How Authors Should Interpret Book Reviews
Hello and bonjour mes amis. If you are new to the bayou, bienvenue, and if you’re returning, welcome back. Creole Bayou is a blog that discusses topics about culture (all things Creole and Cajun), writing, mental health, and romance/relationships. My name is Genevive, and in addition to blogging, I’m also an author. This month, I have been celebrating the release of Demon Rodeo, a paranormal sports romance. As part of the celebration, I have been uploading daily posts that about topics and themes that somehow relate to something that occurs or is mentioned in the story.
Let me begin with what I’m betting 98% of people reading this have already said: Authors shouldn’t read reviews because reviews are for readers and not authors. I’m not going to argue and say this is an incorrect statement. But I do want to offer an explanation of why some authors do. I stress some because there are few universals in life and always exceptions to the rules.
DISCLAIMER: I do not speak for all authors. I do not claim to be all-knowing, and there are many more opinions to appreciate than mine. I do not expect everyone to agree with these points nor do I take issue with anyone who disagrees. This is a single point of view and a limited one at that. Feel free to disagree. All I ask is that all comments be respectful.
When an author publishes a story, he/she opens himself/herself to the criticisms of the world. Anyone can say anything for any reason with no repercussions. It does not matter if what is said is right, wrong, or indifferent. Making a rebuttal isn’t going to fare well for the author. For that reason, authors are advised to develop thick skins. Authors are encouraged and should not engage with any reviews. They are the opinion of readers for other readers. That being said, some authors read reviews to learn how to improve and grow their craft. And here is where I want to make my first point.
I heard a reviewer proclaim authors should “never” read reviews, and if they (the authors) want to learn and grow, they should obtain more beta readers. It’s not that simple. That may be a solution for some authors but not all. As a traditionally published author, I do not select my beta readers or how many. It’s not an option as they are decided by the publishers. Additionally, beta readers are usually utilized after the editing process. However, once I submit a work for publication and it has been accepted, I am no longer allowed to share it. The publisher sends it to in-house editors. After the editors rip it to shreds (and rightfully so), it then moves to the beta phase. Again, betas are chosen by the publisher. If those editors and betas do not mention an issue, then I’m likely not going to be aware of it. How I became aware is by reading the reviews. Negative reviews don’t hurt my feelings. Don’t get me wrong. They don’t feel good, but if they make valid points, I can use them to improve as a writer. Negative reviews are equally (and sometimes more so) important as positive ones. This is known as constructive criticism. Thus, writers should view reviews as a learning opportunity.
Another important point is recognizing the math involved. Newer or lesser-established authors will likely have fewer reviews than well-established or name-recognized authors (e.g., Nora Roberts, Stephen King, J.K. Rowlins). The lower the number of reviews, the greater the impact when a negative review is left.
In college, I had a professor say that everyone was beginning the school semester with a 100 average. All students had to do was maintain this A-average. The obstacle was that any grade other than 100 would pull down the average. Say three students (Judy, John, and Jane) took a test. Judy obtained a 90, John an 80, and Jane a 70. The students’ averages are Judy 95, John 90, and Jane 85. They each take a second test and score 100. Judy’s new average becomes 96.7, John 93.3, and Judy 90. What we know from this is that none of the students, no matter how much they study can ever obtain that 100 average again. Once lost, it is gone forever. We also know that Jane’s low score affects her more than Judy and John. She will need to obtain more high scores to pull her average up to reach John and Judy.
This is important for authors to understand for many reasons. Let’s begin with the obvious. No author should be using reviews to validate themselves as a writer. Anyone can get a negative review, and almost everyone does/has—even the greats. Join the crowd. It’s a privilege to be here because it means you completed a novel—a feat many aspiring writers never accomplish—and at least one person read your work. As one writer put it, if a book only has positive reviews, watch out. Something sketchy may be afoot.
Next, not all readers will use reviews to determine whether or not they want to read your book. Sure, it may deter some readers, but there are many readers.
Furthermore, what is the merit of the review? Some reviews are just bogus and left by trolls. Sorry, but it happens. There have been instances that authors have had negative reviews written about them and the book being reviewed isn’t theirs. To make matters worse, the platform where these reviews were left refused to take them down. So, authors were stuck with these faulty negative reviews. It isn’t fair, and the only way to combat it is for authors to ascertain ways to block any of their books from ever being reviewed on these platforms by anyone or locate review platforms with more structure. The other option would be to ignore it completely, which is what most authors do.
Not every book is for every reader. Therefore, authors should be diligent about selecting their target audience. If I know a reader dislikes sports romance, then I know that person likely is not going like what I write. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that. Thus, marketing a book correctly is critical. It is worth researching genres and keywords to describe a book. Sometimes, categories and/or genres change slightly due to trends. Sometimes, they overlap or have multiple meanings.
Years ago, I was in an online book club where authors gave free copies of their books to readers in exchange for an honest review. Now, how the book for review was selected each month was by vote from the members of the book club. The host would write a brief synopsis of the story, and members would decide from there. Here was the problem. The books being selected were never any of the ones I voted for. This wouldn’t have been a problem, but after a few months, I began noticing all the books were similar. It was because they were the same genre—a genre that didn’t particularly appeal to me. Thus, when I wrote my reviews, I kept it strictly to the technical stuff—grammar, pacing, writing style, spelling, etc. I didn’t insert my opinion about the characters or the subject. Why? Because I didn’t feel it would be fair to the author. I don’t like bananas. I wouldn’t comment on any food at a banana festival because I’m going to be biased. Yick!
Also, I noticed reading other reviews that I would frequently miss a critical point in the story. One story kept referring to a “ship.” The ship had sails, and my mind kept defaulting to a vessel on the water. But this book was steampunk, and the “ship” was more of a blimp. So, when the main character used his trench coat as a parachute to escape a fire and landed in the water below, I did not pay attention to the significance of his coat. The coat was a big part of the story. Other reviewers made valid points about issues with the coat while I had none to offer. I wasn’t helpful to this author because I wasn’t his type of reader. I eventually bowed out of the book club. A few other members had similar issues and left as well. I’m certain that made the group far more productive. It’s okay not to be all things for all people.
There’s an old saying that there’s no such thing as bad publicity. Listen, while a negative review may not give an author warm fuzzies, it’s still interaction and engagement. It helps move the book in the algorithm. Some books have become bestsellers due to negative reviews. People went out to buy the book just to see what all the fuss was about. Others who were unaware of its existence were made aware.
Never compare reviews with other books. Okay, I’m just going to say it. Often, there is a double standard when it comes to reviews. There’s a line in the movie Working Girl that goes, “You can bend the rules plenty once you get to the top, but not while you’re trying to get there. And if you’re someone like me, you can’t get there without bending the rules.” I’ve read two similar books where one author who is lesser known is slammed and dragged for having committed the same offenses as a well-known author. Some would argue that well-established authors are given more grace. More likely, the reason is they have found their target audience who simply appreciate and come to expect a particular style from the author. That’s how the world rolls.
And coming full circle, reviews are for readers. Readers are smart. They can determine whether or not a review is giving the story a fair shake. Some may feel compelled to write a rebuttal review. Don’t do it. If you must, type it out and then delete it. Never get into a confrontation with a reviewer over their opinion. Everyone is entitled to an option. Opinions are neither right nor wrong. It doesn’t mean an author must agree, but it is the author’s choice to put his/her work into the world. That act alone entitles others to have an opinion.
Do you have a playlist? If so, are any of these songs on it? Which songs on this list are your favorites? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. If you like this post, please click the like button and share. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read.
If Brokeback Mountain, 8 Seconds, Poltergeist, and Supernatural had an orgy, Demon Rodeo would be the lovechild.
Demon Rodeo is available now on Amazon. For video book trailers, visit my TikTok page. The full blurb is on my Instagram and Amazon.
Demon Rodeo is the first book in the Chasing the Buckle series but can be read as a standalone. It’s a friends-to-lovers romance set in the rodeo world. These are not your typical cowboys. It’s a widely diverse cast of characters and a mashup of genres that aren’t always seen together. If you’re looking for a palate cleanser, this may be a book for you.
Preorder
⇨ Amazon: https://readerlinks.com/l/4174852
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Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.
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Are you searching for a sexy book boyfriend? You’ve come to the right place.
Out of the Penalty Box (book #1) One minute in the box or a lifetime out. Defending the Net (book #2) Crossing the line could cost the game. Ice Gladiators (book #3) When the gloves come off, the games begin. Penalty Kill (book #4) Let the pucker begin. Future Goals (book #5) The future lies between a puck and a net.About the Author:
Hi, I’m Genevive, and I am a contemporary sports romance author. My home is in South Louisiana. If you like snark and giggles with a touch of steamy Cajun and Creole on the side, I may have your poison in my stash of books. Drop by the bayou and have a look around. The pirogues are always waiting for new visitors.
