Do you ever feel guilty for bad reviews?

[Amy Jacobs]

I received a copy of a book that I could barely make myself read to chapter 3. I posted an honest review of the book on my blog, and I was wondering if you ever feel guilty about writing a bad review for a book that was free? I got it from a company that was willing to help me with some reviews for my newer than most book blogs. I thought cool! I am going to finally get a foot in the door! But I hated the book, posted my review and now worry if I just blew it with a company willing to help.
My personal opinion is that a bad review is still a review that gives people an honest opinion. I am not telling people not to buy the book. I just basically give a heads up.http://myoverstuffedbookshelf.blogspot.com/

[Linda]

I think your review is very good. You told the truth, and you were not mean or demeaning about it. I doubt that it will hinder your relationship with this company, but if it does there are many others out there that appreciate truthful reviews.

[Kristen M.]

last weekend I posted a discussion about reviews of books that you aren't able to finish ...

http://webereading.com/2009/08/do-you-discuss-unfinished-books.html


It's important to make the review still have a purpose and not just be a negative rant.

[Jaime Huff]

I don't think your review is that bad. It's honest, it is what it is and you can not change the fact that you just plain and simply didn't like it. I do feel guilty but I do try to find as many positive points as I can while I am pointing out the negative points. I understand that the author has put their time, energy, and creativity in to what is essentially their "baby". A professional will always take constructive criticism and do what they will with it. I agree with Kristen M. about not making it a negative rant.

[Marian]

If the book doesn't work for me, the book doesn't work for me. Whether I paid for it or not, it doesn't work, so I go ahead and say this in the review, explaining what exactly doesn't work - which is what you've done in your review as well.

I don't think this makes a "bad" review. I think it makes an honest one. Personally, I don't trust those review sites which award everything five stars and highly recommend every book, because there's no discrimination there. A "this worked for me, that didn't" review is ultimately more believable to everyone (readers included) than "best book I ever read! sure to be a classic! the author is so talented! I would give this twenty stars if I could!"

[Joseph Arellano]

I like the fact that you were honest about not being able to finish it. DNF, did not finish is something that some of us have done in a marathon! Joseph from http://josephsreviews.wordpress.com/

[Christine]

I thought your review was honest. I try to remember that a review is still my personal opinion. I have not liked books that have received glorious accolades everywhere. Just not my type of book or writing style. I would hope that whoever sends the books would remember this also. I do try to sandwich any negative thoughts between positive comments. I can usually always find something good even if I did not like the book in general. Keep up the good work!

[Anita Morgan]

I have the same problem. I got a book from Sourcebooks that I'm suppose to post a review any minute now on it....and I've searched the web to see what others thought about it, it seems to be getting rave reviews. I just really did not like this book. I can't even really put my finger on what was wrong, it just didn't appeal to me. I'm seriously avoiding this review...because I just don't want to post a very negative review, especially when others thought it was so great.

[Marian]

The other side of that problem would be a book everyone else dislikes, but you like.

There's a certain book which is my second favorite - second only to "Gone with the Wind". This book is quite controversial and has received many very negative reviews, some from people whose opinions I agree with and respect. I still plan to write and post a positive review of it some day. I'll probably include a few sentences about why it doesn't work for some people, but most of the review will be about why it does work for me.

Who knows, maybe there are other readers out there who enjoy the book but who don't really want to say so because so many of the reviews are negative and therefore they feel it's best to be quiet about their preference and go along with the crowd.

But the book that everyone loves, that has universal appeal, has not yet been written.

[Natalie Monzyk]

Any company that has been in the publishing and marketing business for even a small amount of time should know that giving away free copies of books for review purposes doesn't always guarantee a good review. As for me, when I'm soliciting or responding to book review requests, I include a line asking the publisher/author to please remember that an honest critique is guaranteed, not necessarily a glowing review. As an ethical reviewer, you're obligated to give your honest opinion of the book, even though it's not always easy, especially when, as you mentioned, a company is helpful and gave you the book for free. I think you did the right thing.

Natalie
http://themindfulmusingsbookblog.blogspot.com/

[Charlotte Garnatz]

Well, the thing to remember when writing reviews is that the author is a person, too. After learning the hard way, I try to be gentle in my DNF's or reviews of books that I just didn't care for. But it YOUR opinion. And not every person is going to take away the same thing from a book.

No need to feel guilty. It is what it is. Your review was just fine.

[Anita Morgan]

This is exactly how I feel too. This person took time and heart to put this book together, it just wasn't for me. I feel bad if I can't seem to think of one good thing about it. My particular instance, the book bothered me straight from the beginning and my annoyance grew until the very end. But I feel horrible about even attempting to review it.

[Emily Veinglory]

I, personally, almost always read a book to the end before posting a review. In over a hundred reviews there was only one exception and I tried to read that book for over 2 years before giving up and writing the review based on a partial.