Negative Book Reviews // Discussion

Let’s talk about negative book reviews, shall we?

Both writing and reading them.

So I finished the Glittering Court by Richelle Mead a few days ago and was debating whether or not to post a review. I really didn’t like it and gave it like 1 or 2 stars. So I asked myself, do I really want to write a review where all I do is rant at what I disliked about a book?

Someone else may have loved it, and my review would make them feel bad and perhaps angry.

Yes I know it’s good to post honest thoughts but do I have the energy to be so negative?

And it’s not like I even post a review on every book I read, like though I didn’t end up posting a review about the glittering court, I definitely mentioned it in my June wrap up because when I don’t review a book I mini review it in my wrap ups. (You can check out my June Wrap Up here)

And also I know what it’s like to click on a review of a book that I loved only to see all negative things about it in the review.

I once was scrolling through my reader and I saw a review for Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson, and since I love that book I clicked on it and the entire review basically bashed the book. I was really upset because I absolutely did not agree with the things being said.

Book bashing is not okay. 

There’s obviously a clear difference between a negative review and plain bashing a book though. The point is, don’t bash books but rather when doing negative reviews, be respectful of the writer and the other lovers of the book.

And yes, of of course I’ve posted 3 star reviews where there are both negative and positive things said, those are fine because then the blogger can chat with the readers about the good and bad things.

But when I really just dislike a book overall, do I have the energy to post a review?

Hype!!

Also hype plays a huge role. The Rose and the Dagger is a hugely hyped book and I loved the first one, the Wrath and the Dawn. For me, I thought the Rose and the Dagger was meh, so should I post a review when I know people will really disagree with me? (The answer to that for me is yes, I will be posting a rose and the dagger review)

Also, negative reviews can tell a reader that they’re not alone in disliking a book in a sea of people who loved it.

So basically there are both pros and cons to negative reviews, and while bashing a book is never good, being respectful and giving reasons why you didn’t like a book is sometimes helpful to readers. It probably depends on the type of person you are, and whether you have the energy to be so negative, as well as the response you know you’ll get from your readers.

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Join the discussion! What do you think? Do you write negative reviews? Do you think they’re more helpful or hurtful?