Writing a thoughtful book review is a process that goes beyond summarizing the plot. It involves capturing the essence of a story and inviting readers into the experience.

A common error among reviewers is when they compose a book report rather than a book review. A book review should not be dominated by a lengthy summary of the book’s content or a rephrased book blurb, with only a couple of lines of opinion thrown in. A book review instead offers a personal perspective on the book, detailing reasons why one might or might not choose to read it.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced reviewer, a reader of fiction or nonfiction, following these three steps will ensure your reviews are effective and beneficial for future readers.

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1. Make Observations as You Read

When planning to review a book, consider that the review process starts as you begin reading. Taking notes is an excellent way to structure your observations and write a more imaginative review. By highlighting, tagging pages, or jotting down thoughts as you read, you can effectively sort your ideas for when you later compose the review.

Another reason notetaking is helpful is because you can record interesting quotes, nuances, character motivations, and plot twists that might otherwise slip your mind. Especially if you read a book over a period of several days, taking notes will prevent you from forgetting key observations as time passes.

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2. Know How to Structure Your Book Review

It’s important to write your review while the details of the book are still fresh in your mind. Use your notes to provide the necessary details that readers will want to know. Below are some questions you can answer that may help you in the writing process:

1. Where did you first hear about the book? What made you choose this particular title?
2. Did anything in the book affect you in any way? Did it challenge or disappoint you?
3. Was there a specific chapter or opinion that changed your perspective about something?
4. If the book is fiction, what did you think about the main character? Was there another character that you could relate to? Were they believable?
5. How did you find the writing style? Was it well-written and engaging?
6. Did the book progress logically? Was it well-paced or too slow?
7. Have you read any other books by this author?
8. Was the book what you expected it to be?
9. Would you recommend this book to others? If yes, why? If no, why not?

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3. What to Include (and Not Include) in a Book Review

As you prepare to write your final review, it’s crucial that your opinion is honest, balanced, and well-structured. To achieve this, it’s important to follow a practical outline.

First, start with a summary that briefly describes what the story is about. Mention the main characters and the primary conflict. Remember, this is just a small portion of a review. While you want to tell what the book is about, you don’t want to give too much detail or include spoilers.

Next, provide your evaluation from your notes. Summarize what worked and what did not. It’s important to be fair in your assessment. Remember, just because a book may not be your preference, it could still be what someone else is looking for.

It is also important to be descriptive and use adjectives to help other readers evaluate the book more clearly. Use words that describe the book’s impact on you, such as inspiring, moving, humorous, boring, engaging, uplifting, compelling, weak, depressing, entertaining, dull, thought-provoking, insightful, etc. This will help you define the book as a reviewer and provide valuable insight to other possible readers.

If you’re reviewing a non-fiction book, you should consider commenting on how well the book achieved its goal, how it compares to other books on the same subject, which points were convincing and which ones were not, and how you personally related to the material.

Finally, give an overall recommendation. Try one of these lines for summing everything up at the end of the review:

• “Overall, I thought this book…”
• “I would (or wouldn’t) recommend this book because…”
• “I’m glad (or not glad) that I read this book because…”
• “This book would make a good gift for someone who…”
• The most valuable lesson I learned from this book is…”
• I would recommend the author of this book because…”

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What isn’t part of a review:

While we have already addressed that a review is not simply a rehash of the book blurb, there are other elements that should be excluded. When reviewing a book, it’s important to be respectful. Share your genuine thoughts without resorting to harsh language. It’s okay to disagree with the book’s content; just present your views and reasoning without attacking the author. Keep your review focused on the book itself, not on the author’s personal life or the book’s design and presentation.

Crafting engaging book reviews is a way to not just guide future readers but also to honor the art of storytelling. So, grab your upcoming read, jot down insightful observations, and let the reading community know about your journey through the pages! Enjoy your reviewing!

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