Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy discussion

Hi Mark

Short answer - you don't😆. Sorry, that's not the answer you probably want!

Long answer - I don't think that there are such things as 'bad reviews' because there are many a time I've been really drawn to a book by the (sometimes ranty) reviews from people who didn't like them, especially if they mention something that the synopsis hasn't that really appeals to me. And I know of many reader friends who have found books they loved in the same way.

Authors need to consider that reviews are subjective opinions of books and tend to be written for other readers, not the author/s. There has been a lot of discussion about this in various bookish online spaces (incl here on GR) and most of us would not (and have not) appreciated authors inserting themselves into such spaces uninvited. ESPECIALLY if you are making 'suggestions' such as you mentioned above because it assumes that you think their 'opinion' is wrong.

Your aim as the author and the reviewer's perception as a reader do not have to meet, that is the beauty and the genius of opinion.

PS, I'm a fairly seasoned reader and reviewer on a number of platforms who just last week accidentally deleted (thanks for the great security measures Goodreads) virtually all my data covering as much of my reading history pre internet as I could recall. To the tune of 2000+ read books 😭, including my written reviews😭😭😭... just in case you look at my profile and wonder why someone with so little activity on her account has skin in the game!

kittykat is right.

You deal with it by understanding that if you are putting your work out there, you have to be ready that some people will not like it, will not understand it, will not see it the same as you do. There will be bad reviews.
Some people may give you 5 stars for no reason, some people may give you 1 star for no reason.
Some authors have this idiotic idea that only people who liked their book (or even finished it) should leave reviews... please do not become one of them, because that will never happen and you will only drive yourself mad with frustration.
If you have nerves of steel and a lot of mental health, you can continue monitoring reviews people leave on your work, but general suggestion is for authors to not actually insert themselves into the review/comment section if they wish to remain sane.

I would also like to remind you that people always read books through the prism of their own perspective and ten people may read the same book and see it in ten different ways. Do not sit and wait for ALL readers to see your book exactly as you do. They will not.
And please PLEASE do not tell anyone how they should and shouldn't see your book...

I agree with Kittykat and Kei. Both readers and writer bring their own perspectives to the party. SOME will love what you do and SOME will feel the opposite. ALL will not agree. You can't protect your work (or yourself) from bad reviews once you put it out in public or chase everyone that didn't like it for whatever reason.

You wanted to know what people thought, the reader told you what they thought. You wanted to put a despicable character out there, I'd say you did just that. The character was too despicable for that reader's taste. You met your goal in that aspect and so did the reader in not torturing her/himself by continuing a book they didn't enjoy.

I believe the reader's honest and respectful opinion shouldn't be disrespected by asking for more consideration of your offering. true pain could lie in pursuing that route. (in terms of enough honesty that could undermine your confidence over a work you believe(d) in.) A DNF with a reason isn't a bad review, a DNF or one star review with no reason why could be.

Are/Would you pursue the ones who enjoyed it with as much fervor?