The Next Best Book Club discussion

When you finish a book do you post a review on GR? And if you do...and it happens to be less than 5 stars and a GR author...do you soften your review so you don't hurt their feelings? I think I would prefer outright honesty...heck, good or bad, you read my book...but not everyone feels the same.

A less than favorable review comes with the territory of being an author. However, there are certain limits to how vitriolic and bad review can get.

For instance, a review citing poor pacing, lack of structure, bland characters, those are all valid criticisms.

A review calling an author names or intentionally one starring a book because they don't like the author, or anything personal is completely off limits. Those reviews still happen but they are generally flagged as abuse.

As for the book reviews, regardless if it's a popular, mainstream author or an indie author starting out, I always try my best to leave a review.

Reviews are beneficial for both readers and authors. If a book is absolute garbage and shouldn't be read, then I would like to read reviews warning me not to waste my money. If a book advertises itself as having werewolves and a werewolf doesn't show up until the very end of the book, that's something readers need to know.

Likewise, good or bad reviews help authors in many ways. Critical reviews can help authors figure out what they need to focus on improving for their next book. Positive reviews help generate sales and allow authors to make a living off their creative work.

In my opinion, good or bad reviews should always be encouraged.

I post a review for every book I read. Good, bad, or indifferent. I give very few 5-star ratings, and - thankfully - even fewer 1-star ratings. But I'm always honest about my reactions and WHY I liked or disliked a book. (If it's an audio, I also comment on the narrator.)

I don't review every book I read and I'm probably over-indulgent on ratings. Where I do leave a review it's generally because a book has stood out in some way. If I am criticising I try to make it constructive - something the author can do something about. Sometimes I just don't like a book even though it's perfectly well written - just not to my taste. Again, I will say this in a review and I will say what I didn't like and why. I try to be honest but not brutal.

I don't review every book - in fact, I'm quite bad at leaving reviews. I do try to at least rate things as I finish them. Sometimes, though, I just genuinely can't think of anything to say or it's a complex book that needs some mulling over, so I'll just shelve it.

I review most of the books. Reviewing can be stressful, and I do get tired of it at times. But, I feel that I - a reader - owe the author that tiny bit of recognition for her or his story. The author is owed a "thank you."

I try to write a review for all the books I have read since I joined GRs. Sometimes, it takes me a few days to decide what to say and I always struggle with the number of stars to give. I have read some amazing, thoughtful reviews that have motivated me to add books to my TBR. I do think about the authors when I write the reviews, but it doesn't stop me from saying what I think.

Thank you! Now I don't feel like I'm the anomoly.

Yup. You are not alone.

I hope I wasn't offensive, guys. During the times when I have to force myself to post a review, I try to keep in mind the author's "gift" to me - the reader: the story itself and the effort it took to write that story. I feel obligated to post reviews during those times when I am just too tired after finishing a book.

Those times are infrequent, thank goodness.

Nichole wrote: "I hope I wasn't offensive, guys. During the times when I have to force m.yself to post a review, I try to keep in mind the author's "gift" to me - the reader: the story itself and the effort it took..."

oh no, definitely not offensive. I completely understand your perspective.

I posed this question after reading three disappointing books in a row. Each one could have benefited from honest editing. I was surprised by some very clumsy writing; for instance one writer over-used similes, so much so that they were distracting. I really wanted to write a truthful review to emphasize how distracting the similes / comparisons were to what could have been a good story, and I feared it would have been out of place.

I do post on both Goodreads and other places (not sure if we are supposed to mention those places here). As far as non-five star reviews, I think anything 4 to 5 stars is great. Even 3 star reviews can have positive elements to them. In regards to softening the tone, we all know, especially if we are authors, that the author is going to read the review, so it is important to be critical to a point that will help both the reader and the author. If we just slam a book, I personally don't see how that helps anyone.

Yes, thank you for those sentiments. It's called offering 'constructive criticism.'