Let's Discuss: Goodreads Choice Awards

 

It's that time of year again. You're probably running through several "times" of the year aren't you? Well, this time I am referring to the Goodreads Choice Awards. The sometimes controversial awards for all the books that released in 2023...as long as they released in January through October of 2023.

Goodreads Choice Awards

Buckle up kids, I'm gonna get ranty! 

I feel like everyone has at least one gripe with these awards. Yes, they are fun! Tons of fun...sometimes. This year we saw the removal of some categories because according to Goodreads we don't "read" enough from them. Now I am very selective with my graphic novel choices to begin with and the ones I read hardly ever make it to the nominees anyway. But I am sad that these categories are gone for the readers who do read them.

My second gripe is the lack of YA genre categories. Why is it that YA only gets a "YA" and "YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy" genre category when adults get SO much more! They get fantasy and a separate sci-fi. Then there's the mystery and thrillers, horror! Where are the YA categories for those genres? Why is it YA is simplified to just two? It's ridiculous! 

My third gripe, why can't we have these books in January of 2024 so that ALL 2023 books have a chance? There are still books that release in November and December and yet, these books don't make it to the award nominees. Then in 2024 everyone forgets about them and they are after all 2023 books, so they can't even be included in 2024 Awards. This really makes me mad as I had books that would release yearly in December! My favorite YA Fantasy series by Morgan Rhodes released in December every book (except for the final one) and yet, they weren't included in the awards because of their release date. Except for the last book...maybe. I honestly can't remember.

But these awards are so flawed! Every year I swear readers try to tell the Goodreads "people" or whoever the heck starts up these awards and picks the "most read" titles in the genres. But they never listen to our opinions. Yes, we have a Romantasy category which I will admit I think is cool, but then again you see the same authors again and again.

Which I guess I get, because we readers are marking these books as "read." But can't we just have a top Romantasy category where JLA and SJM can duke it out every year? I'd rather see THAT as a category so that other fantasy authors can have a chance to win an award in those categories. Because yeah, every time a SJM book is in the category, you know it's going to win no matter who else is in it. 

I hate that. I mean, yes, good for the author because I probably read the book too or it's in my TBR pile as are many of JLA's 2023 titles this year. But does it have to be the same authors every year who win? It's just aggravating.

I still voted. Obviously. There are some genres I skipped since I didn't read them. What's bad is I am such a slower reader so I couldn't feasibly vote for some, I just chose what was in my TBR pile and if there were two in that category I picked the one I wanted to read the most. 

So yes, while I think these awards are very fun, they are very, very flawed. I just wish the Goodreads people or whoever are behind these would actually listen to the readers who are trying to tell them what would make these awards better for readers. But honestly, it just feels like a big ol' popularity contest where it will be the same authors who win again and again. The only one that feels legitimate is the debut author category.

What is your opinion on the Goodreads Choice Awards? Do you like them? Do you think they are a bit flawed?