Goodreads Does Not Equal Gospel
- Olympia Black
- Sep 7
- 3 min read
Goodreads vs. Audible: Where to Find Real Book Reviews
Lately, I’ve been seeing the phrase “Goodreads saved me” pop up more and more. And as an author of dark sci-fi romance, I feel like it’s time to clear up a few things about what Goodreads is (and isn’t).
Why Goodreads Reviews Can Be Misleading
Anyone with an email address can create an unlimited number of Goodreads accounts. That means anyone can leave reviews even without reading the book. And yes, groups of people absolutely do this to “cancel” authors they dislike. I know because it happened to me. Two years ago. And yet, the misinformation is still circulating.
This doesn’t mean Goodreads can’t be fun for connecting with other readers or tracking your bookshelves. But if you’re looking for reviews that reflect the actual content of a book, Goodreads isn’t the most reliable source.
Amazon and Audible: Verified Reader Feedback
If you want to know what a book is really like, go to Amazon or even better on Audible.
On Audible, you must listen to most of the audiobook before you’re allowed to leave a review.
That means the feedback there comes from verified readers who’ve actually experienced the story from start to finish.
That’s a huge difference.
Honest Reviews for My Human Pet
I’ll stand behind every Audible review of My Human Pet. Love it or hate it, those readers read (or listened to) the book. That’s honesty, and the kind of feedback I want potential readers to see.
What to Expect From My Books
Just a reminder, my books aren’t sweet alien romances. They’re dark, provocative, and intentionally push buttons. That’s the point. If you’re looking for cozy, heartwarming alien love stories, there are dozens of amazing authors writing those. But I don’t pretend to be one of them.
My work combines dark romance with science fiction themes — captivity, power imbalance, alien cultures, and survival. It’s not for everyone, and that’s okay.
What's in My Human Pet that has Lead Some Reviewers Cancel Me?
Take Your Pick:
Alien abduction
Human kept as a pet / captivity themes
Dubious consent (sexual situations without clear human cultural context)
Power imbalance / non-egalitarian relationships
Breeding / pregnancy mention
Sexual objectification
Pet play dynamics (leashes, cages, collars)
Language and slurs used by aliens against humans
Racism as allegory (aliens treating humans as “less sentient”)
Fatphobia / body commentary (as part of alien culture, not the author’s views)
Cultural appropriation accusations (within alien worldbuilding)
Violence and threats of violence
Emotional manipulation / Stockholm syndrome dynamics
Explicit sexual content
BDSM undertones (control, obedience, punishment)
Discussions of propaganda and systemic oppression
Themes of dehumanization and survival under captivity
I’ve always been upfront that my books are dark. Yet some readers accuse me of being misleading them or worse, assume that because I write about difficult, provocative things, I must believe everything my characters say and do. That’s not only contradictory, it’s absurd. By that logic, do people think Stephen King is out committing murders in his spare time?
The Bottom Line
If you want to know whether my books are for you, don’t rely on anonymous Goodreads mobs. Instead, check the verified reviews on Amazon or Audible, where people actually finish the book before they share their thoughts. Goodreads is far from Gospel.
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