The NetGalley community loves shouting from the rooftops about books they’ve enjoyed, but it can be tricky to find the right words when talking about a book critically. Where glowing reviews are filled with praise, more often a reviewer will share elements that both did and didn’t work for them as a reader. A critical review isn’t necessarily negative, but rather a valuable source of feedback. Being critical doesn’t have to mean criticizing—the most helpful reviews will critically encourage, with specific details and concrete analysis. Even the “best books” are critically acclaimed because they have been analyzed, flaws and all, and there is still much to celebrate. Please refer to our NetGalley Review Guidelines and read on for our tips:
Make your opinion clear
This might seem obvious, but if you’re new to writing critical reviews you might be tempted to beat around the bush. Don’t be afraid to be open and honest and say that this book wasn’t for you.
Explain your critiques
Once you’ve shared your opinion, it’s time to share what helped inform it. Writing “I didn’t like this” isn’t helpful to fellow readers if it isn’t supported. Whether it was the plot, characterization, or pacing, tell your readers specifically what didn’t work for you, and what could be improved. Spend time considering why, and be as specific as possible.
Don’t go negative
In a critical review, the goal should be to outline the elements that didn’t work for you and why. We’ve all read (and maybe written) a rant review, but our goal as NetGalley members is to craft reviews that are valuable to the publisher, author, and fellow book advocates. Be thoughtful and respectful about the work and the author. Aim for meaningful, not mean. Focus on the merits of the book, rather than the author as an individual.
Talk about the positives
A critical review helps to express your view of a book. It’s a way to help the right reader discover the book, but also a way to let readers who have similar tastes as yours know they can steer clear. Make sure you highlight any elements that you did enjoy, big and small.
Make a sandwich
When formatting your review, think about a sandwich—a little cushion on the top and bottom with the meat in the middle. Start with a short summary of the book, then share your thoughts and critiques, and finally end with anything you did enjoy and a consideration of the types of readers who may be a good fit for this book. We have more review writing tips here if you’re looking for the best place to start!
Imagine the alternatives
Publishers learn a lot about what readers want from their reviews. It’s helpful to hear what elements didn’t work for readers, but also to see how readers felt the book could’ve been improved. Were there simply too many POVs where one would’ve sufficed? Did the characters feel flat in an intricately built fantasy? Share your expectations for what the book could have been.
Steer clear of spoilers
It can be a challenge to explain your critiques without spoilers, but there are tricks for getting around it. For example, instead of ruining the twist ending, you could talk about how it felt rushed, involved too much suspension of disbelief, or wasn’t satisfying. Respect your fellow readers by staying away from spoilers, because even if a book didn’t work for you, they may decide to experience it for themselves.
Consider your audience
Are you a bookseller considering a title for purchase? Are you a librarian who recommends books to patrons? A teacher building your classroom library? A blogger sharing your latest read with your followers? As an influential reader, your review should reflect the audience you’re writing it for.
Recommend to the right readers
Reading is a personal experience. A five-star read for you could be a DNF (did not finish) for your closest friend. Reflect on the book you’ve read and decide if you believe this book would be better suited for a specific reader. For example, a 2-star fantasy that didn’t work for you due to the level of gore might work better for fans of Game of Thrones.
On the other hand, if you believe the book contains problematic content that could be harmful to all readers (for example books that perpetuate racism, homophobia, or ableism), be sure to share that in your review. Including potential trigger warnings can also be valuable.
Rating system
Professional reviewing platforms like NetGalley provide readers with a pre-set rating system. When crafting your review, consider how your critical thoughts impact your rating so that your message is clear and consistent. A critical review paired with a four star rating may be confusing to the publisher, author, and fellow readers. Find a balance that accurately reflects your opinion.
Remember the value of critical reviews
On NetGalley, your reviews help shape a publisher’s idea of who you are as a reader. In our interview with Forever publicist Estelle Hallick, she spoke about the importance of reviews of all kinds: “I want our reviewers to be honest. Giving a book a critical review won’t mean you aren’t qualified to receive other books for review; if anything it makes it easier for us to understand what kind of books you do enjoy.”
While a critical review of an ARC or galley may not always directly impact change in the finished book, your feedback can still help to shape the author’s next work, the sorts of books a publisher acquires in the future, the style of covers, and more. Critical opinions are just as valuable as positive ones.
Proofread, proofread, proofread
Reread your review after you’ve finished writing it. Then reread it again. Be sure to check facts or quotes you share, the spelling of character and author names, and any pronouns used. This way everyone who reads your review can focus on the message you’re sharing, rather than getting hung up on distracting typos or grammatical errors that hurt your credibility.
Share thoughtfully
As a NetGalley member, sharing reviews is second nature. Don’t forget that the target audience for your reviews are fellow readers. In addition to submitting your feedback via NetGalley, tagging the publisher in a review is a great way to show them your appreciation for the copy they sent you, but don’t tag the author in your critical review. It’s common practice on social media to tag authors when recommending their books, but most prefer not to be tagged in critical reviews, since that is a direct (and very public) communication. Let publishers decide which critiques should be passed along to the author.
Don’t stress
Writing reviews takes time. Transforming your thoughts, emotions, and notes into a thoughtful review is no easy task. Don’t be afraid to take a break and come back to writing when you’re ready. Remind yourself why you love reading and reviewing, and don’t be too hard on yourself.