Writing a book review shouldn’t be a chore. And it shouldn’t take more than five minutes, plus or minus. You either liked the book or didn’t. Maybe you loved it and read the whole book. Maybe, just maybe, you couldn’t get past a certain point and deleted the book or put it down. Either way, the author would like some feedback. 

The fact is, good or bad, the more reviews a book has, the better for everyone concerned. 

A few words will do. A paragraph would be outstanding! And more is even better. You don’t even need to summarize the plot or setting. The author probably knows a bit about the plot, and the Amazon description likely spells out most everything else. Even so, you may want to add anything that might help the book’s next reader decide on making a purchase. 

Best advice? Stick with how the story made you feel. 

…“I really enjoyed this book! The author did a great job maintaining story tension, and I fell in love with some of the characters. After watching the characters change and grow, I was left feeling…”

…“After reading (title), I can hardly wait to grab (the sequel)! While this was one of (the author’s) first books, I felt like…”

If you feel like you need to give away the ending, toss in the words “SPOILER ALERT.” Also, if you’re going for a little more than a very basic review, try to be as specific as possible about what you liked or what didn’t work for you. Doing so will be SUPER helpful to the author and to the book’s next readers. 

Which characters were most believable? Which settings were most interesting? Were there enough plot twists? Was there anything funny, thrilling, or bittersweet? Did you “get lost” anywhere in the writing? Did any scene make you feel uncomfortable? Were there any facts that didn’t ring true? Did the book need more proofreading? 

Be as objective as possible. Authors receive all kinds of rejection as our skills develop and most of us learn to have amazingly tough skins. With that said, it’s probably best for your own “social karma” if you play as nice as possible. 

Speaking for myself, I’m always looking for better ways to make my writing as real and as readable as possible. And since reader satisfaction always comes first, I try to remain focused on adapting, changing, and improving my writing to immerse my readers in the story.

So, what if you want to write a more professional, literary review?

Um, Okay. But guess what? I’m not qualified to tell anyone how to pen an academic book review. (I mean, my big-time university degree is in “Planetary Geology,” of all things!) Besides, I’m not even sure writing that kind of review would be fun. But since you asked, these suggestions may be more in line with what someone might need to write a deeper review on Amazon or Goodreads. 

1. The first thing to take into consideration is what someone else might like to know when looking for a good, probably escapist read at the library, bookstore, or when shopping online.  

What is the title of the book?

What is the book’s category or genre?

Who is the author? Is this a first book? Part of a series? Or one of many books in a writer’s career?

I might even supply the publisher, publication date, and the book’s edition if it seems helpful. 

2. At least for me, character interaction has the most influence on each reading hour’s enjoyment level. Thus, I like to share the name of each book’s point of view character(s), and I often like to convey the book’s dominant point of view. First person? Third person? If the book is narrated in the third person, I might want to state whether or not I found the perspective reliable. I might then take a moment to relate my thoughts about the story’s antagonist if I can do so without giving too much away. 

3. As for the setting, I like to discuss the period the book is set in or how any primary location may have influenced the story’s plot. 

4. If I managed to detect the book’s overall theme or message, I might describe it. If I’ve taken the time to note a few choice passages, I might share them. 

5. If I decide to offer a plot summary, I don't want to reduce reader suspense by giving away too many spoilers. With that said, discussing a few plot points generally lets me get back to whether or not I found the book’s characters credible in their roles. Who did I identify with? Could I relate to their struggles or emotions?

6. It doesn’t hurt to say whether or not I liked the book. Was it interesting? Entertaining? Memorable? Did it blow my socks off? Did I enjoy the author’s style? If I had a favorite part, where was it and why did I like it? If something didn’t hold together for me, I might make a note of it, but only if I have suggestions for improvement. For those so inclined, you might want to call out anything controversial (trigger warnings) or areas where the book went against conventional genre norms. I like to say something positive before something negative. I then follow up with suggestions for improvement and again add something positive. But what reviews ultimately come down to is whether or not you or I might recommend the book. Yes? No? Maybe? Never!

7. As far as star ratings go, try to remain consistent and polite. I never post a review of fewer than three stars, because someone’s put a lot of effort into their story and some things just aren’t my cup of tea. On the other hand, I have been reading for more than half a century and know when a story merits five stars. 

Just remember, no author expects anyone to give a fake or false review. We are all just supremely thankful for any honest feedback that someone takes the time to post. And I’m always looking for great reading recommendations! What books have you read lately? 

And please visit my Amazon Author's Page!