Why you should write a book review, and how to do it

Photo by Maisie Kane

Book reviews are very important for all authors, but they are especially crucial for independent authors, who rely heavily on reader feedback to promote their book. When a potential new reader scrolls through random books, they will often be looking at the ratings of the books before checking their descriptions and exploring further. That eye-catching high review combined with the book’s cover is what strikes interest in new readers. The third thing they’re likely to look at before deciding whether or not to purchase is the content of the reviews. 

Positive reviews are not the only thing that makes a book successful. When selecting a restaurant in a town you are visiting, a place that has not been reviewed at all is unlikely to rank highly on the list of restaurants you’ll consider visiting. 
The more reviews a book has, the more attention it is given in stores like Amazon, because it is a sign of high interest and a wider reader base, resulting in the book being treated with more importance. Books with more reviews are often featured as books that might be of interest to potential buyers. For new releases this process starts at fifty reviews.

Writing a review should not be a long and tedious process. There is no reason to think too hard about the words that you want to put there. It doesn’t need to be long or detailed. A simple ‘I liked it.’ will go a long way and will be greatly appreciated by the author.
If you want to write a more detailed review, think about what you liked and disliked about the book you just read. That’s it. Write that down and you have a good review to post.

If you want to write a longer, more detailed review, here are things that you might want to include:

1. What is the book about? Avoid spoilers.
2. What did you like about the book? What did you dislike? Focus on characters, scenes, plot, feelings you had when reading, pace, or ending.
3. Who would you recommend this book to, and why?
   
   
   

Bad reviews can happen, as everyone reads differently and focuses on different aspects of a book. It is important, however, that the review is heartfelt. If you didn’t like the book, it’s fine to say so in your review. Don’t forget to say why you didn’t like it, as authors generally want to know why a reader has given them a low rating. 

The worst review, however, is the one that was never written.

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