✏️📓📖 "How I Write My Book Reviews" 📖📓✏️

Personal Review Guideline

I sort of wrote about this about a year or so ago back when I started this blog. 

But, this subject has come up about three times in the past week. And, since it has, it is a good time to refresh, re-hash, and remind. Also, a lot has changed in the year and a half since I started this blog. 

For me, a book review isn’t just about the book. It is about EVERYONE involved in the process: the author, the reviewing reader, and the potential reader. 

 

It is interesting as to HOW much we all (readers and reviewers) vary on BOOK REVIEWS.

 

📖 How long should the review be?

📖 How much information is too little?

📖 How much information too much?

📖 What information should be included?

📖 What information should be excluded?

 

For me, there are a few types of reviews:

 

** Lazy 

[The infamous “3 sentence“ review comes to mind: Good book. Characters were good. Will read author’s next book.]

 

My apologies to those who review like that, but one review place does call those “lazy” reviews. These reviews tell me next to nothing about the book or the reader’s feelings. 

 

📖  Is it written well?

📖  Is the story cohesive?

📖  Are there continuity issues?

📖  Is there questionable content? (Language, sex, trigger/hotbed issues)

📖  What about it did you enjoy?

📖  Was there a message?

📖  Why did you choose the book?

📖  Do you recommend it?

 

 

** Concise 

[not too informative; basic information, basic “liked/disliked”, basic “good/bad” report; may or may not include some of the questions posed above]

 

 

** Comprehensive 

[informative about the book, author, subject, genre, etc.]

 

Basically this is an analysis of the book’s messages and themes, analysis of the author’s writing (presentation, research), how it made the reader feel, what future readers have to look forward to.

 

If it was a series – were things changed dramatically or was it kept the same? (See notes below ⬇️).

 

Having been part of numerous launch teams over the past two (2) years, “book tour” host for certain groups (Prism, JustRead), as well as asked to review books by authors; there is SO much information out there that it is overwhelming. 

FYI: There is NO such thing as the “perfect” review.

 

Some potential readers want a concise review; others want an in-depth analysis of it. And, I think authors want reviews that get the readers they’re writing for steered to their books. 

 

I want a review that doesn’t re-state the book’s information (publisher, year, those things). I don’t need a blurb (back cover info) unless the review is on a blog. If it is on Goodreads, BookBub, Amazon, or other retail sites – that information is there anyway.

 

I don’t want a book review that attacks the book based on an uninformed reader who is upset by the content that they see nothing of value in the book. I also dislike reviews that attack the author for the book’s content as well. I saw this in a Goodreads review. 

While I won’t mention the title, author, or reviewer –  there was a review on Goodreads that had me scratching my head and face-palming. 

In short, a reviewer was upset that certain “outdated” standards were represented. The reviewer was critiquing the book going by modern views and ideas, which was wrong for the genre. 

What was the genre being reviewed? 

Biblical fiction. 

The reviewer went so far to attack the author about a standard that was common in biblical times. As this particular book was based on a biblical character, one only had to go to the bible to research. However, the reviewer was using modern and contemporary ideas to review the book. 

That wasn’t the only case. I’ve seen others. That brings me to the heart and soul of this post ... 

 

What do I want in a review? 

What should go in a review?

Pretty much what I put in my reviews. Here are my “tips” and standards:

 

#1 – Take Notes as You Read 

 

Not a complete outline, just interesting notes as well as how you felt after the chapters or major reveals. It helps with continuity issues that can plague a book or by revealing if something is easy to guess or not. It also helps when you go to draft your review.

 

I’ve found some notes helped highlight a theme or idea. And, there were some notes I didn’t even need.

 

 

#2 – Reinforce the Genre of the Book

 

A lot of “bad” reviews are because a reader didn’t understand the genre they were reading and thus review it differently than they should. For example, someone unfamiliar with Biblical Fiction reviews a book like that based on today’s modern standards or according to contemporary romance standards. For some this might not be important, others it might be …

 

 

#3 – TRIGGER or “CONTENT” Warnings a Must!

 

This should probably be first. And, I definitely try to put it at the beginning of the review. 

I don’t know how many BAD reviews were the result of some type of content that was disturbing or bothersome to the reader. And, I am not judging them on being upset by certain content either. After all, NO ONE wants to read a book that has disturbing content, brings back a painful or traumatic memory, or can trigger anxiety or depression.

 

While I understand their discomfort, perhaps adding a trigger or content warning would have helped them to walk away from a book that bothered them.

 

Some triggers or “disturbing content” – suicide, substance abuse/addiction, domestic violence, rape, infidelity, crimes against children. There are others, but this is a good list.

 

After all, there are content warnings on TV shows, Movies, etc. why not books?

 

 

#4 – Whether a book is part of a series or standalone read

 

This is important to some readers as they want to know what to expect. 

If it is a series, should they read the books prior to the NEW one to know what is going on? Some work well as standalones, others do not. 

Also, does a reader have to have a “series budget”?

 

 

#5 – “Presentation” issues

 

Bad grammar, typos such as punctuation and forgotten words, and/or repeated parts can affect the overall tone and interest. 

This actually happened in a published book; A Rebel Heart (2019) by Beth White [https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/05/rebel-heart-daughtry-house-series-1.html]

 

#6 – Continuity Issues

 

These can range from minor to MAJOR! They can definitely affect one’s enjoyment of the book, and/or cause it to be tossed in the DNF pile.

 

Examples:

 

A – Character names changed in the book

This actually happened in a PUBLISHED book – character was named one name, name changed in middle of book, changed back to original name in last ¹/₃ of book. This wasn’t a self-published book either. 

 

B – If part of a series, was an entire plot line changed

One of the last books I read this actually happened. 

It was book #2 in a series and an entire plot was changed, a plot that was central to book #1. The ending of book #1 was wiped out by this new book; and no explanation at all. And, the error or story wasn’t corrected either. 

 

C – Character age(s)

Not kidding on this one. These were both books I was on a launch team for. 

One MAJOR issue affected the storyline. Character was 49, married for 30 years. Married at 18/19. Not a problem until you figure out she was born in 1970. There is a mention of her and her future husband dating for a year in 1977. 

 

Another book was about a character who was either 1 or 5 when her mom died. 

 

 

#7 – Language and Sexual Content Warnings

Some people don’t like explicit stuff. Some don’t mind foul language, but take issues with sex scenes; some are the opposites, and some don’t mind any of it. Some like minor character PDA. I don’t judge the book or the choices of readers; I just put it in there so potential readers know what to expect.

 

#8 – VERY IMPORTANT: DISCLOSURE ABOUT IT BEING A “FREE” BOOK  

 

One thing that gets flagged: “IN EXCHANGE FOR A REVIEW”.

 

That makes it look like it was a paid review; some sites (like Amazon) tend to flag and remove those reviews.

 

I usually state: “thank you in advance to the [whoever provides book – author or publisher], for providing an advanced review copy [or complimentary review copy if published] through {if it was a third-party site, like Bookish First}. A positive review was not requested or required …”

 

Something similar to that. There are other ways of stating it though. Some get technical with the exact law. A lot of authors and publishers stress not using “IN EXCHANGE FOR A REVIEW” which is why I added not to use it.

 

 

#9 – Whimsical, thoughtful, and/or emotional quotes are good in a review

One of mine was “beauty and love are what heals us”. 

This was from Facing the Dawn by Cynthia Ruchti (2021) from Revell Books. Quotes reach out to the potential reader to grab them and draw them in.

 

 

Since I have my own blog, that’s where I add the book’s information and “blurb” (cover description) since it isn’t there already, along with a purchase link.  

 

You can click on the archives to see how I write and format my reviews.

 

For Goodreads, BookBub, and retail sites – I use a standard disclaimer about it being a “complimentary” copy, then the body of my review.

 

One review site I am part of stresses a balanced review – one that helps both the author and the reader. They also use a scale to give points to certain key components of a book that helps assess a star rating. It covers the cover, characters, plot, writing style, how hard the book is to put down, along with content (Christian is rated differently than “clean reads”).

 

Goodreads and Bookbub have their own. The scale is to point out why a book is rated 2 or 5 stars. Where was the book strong, where was it weak? What could the author have done differently?

 

At the end of every book, each person will have their own ways of writing a review.

 

I am a comprehensive reviewer. I want a potential reader to know if they’re really going to like the book or decide to step away because the book is just not for them. I want them to be fully informed. 

 

It hurts to see a book rated poorly due to a misunderstanding of the genre, or because someone was hurt by the content which affected their enjoyment of the book.

 

If I can sway one of those readers away from the book, it and the author has a greater chance of success. That means more books from the author. 

 

This method also helps the author find the audience they’re writing for as well.

It is always up to the reviewer as to how they want to write their reviews though.