Book Blogger Hop: Book Giveaways — Fun or Intentional?

Giveaways are tempting—but I’ve learned it’s better to enter with intention.

It’s time for another Book Blogger Hop hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer! Each week, we all answer the same bookish question and then hop around to see everyone’s responses.

This Week’s Prompt

When you spot giveaways, do you enter just for fun—even if you’re unsure you’ll read the book—or only when you truly want the title?
(submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver’s Reviews)

My Answer

I’ll be honest—my first instinct is always, Ooh, fun! There’s something exciting about a giveaway, especially in the book community. But these days, I’m much more selective than I used to be.

In the past, I would enter for the thrill of it… and then if I won, the book sometimes ended up sitting on my shelf (or in my Kindle pile) longer than it should. Not because it wasn’t good—just because it wasn’t something I was truly craving at that moment.

Now I try to enter giveaways only when I genuinely want the title and can realistically see myself reading it soon. It keeps my TBR intentional, my reading life less cluttered, and it makes winning feel even sweeter—because I’m excited to start right away.

My quick “enter or skip” rule: If I wouldn’t add the book to my TBR today—on purpose—I don’t enter. If it’s already on my wish list (or it’s an auto-read author), I’m in.

That said, I completely understand entering “just because.” Sometimes the fun is the point! But for me, being selective keeps giveaways feeling like a treat—not another obligation.

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What about you—are you a “why not, it’s fun!” giveaway entrant, or do you only enter when the book is a definite must-read?

Join the Conversation
Do you enter giveaways for fun… or only for must-reads?

📚 Catch up on all my Book Blogger Hop posts here.