The other day, I sat down to write some long overdue book reviews on retail websites like Amazon and Barnes & Noble because, as an author, I know how important those are for discoverability. The more reviews a book has, the more likely those sites’ shadowy and all-powerful algorithm will show that book to other readers and would-be purchasers.
Now, I have eight whole published books under my belt and I regularly blurb (i.e. write those cool little quotes on the backs of your favorite books) the works of other authors. But when it came to writing up something for an audience not as entrenched in publishing and more formal book reviews—like an aunt trying to buy a birthday gift for a nephew or a recent college grad finally starting to read for fun again—I wasn’t sure what would be helpful.
So, of course, I asked the internet. And no, ChatGPT (my thoughts on generative AI are a whole other post). I threw the question out there to actual readers of all backgrounds, from the casual buyer to educators to bookstagrammers, and here are the common threads of their responses:
1. Skip the Summary
On retail sites, the summary of the book is purposefully easy to find, so no need for you to rehash it in your review. Now, if this is for a blog or a site where the “about the book” isn’t readily available, it would be helpful to start off with a sentence or two so the reader has some context for your review.
2. Tell us about the main character.
A lot of commenters wanted to know more about the main character than the book summary provided, so if there’s something you saw while reading that might be helpful to a casual browser/reader, throw it in! Expand on the characters’ goals, personalities, or approaches to problem solving. The phrase “two brothers” can stretch all the way from Phineas and Ferb to Cain and Abel, so be as specific as you can.
3. Tell us who you think the target audience of the work may be.
Yes, the genre and age range of the book is on that retail site, but commenters mentioned it was helpful to hear others’ takes on who might enjoy the book. Phrases like “for readers of [famous author with similar storylines]” or “for those who want romantasy that’s light on the fantasy and heavy worldbuilding” might be enough for the person reading your review to think, “Oh, that’s me! I’ll check this one out!”
4. If the book is for children, consider telling us who you, as the review writer and/or purchaser, are.
It makes a difference if you bought a book to read aloud or for a child to read themselves, for a classroom or for a specific young reader. (Bonus points if you add in that young reader’s opinion!)
5. Compare it to other media that has similar story lines, characters, or tone.
Comparable books are helpful to the reader crowd, but don’t be afraid to branch out to television, movies, or even video games: if a book about ghosts feels more Casper the Friendly Ghost than The Exorcist, I’d want to know!
6. If you want to mention something you didn’t like about the book, be specific.
A one-line “I didn’t like this” is much less helpful than “The story started off too slow and I found the magic too confusing.” Also, of note, if the author breaks the unspoken “don’t kill off the pet” rule in fiction, you absolutely must tell us (I’m only sort of kidding about this one).
7. Add in literally anything you think might help a someone who is considering investing a few hours of their time in this work.
What elements or themes aren’t mentioned in the book summary (for example, my middle grade book Ghoul Summer about a grumpy boy and a ghost in a beach house dives into – surprise surprise—labor movement and gentrification issues)? Is the writing flowery or straightforward? Is the book funny? Is there a juicy plot twist (don’t spoil it!) or an adorable-sounding animal sidekick? Is the main character a teensy bit annoying at first but becomes endearing as you read on? Anything that adds extra insight above and beyond the “about the book” summary is welcome!
These are just a few friendly suggestions from fellow readers and book buyers. Now go forth, review, and boost your favorite books’ online rankings!
