A few weeks ago I talked about how to write a positive book review, but what if you have to write a negative book review? How do you say: “I hated this book with every fiber of my being and would love to throw it across the room”, without coming across as a jerk?
Trying to be both polite and honest in a book review is difficult because books tend evoke such strong feelings. But, somehow you have to try not sound like a crazed reviewer, while still providing accurate feedback.
Here are a few ideas to help you write positive review of a negative book.
1. Be Honest, But Not Rude
You can talk about what you don’t like about book without trashing it or the author. Instead dig deep into the heart of what you don’t like when it comes to the story. Write it in a simple, neutral tone. DO NOT bash the author or the book.
Do Say: “I didn’t love the characters in this book. The chemistry between the two love interests felt forced and unnatural.”
Don’t Say: “What a piece of garbage! These characters stink so bad the landfill wouldn’t even take them. And you call that chemistry? The only chemistry between those two is trying to mix oil and water. Ugh!”
Writing reviews like in the second example is a great way to get yourself blacklisted in the book community faster than you can say “Oops”.
Always try to be courteous when writing a negative review because you wouldn’t appreciate your work being talked about in a rude manner.
2. Talk About What You Did Like
It may be difficult depending on the book, but try to highlight some of the things you did like about the book. Was there one character that stood out to you? Was there a scene that made you laugh?
Try to highlight those things. This will not only keep you from sounding too negative, but it also will help you realize maybe this isn’t the author, genre, or trope for you.
3. Dig Into The Themes
Every book has themes, intentional or not. Talk about these themes and how they effect the plot and the characters. This will help you break down the book a little more and maybe discover why you didn’t like it.
4. Talk About The Ideal Reader
Sometimes you’re not the ideal reader for a book even if it’s something you thought you would enjoy.
So talk the kinds of people who would enjoy this book. For example, you could say: “This book is perfect for readers love the girl saves herself trope,” or “This book is for readers who love XYZ Author.”
By pointing out the ideal reader, you’re actually encouraging others who could possibly enjoy the book to pick it up.
5. Realize Sometimes A Book Is Just Bad
Some people will tell you that there is no such thing as a bad book, but I would have to disagree. There are some books that are truly just awful.
It’s okay for a book to be terrible and for you to recognize that. Whether it be the plot, writing style, the characters, or even if it’s just being poorly edited or not at all, there are plenty of reasons for it to be bad.
If you end up reading a book that is this way, it’s kind of a difficult place to be as a reviewer.
If it’s a book that the author asked you to review, it’s a tough spot to be in. When this happens, you should try your best to get the book finished.
Now, if it’s a book that you chose to read just because, by all means, DNF it if you want to.
Negative Book Review Etiquette
- Do not tag the author or publisher in a negative review. It’s not polite.
- Try to be as polite as possible, even if you hate the book.
- If you can’t say anything good about the book, consider not writing a review at all.
Final Thoughts
Writing a negative book is not an easy or fun task, but if you can master it, it’s a skill that will help you become a better reviewer.
Do you have any ideas for writing negative book reviews? Let me know in the comments.
