Comments on: Book Reviews: Why They Matter SO Much

By: Joan Holub

Joan Holub — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:42:17 +0000

Thank you for this really interesting post! I always (try) to leave at least a short review of something I finished reading or something I liked. I don’t pan books because all writers know how it feels to read something hurtful. Alas…it’s a brave new world out there for us.

By: Why Reviews Matter – Cameron Cooper's Science Fiction

Why Reviews Matter – Cameron Cooper's Science Fiction — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 20:50:33 +0000

[…] Check out Kristin’s post here: “Book Reviews: Why They Matter SO Much” […]

By: Kelly K. James

Kelly K. James — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 13:30:34 +0000

Fellow author here–this is one of the best pieces I’ve ever read on the importance of books reviews (and I cackled while reading it–bonus!). I do read reviews, and have written a few, and this reminded me to get back in the reviewing groove. As you said, even a sentence or two can help make a difference to an author.

Thank you for a delightful, and helpful post! Just shared it on Facebook. 🙂

By: clpauwels

clpauwels — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 20:38:13 +0000

After being savaged one too many times for writing (diplomatic) honest reviews that were less than glowing, I walked away from that gig! And because I rarely buy books on Amazon (except as a last resort), it won’t allow me to review there (at least last time I tried).

And I rarely read reviews because I know only the good ones will be posted. I’ve seen too many threads insisting, “If you can’t leave 3 stars or more, don’t bother!” How does that help a reader decide which book to buy?

I *hate* that we’re slaves to algorithms; the publishing world is tough enough as it is.

By: Linda

Linda — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 14:17:40 +0000

What a great blog! I am an avid reader, but rarely leave reviews (stars, yes, but you can’t usually ‘just’ leave stars). Seeing readers write long reviews intimdates me (I was never great at school for writing reviews – I read for escapism, not to analyse every word the author has written!), so being ‘given permission’ to just write “I loved it, especially the bit when….” or “it made me cry” is so helpful. I will endeavour to write a – small- review for any upcoming books I read.

By: Kathi Soniat

Kathi Soniat — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 20:53:24 +0000

Tracy, we “listen” to you!! In fact I followed the trail here – to get more info. <3
I'm one of those "avid readers" – and in 2015 realized how important those reviews were (Tracy was the first author I reviewed for!) I now review everything I read – which was 397 stories in 2023. I always like the "tips" on how to review, as I think it can be an "art form".

By: Angus Silvie

Angus Silvie — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 17:59:31 +0000

What a great post, couldn’t agree more. I did a free promotion on my latest book and it got to No 12 on the Amazon bestseller list for a day or so with thousands of downloads. How many reviews did I get out of that? About 5. Since then, I got perhaps one a month and now none for ages. I look at other people with books that have 100s of reviews, sometime 1000s (I am up to 29 now) and I genuinely don’t understand how they do it unless they are running at a huge loss with their promotions (on which I have lost a lot of money). The whole process baffles me. I always leave a review for books I read (unless I hate them, when I don’t want to be cruel), but for my books, it seems that hardly anyone does. I must have a strike rate of 1 review for every 200 readers, and most of them are just star ratings with no comments. It is just so weird.

By: About This Writing Stuff… | Phil Giunta – Paranormal, Fantasy, & SF Writer

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 16:57:04 +0000

[…] Book Reviews: Why They Matter So Much by Kristen Lamb […]

By: Mar

Mar — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 14:00:57 +0000

God, I loved this post.

By: Kristen Lamb

Kristen Lamb — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 03:08:48 +0000

In reply to PATTI RAE.

I genuinely think there is a disconnect. “Regular” people feel just that…”regular”. They have NO CONCEPT the difference just that short little review can do.