Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy discussion

I write all my reviews the same, my honest (spoiler) free opinion.
My thoughts while reading and my thoughts after it is over. Really I don't think any two of my reviews are the same since no two books are the same. I do try to say what I liked about the book or writing style of the author. If I thought it was well fleshed out character and world building wise (if it is UF or Paranormal). If it is a series if I would continue it or not.
Just that sort of thing

I do pretty much the same as you. I say what I liked/disliked, talk about the characters, a bit about the plot like if it was slow, and whether I'l be back for more if it's a series.
The only thing I don't do is give a summary of the book. This is only because there is already a synopsis, and most times, it does well enough at describing the book. I feel no need to rephrase it.
Oh, and I review all books the same way. I don't do anything different for different genres.

I don't have a different scale for each genre. I am much more lenient about covers and editing if the book is self published though. I have to review almost right after reading so my impressions will be fresh. Like Mlpmom, they're spoiler free. If good, I send recs to all my goodreads friends into that type of read.

Finished in a day. loved it!

And back with Dex & Perry!

I try to be pithy, especially if it's something everyone seems to have already read. Unless my views are radically different.

But if it's something new, or something no one's discovered yet, I'll go into it a bit more, but I still try to stay short and sweet.

I don't have patience to read long reviews, so I don't write 'em.

I basically review all books in the same way, but if it's something fun, like paranormal or fantasy, then I'm most interested in the plot. If it's quite serious and literary, then I become much more interested in how it's written and what it's got to say.

I started out super short, maybe one sentence, then the star rating. Then I started doing a synopses of the book but read in some discussion somewhere on Goodreads that a reader hated to read reviews because they gave away too much of the plot. So now I try to write a spoiler free short review and if I make a spoiler comment, I'll put it under the hidden spoiler available on Goodreads. I write what I liked and/or disliked about the book and sometimes whether I'd recommend it. I haven't gone back and changed my previous reviews, but if I re-read a book, I'll put the date of the last review and then note this is an updated review.

This is actually a really helpful thread for an author.

I always say, and I want to stick by it, that I would rather someone take the time to read my work, then take the time to critique it, then ignore it completely.

I would hate that too Jevron. There are some pretty established ebook writers here and I've been the 2nd review when the book has been out for almost 10 years. That's just sad.

Writing book reviews can be really tough sometimes, especially if you really don't like a book. I gave a review of a book that I rated a one-star. The first chapter snagged you but then by the middle of the book I was trying to figure out what was going on. Anyway, the author of the book reamed me on my review and one of his fanatic followers chewed me out. I deleted my whole review and the book all together and decided that if I couldn't rate a book at least a three-star that I wouldn't post a review. I read because I love to read, and a review is strictly my opinion and not meant to be confrontational. Has anyone else had that issue?

I'm working on my first manuscript and I would value honesty from anyone reading the book. If someone takes the time to read my work then their opinion is valuable. Thus, in the end if my book sucks and I can't write, so what. Enjoy what you do and do what you enjoy. That's what matters in life.

That behavior goes against the GR 'Recommended policies of author behavior' or something like that... basically, reviews, even ones for books you didn't enjoy should not have to be censured- even if it's the author pressuring you to do that. You can flag comments, and personal messages and such, and even 'ignore' authors and other GR users, which would (I believe) make your profile appear 'private' to them.

I try really hard to be polite, and try to be selective to avoid really awful ones, or even ones that just strike me wrong for some reason. I may not always succeed, but I've tried to aim for only saying things I would say to the author's face. If you're willing to still say it, fair game, IMO

If I like it I rave about it, if I don't I say specifically why I didn't or say it was well written but wasn't my cup of tea if it is someone unknown. I try to put a bit of humor in it if it is bad. If however the writer is well known I don't leave anything out I just give it my honest view. I don't care what other people think. Someone isn't going to like my book I am sure

Alana ~ The Book Pimp wrote: "I try really hard to be polite, and try to be selective to avoid really awful ones, or even ones that just strike me wrong for some reason. I may not always succeed, but I've tried to aim for only..."

This is a great way of going about it. I really like this. :)

I usually review based on plot/story, characters, and overall writing for fiction. To keep my writing and my reviews separate, I have an anonymous site/name for the reviews.

There are some books where I just can't finish and I end up not reviewing them despite my intentions. I spent a lot of time on my reviews, giving the readers a pretty extensive overview both with likes and dislikes.

In general, reviewers don't have to like your book. But if they take the time to review, good or bad, I think it's a nice gesture.

when i leave a review i try to be respectful to the author. If there is constructive critisim to be left i try to do it in a way that they can build on rather than it upset them. I dont get time to read as much as i would likt so generally the books i do read i become engrossed in. If a book doesnt grab me in the first chapter i dont continue.

Philisha wrote: "The first chapter snagged you but then by the middle of the book I was trying to figure out what was going on.."

That's how I would write a bad review. I wouldn't say the writer was horrible or couldn't write at all, I would say that. I wouldn't get mean, but let them know my problems. I also sometimes add stuff about how the story could have been improved, "More character development of Joe" or "I didn't understand the romance because . . ." If they don't like my review they can just live with it. Writers say they want honest reviews but then sometimes can't handle them. Although saying that, if I were a writer and someone wrote something bad about my writing that isn't correctable but just a general "you suck!", my feelings would be hurt.

I'm not great at writing reviews, because I usually talk about very personal things. I try to be descriptive about what I did and did not like and try to talk about what type of person I feel it would appeal to if I gave a bad review. I still feel my reviews aren't great, though.

I put personal stuff in all the time. I'll put why I read the book, what about it I found comparable to my life, whatever I'm thinking about the book.

To me it doesn't matter what the genre is, I try to give a little synopsis of the book without telling all the surprises/spoilers, and who the book is about if it's part of a series. I also try to say if it's got good action/sex/humor/surprises/characters/etc and how much of it. Also, if it read well/easy, & if I look forward to the next one or not, and how the ending was. I always try to find something positive to say, no matter how bad the book is.

JM wrote: "I'm not great at writing reviews, because I usually talk about very personal things. I try to be descriptive about what I did and did not like and try to talk about what type of person I feel it wo..."

I'd rather read a review that the person said the book was awful and gave reasons why they thought that, then just reading it was awful. It's much more helpful.

Carolyn F. wrote: "Philisha wrote: "The first chapter snagged you but then by the middle of the book I was trying to figure out what was going on.."

That's how I would write a bad review. I wouldn't say the writer ..."

Your kind of review is helpful to others. It gives you reasons/examples, not just a "I hated it".

My reviews are all over the board with how I write them. Some are more detailed than others, and I use humour in some but not in others. For instance in my review of Good Omens I did it by "casting" the various characters. And some author's I won't write a review of at all, especially if it is negative. Not always because of the author's reaction to the negative posting either, but because of the FANS reactions. And then, there are those books where the review has NOTHING to do about the plot of the book, or even about how well the author does in writing the books. . .Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder is an example of one of those books. It's a cozy murder mystery--but I've almost worn out my SECOND copy of it, using the RECIPES. . . Yes, as a cozy mystery, it is a great cookie recipe book. (And, btw, you have GOT to try the cookie recipe that provides the name of the novel. It will make you swear off Toll-house Chocolate Chip Cookies forever.)

I only mark books which deserve 5 stars right now. But some day I should sit down and start cataloguing all the books I've read... some day... some day...

I write a review as if I were talking to a friend. I never write spoilers, but I am open and most importantly, honest.

I usually put a few lines about general plot-without spoilers-and then I say what I liked and didn't like and why. I now try to be more constructive if I don't like a book to give useful feedback to the author and potential readers. A one star review sometimes means I thought it was badly written but can also mean it just wasn't my kind of book.

I share quotes from other people's reviews and from RT Book Reviews. I sometimes add my personal thoughts on a book but only a line or two. I try to be careful so that those who follow my reviews aren't getting all 5 star reviews and "this is great" because I feel that would be "stacking the stats" and that is not why I'm here. Actually, I've only rated 6 books with 5 stars because I couldn't help myself. LOL If someone wants my personal opinion on a book, I ask that they private message me so that I can share with them more than the line or two that I'll share with everyone~ Kim S.