The Bookish Mindset

Every now and then bookstagrammers, me included, will talk about buying the finished copy of any proofs you get. It’s an important topic and it’s one that I’ve learnt on my bookish journey, so let’s talk about it.

Please remember this all comes with a precursor – it’s an absolute privilege to be able to spend money on extra joys like books. If you have the means to spend extra on books then this was meant for you. If you don’t, then this isn’t. I’m also talking to white bookstagrammers in particular.

Firstly, let me sign post you to Hetta’s @inkanddynamite’s Instagram – she posted about this and educated me through the post and so I want to acknowledge her in this – thanks Hetta! She’s obviously also a great bookstagrammer with great recs so you definitely should give her a follow too.

Hetta’s post from back in January 2023 talked about how there are a lot of ARC’s (advance reader copy) and proofs by marginalised authors were going to white bookstagrammers as priority. I hope I don’t need to explain why it’s not okay that white bookstagrammers are getting these.

It wasn’t a new problem then and it’s certainly not gone away today. It’s a problem at publishing level, but it’s important to acknowledge here too so we can ask publishers to do better. This blog isn’t about resolving the heavily biased publishing industry but we need to see it for what it is and challenge it. We know we could talk for hours on this, another blog perhapsbut it brings me onto what we as white bookstagrammers need to be doing better.

If we’re reading proofs from marginalised authors, we’re reading them for free. We’re not paying for work by marginalised authors. We’re profiting off their work because we’re getting a book for free.

It’s 2025 and I don’t think marginalised authors should be working for free.

Buying your proofs is paying the author for their work. That’s it.

If you’re concerned with having multiple of the same on your shelf, gift the finished copy or donate it. Please also make sure you post about the book and amplify that author!

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this blog. If you like what you’ve read and would like to access more content, I’d love if you could take a look at my patreon and consider supporting my content on there too. You can also find more content on my Instagram here.

If reading more is something that you’re looking at doing this year then should check my reading challenge out here! Read nine books from nine prompts over the first six months of the year and be entered into a draw to win a bundle of bookish goodies.

And don’t forget to check out my other blogs and reviews – you can find books with similar themes in the same folder link below, or click back onto blogs to see the whole offering.

Last updated 21/02/2025