Why I Don’t Write Negative Reviews
Hello! I’m here today to do a bit of a discussion post. You may have noticed that I rarely write scathing negative reviews (if ever) and there’s a very good reason for that, a few good reasons even.
But before I get to that, let me explain why I am sharing this with you.
I keep reading things that say if you’re average review rating is above a 2 or 3 then you’re a dishonest reviewer.
Uhm… what?
This is so far from the truth I can’t even.
Why I don’t Write Negative Reviews
Firstly, I don’t write negative reviews because I simply very rarely finish a book that I’d rate less than a 3. Life is too short to finish a book I’m not enjoying for any reason. I have a full time job and this is my hobby. I don’t get paid. If a book is boring me/upsetting me/annoying me enough then I will put it down. If it’s not just my mood, if it’s the book that’s getting to me, I won’t go back.
The last book I forced myself to finish that really bothered me for many reasons, I didn’t review. I didn’t like how it made me feel or how angry it made me, I didn’t want to think about it any longer. So I didn’t review it. I did talk to some pals whilst I was reading it about it’s issues but that’s as far as I went.
I don’t write negative reviews because I want to avoid awkward encounters. First world problem alert. I’ve been lucky enough to meet a fair few authors, most of whom I admire, a lot I haven’t read the work of, some whose books I hated.
Can you guess which were the awkward encounters?
The answer is none of them. That’s right. Because despite me not enjoying the author’s work, I hadn’t written a scathing review anywhere that they might have read. See, where it can be slightly awkward to admit to someone you’ve not read their work, it’s worse then for them to recognise you as the blogger who tore them a new one online.
Yes, reviews are for readers and not for authors, but so many read their reviews, as we know, and I worry it will colour their judgement if they meet me and put two and two together.
I don’t like to dwell on the negative. If I’ve suffered through this book I really, really don’t want to suffer anymore. I just can’t.
That being said…
Why I think Negative Reviews are Important
Because they are, so very important. “But Jenn you just said you don’t write negative reviews?!” Yes yes I know, I’m a coward. I struggle to write constructively negative reviews without fearing backlash. I just can’t bear the idea of it. Have you ever read a friend’s work and tried to give them friendly advice? Cringe. A lot of people can’t handle it, fans included. So I steer clear.
Anyway, I digress.
Negative reviews are important because there are a helluva lot of problematic books out there that need those honest reviews highlighting those problems. Also, what other people don’t like, other people love. I actually really enjoy reading negative reviews as I find it fascinating to see if I agree or disagree!
Have I thoroughly confused you yet?
What do you think? I’m so interested to hear your stance on this.
40 Comments
This is a very interesting perspective, especially since I recently had a discussion post about spreading negative reviews. A lot of the concerns you have are valid and I have them, too. I don’t want to be spreading negativity around. But I’m also someone who never DNF’s a book unless I really have to, in which case I write that I DNF’d it and can’t give a proper review and I would suggest people check out others’ reviews of the book. But because I read every book, I feel a sense of duty to write my review. I always read negative and positive reviews of a book before buying it, and it helps me make an informed decision about whether a book will be the right fit for me. In that sense, I also share my negative reviews so that others can see different perspectives. I think that when you are an author, a certain amount of criticism is to be expected and being able to handle that is important. I have changed my negative reviewing style to be less scathing and more constructive; I’m not out to bash anyone but I think that it is wrong for me to perpetrate the idea that this book is amazing when I really didn’t think it is. However, I don’t think you are doing anything wrong by not posting a negative review.
Great post!
Thank you! I enjoy reading negative reviews, it even sometimes makes me want to read a book more. I just can’t do it myself haha
Snap, for basically all the same reasons, though I don’t especially enjoy reading negative reviews of things I want to read /already loved the as they taint my opinion.
Amy xx
I recently wrote a review that wasn’t entirely negative but did pick up on what I felt were some pretty big plot holes and mistakes in the novel.
I didn’t tag the author in to anything negative but I still ended up being blocked on Twitter by the author.
I’ll be meeting her next month at a joint event with an author I like a lot and now I’m really not looking forward to it.
I don’t think I’ll be writing a lot more negative reviews.
I’m the same way where more often than not, if my rating of a book is going to be less than 3 stars I’m DNFing the book. Life is too short to read books you don’t like! Therefore, most of the books I don’t like I don’t include in my reviews and wrap-ups for my blog. And I’m so behind on leaving reviews on Goodreads I won’t even go there lol. One reason I don’t leave many negative reviews is because I want to be an author, and it’s just not smart to be trashing people online who might be your colleagues in the future. I will do them on occasion if I think it’s really important, and I have a specific view point that might not be considered otherwise. And I never want someone to feel bad if they like a book I didn’t. So, I always say that if you’re going to write something negative, still keep it professional, discuss the book not the author, and do it in a way that others will realize that you don’t judge them if they have a different opinion.
oh I get you. Personally, I stopped reviewing everything I watch. Because I’m not a great watcher of things, and I just don’t feel like bothering reviewing something that felt meh or worse. So I only review things that I felt like was great to watch! So I see how this could apply to books.
Tho with books, I read them to end, like it or not, because there were times in my life when a bad book picked up HARD very close to the end, and I forgave it absolutely everything. So I usually feel invested enough to talk about it too, good or bad.
My biggest problem is, that even if I didn’t like the book, and wrote a bad review, I want every author to know, that what they did is still good, even if it is bad. And that I encourage them very much to continue writing, because me not liking the book doesn’t diminish their success in having written a book.
I just can’t keep reading to the end if I don’t enjoy it XD
I agree with you I’ve always found negative reviews very informative and sometimes very entertaining and as such I don’t mind writing them. I never tag the author if I think I’ve spoken negatively about the book, I usually tag the author to say I’m about to read it and if I loved it.
For me I don’t worry about possibly meeting the author one day as I’ve never been interested in meeting authors in general. It’s the same with celebrities I’ve never understood autographs and stuff like that. I can understand it would be hella awkward if I did meet an author somehow someday but it’s such a slim possibility I don’t consider it when I write a review.
I think also the perception of negative varies to the individual. I’ve been told some authors think a four star review is bad and only want to be tagged in five star. For myself I just try to be honest. I’ll always write what I thought as that’s what I started my blog for, so even if I DNF’ed a much beloved series or wasn’t that into a recently hyped book I will always review and explain why. I think whatever you are writing you always find people who agree with what you said and appreciate it when they find someone who shares the same views as themselves.
This comment ended up being a lot longer than I realised. Maybe I should write a blog post instead haha
Did you write a blog post? I’d love to read it!
I think the choice to write negative reviews or not is a personal one. Right now, I write them, but I’m hoping to get my own book published one day, and it seems VERY awkward to post negative reviews for authors I might actually interact with on a professional level someday. I think positive reviews are going to be the best policy moving forward.
Oh that definitely makes a lot of sense!! Life is definitely too short to read terrible books and I think I’ll be following this a lot more haha
Thank you!
I can only recall writing a couple of realllly negative reviews… Like u, I usually DNF a book if I don’t feel it, so there’s no point writing a review…
I agree about some parts of this for sure! I ALWAYS rate/review on Goodreads, and NetGalley is applicable, (for my own records and because I think that’s the only way people can get a fair view of the book from multiple perspectives). But I do not usually post bad reviews elsewhere, like my blog. One, it’s not worth my time to make that happen and two, books are such a matter of opinion, and my respect for an author’s time in writing a book to begin with so high, that I feel like going out of my way to give EXTRA bad press is unfair and unnecessary.
I don’t give a full review to a book if I DNF it. I do however, highlight what I did and didn’t like in a post-it sort of review. I think it’s important to get the book out there because others might enjoy it. I do sometimes write negative reviews, but I always find something positive about the story because I don’t agree with outright slating it.
I think I might start doing some roundups maybe? Of like books I DNF so I can get the word out there
This is so insightful! I hate writing negative reviews but I still do. I do it because why I may not like it someone else might or if someone agrees with my points then at least they know beforehand. I think it’s super important while writing negative reviews to focus on the story itself and NEVER the writer. I respect all authors for what they do, it just happened not to be the story for me which is fine. I know I’m not going to like every book I read but I respect every book I read.
Yes definitely. I don’t think authors deserve hate for it at all! Especially because it’s been through such a rigorous process!
Writing a negative review COMPLETELY scares me. But what I do is I point out the good in them (most importantly so other readers wouldn’t be put off by my review) and also point out why I don’t like it. Even so, I can’t deny how awkward it will be when meeting the authors whose books I gave a negative review.
My first problem is that I’m trash when it comes to DNFing a book. I don’t think I’ve DNF’d a book this year; I just want the books to count toward my GR goal no matter how terrible it is. I try to be incredibly fair when writing negative reviews though, especially since I’ve realized some authors have like google alerts for their books and my not-so-positive review may pop up. I’ve had that happen, super awkward twitter exchange, but also extremely classy response and support from the author.
Anyway, keep doing you boo!
I like to have a good GR goal but it’s not worth a rubbish book for me – I’m so busy I just can’t justify the time 🙈 but I totally get where you’re coming from! X
I do write negative reviews but I make sure if focuses on the book and not the author. I am (online friendly) with a few authors and they’ve always been great about respecting bloggers.
I totally get why you don’t and you’re contrary thoughts on the subject though and I think it’s all good as long as all reviews (positive or negative) are honest.
Great topic!
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
That’s a good idea!
Thank you 😁
This is a really good post because it touches on a lot of things that book bloggers and reviewers can relate to. Of all the books I have read and rated on Goodreads, I have only given a rating of below three stars on two occasions, because I like to focus on the good points and allow the positives to outweigh the negatives.
But yes the thought of writing a negative review does freak me out a bit, so normally when I post book reviews on my blog I stick to writing about the ones I liked, and only pick out some of the negatives in a very subtle and constructive way.
Thank you!
Yes I think it’s something we all think about a lot but not always talk about!
Same. I mean even in the books I love I could pick out negatives – it just depends how you frame it I guess?
I don’t like writing negative reviews, and have only written a few, but they are the worst ones to write. It takes a lot for me to dislike a book. It makes me so upset writing negatively about someone’s writing who worked so hard to write it. Even though I know it would be awkward to meet the author in person, I feel like it’s important for people to see another aspect of this book. I never completely trash a book either because that’s not respectful.
I think it’s great that you pointed out it’s important to write negative reviews and I also understand why you don’t do it. Usually if I rate a book 1 it means I couldn’t finish it because it was that bad – but I notify the publisher that the book is not for me and I won’t review it. But I do review 2 star books, because 2 stars is not a bad rating in my eyes, it means the book was okay, average, maybe not for me but I can still recommend it to some people or point out why I did not like it.
I find it hard to write negative reviews without coming across really bitchy. I love to complain and rant and I sometimes forget that it won’t come across in the lighthearted way I intend so often I end up just saying “meh” about them instead of anything more coherent. For someone who loves reading and writing I don’t have a way with words in this scenario hahah
(unless the book was downright AWFUL and rude and offensive in which case I have no problem offending anyone back whoops)
Yeah I struggle with that too so I just don’t do it haha
I feel similarly in that I don’t usually finish books that I’d rate less than 3 stars. I DNFed SO many books in January alone that would probably have gotten terrible ratings from me if I’d finished them. I’m not afraid to critique a book and, unless it’s super problematic, I usually specify that it’s just my preference and that others may still like it. 🙂
This is a great article. I rarely finish a book I don’t like, so no point in reviewing it. Than again.. I do appreciate an honest review.
Same I’m always honest!
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I think everyone has to decide what does and what doesn’t work for them, so all the power to you! I totally get where you’re coming from.
I don’t consider my reviews negative but constructive. I always keep the snark in my 3 or 2 star reviews to a minimum. In fact, most of the time they are completely free of sarcasm and snark. Nobody wants drama and if you are disrespectful about a book in a review you invite the trolls. I rarely 2-star and 1-star ratings are reserved for authors being brats. As I said, everyone has to find their way of running their blog. You do you and nobody has a right telling you what to do.
So very well put!
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I admit it! I write negative reviews if they are warranted…I also have some that are lukewarm…and others glowing in praise.
I definitely think it’s a personal choice – I’ve only been contacted by 2 unhappy authors in over 4 years – so not too bad.
The thing is a negative review is about the book – not the author. For some authors the first book I read was awesome – the second one not so much and vice versa. For me I appreciate reading constructively negative reviews because it gives me an idea of who will enjoy the book (or not, as the case may be).
As a published author I’ve received some tough feedback too – it’s part of the process.
Of course, totally agree. I enjoy reading negative reviews, I even often find it makes me like the book more! But I just don’t like writing them and as I mentioned, I tend not to finish a book I’m not enjoying.
I love writing positive reviews, but I also like writing negative reviews, because it helps me work through why I didn’t like a book. You point out a crucial part of writing a negative review though, and that’s to write constructively. I don’t want to read (or write) a long “review” about how much someone didn’t like a book, I want to know why they didn’t like it so I can make a judgement for myself whether I should pick it up or not. I’d rather read a blog with all positive reviews than a blog with a balanced positive-negative ratio where the negative reviews don’t contribute anything constructive.
I think sometimes when people read something negative about a book or author they like, they jump to defend that work or person without taking in every word the reviewer says (this is all too easy to do with social media). All reviews should be constructive, but all reviews should be read and considered constructively, too. And for haters of bloggers who only write positive reviews: 1. It’s their blog! 2. It’s their blog! Why hate on someone who prefers to spread the love for books they like over sharing books they dislike? Keep doing you! 🙂