Snoopy Reviewer. It’s going to happen again, but I can try to be more aware of it and focus on writing a helpful review.
To further elaborate, I would like to share a few thoughts on book reviews from readers themselves.
Consuela and Lisa do not usually read reviews. Consuela says they really don’t matter to her, “I read the summary and decide if I’m interested.” Lisa also decides on a book by reading the summary, stating, “I think liking a book is personal, just because someone did or didn’t like it, doesn’t mean I will.” Sonya says that she usually doesn’t read reviews because “…usually people tell the story of the book and I want to read the story myself.” (She obviously is not a fan of Lucy Reviewers).
Daina agrees with Lisa that book choices are personal. She adds that, “I just feel like the reviewer or critic is kind of a blowhard…like they want us to be impressed by their big vocabulary or something.” Gidget wholeheartedly agrees, adding, “I can honestly say I do not like the reviews that are too detailed or long winded. If the reviewer uses too many big words, I’m immediately turned off.” Daina and Gidget have apparently run into a few Schroeder Reviewers.
Heather won’t read reviews if she knows the author, but says, “I do read reviews if the author is new to me…” but that a “…mention of poor editing, poor grammar, etc. will usually let me know that I won’t enjoy reading.” After a pause, she continues, “I read a lot of fantasy, mystery, and paranormal romance novels. I like to get lost in the world created by an author. I look for mention of such in reviews when looking for something I would read.” Ashley agrees with her, referring to what she calls “common sense type reviews,” elaborating with an explanation of, “This book goes a little darker than most Stephen King books. But stick with it! The plot is totally worth it!”
Judging from these statements, it is quite apparent that there are as many different reader perspectives on reviews as there are types of reviewers. With that in mind, it becomes obvious that there needs to be some kind of symbiotic relationship between authors, reviewers, and potential readers. No author aims to write a book that nobody wants to read. Reviewers don’t take the time to review just for the heck of it, and readers don’t want to buy a book that they will dislike. The three groups should be working together to ensure the success of a book, both from the author’s perspective of reaching people and the reader’s enjoyment of the book. I’m going to directly address each group with some ideas that could help improve the whole experience.
For authors: Research! Please fact check your work, or make sure that your editor (or someone) does. Readers want to be able to enjoy a story without being taken out by superficial errors. As the saying goes, “write what you know.” Now this isn’t to say that an author should only write novels that take place in their origin countries, because that would just be silly. But a British author would most likely need to do some extra research if writing a story that references American locations, just as an American author would have to learn the proper arrondissements if setting a novel in Paris. There is literally a world of information at your fingertips, and it is not difficult to verify most location references. Give the reviewers something to work with: a ringing plot, relatable characters, exciting settings…don’t give them the chance to be Snoopy Reviewers.
taken out by superficial errors. As the saying goes, “write what you know.” Now this isn’t to say that an author should only write novels that take place in their origin countries, because that would just be silly. But a British author would most likely need to do some extra research if writing a story that references American locations, just as an American author would have to learn the proper arrondissements if setting a novel in Paris. There is literally a world of information at your fingertips, and it is not difficult to verify most location references. Give the reviewers something to work with: a ringing plot, relatable characters, exciting settings…don’t give them the chance to be Snoopy Reviewers.
For reviewers: Think about why you are writing reviews. Are you writing because you loved the book and want others to enjoy it as much as you did? Did you truly dislike it and want to warn others away? (You have to admit, that would probably be more than a little unfair). Are you just trying to get on the good side of authors so you can have access to freebies or say you are friends with authors? (Believe me, those types are out there). Consider who will be reading your reviews. Will they be impressed by your thesaurus-heavy review (Linus), or put off by your book report (Lucy)? A reviewer’s main goal should be to boost the book if at all possible.
Side note: That point about boosting books? Be careful with it. If you give everything you read five stars, people won’t read your reviews, which is completely counterproductive. Not everything is going to be stellar. Change up your reviews. If you use a template for every single one, you become a machine and people will lose interest. Be honest about your reviews, but also with yourself. Can you possibly five-star love every single book you read?
For potential readers: Consider looking at reviews when thinking about choosing a book. Not every review will be helpful, and as mentioned, some may turn you off of a book. But if you read a review that veers into Lucy territory, simply stop reading. Most reviewers do make an effort to try to write something that will bring a new reader to a book. Sure, books are a personal choice, but a reviewer may have picked up on something that isn’t mentioned in the summary, and that might be what catches your attention.