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The 5-Step Guide On How To Write a Book Review

Posted on 5 Dec 2022 | Posted in StevensBooks Blogs

 

A book review is a critical assessment of a book. It typically provides a summary of the content, assesses the value of the book, and recommends it (or not) to potential readers. A good review can be both informative and persuasive if you know how to write it well.

However, making a well-written book review is not as easy as it seems. You don’t just read the book and then write a few sentences about what you thought of it. If you've ever tried to write a book review before, you know that it's not that simple. In fact, it can be quite difficult to figure out how to write a good one.

If you're thinking about making your own book review, there are a few things you should keep in mind. In this guide, we'll show you how to write a book review that is thoughtful, informative, and helpful for both the author and potential readers.

 

 

1. Read the book and take notes.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but you can't write a good review if you haven't read the book yet. You'd be surprised how many people try to write a review without actually having read the book. You shouldn’t just search for a summary from somewhere online and base your opinions on it. If you fake your review, you will make errors that avid readers can catch on. Set aside enough time to actually read the material before you start writing. It's important to go through the text with an eye for detail while observing the author's style and use of language. Read the book carefully, taking notes as you go along. Jot down your thoughts and impressions so that you can remember important parts, quotes, and passages. With your notes in hand, you will have something to refer back to when writing your review. 

 

2. Create your review’s outline.

If you're struggling to get started, it can be helpful to write a quick outline of your review. This doesn't have to be anything formal— just a few key points that you want to make sure you cover. To start, include the basic information about the book: the title, author, publisher and publication date. Then give a brief overview of the plot or main themes. While outlining, ask yourself some questions about the book: 

  • What did you think of the plot?

  • Did you like the characters? 

  • Was the author's style to your liking?

  • Did you find any errors?

 

3. Write a book summary first.

Start with a brief rundown of the entire book. Introduce the story and its author. Then, provide a synopsis of the plot and characters. Give your readers an idea of what the book is about without giving away too much. If you absolutely have to include any of the book’s plot twists and grand revelations in your review, state a clear spoiler alert to warn readers who don’t want to be aware of these secrets before they’ve read the actual story themselves. In your summary, also point out the themes or symbols that you noticed while reading.

 

4. Integrate your viewpoint and opinions.

One way to think about a book review is that it's a persuasive essay: you're convincing others to agree to your own stance regarding the literary material. It’s up to you whether you’d like to recommend the book or not. Either way, be concise and give your honest feedback and opinions. Expand on these by discussing specific aspects of the book that you enjoyed or didn't enjoy. What did you personally think of the characters, the plot, the pace, the writing style, and the ending? List everything you liked and didn't like about the story, providing explanations as much as you can. Whenever possible, back up your opinions with examples from the text to be more reliable and believable to the readers. The more evidence you provide, the more they’ll be willing to take your side. 

 

5. Revise and publish your review.

When you're finished writing, proofread your review carefully to ensure that it is clear and concise. Like any good essay, you'll want an introduction, body text, and a conclusion that flow well and connect to each other in a way that makes sense. Check whether your paragraphs are well-organized and your thoughts properly laid out. Finally, print your review or publish it on a blog or website for others to read.

 

 

The thought of writing a book review can be intimidating. You might be wondering: “What should I include? How long should it be? What if I say something wrong?” It can be tough to know how to approach a book review, but luckily, we’ve given you a straight-to-the-point formula for success.

If you’re still undecided on which book to dissect— not literally of course— you can also look through our collections and you may find one that’s worth writing a review on.

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