Writing Reviews: A Readers Self-Help Guide

After talking with several readers, it became apparent that many readers choose not to write reviews because they don't feel that have the knowledge to write professionally.  What may surprise these readers is that the reviews are for readers just like themselves.  With the overwhelming number of books available to the public these days, a review can help narrow down a reading list.  In the end, a review is simply what the reader felt about the book, a personal opinion.

So how can you write a review that will help other readers find books?  It's much easier than you think.  I hope after reading this article, you'll find the confidence to write your own book review.  The following steps are suggestions that will make your review appealing to other readers.  I will also give an example of a simple book review at the end of this article.

The first thing that should appear in your review, is your name.  Readers will be able to look up other reviews that you've written with this simple tidbit of information.  A short little line about what impressed or failed to impress you as a hook line (a sentence to draw other readers to your review). If you're posting your review to Amazon you will have the opportunity to choose between 1-5 stars.  One star being a book you would never recommend, and five stars being a book you would recommend with complete confidence.  

The review is simply your written words about what you enjoyed or didn't enjoy about the book you've read.  It can be as short or as long as you feel it needs to be.  I've seen reviews that were only three sentences and others that were more than three paragraphs.  When I write reviews, I prefer to keep them short and to the point, without revealing to many secrets.  I look at reviews as an enticement for the readers, and not the entire outline of the story for the reading public.

To create an effective review, tell the readers in the beginning what really caught your attention or distracted your attention away from the story line.  For example, the settings in the book made me feel like I was a part of it.  Or the grammar errors didn't allow me to truly enjoy the book as much as I could have.  It is easy to give a positive or negative review without criticizing the author.  I can not stress enough how you don't have to be a writer to give a great review.  

Just write down your thoughts about the book, and you'll have a great review.  Remember, you are offering a service to readers by writing reviews.  I hope this little article has helped you decide to review all the books you read.  There's a huge need for these reviews.  As promised, below you will find a review that I wrote for a book that I enjoyed.  I hope the sample I've included will help give you an idea of how easy it is to write reviews.

Michelle Hughes

Paranormal Romance Author

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read Adventure!, January 22, 2012

By 

Michelle Hughes "Tears of Crimson Series" (Verbena, AL) - See all my reviews

Treasure of Egypt is one of those books that you don't realize how much of a gem you've discovered, until you delve in. The author captures your attention from the first page and demands that you read on quickly to discover what is going to happen next. From old England to the land of Egypt, you are taken on an adventure that is so filled with vivid visualizations through words, that you feel as if you are enjoying the quest yourself. The author's attention to detail is remarkable. As someone who has never studied the Egyptian Hieroglyphs, even I was able to grasp the symbolization of the map that leads to the journey the characters embark on. The love story interlaced with the action-packed scenes was well-written and made me root for the couple. Through every -page of this book I was kept enthralled! This is a must-read story and has made it to my favorite books list.