requests in the future. This is where the impostor syndrome moved in and unpacked its bags. Part of me says I haven’t earned this status because I don’t even have a storefront yet and my social media presence is tiny. The other part of me, the part that has been busting my little booty behind the scenes to build Quiet Nook Books, knows this wouldn’t be happening if I wasn’t putting in the work. Am I a real bookseller if my books are still sitting in boxes, inside of a warehouse instead of on my shelves? TBD. But in the meantime, I’m going to do right by these authors: read, review, promote.
VICTORIOUS: FULL CIRCLE MOMENT
I can’t believe this happened! I got the approval that sent me into this very spiral, Victorious by V.E. Schwab. Thank you to TOR Publishing for making it happen.
V.E. Schwab is a powerhouse bestseller! More than that, she’s the author that added fuel to a long distance relationship I wasn’t sure would last and brought reading back into my life.
Years ago, I moved across the country for a promotion, while my husband stayed behind to manage our recently purchased and rehab’d home. We spent nearly two years doing long distance. V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic series was the very first thing that got us both back into reading. It became our book club for two, a tether that kept us connected when we were thousands of miles apart. It birthed the passion that would eventually lead to this bookstore idea. Receiving this ARC approval feels like this full circle moment where I’m going from a fan reading to stay connected to her husband to a bookseller contributing to the buzz of a powerhouse release. I’m still going to buy the physical copy (I have the signed copies and hardbacks to prove my loyalty lol), but this privilege isn’t lost on me. It wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t stepped out of my comfort zone. I’m super grateful for the future, even as I struggle with how I see myself in the present.
Have you ever had a “full circle” moment with a book? Tell me about it in the comments.
REMAINING 2026 NEW RELEASES I’M SUPER EXCITED FOR:
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The Best Venture by Nina Rey - May 15. See full review here.
Ironwood by Michael Connelly.- May 19
The Damsel and Her Villain by Margriete Johnson - June 2 (tbr ARC, review will follow)
Road Trip by Mary Kay Andrews - June 2 (ARC read, review will follow)
Harvest Season by Brynne Weaver - June 9
The Bestseller by Jenny Knightsby - June 18 (ARC read, review will follow)
Chase Me If You Can by Heather Frances - June 23 (Currently reading, review will follow)
The Roman Holiday Rule by Andra Loy - August 4
(Mostly) Human Resources by Grace Viall - August 4 (ARC read, review will follow)
The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent - August 5
Doomsdate by Laura Lee Piper - September 14 (ARC read, review will follow)
Victorious by V.E. Schwab - October 6
ACOTAR 6 by Sarah J. Maas - October 27