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What are the most common mistakes authors make when creating a book review?

Chastity Vigietti

As a user of various social media platforms, I have come across countless book reviews written by authors, and it's safe to say that some of them are a bit flawed.

Firstly, I have seen authors solely focusing on retelling the plot of a book. While it's essential to give readers a brief idea of what the book is about, it's not necessary to summarize the entire plot. Remember, your readers can easily check the blurb on the back cover or online to find out the plot. Instead, it's better to concentrate on your thoughts and opinions about the story, the writing style, the characters, and the overall impact the book had on you. A book review is more about your personal experience rather than an overview of the story.

Another mistake authors make is providing spoilers, which can ruin the story for someone who hasn't read the book yet. If there's a particular twist or a plot point that you want to talk about, try to keep it as vague as possible. For example, if there's an unexpected plot twist towards the end of the book, you can say something like, "There's a significant twist towards the conclusion that I did not see coming" instead of revealing the twist.

Moreover, sometimes authors write a book review without being entirely honest. They don't want to hurt the author's feelings, so they sugarcoat their thoughts, or they don't mention their criticisms at all. As an author, you need to be honest and constructive in your review. If you don't like something, explain why you didn't like it, and provide suggestions on how it could have been improved. This allows readers to trust your reviews and know that you're not just trying to please everyone.

Lastly, some authors tend to get caught up in their emotions while reviewing a book. If a book made you cry, that's great, but don't let that cloud your judgment. Remember, a book review is not a personal diary entry. Try to analyze the book objectively, and give a well-balanced review that highlights both the positive and negative aspects of the book.

In conclusion, when writing a book review, it's crucial to focus on your personal experience rather than retelling the entire plot, avoid spoilers, be honest and constructive in your review, and try to maintain an objective tone. Writing a good book review takes practice and patience, but it's worth it in the end for both readers and authors.