If you review books, do your book reviews change over time? How have they changed or stayed the same?
Do Your Book Reviews Change Over Time?
For today’s post, I’m discussing ways my book reviews have changed or stayed the same over time.
I’m linking up today with That Artsy Reader Girl for Top Ten Tuesday.
1. Minor Changes
When I started writing book reviews in 2017, I invested a significant amount of time planning the format, content, and structure. I labored over my five-star rating system. Everything is easier with a routine, a plan, and a template. From the beginning, I focused on creating templates for different types of reviews. Over the years, I’ve tweaked my review process, but there have not been major changes. Changes are most noticeable in my word choices as I discover better ways to phrase my enthusiasm, dissatisfaction, and recommendations.
You might enjoy this post Gift an Author: Write a Review, which also includes a few templates.
2. Solved Trigger Warnings
One element of reviews I struggled with the most is Trigger or Content Warnings. I always appreciate content warnings as I make my reading choices and believe in providing them. The struggle involves trigger warnings that can reveal major spoilers. See this post: Trigger Warnings: Yes or No. Recently, I decided to tackle this problem and researched how to hide text in WordPress. It’s easy, and I am annoyed for not implementing this technique sooner. One small tweak that solved a huge problem! From now on my TWs that contain spoilers will be hidden behind a “read more” option.
3. Fewer Reviews Are Making it to the Blog
From the beginning, I decided that I wanted to promote the very best reads to my followers. Only 4 or 5 Star reviews (or an occasional 3) make it to the blog. Although I give Star Ratings to every book I read on GoodReads, I don’t always provide written reviews there. Even though I’m expected to provide a review for an ARC, (advanced readers copy), it’s not guaranteed that the review will be published on this blog unless I can enthusiastically recommend it. Because of this policy, I’m picky about the ARCs or Blog Tours I accept. All bloggers set their own review policies. I guess one way that my review process has changed over time is that I’m more certain of my policy every passing year. So far, the “review police” haven’t come knocking. Here’s my post about writing honest reviews.
4. Offering Book Club Kits
One way my reviews have changed is that I now create FREE Book Club Kits for selected 5-Star reads. So far, I have five. See this page. Fun, but time-consuming!
5. Increasing the Kindness Factor
I’ve developed kinder ways of writing negative reviews. However, I’d rather avoid negative reviews altogether. For similar reasons, I don’t enjoy creating DNF posts. I’m a firm believer that no two persons read the same book. I prefer not to “yuck some’s yum.” Popular authors and hyped books can probably survive the occasional negative review, but I don’t enjoy the prospect of being the cause of an author’s tears. Thus, I increasingly tend to tread more lightly when expressing dissatisfaction. If you notice that I haven’t reviewed a popular book, it’s probably because I chose not to read it or I quietly DNFed it on Goodreads. I do have a shelf for DNFs if you’re curious.
6. Exploring Different Genres
Over time, I have tried to explore a variety of genres so that I can attract more followers. This is difficult because I know my reading tastes, and I consider myself a picky reader. However, I do try. For example, Project Hail Mary is one of my favorite audio books! An anomaly since I prefer realistic fiction!
7. Taking Better Notes
Taking more comprehensive notes is one way I’ve changed over time that you will not be able to notice. I’m much better at keeping notes as I read, which makes review writing more efficient. It’s amazing how much you forget that you think you’ll remember. I’ve learned the hard way!
8. Curating Lists
I’m discovering the joy of curating topical book lists. I find that they offer a nice break from routine book review posts (for me and you!). Often, I create them for a TTT (Top Ten Tuesday) post or simply for the fun of it when inspiration strikes. Book lists are another method of recommending books, and I always include links to reviews. I do not promote books that I haven’t read.
9. Chasing the Joy
Every year, finding great books to read and review brings me increased joy! I love sharing new reads or backlist gems with you. Your comments and feedback are essential components of the joy.
10. What Has Not Changed
A few things have not changed. My reviews are FREE (although donations are always welcome and appreciated), and my content is not AI-generated. I have always given star ratings. While some reviewers have dropped star ratings from their reviews, I have not. In addition, I strive to bring you the best of the best and post those reviews consistently. Thanks for following, liking, sharing, and commenting!
Let’s Discuss!
If you write reviews, I’d love to know how your reviews have changed over time, or how they have stayed the same.
Happy Reading Bookworms!
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection!
Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text
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All books I review are purchased or borrowed from the library unless explicitly stated that the book is free (arc).
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A lovely post Carol! I admit I’ve just written a review of a book I didn’t love and am quite conflicted about posting it. I haven’t been nasty (of course) and I won’t tag the author or publisher. But it’s a Netgalley book so I do feel obliged to post my thoughts.
If I haven’t loved the ARC, I’ve started putting my reviews on GR and NG only. So far no complaints. Unless it’s a book tour, blog reviews for arcs are not guaranteed! I try to be careful in requesting arcs but sometimes it just doesn’t match my reading tastes.
A good solution! It was a surprising one because it’s an author I usually love.
That’s disappointing!
When I struggle with a book I tend to not give it a full review, but instead mention it with a stack of other books that just get one-paragraph entries.
That’s a great solution! Thanks for sharing!
I tend to share reviews even for books I didn’t enjoy. I share what I like and what I don’t like. But I also know that not everyone has the same tastes in books, and tend to mention that as well.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/the-ls-have-it-ten-titles-starting-with-l/
I think it’s great when bloggers find the style of reviews that works for them! 🙌 I will occasionally share one that didn’t work for me, especially if it’s a popular overhyped book! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I think that as we blog more we find the ways that fit us best. Things that work better for us. We learn new things. 🙂 I love that you do book club kits!
It takes us a while to find our lane! Book club kits have been fun but time consuming! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
I really enjoyed reading this post Carol. I don’t post all my reviews on my blog either. Generally it’s the ones that I really enjoy but sometimes it might be a more negative review especially if it’s something that really irritated me. I do need to get better at taking notes especially with ARCs. It’s not too bad flicking through an actual book to find the part I want but I find much harder with an ebook
Thanks Janette! 🙌 Do you use the highlighter feature with your ebooks? That has really helped me!
I ought to but never remember 😳
I love this list! I need to figure out how to hide content warning stuff on WordPress, too. That’s a great idea.
Thanks Lydia! It’s super easy and I used this video … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0IEvNeFTLM
I also don’t post negative reviews anymore. i used to share more negative reviews and I have a rating system that allows me to do so, but I just skip reviewing anything I didn’t enjoy or that I DNF’d. I find it makes me feel better to just skip the negativity!
I agree! If I do occasionally post a negative review, I never feel great about it! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
There are lots of things that I can relate to here. I also decided several years ago to stop posting negative reviews on my blog so you’ll only find books with ratings 3-stars and up on there. I still share them on my Goodreads and other platforms (like Netgalley if needed) but otherwise, it’s all things I love! One thing that I hope to do is returning to genres I’ve previously loved and don’t read as much anymore. Great post!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Dini! It’s always fun to pause and reflect!
I wish I was better at taking notes, especially now that I’m reading more nonfiction. I feel like I immediately forget everything I read.
I’m better than I used to be but it’s hard! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
I can relate to so many of these, but I especially love number 9: chasing the joy. That’s become the most important aspect for me over the years!
I have less and less interest in “bleak” books!
Good changes! I love doing lists, too.
Thanks Lisa! 🙌
Hi, Carole – I write and post a review on Goodreads for every book that I read. Mostly, I do this for me since I usually read ahead for my bookclubs and I want to remember what my thoughts were upon finishing. Like Pam, I post all reviews – of the books I loved, the books I didn’t love and everything in between. If I did not love an indie book, or a book by a struggling local author, I do not give that book a star rating and am careful how I phrase my comment.
You’ve created a nice system!
Every book I read gets a star rating on GR (or it goes on my dnf shelf) and a minimal blog mention in my monthly wrap ups.
I relate to SO much of this, Carol! I also mentioned learning how to write kinder reviews. After some negative experiences (hate mail from authors, for one), I learned how to tone down my ‘tude and write more balanced reviews.
PROJECT HAIL MARY was an anomaly for me, too. I never would have read it if it hadn’t been a pick for book club. To my surprise, I loved it. I’m so glad I (reluctantly) gave it a go.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Ugh. I’ve never gotten hate mail. That must feel awful. Shameful of the author, really. They should know every book is not for every reader.
The PHM movie adaptation will be awesome hopefully! 🤞
Yes! It will be interesting to see how they adapt PHM for the big screen. I loved The Martian movie. I’m hoping this one will be just as good or even better.
Same!
Great post, Carol. I always enjoy your reviews and the way you write them. This year, I have posted some reviews on GR, but not on my blog, especially if it was a book that was just okay. When I first started writing reviews, I basically just did a synopsis of the book, but I realized that was not a review, and I have changed a lot over the years.
Thanks for your kind words of encouragement! It takes all of us some time and lots of trial and error to find our groove! I think your mini reviews are so smart!
Thanks, Carol. Like you said, it works for me.
I hadn’t realized people were dropping star ratings! I’ve always found them a bit of a bother since it can be hard to decide sometimes, but I try to just pick a rating and move on. We initially added them to our blog because readers seemed to want them!
I found it hard to decide at first, but after a few years it feels easier most of the time. I keep them on my blog because I look for them on other blogs. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Great post Carol. While I don’t like to ‘yuk someone’s yum’ if I don’t enjoy a book, I like to say why and that way people can make up their own minds. I also like to include an excerpt from the book so people can get a feel for the author’s writing style. Other than adding an excerpt, and being a bit more thorough, I don’t think my review have changed much at all.
Thanks! Your approach sounds good! It takes a while to find what works for us!
Wonderful post! Interesting — I didn’t know there was a way to hide text on WordPress! I don’t give trigger warning, but I do sometimes wish there was a better way to highlight or cover up spoilers. I’ll have to look into this more! I’m a fan of star ratings — in fact, I didn’t use them for the first five years or so of blogging, but over time, I came to realize that my previous approach wasn’t making me as happy any more, and I really do like having the stars as a quick reference point in addition to the narrative review.
Thanks! Here’s the video I watched to learn how to hide text! It’s easy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0IEvNeFTLM
Thanks! What WordPress plan are you one? After watching the video and trying to get the plug-in, I got a message saying it wasn’t available without an upgraded plan. 🙁
You might have to have a paid plan. I have the business plan because I needed that to allow affiliate links. If you know someone who knows coding, I’m sure there’s a way to code it and avoid the plugin.
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Thanks! 📚🙌🌻
very interesting. I just started a book review blog, so I will be keeping some of these things in mind. Thank you for the tips.
Thank you and good luck with your new blog! 🙌
Thanks