Writing a convincing book review can be intimidating at first glance. One can make rocket science out of it; but one doesn’t need to. For those who want to support us writers, I put together 3 ways to write a convincing book review, ranging from, “I don’t have time; let it be over in two sentences” to “I want to gift the world the most profound, enriching, and honest book review ever seen.”
Read more: 3 ways to write a convincing book review (exemplified on Exupery’s The Little Prince)I’ll use Exupery’s Little Prince as example, so if you have nothing to do with book reviews but want to learn about this classic, this post is also for you. 😀
Let’s get started.
The Importance of Reviews
How do you pick books? The first impression comes from a cover, the second from the book description, but the final decision to buy often comes from reviews. It’s understandable. With millions of books out there, we don’t want to waste our precious time on a bad book. So we look for a bestselling label, a review, or the recommendation by your reading buddy.
Reviews are the currency for us independent authors. We are grateful to any reader who invests time to support us. Here’s how.
The Two Sentence Book Review
Better short than none. If you don’t have much time but still want to support your favourite author, even as short as two sentences is enough. For this:
Focus on your overall impression and one key point.
“The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is a timeless tale of love, loss, and childhood wonder I regretted not reading earlier. Its enchanting story and profound messages linger long after reading.” – Bestselling author Yuki Carlsson
The Five-Minute Book Review
You want to review with depth but your day is packed? Here’s what to focus on:
- Write a brief summary
- Highlight a key strength
- Give a personal opinion.
“The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is a beautifully written novella that explores themes of love, loss, and the innocence of childhood. The story, narrated by a stranded pilot, recounts his encounter with a young prince from another planet who teaches him about the essential things in life. The poetic language and whimsical illustrations make this a delightful read for all ages. I was moved by the way the book conveys deep philosophical insights through simple, yet powerful storytelling.” – Bestselling author Yuki Carlsson
The Professional Book Review
You are still reading? You must be either an avid reader, (thriving to become an) influential book reviewer, or really dedicated to support an author. Here’s my advice to a professional book review.
- Start with a Brief Summary
- Introduce the book: Mention the title, author, genre, and publication date.
- Provide a concise summary: Offer a brief overview of the plot or main themes without giving away spoilers. Highlight the central conflict or main premise of the book.
- Discuss the Book’s Content
- Themes and Message: Explain the primary themes and messages conveyed by the book. What is the author trying to say? (Relate these themes to broader societal, cultural, or literary contexts if relevant.)
- Characters: Describe the main characters and their development. Are they well-developed, relatable, and integral to the story?
- Plot and Pacing: Analyze the plot structure and pacing. Is the story well-constructed and engaging? Does it move at a good pace?
- Evaluate the Writing Style
- Writing Style and Tone: Comment on the author’s writing style and tone. Is it descriptive, lyrical, straightforward, or complex?
- Language and Dialogue: Evaluate the use of language and dialogue. Is the dialogue realistic and the language appropriate for the genre?
- Highlight Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strengths: Discuss what the book does well. This could be character development, world-building, plot twists, or emotional impact.
- Weaknesses: Point out any areas where the book falls short. This might include pacing issues, underdeveloped characters, or plot holes.
- Provide Your Personal Response
- Personal Impact: Share how the book affected you personally. Did it resonate with you emotionally or intellectually?
- Conclude with a Recommendation
- Recommendation: Sum up your overall impression of the book. Would you recommend it to others? If so, what type of readers would enjoy it?
- Rating: Optionally, provide a rating out of 5 or 10 to give a quick sense of your evaluation.
“
The Little Prince, written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, is a philosophical novella first published in 1943. This timeless story, often considered a children’s book, offers profound insights into human nature and the essence of life, making it a beloved read for both children and adults.The novella explores deep themes such as love, loss, loneliness, and the search for meaning. Through the eyes of the little prince, Saint-Exupéry critiques the superficialities and absurdities of adult life, emphasising the importance of childlike wonder and sincerity. In a steady pace, we learn about his encounters with characters like the King, the Conceited Man, the Geographer, and more, each representing a unique aspect of society. Written during World War II, the book reflects the chaos and disillusionment of the era, advocating for a return to innocence and fundamental human values.
Saint-Exupéry’s writing is poetic and filled with metaphors, making the narrative both simple and profound. His use of childlike illustrations enhances the whimsical and melancholic tone of the story, creating an immersive experience that engages both the heart and mind.
The book’s strengths lie in its rich symbolism and ability to convey complex ideas through a seemingly simple narrative. The character of the little prince, with his wisdom and innocence, serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of looking beyond the surface. However, some readers may find the allegorical nature of the story abstract and challenging to interpret without deeper reflection.
The novella resonated with me both emotionally and intellectually and inspired the structure of my magical realism short story Your Fairytale. Especially the tale of the fox stuck with me long after reading, teaching me about the importance of consistency in close relationships. In honour of it, I included a quote in my debut novel Prison of Loneliness.
Overall, The Little Prince is a masterpiece that transcends age and time, offering readers a chance to reflect on life’s true values. Its blend of poetic prose, philosophical depth, and charming illustrations makes it a must-read. I highly recommend it for anyone seeking a book that is both thought-provoking and heartwarming. I would give it a 5 out of 5.
“
– Bestselling author Yuki Carlsson
Positive vs. Negative, Honesty vs. Lies
Conflicted about whether to write a review after not liking a book? Let me share my opinion on positive and negative reviews, honesty and lies.
Did you know that authors are swarmed by people offering to write a review for money? People make a business off of independent authors. I am not a fan of that practice, though. Why? It fosters dishonesty. Who would give a negative review when being paid for it? This is why Amazon bans authors paying for reviews.
I’ll gladly provide my book for free for anybody who loves reading and reviewing. But I will not pay for reviews. And let’s be honest, isn’t “a book for a review” a win-win? The author spends a year full time to create a reading experience to a reader. In return, the reader invests time to support the author by helping connect it to the right audience.
Of course, I prefer positive reviews and would prefer no review rather than one harming my rating. However, I think we need to differentiate between an objectively low-quality book (typos, factual errors, repetitive language, plot holes) and a book that was simply not the reader’s taste.
If a book was objectively sub-par, I believe it deserves a bad rating. However, if a book was simply not to my liking, I wouldn’t give it a bad rating perse. I would give the author credit for language, themes, plot etc. (see list above) but point out why it wasn’t for me and who I think would enjoy the book. Like this, potential readers can evaluate whether the story is for them or not.
So don’t be afraid of writing a review when you didn’t like a book, but be fair in your judgement.
Conclusion
Reviews became indispensible for independent authors but are hard to come by. Therefore, even the shortest review is better than none. Honest reviews help readers evaluate if the book is for them. However, honest doesn’t mean destructive. Key points that help a reader decide are:
- A summary without spoilers
- Themes and content
- Writing style
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Personal response
- Recommendation
What are your best practices for reviews? Share in the comments below.
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