Book reviews have long been an essential component of the literary world.
They provide potential readers with a glimpse into what they can expect from a book, and they help authors receive valuable feedback on their work (when taken as a whole data set, not when hyper-fixating on a single review).
But what many people don’t realise is that book reviews are often a labour of love, with reviewers investing countless unpaid hours into reading and writing about books.
We review books because we love them.
Whether on Goodreads, Bookstagram/-tok/-tube, blogs or other platforms, reviewers do it for the love of books.
Even if a reviewer is getting paid to write a review, such as working for a publication, there is still unpaid labour involved.
The vast majority of publications can’t afford to pay a reviewer for the hours they spend reading the book, which can sometimes take upwards of ten hours or more.
And let me make it clear: I’m not talking about when someone gets paid to give a good review.
I’m talking about when you get paid to give an honest review.
But why do reviewers continue to put in this unpaid labour?
The answer is simple: we do it for the love of books.
Reviewers are often avid readers who are passionate about sharing their love of literature with others.
We see writing book reviews as a way to give back to the literary community and help others discover new authors and titles.
Reviewing a book is also very fulfilling for the reviewer, giving them things like:
- A sense of satisfaction: Reviewing a book can be a fulfilling experience for the reviewer, as it allows them to share their thoughts and opinions on a particular book with others.
- A deeper understanding of the book: When writing a review, the reviewer has to delve deeper into the themes, characters, and writing style of the book, which can give them a better understanding of the book itself.
- Exposure to new books and authors: Reviewing books can expose the reviewer to new books and authors they may not have discovered otherwise, broadening their literary horizons.
- A sense of community: Reviewing books can also connect the reviewer with other book lovers and create a sense of community among people who share a passion for literature.
Additionally, many reviewers also view book reviewing as a form of artistic expression.
Writing a review allows them to delve deeper into the themes, characters, and writing styles of a book, and express their thoughts and opinions in a creative way.
For many, the act of reviewing is just as fulfilling as the act of reading itself.
Book reviewing is a labour of love that requires a significant investment of time and effort.
As members of the literary community, we should appreciate the work that goes into each review because the truth is that most readers won’t even leave a star review.
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