The rise of self-publishing and the prevalence of the ebook means that readers can access more books whenever, wherever. And with all this choice at their fingertips, a trustworthy review that helps readers navigate the ever-growing maze of books is more valuable than ever!
That’s where you come in, taking on the honorable task of guiding others to the best books available. But how do you ensure your book review fulfills this purpose while also making for an enjoyable read? In this post, you’ll find five tips to help you accomplish just this and write a book review that readers will love.
1. Don’t just write a plot summary
A staple in every book review is a summary of the plot. You want your summary to give your reader a clear sense of the book’s key elements, such as the main characters, setting, and central issues. But don’t go overboard! Over-explication of the plot runs the risk of two simple things:
Turning your reader off the book. A book review that spoils the entire book robs the reader of the precious experience of reading it for themselves.
Turning your reader off your review. People read book reviews for analysis, evaluation, and opinions. When they realise that they’re just getting a plot summary out of your review, they’re going to be disappointed at best — and frustrated at worst.
2. Keep the scope of analysis under control
While it’s important that your review is thorough, you don’t want to be too nitpicky. You’re not taking on the role of a professional editor going through every word, sentence, and paragraph of the book with a fine-toothed comb.
Instead, you’re trying to give your reader a snapshot of the most relevant things they need to know to get an interesting and informative impression of the book! Including select quotes from the book, for instance, is a great way to help convey the character of the text.
Conversely, don’t get sidetracked by the wider picture so much so that you end up soapboxing about something other than the book (for instance, your strong opinions on the entire genre or a certain technique). If you find yourself expressing such preferences, do so in a way that stays relevant to the book you are reviewing, like in this review of Fireborne:
Dual point of view novels are always a struggle for me, because I end up greatly preferring one narrator over the other. This book was no exception, as Annie’s voice quickly out shined Lee’s. However, as I read on, it became clear that there was no other way to write this novel, and I just had to swallow my pet peeve.
3. Don’t feel like you have to prove yourself
As a reviewer, you will want to build trust and credibility with your readers. It might be tempting to do this with impressive language and bold, punchy claims that highlight your extensive background knowledge and sophisticated writing style. But spoiler alert: your reader will not enjoy wading through pretentiousness just trying to figure out whether you liked the book or not.
Channel your efforts towards clarity and concision. Having a firm grip on literary terms and devices will help with this, since you can deploy them in your review to convey complex ideas precisely and succinctly. Keeping your sentences short and direct will also prevent your review from running excessively long — a turnoff for many readers.
4. Read, read, and read some more
This one seems obvious, but we can’t overstate its importance! Whether you prefer hard copies, ebooks, or even an audiobook that allows you to multitask as you read, immersing yourself in literature will do wonders for your book reviewing skills.
Reading extensively will allow you to develop a profound understanding of the background and context of the genre that will help you better evaluate the book you’re reviewing. This will allow you to draw strong parallels with other titles or notable themes — adding depth to your critique in a way that will connect to readers’ frame of reference, and highlight your own expertise.
5. Make the review your own
‘Love’ is a strong word, so making a reader love your review is going to take that extra something special. And what could be more special than your unique personality? While you want to remain firmly on the topic at hand, do not be afraid to inject some flair into your review. Why not mention a personal connection or anecdote that made an aspect of the book stand out for you? Or bring up your own expectations as a reference point for your book recommendation, as this review of The Goblin King does:
While I absolutely loved White Stag and devoured the story, Goblin King didn’t grab me in the same way. It was still a fun read and I was able to read through it fairly quickly, for being a larger book, but my expectations were high based on the first book in the series.
Writing a review should be a fun and creative experience for you, so let this shine through and you’ll be well on your way to writing a book review readers will love!
From the outside, the process of organizing a collection of work should seem the same no matter the project. While it’s true that the steps remain similar, each time a book comes to life, the experience is different.