Writing Book Reviews

Reviews help fellow readers discover great books and help authors understand what resonates. This guide covers how to leave reviews and write ones that genuinely help the community.

What You'll Learn

How to leave a star rating and text review
What makes a helpful review
Review guidelines and policies

Leaving a Review

Navigate to the book page of a book you've read
Scroll to the "Reviews" section
Click "Write a Review"
Select your star rating (1-5 stars)
Write your review (optional but encouraged)
Click "Submit Review"

Writing a Helpful Review

A great review doesn't need to be long — even 2-3 sentences help. Here's a simple structure:

The 4-Part Review

What drew you in — why you picked this book (1 sentence)
What you liked — specific elements: characters, worldbuilding, pacing (1-2 sentences)
What could improve — constructive feedback, or nothing if you loved it (0-1 sentence)
Who would enjoy it — compare to other books or describe the ideal reader (1 sentence)

Example

"Picked this up based on the cover and synopsis — wasn't disappointed! The magic system is one of the most creative I've read in years, and the character dynamics between the two leads kept me turning pages. The middle section slowed a bit, but the finale more than made up for it. Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Holly Black. 4/5."

Review Guidelines

Do

✅ Be honest — share your genuine opinion
✅ Be specific — "the worldbuilding was rich" is better than "it was good"
✅ Be respectful — critique the work, not the author personally
✅ Avoid spoilers — or clearly mark them with a spoiler warning
✅ Consider cross-posting to Amazon/Goodreads (BookAuth prompts you)

Don't

❌ Don't review books you haven't read
❌ Don't include personal attacks against the author
❌ Don't include unrelated promotional content
❌ Don't copy reviews from other people

Star Rating Guide

Stars	When to Give This Rating
⭐ 1	Couldn't finish it, major quality issues
⭐⭐ 2	Below expectations, didn't enjoy
⭐⭐⭐ 3	Average — had some good elements but didn't fully work
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4	Really enjoyed it, minor nitpicks
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5	Loved it — would recommend to everyone

Editing or Deleting Your Review

Navigate to the book page or My Reviews in the sidebar
Click "Edit" to modify your review text or rating
Click "Delete" to remove your review entirely

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I review a book I got through an ARC campaign?
A: Yes! ARC reviews are submitted directly through the ARC system but appear alongside regular reviews.

Q: Can I leave multiple reviews on the same book?
A: No. One review per reader per book. You can edit your existing review.

Q: Are reviews moderated?
A: Reviews that violate community guidelines (spam, harassment, hate speech) may be removed by BookAuth moderators.

Applying for ARC Campaigns
Your Reviewer Reputation & Trust Score
Finding Books on BookAuth