Do you write reviews for the books you read?

[Anita]

I know that Brenda Novakhas a lot of published books and, like I said I've got both previous series, I just was really disappointed with the Evelyn Talbert Chronicles books.

[Britney]

I think it's ok to be honest for a review to a point. If you really truly felt a book was horrible and you were so upset with it then I would want to know that in certain words. But I think a lot of people are over-dramatic with the nastiness and that I don't appreciate either.

[Dawn]

I guess I am not sure about writing reviews because there seem to be rules that I don't know. I see so many that give a recap of the story, and I don't like to write those. I usually will write a review if I have extreme feelings one way or the other about the book. I always write a review if I get the book/audio with the expectation of an honest review.

[Britney]

Dawn wrote: "I guess I am not sure about writing reviews because there seem to be rules that I don't know. I see so many that give a recap of the story, and I don't like to write those. I usually will write a r..."

I can't tell you how many times I've wished you had reviews on some of the books I've been reading lol. All the dark hunters, I was so curious what you thought of some and I value my friends reviews 100 times over than non friends on GR. That's why I only write reviews for me first, so I can remember the book in the future, and then for fellow readers after that, but I have grammar issues, not proper, and I don't care lol. I'm just going to write what I feel :). Oh and I don't recap the story either ;)

[Dawn]

Well, now that you have said all that maybe I will start. But no way am I going back and going through the whole Dark Hunter series...that is a lot of books. :)

[Britney]

Good! I for one will be genuinely glad :). Lmao, it's too late now, I'm catching up to you pretty quick! But there have been a few books that I remember reading reviews and seeing that you have read it, then wishing I knew how you felt lol. Because for me, once I get to know people (you) and the type of books they(you) like and what they(you) do or don't like I'm going to trust and want your reviews more than people who might be hating on a book but they really don't even like romance that much lol, I would never know. People stars all mean different things so it's hard to tell how a person really likes a book based on that alone.

I'm always paying attention to the groups and reviews to try and get a feel for someone's interests in books as well so I know if they are similar to me, and when someone (you) happens to recommend a kickass series to me and I love it, then I'm reeeaally gonna be paying attention to what you have to say In the future :))

[Dawn]

Jonetta is excellent at writing reviews lol.

[Britney]

Dawn wrote: "Jonetta is excellent at writing reviews lol."

I agree! She's also one I depend on! But she's a lot more formal than I am with mine lol. If I've payed good attention it's because she writes for a blog or something? And has to make hers longer and more detailed maybe? Definitely not a bad thing, I just look like a 5th grader next to her reviews and that's ok with me, I think readers all want different things out of reviews, that's why it's so awesome to have so many different kind! :)) I get excited over this stuff hahaha.

I'm so familiar with jonettas reviews I know to skip to the last paragraph or two to get her overall feeling and thoughts of the book lol, the first paragraphs are summarizing with the middle being the likes and dislikes. How did I do Jonetta?? LOL :)

[Dawn]

Britney wrote: "Dawn wrote: "Jonetta is excellent at writing reviews lol."

I agree! She's also one I depend on! But she's a lot more formal than I am with mine lol. If I've payed good attention it's because she w..."

Yes she really does. She also writes those formal reviews (there are rules) that I just can't seem to make myself do, which is why I will never be a professional reviewer lol. I do the same, I pass through the recap of the story to get to the meat of her opinion. I rarely disagree with her take on a book.

[Dawn]

Britney wrote: "Good! I for one will be genuinely glad :). Lmao, it's too late now, I'm catching up to you pretty quick! But there have been a few books that I remember reading reviews and seeing that you have rea..."

So I apparently am having an insomniac night and thought to go back and write a review on Styxx only to find I already had. By the way, if the emotions got to you reading Ash's book...Styxx will kick your butt

[Jonetta]

Dawn wrote: "Jonetta is excellent at writing reviews lol."

Thank you!

[Jonetta]

Britney wrote: "Dawn wrote: "Jonetta is excellent at writing reviews lol."

I agree! She's also one I depend on! But she's a lot more formal than I am with mine lol. If I've payed good attention it's because she w..."

You nailed it in one and thank you! I have a definite format I follow.

The first paragraph is a brief summary of the premise (the setup), written primarily for those reading the review from the daily email updates. The next paragraph covers what I liked about the characters, story and writing. If it's an audiobook, there's sometimes another paragraph with a sentence or two about the narration. The last paragraph is a summary/bottom line.

With my reviews, you can always just go to the last paragraph and read the rest if you want more elaboration.

[Anita]

I try to always make the first paragraph of my reviews about why I liked or didn't like the book. I figure that someone reading my review wants to know what I thought od the book. They can get a plot summary from the book blurb.

[Jonetta]

There's no book blurb in the daily feed, nor if you launch my review from my links, hence my reason for having it there.

[Anita]

I do rehash to plot, but I try to keep it short.

[Dawn]

It seems to be a professional format that everyone who does it regularly follows. I just don't like writing all of that lol.

[Anita]

I do it mainly to remind myself of the high points of the plot, without giving it away completely.

[Britney]

I like having those kinds of reviews just like I know I'll never be one to write them :). Really never know what a review will be from me lol, could be 5 words, could be a paragraph, or 3. All depends on how I feel at the end of the book. That's why I think everyone should write something. I think each person would and does bring something different to a review and you never know when the reader is looking for a review exactly like yours!

[Britney]

Dawn wrote: "Britney wrote: "Dawn wrote: "Jonetta is excellent at writing reviews lol."

I agree! She's also one I depend on! But she's a lot more formal than I am with mine lol. If I've payed good attention it..."

It's funny but I have disagreed slightly on a few different reviews of jonettas, but I always take into account how picky I am, what I have seen and know Jonetta likes vs what I like, or if I have read the same book and her review differs from mine, and why? It's rarely happened that I have seen and once I wrote a review on a dark Hunter book I think, or maybe Cat and Bones and was reading reviews after and Jonetta and I said the exact same thing with like one different word. It was only like five words but I found it funny :).

[Britney]

Dawn wrote: "Britney wrote: "Good! I for one will be genuinely glad :). Lmao, it's too late now, I'm catching up to you pretty quick! But there have been a few books that I remember reading reviews and seeing t..."

IF the emotions got me?! Lol! Listen to you. ;) that terrifies me actually lol

[Dawn]

Britney wrote: "Dawn wrote: "Britney wrote: "Good! I for one will be genuinely glad :). Lmao, it's too late now, I'm catching up to you pretty quick! But there have been a few books that I remember reading reviews..."

Dead serious. I think Styxx is the most emotionally draining book I have ever read. I actually hated Ash for about half of it. It is also a very long book...

[Crystal]

Most of the time since I joined goodreads and did some on shelfari before that

[Jonetta]

Crystal, did I know you on Shelfari?

[Jennifer, Just beyond normal ♑]

I have been trying to get better at reviewing what I read. For one I can look back at a book I don't remember and hopefully I wrote something about why I liked it. I am just very good at writing a review. I don't think a review should be a retelling of the whole story, I don't know. I am still learning what to say and how to say it.

[Barbara "Cookie"]

Jennifer, donot write about the story, write how you feel about the story. What was good what was bad what it made you feel if you like a character or did not like about character.

[Jennifer, Just beyond normal ♑]

Thank you Barbara!

[Margaret]

I don't know why I haven't looked at this thread before today, but I found it so interesting. I enjoy reading reviews and find them helpful. Whether positive or negative, I've learned to take what I need from a review and disregard the rest. There are things I look for in a story and things I tend to avoid. If I see reviews that point out some of those things I don't care for in a story then I know to avoid that book. Reviews aren't foolproof, of course, they're opinions and we don't all have the same opinions, but with millions of books to choose from, reviews provide a starting point.

As a writer, I will tell you I am so appreciative of anyone who takes the time to write a review no matter how long or how in depth. I love to hear what readers think and always tell those who ask to just give their feelings on the story, even if it's only a few words, don't worry about waxing poetic!

[Jonetta]

Thanks for adding a reader’s perspective.

[Being_Nora_Bound]

I enjoy reading reviews and find them helpful. And brave.
As I tend to change my perception of the books I tend to stay away from making a review. It seems something "written in stone" and I can't so that. Not with Nora's books. I always remember this:
“Women are as addicted to her contemporary love novels as chocoholics are to Godiva. . . . ”—The New York Times
The problem is whenever I grab the book (full of new delicious chocolatery ;)) I go on a binge. Can't wait to finish it. Won't even sleep until I do... And with Nora books (mainly in her more recent ones) and chocolates I tend to not appreciate it in full. So I'm known for not enjoying the book, finding it meh and then when I return to it - more calmly, determined to go slow and easy - I find myself enjoying, as if it for the first time... when in fact it is.
Books and Chocolate Binges after a long hunger aren't good - for you, the book or the chocolate ;)
But I fully appreciate the brave ones who manage to keep their head in that first rush and write the reviews through which I live vicariously until I have my book

[Jonetta]

Being_Nora_Bound wrote: "I enjoy reading reviews and find them helpful. And brave.
As I tend to change my perception of the books I tend to stay away from making a review. It seems something "written in stone" and I can't ..."

I’ve often returned to a review where, upon reflection, have a different perspective. These reviews don’t have to be set in stone. As you change, so can they😊

[Cindy]

I write very short reviews that don't recap the plot. I often use the same review for multiple books in a series. I just like to write blurb on my level of enjoyment or I might mention the book has a good sense of humor or something like that. I don't often read long reviews personally so I don't leave them either. And I never leave a negative review. Even if on the rare occasion I didn't like the book, I can usually find something positive to say about it. I let my star level indicate any negative feelings. But that's just me.

[Jonetta]

It’s great that you leave reviews, Cindy! It’s not about the length, etc. They’re helpful when you can express how you felt about a book.

[Sharon]

I write reviews, but it is rarely as soon as I finish reading the book, unless it is an arc. I have to read a review several times and make multiple edits. Even reading the review over several days, I still find typos and poorly constructed sentences. 😞

I did the same thing when I did reports for school.

[Lauren]

I try to leave reviews on every book that I read and I enjoy reading the reviews of others (but only after I've read the book myself because I want to avoid spoilers).

@Sharon - I know what you mean. I always find a typo after posting my review, lol!

[Jonetta]

I still review every book I read, normally after a day or so. My brain organizes it into a three-paragraph format and because it’s become a habit, it’s much easier these days.