Say It Again: Reviews Are for the Readers, Not for the Authors

I saw it again today. A writer reeling from their first one-star review. The real story isn’t in the review but in how her fellow authors responded.

The Review Itself

I felt for the author. I also felt for the reviewer because they seemed traumatized by something in the book. The author felt bad that the reviewer felt hurt. (I won’t link to the author because I don’t want people to get the wrong idea about her. )

The issue here is the way other authors responded to that review.

The … Responses … Are … Telling

We often hear writers say, “That review tells me more about that reviewer than it does about your book.”

Harrumph. How writers respond to reviews tells me a lot about the writer.

It’s one thing to comfort a fellow writer who had a negative review.

It’s another to claim that readers should never write one-star reviews. (What?!) To say reviews don’t have to be “that harsh.” (Huh?!) To claim the reviewer is “jealous.” (Of what?!) To use words like “bashing” and “ugly,” and even “spewing hatred” when talking about a reader. (What is wrong with you?) Not to mention calling a negative review an “attack.”

Who’s attacking who?

You’ve probably seen this one. “That reviewer doesn’t know how to give constructive criticism.”

They’re a reviewer. Not a critique partner. Not a beta reader. Those things are not the same. Once the book is out there, the time for “constructive criticism” has passed.

That one pisses me off. So does sneeringly asking, “How many books has that reviewer written?”

Seriously?! Are you telling me that readers aren’t allowed to criticize stories because they haven’t written any books? What a load of hogwash. How can people swallow that codswallop?

Let’s say you buy a meal at a restaurant. It comes out wrong. It wasn’t cooked at the right temperature. Maybe there are even ingredients in it that could make you sick.

Are you banned from saying anything negative because you’re a professional chef? Would it be OK if that chef stomped up to your table and called you “jealous”?

Didn’t think so.

Oh, and don’t forget this one. “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”

Ridiculous.

Have these writers never been disappointed in a book? So angry they threw the book at the wall? So pissed off they told their friends to avoid that book?

Didn’t think so.

Say It Again!

Say it again: Reviews are not for the writers. They are for the readers.

If you want to support your fellow writers after they get a negative review, do so by telling them everything will be OK. But also by reminding them that negative reviews are part of their job. not every book is for every reader. Not everyone will like your book.

It’s OK to get support from writers if a review hurts you. But find ways to do it privately. In a private group.

Even better, learn to get a thick skin. You’ll need it in this industry.

But It Hurts!

If reading reviews hurts you that much, don’t read them. Accept that some people won’t like your books.

Again, find ways to bond with other authors over the hurt.

But the Review Was Mean!

Was it? Was it really mean?

I have written reviews for All About Romance. When sites like AAR started, people often called us “mean” if we said anything slightly negative things about a book they adored. Even in a positive review.

Yet the people who called reviewers “mean girls” often said vile things about those reviewers.

Who’s the mean girl now?

Authors, Take Heart! Negative Reviews Sell Books

Those so-called “mean” reviews sell books. I’ve bought many books because of one-star reviews. A review that complains a fantasy novel has too much romance? 1-Click! A review that complains the characters in a domestic thriller were unlikable? Isn’t that the point? 1-Click!

Readers who love certain genres (like taboo romance) often seek out negative reviews because those help them find books they like. A review that complains that the hero is jealous? 1-Click! A review that blasts the book because the heroine has sex with an arachnid hero? 1-Click!

This Is Not New

In the dark ages of the Web, I was on romance novel mailing lists. (This is what we used before social media.) Until then, Romantic Times and Affaire de Coeur (print magazines!) were the only major source of romance novel reviews and discussion — and they were overwhelmingly positive.

Then, along came the Web. First sites like the much-missed The Romance Reader site. And not long after, All About Romance.

Many writers (and fans!) didn’t know what hit them when they first encountered negative reviews on those pioneering romance review sites. They often attacked those sites.

A lot of fans got in on the act. If you said something “harsh” about one o their favorite books, they would call you a “bully” and a “mean girl.”

I was ecstatic that people were calling out books for being bad (or even just middling). Sure, some people hated books that I loved. Oh, well. I’m one of the three people who liked Crystal Pepsi, so I got used to that.

On one of those lists, someone asked where they could find online book reviews. So I recommended All About Romance. It was not a secret that I was part of AAR! (I thought of recommending The Romance Reader site , but I wasn’t sure if it was OK to recommend as I was part of AAR.) Yet an anonymous coward sent me an off-list email (the equivalent of sending a DM) sneeringly bashing me for not “revealing” that I was a staff member of All About Romance and lambasting me for not mentioning The Romance Reader.

Who’s the mean girl in that scenario? Not me!

Times Change and Change Again

Times changed, and people became more accepting of negative reviews.

Sadly, that was then. This is now.

These things go in cycles. Now, bashing reviewers is back.

Ugh.

More Authors Like This, Please!

Like all other authors, Katee Robert gets negative reviews. What’s her response? Healthy! In her recent Twitter post, she says, “I honestly do not get authors who go after reviewers. People are allowed to hate your books. You put a thing out in the world and that’s when it ceases to be yours. If you wanted it to stay precious and YOURS…don’t publish?”

Her books aren’t for everyone. Katee Robert writes erotic romance, including what fans are calling “monster romance.” (See my earlier article on a romance with an arachnid hero for a quick glimpse into that world.)

But … Katee Robert knows her books aren’t for everyone. She doesn’t expect hearts and stars from all readers.

C.M. Nascosta also writes monster romances. And Nascosta points out that the best response is not responding to reviews. Period.

Husband-wife writing team Tiffany Roberts (who wrote the arachnid romance mentioned upstream!) agrees. They say, “Authors: Do not respond to reviews. Do not harass reviewers. Do not dox reviewers. It’s been said plenty of times: Reviews are for the readers.”

Yes!!!

Postscript

Negative reviews happen. If you put your work in front of the public, you have to expect them. Readers are allowed to have opinions on your work. Even negative ones.

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