Do You Write A Review For Every Book You Read?

[Carolyn F.]

I'll tell you what I do on Ebay - sometimes I just give them a great review with all the individual boxes checked if I felt the service was above and beyond. Other times, I just give a straight positive. Maybe there should be that option to either or both.

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

I write reviews for everything I read, even if I don't finish the book and I'll give my reasons. The good, the bad, and the ugly all get reviewed. It's this weird compulsion I have. I find it fun and relaxing. I have been a victim of fan girl-itis when I wrote a slightly negative review over on Amazon quite a few years ago and I use to review for All About Romance so I've grown a pretty thick hide as a result. Now it's all for fun and if someone takes offense to something I've written and wants to call me names I figure I must be pretty damn important (just kidding) or that they have some issues to work out. Sorry you experienced that Sherry, those fangirls can be seriously crazed when "their" author is dissed.

[K.]

If it sucked, no. All my effort has went into finishing the book therefore there is none left

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

But sometimes the suckiest books make for the most entertaining reviews ;)

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

That is true, BarkLess.

[Cindi]

I started writing the "What I Learned From This Book" stuff for my own benefit. At that time, I didn't realize that GR sends those out to friends and followers *eek!* I mostly needed something to remind me of how I felt reading a book,especially a series.

When reading reviews - which definitely affect my "To Read" choices! - I skip those that copy the back cover summary. I want more elusive deets, emotions, etc. I have marked off books because other GR friends mentioned too annoying, too much sex, too stupid to live characters, etc. That's what the reviews help me with; otherwise, like Danielle said, its just our way of journalling.

[willaful]

Cindi - you can write private notes, it's at the bottom of the form. Also you have some control over what is sent out to your friends. I was a bit startled to realize that every little thing I did was!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Also, unclick that button that says add to update feed.

[Shannon]

I have been diligent in writing reviews for everything I have written since I joined GR, but I actually have to go back and reread some previous books so I can give them good and accurate reviews. I have had many friends tell me that they really like reading my reviews and enjoy my opinions and thoughts on books. Plus I really do enjoy reading reviews and getthing other people's opinions and perspectives on books I'm interested in reading. My only real complaint with some reviews is that some people don't use the "Spoiler Alert" option enough when they write their POV's, and it can ruin potentially great books for future readers. JMO

[♡Meme♡Reads love♡]

I'm starting to now since I joined goodreads, it's a good way for me to remember what I liked or didn't like about a book. Also it's a good way to let out how I feel about that said book.

[Love love]

I've just started writting at least a little something about each book that I've read. I found that after reading soooo many it was hard to remember each book and what it was that I liked or didnt like about each one. Now I'm able to look back and remember.

[Akaria]

Since joining GR, I try and review every book. It really helps keep stories straight and makes it easy to recommend things to others. I like reviewing and always try to be clear about things that worked and things that didn't. It really doesn't help a possible reader to just say "this book sucked" or "this book is the best thing ever".

[Wan]

It takes me too much time writing reviews then, I ended up deleting it. The best I can do is a short comment.

I'm a drive-by rating, I guess. Too many books to read, so little time. Can't slow down.

[~Megan~]

I wouldn't say I write a full-out review, but I have been trying to write a little something about each book that I read. I count so much on other people's reviews and thoughts on new books, so I try to be helpful in my own way. They're usually just my initial impressions when I first finish a book.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Any little bit helps, Megan. At the same time, I definitely don't judge the drive-by reviewers. I admit I get frustrated when the review is, "This book sucked so bad". That tells me nothing!

[Ruth]

I didn't write reviews until I joined GR, but now I do for every book I read. I usually write notes on my iPhone as I go along and then just upload them as I finish. If I didn't have the GR app I wouldn't have time. I love reading other reviews so I want to give something back.

[Akaria]

People who just say "this book is so great" or "this book sucked" drive me nuts. Just leave a star rating and be done with it!

Although I got a big laugh once when someone gave a PNR book one star because it had sex in it. Say what? Was the half naked man on the cover not a clue there might be some sex in this book? ;)

[Carolyn F.]

Ooh, I'm a person who writes that a book is great or not and then goes into the reasons why. I'm bad!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Carolyn, I don't mind a review that says, "I loved this book" but no comments. I have an issue with a negative review of "This book sucks" without explaining why it sucks.

[Wan]

Alright, you guys shamed me into doing it. I will start writing the review of each book. I may not go back to do the review of all of my past books. But will definitely, do it from this point on. I guess it's not so bad when you do it right away, when your mind is still fresh.

[Arch]

I still have to write a review for Knock Me Off My Feet by Susan Donovan. I will do that soon.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Wan, only do that if you want to. It's up to your comfort level and priorities whether you write a review or not.

[Ruth]

Although I do write a review for each book, I only do it because it's convenient for me. I do it on my phone so I can type in notes as I go along. If it wasn't convenient for me, then I wouldn't be so anal about it. I have to admit, I do find it useful to go back and look at what I wrote though.

[Wan]

Lady D, I do want to now. It's a good thing. Becasue I can always come back to them as future-references. Once I get a hang of it. It should be pretty easy.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

I'll keep an eye out for your reviews, Wan.

Ruth, I appreciate your reviews very much.

[Ruth]

Thanks Lady Danielle! The feeling is mutual!!

[Carolyn F.]

Wan wrote: "Lady D, I do want to now. It's a good thing. Becasue I can always come back to them as future-references. Once I get a hang of it. It should be pretty easy."

One of my Goodfriends writes about 2 or 3 sentences about what she liked or didn't like. I keep thinking I'm going to emulate her and cut my words down.

[SM]

I love that you guys are engaging in this dialogue!Writing a review has been on my mind every time I've finished a book in the last few months. I've taken a break from it for a while, not that I did it much anyway, but I've been feeling this guilt for not liking books. Silly, right? I know authors hate bad reviews, but at the same time, I like an objective heads up to what I might personally not like. It saves me time and money. But I also get the notion that I may not be in the mood for a particular book or even, dare I say, ready to comprehend one.

So I think reviewing with all fairness and biases present is the way to go. Without harping on the author, I like to explain why I didn't like the book. Or even better, why I loved it. After all, GR is great because of its reviews and that's how I find the majority of my books, browsing through everday reader opinions.

[Arch]

I tend to write what I like and or didn't like about a book.

I tend to write comments too.

[Bekah]

I started writing reviews for two reasons.

1)Because I've come to really trust Goodreads and the reviews of my friends and it influences my bookbuying. So I want to be able to offer up a perspective as well.

2)It really helps me recall the details about a book...sometimes I read so fast that even though I remember reading the book, liking it, I don't always exactly remember why it was a 4 star read or a 3 star read. I usually always remember the 5 star reads!

[Bekah]

Well said Adrienne!!!!

[Wan]

Bekah wrote: "I started writing reviews for two reasons.

1)Because I've come to really trust Goodreads and the reviews of my friends and it influences my bookbuying. So I want to be able to offer up a persp..."

Bekah, I come to rely on GR, EVERYTIME I buy books. So far, I have not been disappointed.

[Carolyn F.]

Susan wrote: "I love that you guys are engaging in this dialogue!Writing a review has been on my mind every time I've finished a book in the last few months. I've taken a break from it for a while, not that I d..."

I sometimes feel guilty too writing a bad review, unless they're an author that kicks out books left and right and should know better when an awful book is written. And I too rely on other people's reviews, not just stars. If the review makes the book sound interesting, I'll either get it from the library or buy it. This has greatly affected by TBR shelf/stacks.

[Bekah]

I definitely come back to goodreads to find a review before I purchase a book...everytime. There have even been times when a book has caught my eye..but I'm not certain and a review will totally decide me. So I really really appreciate the time and effort people put into their reviews. I don't always review every book...but I try to put something down..to remind myself and give others an idea.

I rarely leave really bad reviews but if a book is so horrible I feel I have to.

Generally I have been steered right, but not everyone is going to like the same things, and thats ok. There are loads of books I would never have found had it not been for reviews here.

[Wan]

Me too!! I've just recently came across a book that, from the cover alone, I wouldn't have read it in a million years. I know that I'm not supposed to judge the book by its cover. But after I looked a the rating and read some of the reviews here at GR, I decided to go for it. And what a TREAT!! It was sooo good. I even buy one to keep (cheesy cover and all). :-)

[Bekah]

oh, well Wan, now you have to tell us which book it was!!!

[Akaria]

@Carolyn: One of two sentences is fine. I like to write a lot. Lady D writes tons ;), but I can appreciate anything personal a reviewer says about a book.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

LOL, Akaria. I am not a loquacious person, but I can tend to ramble when I write. :)

[Wan]

Bekah wrote: "oh, well Wan, now you have to tell us which book it was!!!"

Oh! it's the one I just finished. I still have not write the review. (the hardcover version)

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Ooh. I love Laura Kinsale. But I haven't read that one yet!

[Bekah]

Oh, Wan, that is a really good book! Although when I read it, that was NOT the cover! What were they thinking?? That's so cheesy!!!!

[Arch]

That cover does look cheesy.

[Wan]

Well. I wanted the hardcover so that's what I got.

The softcover looks much nicer.