ashlynreadss 🍊🩷📖

HEY BABES - after some of my recent posts and some messages I’ve gotten, I decided to make this *hopefully* helpful and informative post for you guys 🥹🫶🏼 PLEASE note, this is just my rough template and there is no right or wrong way to send proof request emails. If you’ve already found your groove then I LOVE that for you, but if you really want to start emailing publishers and have NO CLUE where to start - well I hope this inspires you 🥰 I’m still learning and have changed this format probably 20 times already in the past year but that’s what learning is, growing and changing. I know emailing publishers can be intimidating as FREAK but the more you do it, the less scary it gets. So JUST START!!!! If they don’t respond or don’t send you the proof, oh well there’s always the next one. Life is full of rejections, that only makes the wins that much sweeter 🥹 My DMs are always open to you guys, my response time is a$$ but whether it be an hour or 2 weeks later - I WILL AT SOME POINT REPLY TO YOU 💘 I love you ALL and hope you’re having a fantabulous 2026 so far 🤭🤩

okay, let’s see how this works 🫠 this is a rogue idea I had that I wanted to try & see how it plays out 😂 I see a LOT of indie authors on threads posting and asking if bookstagrammers are comfortable with authors messaging us and I’ll keep responding to those threads and sharing my two cents BUT I also wanted to create a place where indie authors could come look for book influencers who are willing and ready to assist in their indie journey 🥹 will this be a hot mess? most likely is there a better way to do this? probably 😂 but you know what, if this post helps even one indie author then it’ll be worth it 💘 SO if you’re a bookstagrammer/influencer who is more than willing to have authors slide into your DMs for collab proposals or pr opportunities, drop a comment with your - preferred genre(s) - follower count - preference on book format (physical, epub/kindle/etc, or either) - and where you are located - if you wanna add anything else, have at it! AND BEFORE YOU ALL COME FOR MY THROAT AT THE FOLLOWER COUNT - when indie authors send you an epub/kindle or a physical copy, they are taking a financial loss on that copy. While I don’t believe follower count is an accurate indicator of passion and personality, it does give these authors an idea of which accounts may or may not give them the highest potential ROI on the hit they are taking by giving out a free book; but that’s just my thoughts on the matter, I know most authors don’t look twice at follower count 🥰 indie authors: I hope this post doesn’t flop 😂 and can help ATLEAST one of you connect with book influencers who are excited to work with you and support your dreams 🥹

Updated rating guide ✨⚔️🫶🏼 Most books I read end up in the 4-5 star ratings because I am very easily entertained and love cliches 😂 I also really only pick up books that I think I’d enjoy, so I rarely have reason to rate books 1-2 stars BUT I wanted to come on here and say that yes a LOT of my reads are rated 3-5 stars, but I try to be as descriptive in my reviews as possible as to WHY I gave it that rating so that you guys are able to see if it could be a fun read for you as well or if it was just something I enjoyed ☺️ I will *probably* never ever ever ever ever post or share books on my account that received a 1-2 star review OR a dnf from me. I want this to be a place where I share stories I LOVED not tear apart a book because I didn’t enjoy it. If you ARE an account that shares negative reviews as well as the positive reviews, thank you for your service, that is great!! It’s just not something I personally want to post about 🫶🏼 The only time I shared a negative review on here was for Onyx Storm bc it was SO highly anticipated for me, and ultimately was not an enjoyable read for me. Not to say I will never share reactions or reviews of books I didn’t enjoy, but I won’t make it a habit for my content 💘 ESPECIALLY arcs, I will ALWAYS share when I’m starting an arc, whether on my story or through a post. If I end up dnf-ing, or not liking the arc; I will not be sharing that on my account. So if you’re curious about an arc I posted about reading, and never saw me post a review for it, I will happily yap about it with you in my dm’s!!! For me, I’ve LOVED books, that others have hated… and vice versa. I don’t want my one opinion to be the reason you don’t pick up a book of interest, that might be your most favorite read yet!🥹 All this being said - I always try to leave a review on my Goodreads after I finish a book, so if you genuinely want to know my thoughts about a book it’s all on there! ☺️🫶🏼 There are a lot of bookish accounts that post ALL reviews and thoughts, positive or negative, that are amazing!! This is just a place for me to escape and get excited about books and friends and people, so I want to keep it all positive 🥰😌

AGHHGH my @waterstones Fury Bound came in the other day and I’m OBSESSED with these edges omfg 🫦 Do I already own 3 editions of the same book; that I haven’t read yet? Why YES, YES I DO 👀 AND DO I HAVE THE FAIRYLOOT EDITION ALSO ON ORDER?? I DO 🥳 I am THE picture of overconsumption, I am her & she is me and I CANT EVEN FEEL BAD BC I LOVE MY BOOK BABIES & would rather lick a bus stop than let them end up in a landfill 😭 ✨ FELLOW CLUTTER QUEENS AND HOARDERS YOU ARE SAFE AND WELCOME HERE (plz come join me so I don’t feel so crazy)😂🫶🏼

@authorsmgaither YASSSSSS THANK YOU FOR ENTRUSTING ME WITH YOUR NEWEST BOOK BABY - this is my next read and I’m hoping to start it this weekend AHHHHhhhhhHhhhhhhh🥳🥳🥳🥳 And she’s so thick 🤤 I love me some thick and chunky books yall 🫦 also chefs kiss to @rachel.loves.to.read for NOT putting the shipping label over the STUNNING quote on the poly mailer, you a real one for that 🥹🫶🏼

🔱 Welcome to The Commons 🔱 Fit In or Face Death 🌙 Enter into the highly addictive and wildly imaginative world of The Commons. A high-stakes New Adult novel set in an epic, dystopian-infused dark academia college, where science feels like magic. ✨ Deathly Tests ✨ Broody Patrons ✨ Epic Stakes ✨ Steamy tension ✨ Forced proximity ✨ Intricate world-building ✨ Enemies. Lovers. Betrayals. Thank you @deeppublishing for the advanced copy, I can’t wait to jump into this story 🤤 ⚔️ releases September 17, 2026

dear @ellishunterauthor why do you hate me and when is book 2 😭😭 I already poured my soul entire the review (keep swiping) one of the first books, in MONTHS, that I’ve finished in just a handful of days 🥹 @jessielmccarty you were right about this one @atriabooks thank you for the early proof copy and who’s a$$ do I need to kiss to be considered for a proof of book 2 🤤

HEAR YE HEAR YA, another fantabulous week meeting authors and supporting my fav local romantasy bookstore @burningpagesnc literally got to meet the duo of Sable Sorenson and they are absolute CUTIES 🥹😭 AND Bree & Parker???? more cuties who could not stop cracking up, and in turn, had all of the readers cracking up 😂 Still speechless and struggling to function this Thursday morning but I am forever in awe and wonder that I get to experience these things right in my hometown 🥹🫶🏼

I feel like this has been my “current read” for 2 weeks now, I just actually started it at the end of last week and after a few chapters of back and forth I’m finally starting to really get into it and the story is all coming together 🤩👀 This is the first book I’ve really ever read combining the stories of 2 different fmcs and it’s definitely unique; I do enjoy how drastically different but also similar our FMCs, Skylar and Astrid, are 🥹 Astrid is so baby girl, whereas I would not wanna piss Skylar off 😂 I’m actually loving all these characters so much and I’m excited to see what/if any romantic relationships unfold bc YOU ALREADY KNOW IM THEORIZING 🙂‍↕️😇 neck reading light x @glocusent lip gloss charm x @shoploverslibrary brass dragon figurine is from fb marketplace 😂🫶🏼

INDIE AUTHORS I MET AND BOOKS I BOUGHT AT @apollycon 🦋📖✨🫶🏼 ✨ The Treasured One - Hannah Levin ✨ Where Oceans Burn - Casey Bond ✨ A Cursed Kiss - Jenny Hickman ✨ Death Follows - Hannah Rachel ✨ Living Legend - Allie Shante ✨ The Sin of Saints - Lauren M Leasure ✨ The Wrath of the Serpent - Allison Aldridge ✨ Wren and the Tarnish Tiger - EM Leander ✨ Crown of Earth and Sky - Emberly Ash ✨ Bright Burns the Flame - Angelina J Steffort 👉🏼 Has anyone read any of these authors or books? I’m so excited to jump into all these new worlds 🤩

HEYYYY MY BOOKISH BADDIES ITS TIME FOR ANOTHA GIVYWAYYYY 💘✨🫶🏼🤩 *giveaway now closed* If you’ve been here a while, you know gift giving is my love language and after Apollycon I am feeling so full of love, happiness, serenity, and all the amazing things that come with being around your people and your community and making new friends 😭🥹 SO I’m giving away some of my Apollycon goodies and some other books I had laying around that were looking for a new home 🫶🏼 ✨ HOW TO ENTER ✨ • follow me @ashlynreadss (I think I’m a pretty fun time) 🫶🏼 • tag 3 friends in the comments • share to your story 🥳 Making it super easy bc I want everyone to feel comfortable entering this givyway for these goodies 💘 oh wait what’s that -> EXTRA ENTRY OPTIONS 🤭 • comment the last indie author you read and tag them !!! (let’s find them some new readers) OR • comment something that’s made you happy or grateful recently OR something you’re looking forward to 🫶🏼 This will be US only for the shipping purposes bc my wallet can’t take much more 😂 GIVYWAY ENDS MAY 8TH !!!! thank you all for being here and providing a happy escape for me and others 💘

aaaaand 43 new books later 👀🤭✨ @apollycon I got into some TROUBLE at Apollycon, a few of these are gifted but the majority I purchased from new indie authors I discovered at Apollycon (don’t worry, I am planning a post to highlight all those authors as well) 🫶🏼🙂‍↕️ I’ve been holding off purchasing a lot of these books until Apollycon so I could meet the author and buy direct from them and give them more of my money 🫦🤤 HAHAHAHAIHAVENOIMPULSECONTROL