5 Tips for Writing Engaging Book Reviews

If you've followed my blog or newsletter for any length of time, you know that I like to write reviews of the books I'm reading. Sometime I receive Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) and other times I review books I've purchased.

But what makes a review engaging?

Here's 5 simple tips on how to write an engaging review.

1. Start with a single sentence about the most impactful part of the author's writing style. What captivated you the most? What set the author's writing apart from others? Was it a page turner? Was it a mind-blowing twist on a common trope?

2. Write a few sentences about what you liked about the characters or what made it difficult for you to connect with the characters. Did the characters grow personally, professionally, or spiritually in a satisfying way? Were there aspects in these three areas that stood out to you? Why?

3. Write a few sentences about what impressed you the most about the tropes and plot. Did you connect with the tropes? Did you like the pacing and plot? The romantic tension and drama?

4. Avoid giving away spoilers. Was there a major plot twist and you are dying to talk about it? Focus on how "the plot twist" made you feel or how it captivated you without telling readers what it is.

5. Tell the reader what kind of readers might like the book. I often end with something like "fans of Christian or clean romance will (like, love, enjoy, won't want to miss) this book." Even if I wasn't fond of the book and gave it three stars, I still try to identify what readers might enjoy it.

Always be honest in your reviews. Even if you didn't like it, there are professional ways to convey that message.

A note about "DNF"

There's a lot of debate about how to handle a "DNF" or "Did Not Finish" book. So here's my approach to handling this.

If I purchased the book and DNF'd it, I don't leave a review.

If I received an ARC and the book tour organizer, publisher, or author is expecting me to give a review (always an honest review), then I handle it a little differently.

1. I wait at least a day, sometimes up to a week before writing the review. Sometimes I'll even pick the book up again after reading something else. I have read a few books and ended up liking them even though I set them on the shelf for a little bit.

2. I ask myself if the book just wasn't my cup of tea, what reader might find it interesting? Sometimes my DNF isn't because of the author's writing style. Maybe I just didn't resonate with a character(s) or I have trope fatigue or it wasn't a trope I'm fond of. Or it came across one note (as in the same angst is repeated with little variation in the description and no obvious steps toward growth or resolution).

3. Did this book flare up one of my pet peeves, like a business person or a tech person or situation that I'm more knowledgeable about than the author? Since I have a long career in these areas, I tend to be annoyed by these things where the typical reader wouldn't know the difference. Think if you are a Librarian, Doctor/Nurse, or have some other specialized knowledge, could you be overly annoyed by something in your area of expertise too?

   
   

Taking all of those into consideration, if I feel I still cannot write a fair and honest review, then I'll contact who I received it from, if possible, and let them know that I'm choosing not to review it and why.

A note about "trigger warnings"

How reviewers present the trigger could cause readers to miss out on an amazing book because the reviewer has made a mountain out of a mole hill. Often I've seen reviewers take one small scene or several scenes and blow them out of proportion. Is the trigger less than 1% of the entire book? Then represent that fairly when writing a review.

Here's how I choose to handle trigger warnings. (You do you.)

1. I work the possible trigger into the review. Here's an example: "The female main character faced demons from past abuse. While the descriptions of the abuse were delicately presented, some readers may struggle with this topic." Then I try to clarify if the trigger (without ever using the word trigger because the word itself is a trigger) is in one passage, several, or repeatedly occurring throughout the book. I find most often it's one or a few places that can easily be skipped over without losing the integrity of the book.

2. I never use bold or all caps to call out the trigger warning. This can turn readers off from reading the review or the book even if they aren't typically affected by said trigger.

3. I never place the trigger warning at the top of the review as it turns readers away from reading the rest of my review - even any clarification about why I think something is a trigger.

FTC Compliance

If you received an ARC, be sure to follow FTC guidelines to note that you received a copy from the author or publisher and that you're not required to give a favorable opinion. All opinions are your own.

For more info, check out Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”