The Art & Science of Reviewing by Marie Wells Coutu

Marie Wells Coutu

Angie, here. Happy New Year! We're starting 2018 with our favorite posts of 2017. This ia a favorite of mine from September and, according to the numbers, it's one of your favorites, too. Writers depend on word-of-mouth to sell books and reviews are a great way to encourage an author. My friend, Marie Wells Coutu, has a few tips for writing a great review. 

As an author, I know the importance of reviews. As a reader, others’ reviews help me determine which books to spend my money and time on.

So I try to post reviews of the books I read, especially novels. Thanks to Amazon, if I’m reading on my Kindle, I get a reminder and it’s easy to write the review as soon as I’ve finished.

But here’s the thing: how good should a book be to rate five stars?

Does five mean I loved the book and found nothing wrong? Do three stars mean it was only “so-so”? Will I hurt the author if I give her book four stars? (This especially concerns me if she’s an acquaintance.) On the other hand, if all my reviews are 5 stars, do I lose credibility as a reviewer?

Recently, I finished a book that I really enjoyed and couldn’t put down. But there were a couple scenes where I was momentarily pulled out of the story. In one, for example, there was a severe thunderstorm and a car accident where the heroine was injured. Yet when the police and the hero arrived, everyone stood around talking while the victim was loaded into the ambulance—with no reference to rain, water, or the storm having passed. As a writer, I couldn’t help but notice the omission. But was it serious enough to downgrade my rating?

In the end, I asked myself the following questions before deciding on the rating I’d give:

• Did I enjoy reading the book in spite of the minor deficiencies?
• Are there similar deficiencies throughout the novel, or did they occur in only one or two spots?
• Would the average reader notice these weaknesses, or did it bother me because I’m also an author?
• Could I recommend the book to a friend (because, after all, that’s what a rating is—a recommendation)?
• With the exception of the “problem” spots, is the book well-written, are the characters well-developed and is the story believable?

Based on my answers to these questions, I chose to give the book a favorable review. Since I know the author, I could address my concerns with her privately, but I decided a public review is not the place to point out minor—some might say “petty”--weaknesses.

I’ve read other novels where there were so many “issues” that I could not enjoy the book and thus could not rate it higher than a 2. In those cases, I chose not to post a review. Mother taught me, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

But I’m curious. What’s your approach for reviews? How far do you go to provide an honest review without damaging the author’s overall rating, ego, and potentially your friendship?

The Secret Heart
by Marie Wells Coutu

About the Author

Marie Wells Coutu retired in 2013 from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. She now spends her time writing fiction—when she’s not busy having fun with her husband or with their four grandchildren. She has written three novels for Write Integrity Press, including the award-winning For Such a Moment and Thirsting for More. Her most recent book, The Secret Heart, released in February. She is working on a historical novel set in western Kentucky, near where she grew up.

Marie is a regular contributor to Seriously Write. For more posts by Marie, click here.

This-n-That Thursdays: Reviewing Books

Do you write book reviews?

Do you read them? 

Do they influence what you purchase?

I read and write reviews, and I’ve learned that they are definitely subjective. Not everyone has similar tastes. Some have gushed over a novel that I found rather boring. I’ve thought, “Did we read the same story?” There have also been times when I felt books/authors didn’t deserve the beating they received.

Some reviewers focus on the author’s writing skills: the story’s pace, plot holes, descriptions, and characterizations.

I focus on the spiritual takeaway. I still enjoy stories that don’t contain a faith-based message; I still read non-Christian books. But if it’s going to be labeled Christian fiction, I believe there should be something within the story that relates to my faith—even if subtle. There should be something that causes me to think about my personal relationship with Christ or challenges me to grow in my faith. So in my reviews, I relay what I believe is an underlying theme that people can relate to.

To write a valuable book review takes time and thought, but I’ve found that the exercise helps me become a better writer. It makes me look at what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong in my own manuscripts. Writing reviews is also a great way to give back to the publishing community and build relationships with authors.

How do you pen a review? Provide a description of the main characters, and give a brief summary of the book without sharing details that reveal important plot points, surprises, or the ending. Be honest about what you like in the story and also what you may not like—without being cruel. Even if you don't love the book, try to point out some positives. 

Your turn. What do you look for in a review?

Dawn