Why You Should Listen to Your Book Reviews
And why you should take no notice of them (timing is the thing)
My crime novel, Woman, Missing was published at the beginning of July 2024, so now — two months later — I’m able to take a little step backwards and think about the experience.
Firstly, I’m so pleased that nearly every review has been positive, some overwhelmingly so. I really grateful to all the people who read the book and wrote reviews (and just as happy with those who gave stars and left it at that — not everyone is into reviewing).
So many writers say — DON’T READ THE REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hmm, well, I can’t help myself, to be honest. I’m sure if I wrote a terrible book, I’d soon be shutting myself off and crying myself to sleep. Most reviewers are honest and don’t hold back.
So my book is doing OK. What I love the most is how many people said, “This must be the start of a series — I want to read the next one!” Since I’m currently writing Book 2, that was music to my ears (a cliché I avoid in my books, by the way).
But I do read the less favorable reviews. Why? Because that’s where I learn what I’m doing wrong. Or more to the point, what readers see as things that detract from their reading experience.
