Book Lists and Reviews, Oh My!!

By now you’ve probably spotted the plethora of 2018 published book lists: NYTimes, Great American Read and from the major book sellers. It’s an invigorating time for authors who place their books out with the millions of books printed each year in the US, when they receive support from readers in the form of reviews and/or forwarding of titles to friends and followers in social media.

Writing a book is an act of devotion to characters and subjects dear to an author’s heart. It’s months and maybe years of time spent with ideas, critiques, rewrites, and marketing with the goal of sharing their thoughts with family, friends and unknown readers. As an author, I want to thank you for every time you review a book you enjoyed, whether you know the author personally or not. Each review helps an author know what catches a reader’s interest. It inspires an author to keep writing in their chosen genre(s).

So, thanks! Keep reading. Take the time to write a 2 or 3-sentence review. I have includes simple ideas you can use to get you started. Authors will be grateful. Thank you.

How to Write a Brief Book Review

Read a good book lately? One you shared with a friend? Good! I know your friends appreciate hearing about books, but so do the authors of the books you read.

But what makes a good review?  How long will it take to write? How much do I need to write?  Where should I post it?

What makes a good review?

A good review shares your impression; what you liked about the story and the characters.

 How long will it take to write?

Budget 5-7 minutes. (You may use the same review in several places!)

 How much do I need to write?

K.I.S.S – Keep It Simple, Sweetie! Write 2-3 conversational sentences.

TWO EXAMPLES:

(1) I just finished reading (title of book) by (author name). It’s a great mystery that takes place in New York City. The author introduced us to    several interesting sites as he solved the disappearance of the museum’s collection of Van Gogh paintings.

(2) If you like historical fiction, you’ll love (title) by (author’s name). The author included great details from the 1850s and placed me in the center of the main character’s problem. (add 2 details you enjoyed here) It’s a fast read that made me cheer for (character) from the first page to the last.

 Where should I post it?

Mention the book and author on your social media. Better yet, copy your review onto the sites you visit most often

Facebook      Twitter    Goodreads   Pinterest   Instagram   etc.       

Post your review on Amazon and Barnes& Noble

Type in the book title and author name.  Scroll down the page and copy your review as directed.  Hit like for any reviews you agree with.

Please know that other readers appreciate your ideas and authors thank you for taking the time to share your impressions!