This is often achieved through introductions to the main characters, themes, primary arguments etc. This will help the reader to gauge whether or not the book is of interest to them.

The hero’s journey plot follows the protagonist in their journey or adventure into the unknown. His story includes overcoming obstacles, adversity, evil, and prevailing in the end. Begin with the most important aspects of the book like the title for the publication, the name of the author, and so on. In this series, we take you through the anatomy of a book review. Include a brief synopsis of the storyline, without any major reveals or spoilers. This tells the reader what the story is about and gives them some context for your comments.

Pick out the most important aspects of the book

Have you ever been excited to see the latest blockbuster hit and then someone spoils the end before you even have time to watch? That is exactly what you don’t want to do to your reader. As you write a good book review explain the book in your summary, ask yourself if what you are explaining ruins any surprises or twists. For example, explain that there is a major plot twist but don’t go into the specifics.

Make sure you properly cite all quotes and paraphrasing in your review to avoid plagiarism. Get unlimited access to our pool of fresh indie books submissions. Finally, in addition to analyzing the work, a review often suggests whether or not the audience would appreciate it.

Before you start writing, develop key questions for your book review

For most cases though, writing a book review is a simple two-step process. And be sure to make that argument as you write your review. Second, create a series of questions to concentrate your thinking towards a specific topic.

• What separates it from all others of the same genre?
• If you’re unsure on how to begin the review, try writing your introduction last.
• If you don’t understand something, read it again.
• As such, the focus of a nonfiction book review will be on the clarity and effectiveness of this communication.
• Its primary function is to reveal and progress the plot and the story’s events.

It is not appropriate to paraphrase the book’s content; rather, you should express the main idea of the book. A college application essay editing services good Book Review Sample includes an overview of the book, addresses the main points, and offers a conclusion.

How To Write A Good Book Review

Identify several leading journals in your field that publish book reviews. One way to do this is to search an on-line article database or something like Book Review Digest, if your library has access. Using several key words from your field, limit your search to book reviews and note the journals where the results were published.

• Whether you ultimately recommend the book or not, mention which type of readers would enjoy the book the most.
• Make sure you don’t go into too much detail–you’re writing a review, not a full analysis.
• Share a high-level synopsis of the plot so your audience gets the gist of what the story is about.
• Recording your initial reactions can help you develop more insightful critiques.

By publishing the reviews you write, you can share your ideas about books with other readers around the world. When writing book reviews colleagues use a variety of phrases that carry hidden meanings. Consider, “This is a surprising book” or “This is a useful book for the library”.

Hang on, what is the real purpose of a book review?

You might be wondering how to put all of this knowledge into action now! Many book reviewers start out by setting up a book blog. Nonfiction books are generally written to inform readers about a certain topic. As such, the focus of a nonfiction book review will be on the clarity and effectiveness of this communication. In carrying this out, a book review may analyze the author’s source materials and assess the thesis in order to determine whether or not the book meets expectations. We recommend you check out Reedsy Discovery, where you can earn money for writing reviews — and are guaranteed people will read your reviews! A review is a critical evaluation of a text, event, object, or phenomenon.

It’s also important to avoid making sweeping assumptions about the book. On the other hand, a book review summarizes the book along with giving your opinions, interpretations, ideas, and critiques. The beauty of a book review is that you’re able to continue the conversation that the book starts. So rather than just summarize someone else’s opinions, you can become a part of the book and the surrounding discussion. If you’re a book blogger, you may also write a book review to try and sway potential readers to buy it as well. I normally don’t post a negative review, and simply resolve to never buy another book from that author again.

Your Summary of the Book

There are endless ways to make your pictures beautiful and aesthetic. So, if you are reviewing a horror book, you can add props that give horror vibes, for example, a skull toy.

Review the book in front of you, not the book you wish the author had written. You can and should point out shortcomings or failures, but don’t criticize the book for not being something it was never intended to be. Just wondering about book covers we love, do we mention that in the review?

Steps to Writing a Book Review Guaranteed to Turn Readers into Fans

Does the book take place over the course of a century, or a single day? Is the main character someone to root for, or is she the ultimate anti-hero? Offer some insights about the major themes of the book, too. Is this a revenge story, a coming-of-age novel, or a comedy of errors? Describe the book in broad strokes, just enough for readers to know what to expect, but no more. Finish your book review by giving your overall impression of the work. Conclude and summarize the strengths and weaknesses you found, demonstrate how useful the text is, identify its contribution to the wider field, and offer your recommendations.

• After the hook, you can then move on to the brief plot summary.
• The quotations given in the above panel provide but two examples.
• Rather than go through the book and give analysis chapter by chapter, break your writing down into arguments.
• The story focuses on the villain’s backstory and showing their path to redemption.

Writing such reviews helps you to understand the book better and experience the characters closely. It’s been more than three years since I started reviewing books. Over time, I have managed to work on my book-reviewing skills to polish them.

How To Write a Book Review

Keep in mind, though, that naming “firsts”—alongside naming “bests” and “onlys”—can be a risky business unless you’re absolutely certain. I don’t agree on including a summary of the story in my reviews. A summary can be found on the jacket front fly or on various websites. I believe a review should include the rest of the items you mentioned and should be my personal viewpoint of the book. Then the reader can make their own decision on whether or not to read the book. This tip might seem obvious, but sometimes a reviewer may get caught up in describing the plot and forget to offer their own insight.

So, figure out what elements of the plot you need to omit. If you are writing a spoiler-filled review, make sure you provide a spoiler alert right at the beginning of your article.

Write About the Plot

Next, write a book review summary to provide your audience with some background. Focus on pertinent events that occur throughout it, as this gives context. Be cautious here by not revealing the climax or ending because this does not form a major part of your analysis as you write your book review. Thus, keep this section short and brief, probably not more than two paragraphs, unless you are preparing an extended piece. Start your book review with an anecdote or hook that conveys your argument succinctly. However, you can begin differently based on your audience and argument. Generally, you must include the author’s name, manuscript title, and primary theme.