A book review thoroughly criticizes the book, stating the highs and lows, turning points, and everything the main plot calls for. The process can be difficult for beginners as grasping and expressing the concept as a review comes with certain obligations.
In this guide, we’re here to dish out the best hacks to write incredible book reviews that can make the readers’ heads turn and even help you with your personal branding:
#1 Read the Book
The first step in writing a book review is to read the text patiently. While many may think this step is quite basic, you would be surprised to know how many writers skip this process.
Reports show that 40% of reviewers write one when the book is bad. However, they skip writing reviews if it is good. But this should not be the intention. Hence, those who read online blogs and watch videos to avoid reading the book may never really get to know the good side of it.
While other sources may offer important pointers to be mentioned in the book review, one should keep in mind that they may lack making new contributions to the topic by omitting reading.
Hence, it is always better to read the book first. Develop your thoughts and ideas rather than relying on other information you find blindly.
However, many who fail in this area get help with assignments from MyAssignmentHelp.com professionals and remain stress-free.
#2 Make Notes on It
We suggest you do this part of making notes and reading simultaneously, but reading it without disturbance first makes the biggest impact.
Once you are done reading the book, read it again. And this time you can take notes on it.
These notes may include important themes, characters, plot points, and climax areas. Write them in an organized, clean state, which makes your writing process much easier.
When working on big, lengthy books, one may forget important slants, which can be a game-changer for the paper. We know the process of writing notes may sound old school, but trust us, it works and makes the writer’s job of ticking off the requirements much easier.
#3 List the Basic Details
It is unnatural to start a review without providing the basic information first. This can be:
● The storyline.
● Offering information on the author’s background.
● Covering the central theme of the topic.
Overall, this will give new readers an idea of what to expect from it.
The main purpose of the book review is to give a complete idea of the book to those who have not yet read it. Hence, it would help if you jotted down the essentials of the work before moving on to your final review.
If you can find any significant meaning behind the book name, chapter name, and even dates, then list them in your paper. This can be new data on the book, which many other reviewers may not even think about.
#4 Don’t Start with the Beginning
It is obvious for writers to start their review by covering the beginning of the book first. While this keeps the work systematic, it is not mandatory. To keep readers on the edge, it is best to start with the most exciting detail of the book.
This can be the central plot, the climax ending, or the development of storylines and characters. This step can only be justified after reading the entire book. Hence, it is better to read it completely to decide which specific part can hype your readers and introduce it first.
#5 Read the Summary
Reading is fun for those who enjoy it religiously, but what about those who get it as an assignment? For them, reading and understanding its meaning can be quite complex. In such cases, reading the summary before and after the book can add more clarity.
Reading it beforehand will give you an idea of what is expected, and reading it after will help you resonate with the key points and form your own opinions.
You can also read summaries online and research the topic in depth to shift your perspective and develop even more interesting slants for your review.
#6 Give Your Review a Structure
A review is not just an entire paragraph of writing- although it can be if you want it to be. However, professionals always develop a visually pleasing and organized format to make the work coherent.
Within your review, you can include different sections for characters, plot lines, character development, change of setting, and more under different headings.
Distinct sections like this will help readers grasp the content better, and they will also appreciate the writers’ hard work in breaking the review into particular segments. Sections like this also allow readers to focus on specific parts, which is highly praised.
#7 Read Book Review Examples
Now that you have completed all the major steps, the next step is to read some book review examples. Reading more examples will not confuse you. Rather, it will give you new ideas. And who knows, it may even spark ideas you were unaware of.
Look at review examples online and see how other writers structure their work. There is so much to learn and get inspiration from. But remember that this step should be inspirational, meaning writers should not copy the content and receive plagiarism accusations.
#8 Add Other Books and Author Works
A successful review covers the main book and offers similar recommendations. This keeps the audience happy, as the writer shares their knowledge, and the readers trust the writer.
Providing a list of similar books also helps the reader connect the plot with similar books. And who knows the genre or storyline might make sense to some readers when connected with similar books.
They might try this book if they enjoy the same genre and similar plots. All this will be based on your book review, which marks a good impact.
#9 Give Your Rating
Finally, do not forget to give your rating on the book. You can set up your rating system of either 10 or 5 stars. But do not rate it abruptly. Mention the reasons behind your rating and why you rated it that way.
Before signing off, you can also state what improvements the author could have made to make a 5-star or 10-star rating.
This would give your readers a green or red signal whether they should go for the book or not.
#10 Revise and Improvise
And let’s not forget the final step of revision and improvisation. Writing a review sounds easy because the writer has to share their thoughts on the book. But it isn’t always a walk in the park.
It isn’t easy to make it interesting for readers while maintaining writing flair and fulfilling the review’s objective.
While revising, make sure you cross-check the small and big mistakes. The small mistakes can be spelling, grammar, transition, and order. The big mistakes include incorrect character names, lack of authenticity, engagement, and insufficient information.
Revise as many times as possible to make it perfect before giving it a pass.
FAQs
If you have any other questions left, here are some frequently asked questions to help you out:
Q1: Should I Read the Entire Book Before Writing a Review?
While it might be tempting to skip reading the entire book and rely on summaries or online sources, it’s crucial to read the complete text.
Reading the book allows you to form your own opinions, capture nuances that summaries might miss, and contribute unique insights to your review.
Additionally, readers often appreciate reviews that reflect a genuine understanding of the book, which comes from firsthand experience.
Q2: Can I Use a Different Structure for My Book Review?
While there is no strict rule on the format, it’s advisable to give your review a structured and organized layout. Breaking down your review into sections such as characters, plot lines, and settings can make the content more coherent and reader-friendly.
This approach helps readers focus on specific aspects of the book and showcases your effort in providing a detailed analysis. Feel free to experiment with the structure, but ensure it enhances the overall readability of your review.
Endnote
There, you have all the tips on how to write an exceptional book review. We have mentioned it in steps and broken down the process for you, but that does not decrease the difficulty one may face practically. Keep practicing and follow these steps to make your review writing job easier.
