Hi everyone! It is time for another Feral Friday!

Feral Friday is were I discuss a topic, issue or question that is drives me crazy. So here is the latest issue that is sending me feral.

Desperately seeking ARCs on #booksfortrade

The hashtag #booksfortrade is sweeping the world - particularly amongst fans of YA, and those in the US. However, not many of us haven’t been scoping about #booksfortrade on Twitter looking for a much desired book. And the popularity of this has swept across the oceans to create a #booksfortradeAU and #booksfortradeUK version.

Yes, #booksfortrade is predominantly U.S. based, and is by far the most popular Twitter hastag. This could be for many reasons, but one of which I believe is the number of bloggers and ARCs available in the United States. And I know for a fact that I have been scoping out the original #booksfortrade in hopes of coming across that hard to find book, and hoping that an international person is willing to trade with an Aussie (some will, some won’t - give it a go, but don’t have your heart set on an international trade, and be willing to pay international postage for your trade).

During my scrolling (which can in fact take hours) through #booksfortrade. I have noticed a reoccurring theme - ARCs. Not only do people have lots of ARCs for trade, but the most “ISO” (in search of) is for various ARCs.

Now I am a finished copy kinda girl. With the rare exception, I much prefer a finished copy to an ARC, but I have noticed that everyone (including Aussies) are wanting specific ARCs. Why is this?

Is it that everyone out there is like me and wants an ARC of their favourite book? Are people trying to collect all the ARCs they can? Do people prefer to have uncorrected editions on their shelf because they are unique, or might have changes from the finished product? WHYYYY????

With the high demand for Maggie Stiefvater and Sarah J Maas ARCs, I have wondered if people are collecting these as “different editions”. And if this is true, that also got me thinking, that some of these are incomplete series - what if ARCs don’t come out for future instalments? Are these people going to have incomplete series sitting on their shelves? And yes, for the record this thought did drive me a little insane, as I have major issues with having incomplete or mix-matched series.

I can totally understand getting all grabby hands over an ARC of a book that has not yet to be released, but some of the ARCs that people are searching for are years old - so it isn’t a “oooh, I want read it right now” issue, this is more a collecting issue, I am just not sure what motivates this collecting.

And it is not only people who would like to have an ARC, some are desperate for particular ones. So these are obviously very important to them. But, for what reasons? Why are ARCs suddenly the “must have item” - or was it always the case, and I just wasn’t a cool kid and didn’t know about this trend?

So, are you one of these people who are searching for, or already collect ARCs? Why do you do it? I would really like to understand the various reasons why people want them so desperately. Or, if you are finished copy kind of person like myself, feel free to weigh in as well!!

If you haven’t already checked out #booksfortrade, I recommend you do. And Aussie can also use #booksfortradeAU. You may find yourself some amazing books to swap for those sitting on your shelf unloved!

Do you have a lust for ARCs? Tell me below!