Gina Rae Mitchell

10 Reasons to Leave a Book Review

I have found that many people are hesitant to leave a book review, even if they love the story. I hope these 10 reasons will change your mind. Of course, this is just my humble opinion. I hope if you are one of those reluctant folks, this list might change your mind.

1. Informative Guidance: They give readers insights into a book’s content, style, and quality. This helps potential readers decide if the book aligns with their interests and preferences.
2. Promotion of Literature: Positive reviews can boost an author’s reputation and book sales, encouraging writers to continue producing quality literature.
3. Constructive Criticism: Reviews offer constructive feedback for authors, helping them refine their writing skills and improve future works.
4. Community Building: Book reviews foster discussions and connections among readers with similar interests, creating a sense of community among literature enthusiasts.
5. Preservation of Cultural Record: Over time, reviews preserve literary history by documenting opinions and perspectives on books, helping future generations understand the cultural and literary significance of certain works.
6. Diverse Perspectives: Book reviews often reflect the diverse perspectives of readers, shedding light on how different individuals interpret and connect with the same text. This can broaden the understanding of a book’s impact.
7. Professional Evaluation: Professional book reviews from critics and experts can provide in-depth analysis, helping readers gain a deeper appreciation of a book’s themes, symbolism, and literary techniques.
8. Curatorial Role: In a world with an abundance of books, reviews help curate and filter choices for readers, saving them time and effort in selecting books that are worth their attention.
9. Feedback Loop: Reviews offer authors valuable feedback on what resonates with readers, enabling them to refine their storytelling techniques better and cater to their audience.
10. Influence on Publishing Industry: The collective impact of book reviews can influence publishers’ decisions, including what books to promote, reprint, or adapt, shaping the publishing landscape.

These reasons may seem a little deep for some readers, but remember, you don’t have to leave an in-depth review for it to be beneficial. You can leave a simple: I liked it for “this reason,” even if it is just “the book entertained me.”

Leave a Book Review for Library Books

You don’t have to purchase the book to leave a review. Goodreads is a fabulous place to leave reviews. I could go on and on about Goodreads (or StoryGraph, if that’s your preference), but I’ll save that for another post.

Many readers, myself included, can’t afford to buy all the books on our TBR (to be read) list. The library is our best friend in this case. I’m especially fond of Libby by Overdrive. Libby connects through your local library and gives you access to so many fabulous digital books and audiobooks. Now, if the book is very popular, you have to place a hold and wait for a copy to become available. But that’s a small setback. The app also lets you sample a book to know if it’s right for you.

Leave a Book Review on Your Favorite Book-Selling Sites

I always check out the reviews for a book I’m interested in. You can tell a lot from the good reviews as well as the bad. What ruined a book for one reader is often just what another reader is looking for. A book review mentioning Content Warnings can either draw readers in or turn them away. No one wants to waste time on a book that isn’t right for them. On the flip side, a reader can be intrigued by the warnings.

Many sites like Amazon, BookBub, and Barnes & Noble, to name a few, will allow you to leave a book review even if you didn’t purchase the book there. It’s important to note that if you received the book free from the author or publisher, you must disclose that in your review. I use the simple phrase: ” I received a copy from the author, publisher, or book tour company. This review is my honest opinion.” It works well for me.

Leave a Book Review on Multiple Sites

If you are ambitious or were really moved by the story, you can leave a book review in multiple places. No “rule” says you can only leave a book review in one place. I generally leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads to start with. If I am reading a book for a blog tour or an author’s request, I will ask where else they want me to share my review. For the average bibliophile who is not a book blogger, you should leave your review on your favorite site.

Leave a Book Review for Yourself

Remember, your review is yours! You aren’t writing it for the author or other readers. But if they can gain insight from your thoughts, then your review has merit. Please don’t leave a book review that says… I loved it, or I hated it. Add an extra phrase explaining why you reacted to the story like you did. One of my pet peeves is poor grammar and spelling. Mentioning that benefits other readers as well as the author. There are many ways to leave reviews, and the main point is it benefits everyone if you leave a review.

In Conclusion

Book reviews are important for many reasons. My biggest reason is that leaving a review helps me gather my thoughts and process what I read. I find that stories I leave a review for tend to stay in my mind longer. While I can enjoy a tale without leaving a review, why not help out fellow readers by offering your thoughts?

This is the start of my latest series of bookish-themed posts. I hope you found some insight and inspiration from my thoughts. I’ll be expanding on these themes in future posts. Would you please comment below and share your thoughts on book reviews? Do you always leave a book review or simply move on to the next story? There is no right or wrong answer. The object here is to open communications and discussions about books…all books!

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You can also find snippets of my posts in the monthly newsletter from author Lou Kemp. If you love magical adventures, visit her website and subscribe to her newsletter. For a taste of Lou’s books, visit my reviews of the Celwyn series.