Why You Should Write Book Reviews By Zara West

The Write Way Café welcomes Zara West, 


Do you love to read books, but groan at the idea of writing a book review? Don’t feel bad. You’re not alone.

The Deadly School Book Review

We all had those teachers who forced us to write boring book reviews and then made us listen as our classmates read them aloud. Those school book reviews had to follow a certain format, use complete grammatically correct sentences, and of course, be written in our very best handwriting.

You know the type of review I am talking about.
• Give the title and author
• Summarize the story without giving the end away.
• Give one reason you liked or didn’t like it.

How many of those did you write in school? I think I wrote hundreds. In my list of hated assignments, writing book reviews had to rank near the top.

In fact, I hated it so much that in fourth grade I actually wrote a review of a pretend book as a challenge to the teacher to see if she would notice it. She didn’t.

As far as I was concerned that proved just how stupid book reviews were. (It was probably also the beginning of my fiction writing career!)

Book Reviews Have Changed

So why should we write book reviews today?

It used to be that there were professional book reviewers who wrote for the major newspapers or the Sunday book review magazines. Their reviews were often long-winded with as much research and background on the author included as discussion about the book itself. These reviewers had the power to make or break an author. They told us what was good and what was not.

Today, most people get book information from the reviews posted on online bookstores like Amazon or Barnes & Noble or on a site like Goodreads or Netgalley or on a specialty genre review site like Romance Reviews or Romantic Times. These reviews are written by readers like you.

So Why Should I Write A Review? 

If you are a reader, you now have the opportunity to add your voice to the book world. So why should you make the effort?  Your opinion will…

1. Allow you to clarify your thoughts on the book and help you remember what you read.
2. Help other readers decide whether or not to read a book.
3. Tell the author what you liked about their book so they can write a better one next time.

The Modern Book Review

And here is the good news. Your review doesn’t have to look anything like that old schoolroom book report.

1 You can use one word statements. “Super!” “Scary!” “Poetic”
2. And phrases “Couldn’t put it down.” “Loved it.” “A page turner.”
3. You don’t have to write summary of the story, just give your opinion. “The hero made me swoon.” “The heroine’s choices made me frustrated with her.”
NOTE: One thing the teacher was right about – do watch your spelling and grammar as other people will be reading them and you want to be understandable.

So Let’s Start Reviewing

You don’t have to review every book you read. Stick with the one you love. Those are the easiest reviews to write.

I never review a book I find unreadable or that I dislike intensely. If I can’t give it three stars, I don’t write it. You can read my book reviews at Zara Recommends.

I hope that you are now inspired to look at book reviews in a new way and to write a few of your own. So find that book you love and make some author’s day. Authors love reviews.



Can he give up everything for her?

Can she forgive him for what he’s done?

Never back down, never turn your back, and never fall in love. Head of a multi-million dollar criminal enterprise, Vernon Newell doesn’t let family ties or misplaced sympathy get in his way. But there is one chink in his armor—Sirena Patras, the beautiful young Greek girl he seduced and deserted eight years ago.

When Vernon discovers that Bella Bell, a prospering tattoo artist in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is actually Sirena, he sets out to woo and to win her. Despite her attraction to the fabulously sexy man, Bella wants nothing to do with a hard-headed, ruthless criminal.

But when threatening messages start arriving, and Vernon disappears, Bella must choose to abandon the man she loves or risk her life to save him.

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About Zara:  Zara West loves all things dark, scary, and heart-stopping as long as they lead to true love. Born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Zara spends winters in New York where the streets hum with life, summers in the Maritimes where the sea can be cruel, and the rest of the year anywhere inspiration for tales of suspense, mystery, and romance are plentiful.
     Swept off her feet by her own Indiana Jones, Zara has followed sheep and goats up and down mountainsides in Greece, Crete, and Italy, been stranded on the banks of the Rhine with no money and one chocolate bar, and while she has never been kidnapped, she has been abandoned on an island in the middle of t wilderness for longer than she wants to remember.
     A member of RWA, Zara has won numerous awards for her short stories and novels. Close to the Skin was a first winner in the 2016 Pages from the Heart for romantic suspense.

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