Broadly speaking, there are two types of book reviews: critic and consumer. Both tend to follow a format. To understand how our format addresses their shortcomings, let’s first ensure we’re on the same page about exactly what critic and consumer book reviews are, how they function and the value they provide.
How We See the Average Critic Book Review
The typical critic review has a byline with the full name of the reviewer. It is published in a traditional publication, brand publication (like ours), blog or book review site like Reedsy Discovery and Kirkus. The review usually occupies a full web page.
Reviews on traditional publications rarely utilize the star rating system. Some modern review sites, such as Reedsy Discovery, include star ratings. Kirkus does not have star ratings, but their staff does occasionally post badges for books they hold in high esteem.
Self-published and little known authors can pay Kirkus and similar sites to review their books. If the author previews the review and fears the content will hurt more than help, they can ask the review site not to publish the page.
Conversely, traditional publications do not accept payment for their book reviews. Their editorial staff chooses books based on content strategy objectives, the book’s popularity, and relationships with publishing professionals.
Most book critics are writers, editors and fellow authors. Book reviews are not necessarily their primary form of work.
Positive Aspects of the Average Critic Book Review
Compared to consumer raters and reviewers, critics are respectful, generous and fair to authors. Because many critics are authors themselves, they can more easily feel how much time and effort went into a book.
They’re not casually clicking on a star rating module. They have to write an entire draft and get it approved by an editor.
Many critics do an excellent job of analyzing a book’s rhetoric, prose and cultural significance. Consumer reviews often touch on these points, but with less thoughtful analysis.
Shortcomings of the Average Critic Book Review
Despite containing the word, “critic,” the average critic review does not attempt to thoroughly critique the writing quality of the book. Instead the review’s primary goal is to be descriptive. Sometimes a critic book review feels like an extended version of the book’s online preview text or back cover text. Or the content functions as a synopsis with lots of spoilers, often without any spoiler warnings. There might be a line or clause here and there that criticizes a writing element, but many aspects of the book are not mentioned.
Even as an author who has received glowing critic reviews, I think they can be too positive. Seeing praise feels good and helps me know which parts of my writing are working, but I have gained more skill from constructive criticisms.
Some book critics, especially in legacy publications, employ prose that is overly academic. This language can be unclear for many readers, regardless of their educational background and vocabulary.
How We See the Average Consumer Review
Consumer book reviews are on purchasing and consumer rating sites such as Amazon and Goodreads. All major consumer book review sites use the five star rating system. Algorithms sort ratings and reviews based on dozens of factors, including recency and how other consumers engage with the content.
Most book rating user interfaces do not provide context for what each number of stars might signal to other readers. People can rate and not review. Reviews can be as short as a few words.
Read “Our Philosophy on Star Ratings for Books” to understand more about our attitude on this issue.
Unlike critic reviews, the structure and tone of consumer reviews vary wildly. When they have at least a few paragraphs of text, they tend to provide more criticism than critic reviews. Unfortunately for authors, consumer reviewers are not incentivized to critique with the level of empathy a critic would consider.
How Our Format Combines the Pros and Cuts Out the Cons
In the context of critic and consumer book reviews, our format has several goals:
- Respect authors the way most critics do
- Provide a thorough, accessible analysis that actually explains what works well (or not) about every aspect of the book
- Use star ratings, but in a way that is clear, consistent and fair
- Charge rates comparable to major reviews sites, while providing more dedication to helping the author sell copies of their book
Please let us know if we’re succeeding in our mission. If there’s one group of people who needs criticism, it’s the critics themselves.
