"This Mom" wants to know how to write reviews....

Do you leave reviews?

As you can tell by the title of my blog.... I read way too much. I have found books that I have fallen in love with the characters and the story. They follow me through the day. I can't seem to stop thinking about what happens next. I have also found books that I might never read again. So far in my over 200 plus reads in the last year, I have yet to find a book that I was mad that I read it.

All to often I have found myself reading reviews and wondering.... "What is the protocol for this?".  It has to be an art, right? For my favorite authors out there I want to let potential readers know how much I loved the book but how much is to much information and what am I really supposed to say? On those books that I will never read again, do I tell people that? I wish that I had the gift of writing stories. I can honestly say that I have a pretty good imagination but I can't quite put it down on paper. For those authors that have put their work out there and hoped that people liked it, how do I say something bad about something that is dear to them. Again I say, "What is the protocol for this?".

I have read reviews that either give way to much information, copy the blurb, or are down right mean. I want to know if people liked the book but not every detail and more than copying what the author has already said about it. For those who find themselves writing an "ugly" review, shame on you if you go beyond letting people know that it just wasn't for you. Each of us have different taste and not every book will fall in that category.

Here are some pointers I have found helpful:

1. Tips for writing a review:

          a. Summarize the story in your words spoiler free. This might help others that don't get the blurb.
          b. List a couple of your favorite moments that you know will stick with you. (again spoiler free)
          c. State any dislikes that you feel that other reads should know. ex. Lots of grammar errors, if the
              topic is something that you personally aren't okay with, or if you didn't like the characters
          d. Use the authors name in the review if I am personally a fan of them or might start blog-stalking
              them.

2. How I select the # of Stars:

 3. Keeping it "Spoiler Free"
     Make sure to not give away major points in the story that had you on the edge of your seat. Although, I personally do like when reviewers let me know if it is a cliffhanger, series, or happy ever after ending. I like to know what I am getting into. Let others know when a book has a cliffhanger and you would have wanted to wait for the next book to be available before you read the first. Personally, I can think of 2 cliffhanger stories that were published last year that I read not knowing that it ended that way and the authors still have not published the next book. This is frustrating and I would have waited till the next one came out to read the first.

As I continue to blog about how much I read, I give you my word that I will never leave an "ugly" review. You might get 1 or 2 stars if I am not a fan but you will never hear me trash your work. It is an art and authors put their hearts into what they write. Who am I to trash that, even if I didn't like it?

What are your thoughts on this?

~"This Mom"