Should Writers Read Their Reviews
By Terah Shelton Harris | September 27, 2023 |
Do not read your reviews. Do. Not. Read. Your. Reviews. That’s the advice parroted to me over and over again from multiple writing friends just before the publication of my book, One Summer in Savannah. At first, I took this advice to heart without question. There must be a reason why every writer I know is consistently telling me this. Then I heard horror story after horror story about the mental toll reading reviews can have on writers and how relentless and cruel some reviewers can be.
And yet, I was curious. As writers, we know why reviews are important. Books are made available months before publication with the purpose of garnering positive reviews and ramping up word of mouth. Good reviews can play a critical part in the success of a book and work as excellent marketing and sales tools. Reviews can be very beneficial for writers. So why shouldn’t writers read their reviews?
What, if anything, can be gained by writers reading their reviews?
That’s the question I posed to five published writers of various genres who spoke with me on the condition of anonymity. Are there pros and cons to take from reading your reviews?
“A writer should only read their reviews if they can mentally handle it,” a mystery writer said to me. “I’m not opposed to writers reading their reviews and have even read a few of my own, but you have to have thick skin. If not, the result can be disastrous.”
There’s no greater example of this than when earlier this year, an author went viral after lashing out at the reviewer who gave her upcoming book a four-star review. Upset that the reviewer messed up her perfect 5-star average, the author not only named the reviewer but published a series of TikToks venting her frustration. The writer’s publisher later decided to part ways with the author but not before many reviewers explained that authors should stay out of reviewer’s spaces.
But should they? Should writers stay out of reviewer’s spaces? Can reading reviews, dare I say it, be useful for writers brave enough to handle criticism?
Absolutely, according to a historical fiction writer I spoke to. “A few astute reviewers correctly pointed out an issue with my plot, an issue that is not easily obvious but one that frustrated me,” she said. “Because of this, while on tour, I made sure I pointed out this issue and addressed it. I would have never been able to do that if I didn’t read a few of my reviews.”
Another writer I spoke to also agrees that reading reviews can be helpful for writers. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to read my reviews but in doing so I discovered that several reviewers commented on the pacing in my book and how much it frustrated them. While writing my next book, I was a little more conscious of the pacing.”
But not all writers agree that reading reviews is helpful. A romance writer I spoke with firmly believes that writers should stay off Goodreads and NetGalley. “I fail to see why writers would subject themselves to reading reviews,” she said. “If a reviewer complains about the book, it’s not like we can change anything at that point. I think writers reading their own reviews are setting themselves up for unnecessary stress.”
One writer pointed out the subjectivity of reviews as a reason to stay away. “I’ve always found reviews to be baffling. A reviewer can say that your book is the best book ever written and give you a 5-star review only for another reviewer to give it a 1-star and DNF at 25% because they didn’t connect with the characters. Reviews are so subjective as are the tastes of the reader so why should writers subject themselves to that?”
Despite the pros and cons of writing reviews, one writer admitted to reading her reviews for a much simpler reason: curiosity. “With my debut, I read early reviews of my book not because I’m a glutton for punishment but because I wanted to get an idea of early reception. I wanted to see what readers, not critics, thought. So far, I’ve read early reviews for all my books for the same reason. I normally read them for the first month or so.”
In the end, for the sake of research for this article (and against advice), I decided to read a few of the reviews for my novel on Amazon. I chose Amazon over Goodreads because Amazon requires proof of purchase. Honestly, I was surprised and pleased with my rating and reviews. However, despite mostly positive reviews, I found myself thinking about the single 1-star review I read which confirmed why I have chosen to not read my reviews.
Overall, one thriller writer likens reading reviews like camping in the woods: Leave no trace. “If you choose to read your reviews, leave no sign that you have done so and be conscious with how you choose to process this information. Don’t post about it and definitely don’t allow it to have a lasting impact on you.”
What do you think? Do you read your reviews? Do you believe writers read their reviews?
Terah Shelton Harris is a librarian and freelance writer, who now writes upmarket fiction with bittersweet endings. As a freelancer, her work has appeared in consumer and trade magazines including Catapult, Women’s Health, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Backpacker, Minority Nurse, and more. One Summer in Savannah is her first novel.
Hello Terah. Thank you for posting on a subject discussed quite often at Writer Unboxed and elsewhere. It relates to the delicate nature of the writer’s ego. The argument usually goes like this: If anything less than unqualified praise might send the writer stumbling back to bed with a cold compress on her head, why risk reading reviews? For myself, the idea of not reading reviews seems impossible. Not because I want to learn from them, but because I’m curious. I know what I’ve written, I’ve submitted it to professional editorial scrutiny, and then sent it into the world. I know some will like it, others won’t. But my curiosity is twofold. I’m curious about what readers have to say, but I’m even more interested in how they say it. With something close to complete consistency, bad reviews of my writing are themselves badly written. That makes them easy to dismiss. But sometimes, reviews are thoughtful and well written, and those I take seriously. Thanks again for your post.
Terah: you have just published your first novel, so the tough-mindedness in my comment doesn’t fit. EVERYONE is a delicate flower at your stage as a writer. My comment comes from an older perspective. I’m glad you were pleased with your reviews. That had to mean a lot.
Thanks for your comment, Barry. It doesn’t seem impossible to not read reviews and it’s definitely an effort to not read them. But I like what you said about being curious about what readers have to say. Thank you for giving me another way of looking at reviews.
Terah, I just ordered your book! I remember wanting to read it and it fell off the radar–too many books–so I’m grateful you posted on reading reviews. I read my reviews, sporadically, because it gives me a sense whether I connected with a reader or not. It’s always so gratifying when someone enjoys your story. Even the negative reviews have much to teach. I also try to leave reviews but this past year, I’ve been a glutton and reading, reading, reading and not taking the time to post reviews. And now I’m singing, singing, singing…so who knows when I’ll mend my ways.
Thank you so much for ordering my book! I agree that reading reviews can help give you another if your story connected with readers. I’ve learned so much and opened my eyes to reading reviews after writing this article.
Congrats on your debut novel, Terah! It sounds terrific and I’ve added it to my TBR.
I do read my reviews, at least the first several hundred per book. Beyond that, they tend to get repetitive. Only once have I changed my writing based on what readers had to say. Usually, I am interested in what parts of the story resonated with them and which did not, but chasing the nay-sayers is never a winning strategy, in my opinion. You simply can’t please everyone. One person’s “Moody and atmospheric–I felt like I was there!” is another person’s “Slow and boring–nothing ever happened!”
As for those one-star reviews, they are annoying to read but they can be a blessing. They help readers sort themselves into those who would would like your book versus not. For example, a one-star review might say, “Ugh, this had ghosts in it. I hate ghost stories!” This keeps other readers who hate ghosts away from your book while enticing readers who LOVE ghost stories to give it a try. (See also: sex, religion, politics, serial killers, first-person POV and other reader bugaboos.)
But also one-star reviews are a sign that your book has REACH. One-star reviews mean your book is bumping into some people who are not its intended audience. If your book isn’t bumping into some people it’s NOT for, it probably isn’t bumping into enough people it IS for.
All that said, reviews are indeed meant for readers, not authors. I don’t think authors are wusses for not reading their reviews, and I don’t think it says anything about the thickness of one’s skin or one’s staying power in the industry if an author doesn’t read reviews. If an author finds themselves ruminating too much on what other people have to say about their work, it can be damaging to the creative process. That’s reason enough to take a pass.
Thanks for this, Joanna! My goodness…such an amazing insight. I never considered the significance of one-star reviews and how they illustrate that my book is reaching its intended audience. I will keep that in mind.
Reviews and comments are different. Reviews should, or ought to, provide a thoughtful analysis and opinion of a book’s merits. Comments are unfiltered, gut reactions. I liked it. I didn’t like it. Both are valid and informational, but there’s a reason that reviews are authoritative and publishers do not splash comments on covers.
One thing to watch out for in negative comments is whether a comment addresses the book or attacks the author. Is the complaint about the writing or about someone’s perception of the writer’s identity and politics? Such comments say more about the person posting the comment than they do about the book; indeed, sometimes nowadays the book hasn’t even been read.
Generally, if one has the stomach for reviews then the best plan is to be grateful for the good ones and to learn from the bad ones. If bad reviews get under your skin, though, avoid them…and maybe wonder why they matter so much to you?
Universal praise isn’t possible. You won’t please everyone. It’s good to appeal widely but not to bend to the crowd. Please them, sure, but first of all please yourself.
Please them, sure, but most of all please yourself. Thanks for your post today, Terah. We all learn from your openness and the comments of fellow writers. Congrats on your novel.
Thanks! I’ve learned so much about reviews while researching and reading this article. I was hesitant to dive into these waters but I’m so happy that I did. Thank you for your comment!
Commenting on reviews — especially unsolicited or anonymous reviews — always comes off as punching down. In a parasocial relationship, the person who made the piece is seen as pseudo famous. So commenting on them is foolhardy.
But.
The general system is this:
⭐️ – this person either hates their life right now, hates you, hates your topic, hates your genre, or hates your way of thinking about something they care passionately about. Recently a one star reviewer wrote that they thought I lied about my having been born in Southern Illinois (I didn’t) and concluded I wouldn’t even know how to pronounce Cairo, Illinois (I do). What’s really going on is that they disagree with the way I portrayed the region. Only in his hometown and among his own people is a prophet without honor.
⭐️⭐️— this person wanted a different book. this may be as simple as a marketing problem: your cover or dust jacket copy gave them the impression that it was a different book than the one they got. It may be an “I needed a completely different book, tonaly, than this right now” thing, it may be that they’re creative and would have pulled off your premise in a radically different way, it may be you dealt with your subject too harshly or passively. Whatever it is, a ⭐️⭐️ review is basically an idealist giving you the what for
⭐️⭐️⭐️ is the most useful. This is a near miss. This is someone who enjoys your other work, enjoys work or books like yours, or encountered you for the first time and WANTED to like this book, but for some near misses. Pay attention to these the most because these will reveal your biggest opportunities for growth
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ this is someone who didn’t think your novel was canon or the best thing ever, but who enjoyed it. Subtleties here can take your work from good to great.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ are just as unreliable as one stars, but we use them to fluff our ego. BEWARE! The wheel of fortune is fickle and the same reviewer who raves today will rage tomorrow. Ignore these as easily because they cannot help you grow
For growing, learning, adapting, working on the next piece should always be the goal of reading these
Without a curious, joyful, learner’s posture you shouldn’t read reviews.
With a listener’s ear and a penchant for creative solutions, however, they separate those who are constantly improving and those who merely settle
Hi Lancelot! Thanks for this! I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen the star system broken down this way. Excellent information to consider. Completely off-topic…what if I told you that I was from Southern Illinois? What a small world we live in!
It’s an elaboration on Brandon Sanderson’s.
Oh wild, where from?
Yeah it’s my modified and expanded version of Brandon Sanderson’s system
I’d be very interested. What town(s)?
I think the question isn’t really “should you” read reviews, because we’re all going to, aren’t we? How can we not? The whole business of transferring your ideas, style and personality to print almost demands that you look in the mirror to see if you are reflected as the genius you know yourself to be. Alas, Terah’s right. There’s always going to be the one reviewer whose opinion matters to you who inexplicably can’t see how perfectly you pulled it off. I still think about it.
I not only read reviews – I copy every single one (I have a total somewhere near 100 for both books of my mainstream trilogy) to my marketing Scrivener project, with the date I noticed them, the place, and the link that takes me directly to the comment (GR, Amazon, or someone’s blog). That way I won’t lose them if Amazon’s algorithms change, for example.
Reviews are gold. Someone has been MOVED to take time to give me feedback by something in what I’ve written (yes, I know their purpose is to express their opinions for other readers). The favorable long literate reviews tell me I’m hitting my marks – and, I admit, can keep me writing through the long dark spells.
If I can communicate with the reviewer, I request permission to use their words in my marketing – and have asked several for a review of the second book in the trilogy with excellent results. I credit them as ‘used with permission,’ and ask them how they would like to be acknowledged.
If a reviewer didn’t like one of my two novels, it’s sometimes because they shouldn’t have read it in the first place – so I check my ad copy and descriptions. It is difficult sometimes to distinguish between a Romance and a mainstream love story in short descriptions, but readers shouldn’t be encouraged to try something they already know they won’t like! I aim to encourage those who might, not antagonize those I’m not writing for.
There is no other source of this data: is the target customer satisfied, the marketer’s most important question.
I see a distinction between trade reviews, such as those in Library Journal, Pub Wkly, or Kirkus; book blogger reviews; and reader comments. I think it’s important to read the trade reviews b/c they can have some influence on bookseller and library purchase decisions, and are generally written by professionals who consider the book as a whole — and they may say things you can take into account in your promo, as well as excerpt the praise on your website. Blogger reviews vary widely; some are professional caliber while others are more gut reactions. Reader reviews are the toughest b/c they can vary so much. Decide whether to read which sources based on how you think they might affect you. You may be more able to read and learn from them later, say months after publication, than in the thick of it.
Congratulations on your debut! Oh, I definitely read reviews. I admit to holding my breath before reading, filled with imposter syndrome, but like Alicia I take pleasure in their positive comments and mine them for quotes. My currently published books are a bit different from most here: they’re all how-to nonfiction in a specific industry to which I consult. So, the reviews are incredibly important to me. I have the added benefit of those same people coming to me for consulting and telling me how much my books helped them get started.
However, I am still wounded, several years later, by a 3-star review on Goodreads that read, “boring but accurate”. I’m just kidding about the wounded part. I was not particularly pleased by the 3-stars, and obviously I still remember it, but I found the review quite amusing. And I would never, ever engage with a reviewer. Pure suicide.
Catchy title and well thought advice. I have a client whose written 5 amazing history books and won’t look at her reviews so I did and She was thrilled to know they are all 5 stars. I read mine and was really pleased and can imagine it could be hard if they weren’t complimentary. I do agree, we learn from them. Great post. 🙏🏼