Book reviews are an integral part of the literary world, with countless websites, platforms, reviewers and readers publishing them.
Reviews are often seen as a way for authors to receive feedback on their work, but in reality, they are meant for other readers.
A review is not an opening of conversation between the reviewer and the author.
What I mean by this is that there is no information in a review for an author to respond to – and certainly not an opportunity for the author to defend their work if they don’t like the review.
First and foremost, book reviews serve as a tool for readers to make informed decisions about what to read next.
With so many books available, it can be overwhelming to choose one without any guidance.
Reviews offer readers a glimpse into what they can expect from a particular book, allowing them to make an informed decision about whether or not to invest their time and money.
Reviews can provide information on everything from the quality of the writing to the genre and subject matter, helping readers to narrow down their options and find books that they are likely to enjoy.
Let me say that again. Readers are looking for books they’re likely to enjoy because we read for pleasure.
In addition to helping readers make decisions about what to read, reviews also serve as a way for readers to connect with one another.
Reading can be a solitary activity, but reviews allow readers to come together and share their thoughts and opinions on a particular book, series or author.
Through reviews, readers can engage in discussions and debates, share their favourite passages, and recommend books to one another – turning a solitary activity into a joyful community activity.
Reviews can also provide a sense of community and belonging, as readers bond over their shared love (or dislike) of literature.
While authors may benefit from reviews in terms of exposure and feedback, it’s important to remember that reviews are not primarily for them.
Authors should not view reviews as a way to boost their egos or prove their worth as writers.
Reviews are not a personal attack or a measure of an author’s success or failure.
Rather, reviews are a reflection of how readers respond to a particular book.
As such, authors should not take reviews too personally or allow them to affect their self-esteem or motivation to write.
And authors should tread respectfully in reader spaces, if they go there at all.
As a writer, I’m also an avid reader, and when I engage as a reader, it’s not about me as a writer.
As someone who straddles both the writer and reader role, I do go to reader spaces, but as a reader. I don’t enter into those places with my own writing or discussing it in mind.
Talking to me about my writing is reserved to the specific spaces where I’ve made myself available for that and that are open to those readers who wish to engage with me there.
Authors should not feel that they need to cater to the tastes of every reader or try to please everyone with their writing.
That’s impossible.
Instead, they should focus on telling the story that they want to tell in their own unique voice – and be prepared to put in the time and work that it’s going to take to make that story ready for consumption.
Both positive and negative reviews are valuable.
It’s essential to recognize that reviews are subjective.
What one reader loves, another may hate – and that’s how it’s supposed to be.
Reviews are not meant to be objective assessments of a book’s quality, but rather reflections of readers’ personal tastes and preferences. It’s that one person’s experience of the book.
It’s also worth noting that as reviews can be both positive and negative, and that both types of reviews can be valuable to other readers.
Positive reviews can provide a sense of enthusiasm and excitement that can inspire others to read a particular book.
They can also highlight the strengths of a book and offer insights into why readers found it compelling or enjoyable.
It also helps you as a reader find other people who loved the same book you did, allowing you to connect with your community.
Negative reviews, on the other hand, can provide a balanced perspective on a book and offer readers a warning about potential flaws or issues.
Negative reviews can also encourage readers to think critically about a book and form their own opinions, rather than simply accepting the hype or marketing surrounding it.
Reviews can help shape the conversation around a particular book, author or topic.
In addition to serving as a tool for readers to make decisions and connect with one another, reviews can also have a broader impact on the literary world.
They can influence how it is perceived by the public and the media.
Reviews can also serve as a way to hold authors and publishers accountable, calling out problematic content or unethical practices.
In this way, reviews can play a role in shaping the cultural conversation and promoting social justice.
However, it’s important to recognize that reviews are not without their flaws.
Reviews can be biased or influenced by factors such as personal relationships, political views, or the reviewer’s own experiences and background.
Reviews can also be influenced by marketing and publicity efforts, as publishers and authors often seek to generate positive reviews to boost sales.
Additionally, reviews can be subject to review bombing or other forms of online harassment, which can be detrimental to both authors and readers.
Ultimately, reviews are a testament to the power of literature to connect people and spark conversation.
Whether positive or negative, reviews provide valuable insights into the impact that books can have on readers’ lives, and they serve as a reminder of the importance of reading and engaging with literature in our daily lives.
The most important thing is that we create a safe space for readers to express their opinions honestly in.
Because when there’s a backlash from an author or their community, creating a hostile environment that discourages conversation, the whole literary community is worse off.
