Seven years ago, this coming week, I claimed the domain name The Novel Approach Reviews. The site began without any real plan or focus, just me and a hodgepodge of reviews and random things I shared. But then, eventually, it became something so much more. The blog gained a focus and a purpose, and it has since evolved into a place to not only share the love of books but to welcome the authors who write them. It’s become a place I’m so proud of, intermingled with the mass amounts of respect and admiration I hold in my heart for a team of reviewers who, day after day, week after week, have consistently brought their all to sharing the vision of what a review site is. Or, what I think it should be.
But, as all good things must, it’s coming to an end. At least for now…
It’s such an odd juxtaposition that grief and relief can coexist within the context of the same event, but I suppose that’s the literal definition of the word bittersweet. It’s with no small amount of sadness that The Novel Approach will be signing off on December 31st, but there’s also no small amount of relief in it as well. There is no other motivation to this decision than the fact that I’m…tired. I need to recharge my batteries because there’s still so much work to be done, and I have significant motivation to carry on with it.
I’ve always said that one of the greatest ironies of running a review site is never having time to read, so that’s going to be one of my first orders of business—being entirely selfish and catching up on my reading, and who knows what else. We’ll also still be hosting our Best of 2018 Book Picks and Giveaways, so be sure to check those out! It’ll be the last big hurrah before the so long for now. And there will be overflow reviews into January too, as we continue to wrap things up.
I know some of the other reviewers from the team are already signed on to review elsewhere, so do watch for them. Jeff Adams and Will Knauss have also graciously invited me to continue contributing to The Big Gay Fiction Podcast from time to time, so I’ll be like that annoying bit of gum you can’t quite entirely scrape off the bottom of your shoe.
All my love goes out to this community that has given me so much and asked for so little in return. It’s with massive amounts of gratitude that I thank you for all your support, encouragement, and participation in the site over the years.
I hope to see you back here in the not too distant future 💗
The Novel Approach Reviews 
Sad to hear this as TNA is one of my daily visits and I have picked up numerous books over the uears as a result of the reviews.
However, the need for me time is fully understandable and i hope you get refreshed and ready for future challenges!
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Genre Talk would like to thank, from the bottom of our hearts, Lisa Horan and The Novel Approach Reviews for all they’ve done. They’ve played a huge, important role–in the MM world in general, and in Genre Talk in particular–and will be sincerely missed. The reviews, the discussions, the giveaways, the fun–the presence of TNAR in our world, and Lisa as its driving force, played an undeniable role in promoting LGBTQIA+ works and treating their authors and readers with respect, thus pushing them that one step closer to their rightful places in the literary world.
We thank Lisa and TNAR for the support they’ve given Genre Talk, and all the DSP Publications authors, as well as every single author and publisher whose voices they helped amplify. We wish them every good thing and wave them off with deep gratitude and a bittersweet smile. <3
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Absolutely! Thank you, Lisa, for being such a champion of our stories, and of thoughtful, civil conversation about those stories. May you regenerate your energies quickly. Personally, I believe there’s a basic 7-year cycle to our creative life, and I’m eager to see what you decide to create next!
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Best of luck to you, Lisa! ❤
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You and your reviewers have been such an amazing resource, and I’ll be forever grateful that you took a chance on a noob and gave my first submission a read. Thank you so much!!
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You know how much I love you, pookie. HUGS
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This will leave a huge hole in my day as I usually bought at least one book per week from the site and was my “go to” place for my favorite authors. I always relied upon your reviews for the best of the best. So sad today but thank you for your hard work and enjoy your time for yourself.
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Happy trails, Lisa. Wishing you the best and many enjoyable reads. :)
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Definitely bittersweet! I’m so excited for all the time and energy you’ll have for other things, including all the selfish reading you’ll be able to do. If our relationship has to be an HFN in action, know that’s it’s an HEA in my heart.
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Happy reading and best of luck in your future endeavors!
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Thank you for all you’ve done in the past seven years (has it really been that long? WOW!).
You were always a gracious and kind host, and I will definitely miss your blog, but there comes a time we all need to refill our cups. Good luck with your future endeavours, and enjoy reading :)
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Wow. Just … wow. I sure will miss these reviews and this site. Thank you for everything.
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I am so sorry to hear this! I love this site, I’ve found really good books here. I am glad I had the chance to follow you, and I wish you good luck with your new endeavours!
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When I read this, I think of the rock and roll saying…’It’s better to burnout than fade away.’ I have had many wonderful hours reading the reviews of TNA, and have picked up many a new to me author books because of those reviews. Lisa–you’ll still be around, now able to smell the sweet aroma of the ink and paper of a book, and cracking a few spines of your to read backlist. Or the siren call of the old new adventure on your kindle. As the host of the TNA, you helped a neophyte author with patience and kindness when arranging a guest spot on your blog. Love, light, and many dreams of David Gandy always.
V
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Lisa, you and your team have done tremendous work and been such a vibrant part of our community. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, rest well, happy reading, and best of luck in your future ventures!
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Thank you for all you’ve done over the past seven years! I’ll miss TNA!
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Thank you so much for all you’ve done for the genre for the last seven years – you will be missed! TNA has long been my favourite blog tour stop. Enjoy recharging those batteries! :D
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It’s a real strength to know when to take a break. Hope the recharge recharges you!
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Big hugs to you Lisa!
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Thank you for all the time, and effort you’ve all put into making this blog what it is today.
Hope your future is filled with a lot of great books and joy.
Good luck and best wishes.
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Good luck and enjoy the reading Lisa, you’ll be missed.
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I’m so sad to see TNA go, but I know all about having to recharge! Thank you for all of the hard work you’ve put in over the years. You will be missed!
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All the best to you, Lisa! And thank you for everything you’ve done for authors and books, and being such a pillar of support!
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This site is truly something to be proud of! I read your reviews every time. Take care of yourself and I look forward to seeing what you come up with in the future!! Hugs
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Sorry to see you go. Thank you for all that you’ve done and best of luck to you.
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Sorry to see you all go. But I get it reading then reviewing books can be taxing and also having to maintain the blog, etc. is not easy feat. I hope that the blog will review sometime in the future but until then I hope you find some R&R. Thank you for the reviews (both audio and books), the guest post and the giveaway events.
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I am so sad to hear this news, but I so understand the tiredness. I enjoyed my time writing a column for TNA, and your gracious invitation to do that remains a wonderful memory for me. Rest, enjoy reading and your family. You’ve deserved your rest as a reward for all you’ve done to highlight LGBTQ fiction. Much love, Lisa. You’re the best.
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Sorry to see the site close down, but I feel I still have our friendship so I’m not losing the most important thing ;) <3 I also understand how these things don't last for ever – we all change personally, so do our Offline lives, and our contributions change alongside that. Enjoy your Christmas/New Year period, doing all the things you want to xxx
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I’ve always appreciated your site for the wonderful and professional job you and your reviewers do. I’m going to miss it but totally understand the need to move on to something new. Thank you, Lisa, for your kindness and support, and to all the reviewers for your contributions to our genre and community.
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Thank you all, so much. This outpouring of love and kindness is precisely why this was such a difficult decision to make. But, having made it, I must say I already feel a bit lighter and am looking forward to what comes next. 😊
It has been an immense privilege to work with you, to interact with you, to give away books and other fun prizes over the years. It’s been such a joy to share my love of reading and my deep affection for this community with all of you! ❤️
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Working with you was a thrill, but knowing you was even better. <3
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I’m so sad that I just found you a couple of months ago! Thanks so much for all your hard work and good luck in the future!
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I have always enjoyed this site and I appreciate all the work you’ve put into it over the years. Have fun catching up on all those great books. Best of luck to you, Lisa.
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