Every author or publisher assumes that the response will be positive when they send an about-to-be-published book out to professional book reviewers in the media. This is partially correct since many media outlets won’t comment on or publish a negative review.
To illustrate, years ago I recall hearing from a book reviewer at a major Christian periodical that they would not publish a review because they only print those that are positive or at least helpful to readers. No specifics would be given, and no further comment would be made about what they didn’t like.
Since a negative review would only draw blowback and questioning from the author, the author’s friends, and the publisher, they wouldn’t say anything at all if they couldn’t say something nice. In other words, they didn’t need the headache from an argument.
This is generally present only in the Christian media world. Except with the explosion of podcasts and other independent media efforts, more and more negative book reviews are published since they make good clickbait as a list of the ‘Ten Worst Books of the Month” or something similar.
The wider media market or the not-Christian media have no problem going scorched-earth on a book they don’t like. It’s an entirely different world of interaction, where feelings are not considered and concern over the hurt caused has little or no place. Business is business.
So, the first reason your book might not be reviewed in the media is it didn’t meet their standards, and they chose to skip it. They didn’t like the book or the author, or both.
The second and increasingly common reason for the lack of professional reviews and endorsers is that there are too many books to review. This has always been the case. But now, between all forms of book publishing in the US, there are a million or more books published each year; and only a tiny percentage of them are ever noticed by someone of influence, much less receive a published positive media review.
Today, with so much reviewing of books happening directly online from customers, rather than professional book reviewers, forget the “if you can’t say something nice…” concept and welcome to the wild, wild west of opinions. No opinion is left unexpressed.
A corollary to this issue is the awful habit of many authors checking their Amazon reviews too often. I spoke with an author years ago who checked every hour. Honestly, it’s an emotionally unhealthy habit. I’d rather walk around all day with a rock in my shoe than do that. Masochism knows no limits.
Online consumer reviews either inflate you or deflate you unnecessarily. They are never helpful to the author. A case could be made never to read them. The only metric that matters is sales. Review trolls prowl about looking for something to devour.
Similarly, more and more high-profile people never read the comments on their social media.
But, of course, we read every one of the comments left below!
I’ve got some books on Amazon
but I will not read a review
because my writing life goes on,
and there’s better things to do
than fret about another’s thought
about my writing quality.
They turned out as what I sought,
and now it’s time to let them be,
not perfect, but representative
of my skills at that past time,
and therefore I feel that to give
makeovers is a kind of crime
against the writer I once was,
replete with grace, replete with flaws.
As an Indie author, I check that there are reviews (my ARC team should have posted at least 8 reviews), I check to see if any have a nice quotable line to use with ad memes, and then I don’t look any more. You’re right it’s not a healthy thing to do.
This column does not disappoint.
Great piece with good info to keep in mind. Thanks for sharing these thoughts.
I remember reading a one-star review of a Tessa Afshar book – the book had arrived with a bent corner. Seriously?! I get it that readers don’t understand the impact of a one-star review to the author, but I was indignant on Ms. Afshar’s behalf. Hopefully, those who noticed the one star took the time to read the review.
I frequently see one-star ratings and a glowing review. The person must think one star means first place!
Thank you. I needed to read this today.
I’ve read negative reviews of books I loved and wondered if the reviewer even read the same book I did. Some negative reviews are ridiculous. But some are helpful. When I am looking into a book by a new-to-me author, I check both the positive and negative reviews. If there is a problem with the book, it will likely show up in the negative reviews.
Reviews can be helpful in pointing out what people didn’t like, which could help the author improve. If every negative review mentions a slow-moving or confusing plot or some other flaw, hopefully the author will improve on those points in the future.
Reading is subjective and I read reviews of other authors, especially the 1 or 2 star ones to see why such a low review was given and often it’s the very reason I’ll like a book. But I don’t read my own reviews.
“But, of course, we read every one of the comments left below!”
I love it.
It seems that social media and such have caused more harm than anything most of the time. It’s like what Carolyn said above about seeing a one star review which had nothing to do about the book and all about the book having a bent corner. It tasks me when there are posts of people asking for help, either the local humane society or other, and for every one reply saying they can help, there are almost thirty, “oh, I wish I could but here’s a million reasons why I can’t.”
I know, I’m venting. Can I blame it on the fact that I haven’t had my coffee yet?
My indie books (non-fiction) have not done well. It’s my fault because I didn’t promote them. Other things in my life had to take the front burner. Now, I am working with a co-author on a novel. We been working on it for six years; again time away due to life events. I am working on book proposals while she adds finishing touches. Thank you for your insight. I might have wanted to check reviews on this one. I think it’s best to leave the results in God’s hands.
How does a first time author get reviews? It may be unhealthy to fixate on them, but having reviews seems to be important in todays digital market.
Most are pre-arranged with people you know giving an honest opinion. Great care must be taken that they don’t all say the same thing. Amazon catches the coincidence and deletes them. Amazon also knows who bought a book, and notes the review as a “verified purchaser” so you need to ask a few people to buy your book and review it.
People who are sent a free copy to review, must mention that.
Very often when it is unclear that a book comes from a Christian worldview, a purchaser can be offended, feeling “tricked” into buying it, as if the author was lying. Attempting to cross over to a secular audience can be perceived by the buyer as a Trojan horse tactic.
Just another example of being a Christian in a fallen world.
Since books are expensive, I usually read the one-star reviews before I decide to buy. If the objections are offensive language or overly graphic sex scenes, I will happily not buy the book. Those negative reviews serve a purpose for the reader. If the reviewer complains that the book is poorly written, but the review itself contains unimaginative writing or lots of typos, I will ignore the review and purchase the book.
Happy Valentine’s Day in advance!
Thanks for the post. Blessings.
Not everyone is going to like what we write. I’ve read 1 star reviews for mega bestselling books, which I think are sometimes so funny. But it’s a reminder not every book is for everyone.
It helps me to remember that I write for MY readers, whoever they may be. I don’t write for everyone. And if I get a bad review, I tell myself that person wasn’t MY reader.