Readers and authors alike stand to benefit from book reviews. Book reviews give potential readers an idea of what the book is about, those readers can make a more informed decision on whether or not to buy the book. And of course you know that more book reviews help you, as the author, drive more book sales. In fact, book reviews are one of the most important items to have in your book marketing toolbox. But why would you, the author, need to know how to write a good book review?

How do book reviews help you as an author?  

Most online bookstores, including Amazon, use algorithms that factor in the number of reviews – and the number of good reviews – to determine your book’s rank in the search results. The more positive reviews you have, the more likely it is that your book will appear on the first page of search results for the category. Someone looking for a book to read is more likely to choose one from this page: After all, not many people have the time and the patience to scroll through all the results before they make a buying decision. So, more positive reviews will help give your book more visibility to potential readers and help you reach a wider potential audience.  

And once more readers buy and read your book, they’ll review your book too. This creates a snowball effect that can help your book move up the rankings even faster. 

Additionally, some book award programs or sales promotions require a minimum number of reviews, ranging from fifteen to fifty reviews or more, so the more reviews you can rack up, the more options you’ll have for promotion.

Great reviews also lend credibility to your book and, by default, to you as an author, which will help sales of your next book too. (Of course, it’s not only good reviews that can get you more attention. Just ask the authors of these scathingly-reviewed books. And then, if you do get one or more negative reviews, it helps to know what to do about it.)

Why do you need to know how to write a good book review?

Reviewing your own book would seem a little pompous and just plain weird. Why would you need to know how to write a good book review, then? 

There are three main reasons: 

1. Visibility! If you’re asked to provide an endorsement review for another author’s book, there may be a chance your review (or at least an excerpt) winds up on their front cover, listed in the “editorial reviews” section of their retailer sales page listing, or being shared by that author on their social media accounts. New eyeballs!
2. Getting reviews from fellow authors lends an extra layer of credibility to your book. One of the easiest ways to get other authors to review your book is to review theirs: a sort of payment in kind. If you put some effort into writing a helpful review for another author, they’ll be more likely to do the same for you. 
3. When you encourage people to read and then review your book, you’re almost guaranteed to have at least one ask you, “What do you want me to write?” Knowing what a good book review should contain can help you give them guidance. You can even create a template that they can use when writing their review. 

How do you write a good book review?

So what should you include in your book review to make it helpful to potential readers? These are the elements of a good book review:

1. A hook: Start your review with a sentence that will hook the reader. In other words, start your review in a way that will catch their attention from the beginning. They may be scrolling through hundreds of reviews and you want them to click on yours and read it. 
2. Basic information about the book: Provide the reader with the basic information they need to know about the book. This includes the author’s name and the title of the book as well as the genre, whether it’s part of a series and whether they can enjoy it as a standalone, even if it is part of a series. 
3. A basic outline: Give the reader an idea of what the book is about. So, give them a basic outline of the plot, including who the main protagonist is, the backdrop for the story, the nature of their story arc and some of the characters they will encounter along the way. For a nonfiction book that doesn’t have a story structure, such as a self-help or business book, you can instead describe what the book will cover, using the contents of each chapter as a guideline. When writing the outline, it’s important to consider these too:
   • Spoilers: Don’t give away spoilers. Repeat: Don’t give away spoilers! You can mention that there is a big plot twist but if you give away what that twist is or how the book will end, there’s really no point for the person reading your review to now read the book too, is there? We call them “spoilers” precisely because knowing them spoils the fun of trying to guess what will happen next and to be surprised or amazed at the twists and turns that take us to the end of the story. 
   • Trigger warnings: If the book covers content that can be upsetting or can trigger a traumatic response, it can be useful to include these in your review. Be careful not to let the trigger warning become a spoiler, though. Use trigger warnings sparingly, if you choose to provide one. A good book description will let readers know about possible triggers, so it may not be necessary for you to include one.
4. The good and the bad: Once you’ve given the reader an idea of what the book is about, it’s time to share your opinion of it. Tell them what you liked about the book and what you didn’t like. Be sure to give reasons for your likes and dislikes but again, avoid spoilers.  Be sure to keep your comments focused on the book, and not the author. Amazon, for example, may flag reviews that indicate there is a personal relationship between the reviewer and the author.

4. Your recommendation: The person reading your review now knows what you think of the book. However, not everyone has the same tastes. Maybe what you didn’t like is exactly the thing that someone else will love about the book. So, instead of simply saying, “I loved it,” or, “It wasn’t for me,” expand a little on who you think will enjoy the book. You can also include a bit about who you don’t think would like the book. For example, “If you love a fast-paced action thriller full of intrigue, you will love this book. But if you don’t care for detailed explanations of historical context, this might not be your cup of tea.”   
5. Your rating: Review sites generally have a rating system, for instance out of five stars. Even if they don’t, though, giving a rating can help the reader understand instantly whether you think the book is worth reading or not. So, if there isn’t a rating system, you can end your review with, for example, “I give it a three out of five.”    

When you write your review, keep it clear and concise. The moment you start rambling is the moment you will lose the reader’s attention. 

Also remember that you’re reviewing something that a real person put their heart and soul into. Of course you’re entitled to your opinion and you’re allowed to criticize but when you do so, make it as specific as possible. As a reviewer, your job is help other other readers determine whether the book is a good fit, not to discourage people from reading the book or bash the author.

For more on book reviews, check out our podcast interview with Roseanne Cheng of Evergreen Authors.