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Review advice
Hey guys! I'm really new to writing reviews (and by that I mean I never really took the time to publish one). I was just wondering if you guys had any tips or advice for reviews such as things to add, things to leave out, etc. It would be really helpful. Thanks!
Mod
This is the format I follow for my reviews. It might help you out. :)
(I kept everything spoiler free and try to avoid all spoilers as I like giving a good idea about the book without spoiling anything)
I first always start with a quote from the book, even if it’s a book I didn’t like so much. This quote is mostly something that stuck with me, or I just liked in general.
Then I give my star rating , as I often give half stars so it is to clear things up.
After that I start with a few introduction lines, like;
What did I like/dislike most about the book? What stood out to me most? Why did I read it? Did I have any specific purpose? Did it serve my purpose? etc
I also mention if there are any trigger warnings.
Then I start with the plot
Here I talk about what the book was about, was here anything unique? What did I like about it the most? Any plot twists? Were they predictable? Any plot holes/inconveniences in the plot? Was the plot too convenient? How was the ending? Was it a good conclusion? Was there any foreshadowing? etc
Then I talk about the writing
How was the writing style? We’re there any cliche lines? If there were, I give examples with dialogue. How was the pacing?
Was the pacing consistent? etc
If it is a fantasy book (as I read a lot of fantasy) then I talk about the world building next.
How was the world built? Did we explore everything? Was it well developed? Was there something inconsistent in it? etc
I then talk about the characters.
I go over each of them individually, unless there is a specific reason(like spoilers) for me not too.
I talk about what I liked/disliked about the characters. Were they just black and white/snowflake characters? Was anything about them unique? Were they morally grey? was it well done? etc
I sometimes use quotes from the book to describe the characters as well.
After this, I mention any other aspect of the book I’d to cover, like romance or character dynamics.
If I’m reading an audiobook (as I read a lot of audiobooks) I give my thoughts on the narration.
I then write a few lines on why I rated the book the amount of stars I gave it.
After that, I write my overall thoughts in the book/would I recommend it and to whom I’d recommend it.
Then if it’s a series, I link my reviews and ratings for other books in the series.
I also add some gifs in between to make it fun!
I then put this disclaimer-
All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.
And I mention my rating system
How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite
Here is a link to some of my reviews if you’d like to see how I execute this-
The cruel prince-https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Shadow and bone-https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The invisible life of Addie LaRue-https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
City of bones-https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I hope this helped.
Bhavya wrote: "Hello!This is the format I follow for my reviews. It might help you out. :)
(I kept everything spoiler free and try to avoid all spoilers as I like giving a good idea about the book without spoi..."
Thank you so much I really appreciate it! I had no idea where to start and this really helped. I was also wondering if you annotate your books while you read? I've seen a lot of people doing it but I didn't know exactly what to do for that.
Mod
This is the format I follow for my reviews. It might help you out. :)
(I kept everything spoiler free and try to avoid all spoilers as I like giving a good idea about the bo..."
Glad I could help!
Yes, I annotate most books that I read. If it’s a book with great quotes or a problematic book then I annotate.
If it’s just average then I don’t.
I mainly make updates on gr itself. When you see a sentence and it invokes some reaction in you, positive or negative then note I down along with your reaction.
I also come across books that don’t have such great writing, or they have problematic content. In such cases having quotes to back your points is always excellent. It helps proving what you want to say, and the person reading the review can also form their own opinion. (See my city of bones review to understand what I mean)
If the book has great quotes, then you could spread those throughout the review. That helps convince people to read it. (See my invisible life of Addie LaRue review to understand what I mean)
Bhavya wrote: "✰Allie✰ wrote: "Bhavya wrote: "Hello!This is the format I follow for my reviews. It might help you out. :)
(I kept everything spoiler free and try to avoid all spoilers as I like giving a good i..."
Okay, thank you so much for the help!
Mod
This is the format I follow for my reviews. It might help you out. :)
(I kept everything spoiler free and try to avoid all spoilers as I like ..."
Anytime! :)
Mod
Share them here! Would love to help you out. :)
Bhavya wrote: "Anyone has any reviews they’d like advice for?Share them here! Would love to help you out. :)"
this isn't for a specific review but a general question: how do i center gifs in my reviews? is there a way to move them to the center or to the right rather than to the left?
Mod
Share them here! Would love to help you out. :)"
this isn't for a specific review but a general question: how do i center gifs in my r..."
I don’t think there is, but I think you can try the paragraph option. :)
Mod
Mod
There’re a gr html here-https://help.goodreads.com/s/article/...
Can I get a second opinion on this review pleaseThe author contacted me to ask for a review and I haven't heard anything since I posted it. Is that normal or was I too mean?
message 14:
by
B , Bookish Bhavya {trying to be active again!}
(last edited Apr 01, 2021 09:31AM)
(new)
Mod
The author contacted me to ask for a review and I haven't heard anything since I posted it. Is that normal or was I too mean?"
I don’t think you were too mean.
Is the book out yet? If it is, you could use quotes to back your points. As long as your criticism is constructive/ helps someone (like a potential reader) in some way (this one does) it’s ok to write a negative review. :)
Bhavya wrote: "Eloise wrote: "Can I get a second opinion on this review pleaseThe author contacted me to ask for a review and I haven't heard anything since I posted it. Is that normal or was I too mean?"
I do..."
Oh yeah it's out on Kindle - I made plenty of notes so I might add a few quotes. Thanks for mentioning it.
I guess I just feel bad because it's a small indie author (presumably) doing everything themselves. Worried I'd missed a social rule or something. You've put my mind at ease!
Mod
The author contacted me to ask for a review and I haven't heard anything since I posted it. Is that normal or was I t..."
I understand that, I sometimes feel bad too for the same reason.
Still, I think constructive criticism is beneficial to everyone. It helps in improvement. :)
Mod
There’re a gr html here-https://help.goodreads.com/s/article/......"
"And as both Utterly and Casper's whispers tiptoed out into the night and were lost in the trails of stardust, Utterly turned to Casper."- Chapter 22, Rumblestar
Anyone have any thoughts on reviewing massive books? (I'm trying to review Words of Radiance and there's just so much happening in the book.) I have so many notes! There are so many amazing characters! I felt so many feels! 😂 But I try to keep my reviews to 800 words on average, and of late I feel like that's not really doing justice to a big book.
message 19:
by
B , Bookish Bhavya {trying to be active again!}
(last edited Apr 06, 2021 10:08AM)
(new)
Mod
(I'm trying to review Words of Radiance and there's just so much happening in the book.) I have so many notes! There are so ma..."
That is definitely difficult! Maybe you could touch over the things you loved in bullet points or something? Not a format I usually follow, but it might help to summarize everything. :)
That's true! Bullet points could come in handy for miscellaneous stuff that doesn't fit in anywhere else. It's not a format I really favour either, but for books this big... 😅
Mod
That is there. It’s different to break down such huge books. :)
This is pretty good!!! :) - concise and clear on why you have reached these conclusions.I would recommend putting the synopsis (description of the plot) and the plot analysis in different paragraphs, so the plot analysis will be more noticeable.
Mod
I would recommend putting the synopsis (description of the plot) and the plot analysis in different paragra..."
I sort of merged the two so I didn't know exactly where to separate it. And thanks!!!
Mod
I would recommend putting the synopsis (description of the plot) and the plot analysis in different paragra..."
I agree!
Mod
Any advices?"
I think this is great! Maybe you could talk a give some quotes as to why the characters didn’t feel realistic. :)
BHAAAAVYAAAAAA I NEED HELP!Please tell me how this is! and where I have to improve
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
Please tell me how this is! and where I have to improve
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I’ll see it in a while! :)
Hey Bhavya! Can I get advice on these two reviews (sorry to bother you):Throne of Glass: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Cruel Prince: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
Throne of Glass: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Cruel Prin..."
Sure, I’ll do it in a while. I need to go now, sorry. :)
Bhavya wrote: "Anushka wrote: "Hey Bhavya! Can I get advice on these two reviews (sorry to bother you):Throne of Glass: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"
Thank you, Bhavya!!
Mod
Advice for my review please-https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
Mod
Please tell me how this is! and where I have to improve
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Loved this one ❤️
You mentioned Leslie Burke is good at everything. Does she have flaws? If she doesn’t, isn’t she a Mary Sue? 🤔
Otherwise I loved the review ♥️
Mod
THRONE OF GLASS
1. I think your review has quite a lot of untagged spoilers for this book and the next I’m the series. Can you please give a spoiler warning. Fortunately I read the book so I didn’t get spoiled, but someone else might. :)
2. I agree on everything you aid and your criticisms were valid. At one point you quote a paragraph, maybe you can put it in blockquote and italics?
3. You’ve talked about everything apart from the world building. Maybe you can elaborate on that.
Great review otherwise! ❤️
Mod
THE CRUEL PRINCE
I loved this review! Don’t really have much to say on it, as you covered everything. Maybe you can talk about if there was enough foreshadowing for ‘the big reveals’ etc. Great review otherwise ❤️
Mod
LETTERS TO THE LOST
Love the review! Maybe you can add some space after the quote in the beginning and highlight your rating in bold or something.
You repeat them ‘not making stupid decisions’ twice in the characters section, so you could change that if you want. :)
Great review otherwise!
Mod
Bhavya wrote: "Aashi wrote: "BHAAAAVYAAAAAA I NEED HELP!Please tell me how this is! and where I have to improve
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Love..."
Now that you mention it... maybe but she didn’t seem as annoying as the rest of the ‘Mary Sue’ characters. Thankath for the advice!♥️
Mod
Please tell me how this is! and where I have to improve
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"
Ooh that’s great! :)
Anytime ❤️
Bhavya wrote: "@Gourica LETTERS TO THE LOST
Love the review! Maybe you can add some space after the quote in the beginning and highlight your rating in bold or something.
You repeat them ‘not making stupid d..."
Will make the changes, thank you so much!
Bhavya wrote: "@Gourica LETTERS TO THE LOST
Love the review! Maybe you can add some space after the quote in the beginning and highlight your rating in bold or something.
You repeat them ‘not making stupid d..."
Will make the changes, thank you so much!
Mod
LETTERS TO THE LOST
Love the review! Maybe you can add some space after the quote in the beginning and highlight your rating in bold or something.
You repeat them ‘not ..."
Anytime!
Mod
Mod
I'll see it in a while! :)
Mod
I'll see it in a while! :)"
okay thanks!
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