how to review like a pro!

Do you want to start a blog?

Maybe you want to get into the publishing business?

Do you want to review books?

 

High quality reviews and blog posts really draw your readers in and gives them what they want- the information! So here I'll go through a few different things you could include in your reviews that will make them stand out and really engage with your reader (or even the author if your able?!?)

 

If you can write roughly 100 words for each of these questions then you are in for an amazing review:

What drew you to the book?

Be honest... if you got the book as a gift and had never saw it before tell your readers that! If your brutally honest and only went for the book because of the cover admit it; give the graphic designers some credit (its not just a writer that makes the book you know!). The more honest your answer the more likely the readers are going to believe you!

Summarise the book:

Now this may be difficult in spoiler free reviews (but still possible; use the blurb for a starting point); but try your best. If you can show your reader that you actually understood what happened in the book then your one step closer to writing an amazing review!

Now if you couldn't understand the main storyline this is a great way to start evaluating the book; what's the point of the book if no-one can understand he main storyline?!?

Favourite character? Why!

I know that when we read these amazing books we adopt our own faces to the characters and create our fantasy boyfriends *totally not ashamed*. But what about them got you that attached? Was it a phrase they used? A part of their personality? What did the author do fantastically to make you really connect to the characters- more importantly what do they do different to other books?

Now if a character didn't change at all throughout a book what's the point?!? So ask yourself what has changed about the character? Don't just stick to 'they got stronger' or 'they started believing in themselves'; because that's what every character does (mostly), what did they learn about themselves (good or bad)? What didn't we see coming?

Now do the same for the character you really didn't like (not always the one you weren't meant to like- that's just a really good antagonist!); what was different between this character and the last? What would have made you like this character more?


Long term effects?

Were you still thinking about the book days... weeks later? Did the book touch on something controversial? Did it change the way you think about this? Was the controversy obvious or was it abstract? Use this controversy to discuss how the book has influenced you... because they always do! Every book you have ever read has changed a minute detail about your thought process *some more than others* but what has this specific book changed... did you find another book did the same thing?

The plot...

The plot is never perfect... we as well read people see patterns in behaviours and can almost predict the entire plot after the first few chapters... but could you talk about a plot twist that you saw coming from a mile away? Can you remember what made you think it was coming?

Now consider the twists that you didn't see coming *think back* were there any hints that were that well intertwined with the story that they were obvious in hindsight but totally invisible when you first read it? Work with it!

To the author...

Now as readers we have no right to tell a writer they should have done this and not this *unless of course you are an editor and then kudos to you*; but you can explain what the author did that was amazing and what wasn't so amazing... please do not insult or slate the author... be polite or people will not come back! By all means be critical but don't go on a rampage about the author; try and aim for the sandwich effect

-Good point

-Bad Point

- Good point



Book comparison:

 

Did the book make you think of another book? Maybe a specific character made you think of another? If so talk about it! have a book suggestion section 'if you liked this book- check out these'; it shows that your not only considering the book that your reading but also the other books you have read.

 

Rating the book:

 

Now some people don't believe a book should be rated; I am one of those that thrive on a rating system! Try and find a system that isn't just 'good book/ bad book'; maybe a scale or percentile system. Just make sure that your readers now which scale your using and what it means *handy-dandy text space down the side of your blog is good for this!*.

 

Overall you need to speak the truth in a book review; don't ever take a payment or bribe for a good review! You have to show integrity and honour in the book reviewing world! However these points aren't just for book reviews; you could adapt the questions for movie or product reviews, so knock yourself out!

Please don't forget to follow, share, +1 this post and leave a comment below; have I missed a tip that you would give people who are reviewing books? Which tip do you think is the best?