Writing a Top Book Review Takes Practice
After five years of writing reviews, I’ve learned about what it takes to write a top book review. I get compliments, but my ratings on Amazon still underwhelm me. Nobody is grading you, so look at what other readers wrote. You are not going to plagiarize just by looking! However, it is not cheating to let Amazon help you write a great review. Other reviewers often offer insights you miss.
Start with a Top Book Review on Amazon
In my first years of reviewing, I thought the little Amazon box that says title meant to write in the title of the book. Every time I saw that box, I thought, “What a dumb box, the title is obvious, but oh well,” and I’d type in the book title. I looked at other people’s reviews. I never noticed that their titles read “Five Stars,” “Loved It” “Author’s Best Book Ever.” One day when I looked at other reviews critically, it hit me. The title should be mine. It reflects what I thought about the book, author, characters, or how the book affected me.
How to Write Top Reviews on Amazon
- Begin by studying most helpful reviews on Amazon. I took the advice of C. S. Lakin about writing book descriptions. To create your book review, cut and paste reviews for similar books into a Google Doc. To write a review for someone else’s book, cut and paste three or four reviews you like for the book you are reviewing. I paste them right into my draft on WordPress.
- Highlight phrases and words that resonate.
- Compose your review. You might agree or disagree with one or more of the reviewers. Of course, if you quote them you can include their link in the Amazon review as a reference. Sometimes I weave in few of their words or a phrase because I like the way it sounds. You usually do not have to use quote marks for borrowing a phrase or word unless it is a famous quote.
- Usually, I react to quotes from the book or use them to illustrate one of my “teaching” points.
Is Your Blog Review Different Than Your Amazon Review?
I keep my Amazon review shorter. After I finish the brief review, I add information to my blog review.
- First, a top book review on my blog needs graphics. I create three illustrations: a branded picture of the book, a ranking infographic and a featured image that will appear at the top of my post and on the home page. An example of the main branded graphic is above. I started out making this 900 x 1200 pixels, the recommended size by Canva. Then my blog started slowing down, so now I make them 400 x 600 pixels. I link this picture to the book on Amazon.
- Keeping Amazon, Canva and my blog tabs open, I save the book picture from Amazon, and add it to my finder or photos file so I can upload it to Canva.
- I copy the statistics then create a Canva graphic to show them. Notice the date. Ranks change I realized after I started publicizing the book’s status. Now I date them on the graphic. When I first started including this information I cut and pasted it into the review. On other blogs, I like infographics much better, so I created this. What do you think?
- The final picture is the featured image. This is a 400 x 250 pixels. The author and the book or books appear in this photo. The background color of turquoise indicates that I wrote the review. It is not a guest post. Without including this image, nothing shows on my home page. Your theme may not need a featured image.
- Looking at the featured picture brings up another difference in the blog review. Amazon includes a short biography and a photo of the author. Do you like to include this information in your post? Often as I write the review, I check out the author’s website and link it to his or her name in my post. Then I press follow on the Amazon page. Why not give the author a little boost while you are there?
- Sometimes, I roam around Twitter looking for the author. They do not always have an account, but if I noticed a hashtag with their name on it, I add that to the end of my post or when I repost on social media. You may find more than one hashtag to use because they have a fan base.
- Since I used to consult with teachers about Common Core, I sometimes include an analysis of how I thought the book would apply to Common Core teaching. I might add a little about how the book taught social studies skills since teaching is my area of expertise. At other times I include what I learned as a writer.
- Even in my longer reviews, I do not summarize the story. A review is not a book report. Ingrid Parker wrote on Facebook, “…I agree that poor reviews are suffering from the rules of the “book report” taught in public schools. The emphasis there is on proof that the kid has read the whole book and nobody expects deep insights beyond “I liked it.” I’m a writer. I want minimal plot summary and instead comments about the type of novel it is, the characters, and the quality of the narrative. I also want something that will make people buy the book (or not). That is the purpose of the professional review.“
- Ingrid includes other facts that I have not included in most of my reviews because I had not thought about it. She writes, “Depending on the purpose of the review; I included facts such as the number of pages, pictures, and other details about the organization or pedigree of the book.
Conclusion
This process made the review writing comfortable and gave me confidence that people would find the reviews helpful. Writing the review was a writing exercise in itself. If you haven’t written a review, it’s fun. It would be a great activity for students to do. (Marsha the teacher again). Students could all write their reviews, then compile the best words and phrases into a composite post that they publish on Amazon. Hmmm…
People get paid to write reviews. Unfortunately, for readers of this blog, I’m not an expert in that area. I receive no payments for my reviews. If you do, please feel free to comment. If you don’t, feel free to comment as well. #amwriting #amreading #bookreview.
Related Posts
- A favorite reblogged review Myth and Magic by Mae Clair a Pressed A+ Book Review
- One of my popular reviews A+ Book Review +9 Tips to Improve Shitty Drafts from Anne Lamott
- My newest book review Imagine a Free Black Canadian Child in a Town of Runaways
- How to use Canva to brand your reviews How Canva.com Turned Me into a Graphic Artist
Click to download a free PDF of this post.
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
50 responses to “How to Write a Top Book Review”
Change is good for sure. And yes, it certainly does go a long way! 🙂
LikeLike
[…] How to Write a Top Book Review Easy Read Memoir Conflicted Hearts: A+ Review Alt Tag? and 2 More Stupid Questions That Will Make You… […]
LikeLike
Ooooh seat warmers….yes, need those! Oh I bet, your son must have had a blast driving it. At least he – and you – have those wonderful memories 🙂 The closest I came to driving a sporty car was my ex-brother-in-law’s Camero which leaked power steering fluid everytime I turned a corner but oh I did love the sound of that V8 rumbling down the street. No convertible of course, but my hair blew in the wind due to having the windows down thanks to no air con…it was fun picking the kids up from school in it though…got a few looks, ha! When it broke down on the highway leaving us stranded in over 100 degree temps one such afternoon though, I’d had enough. Shortly after we got, at last, a proper family car – a Ford Windstar mini van, which my ex hated but I loved 🙂
LikeLike
As much as we loved the convertible, when it was time for a change, we were both ready to change. A little 100+ degrees goes a long way, doesn’t it? Nothing so bad as breaking down in that heat! 😦
LikeLike
[…] I was very impressed recently upon discovering this excellent article written by Marsha about writing professional book reviews: Always Writes – Marsha’s advice on writing top book reviews […]
LikeLike
That’s for sure…thank you so much for understanding Marsha…and you know, I can’t stop thinking about our conversation and imagining taking that road trip in a convertible along the Pacific Coast Highway down to Morro Bay to meet you for lunch…where we’ll both be wearing headscarves, naturally 😀 Have a great weekend and I’ll see you very soon! 🙂 xo
LikeLike
I’ll be looking forward to it. I’ll get my seat warmers going too. Oh, and I’d better find me a convertible. We had leased ours. Our son was devastated when we turned it in. He borrowed it for about a year.
LikeLike
[…] https://marshajustwrites.com/write-top-book-review/ […]
LikeLike
[…] How to Write a Top Book Review Alt Tag? and 2 More Stupid Questions That Will Make You… How to Blog Your Way to a Nonfiction Book Contract […]
LikeLike
Aww…thank you too Marsha! 🙂 I disappear from blogging lately because of working on my memoir revisions, but I will do my best to visit you and share as much as possible while I chase that finish line! Hugs to you my lovely new friend 🙂
LikeLike
No worries, Sherri. Finish your memoirs! You have to focus! It is impossible to do everything! 🙂
LikeLike
[…] Alt Tag? and 2 More Stupid Questions That Will Make You… How to Blog Your Way to a Nonfiction Book Contract How to Write a Top Book Review […]
LikeLike
Hope this brightens your day, Marsha. This book review was originally published here on my blog: http://marianbeaman.com/2017/03/07/mennonite-meets-mr-right/
Then I did a cut-paste job on the 3 outlets mentioned above. Thanks for the invitation.
LikeLike
Thank you so much, Marian! I can’t wait to read it! 🙂
LikeLike
OMGosh, do you know the author? Jennifer Janzen used to share the office next to mine. I read her first book and a few of her poems. Jennifer talked about her often. I love her writing.
LikeLike
Wonderful tips here, including exactly how you go about writing book reviews. As you say so well, “A review is not a book report.” Thanks for this post!
LikeLike
I love your idea of using Canva to create graphics for reviews.
LikeLike
I love it too. Last week I upgraded to a paid Canva, very reasonable because I need to resize all my pictures to make my blog run more quickly. At any rate it give a few more options, but I love what it can do. 🙂
LikeLike
Great tips! I need help writing book reviews, so this is a very helpful post for me. Thank you! Pinning and sharing! 😀
LikeLike
You are my hero for the day! 🙂 Send me a link to your next book review, and I’ll include it in one of my posts. 🙂
LikeLike
Yay! 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for being such a great friend. 🙂
LikeLike
Great information, Marsha. And, timely as well, since I would like to leave an Amazon review for a friend’s book.
LikeLike
Send me a link, and I’ll post it on one of my next reviews. 🙂
LikeLike
Wonderful and well put together article. I especially love the idea of using Canva to make a graphic highlighting the book’s best attributes.
LikeLike
Thanks, Karen. Send me a link to one of your next reviews and I’ll include it in one of my posts. 🙂
LikeLike
The more reviews I write the shorter they become. Unless my review were being published in an academic periodical, I doubt it would exceed 300-400 words. Yes, I do include graphics with blog reviews. And yes, I did figure out the “title” cue on Amazon – amazing since I strain with techno stuff. (I publish on Rifflebooks, Goodreads, and Amazon.
Great tips on logistics here. Thank you!
LikeLike
Wow, that’s awesome, Marian! Send me a link next time you write a review, and I’ll include it on one of my posts. I’m not that ambitious to get them published elsewhere very often. I’m lucky to get them published on my blog. 🙂 I’m lucky to get them written! 🙂
LikeLike
Definitely!
LikeLike
And it’s done! You made my day productive!
LikeLike
Very helpful and informative post Marsha. Have shared and will bookmark! 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you so much! I am looking for some of my most popular and helpful posts that would make a PDF giveaway. Do you think that should be one of them?
LikeLike
[…] How to Write a Top Book Review […]
LikeLike
Thank you for this helpful post. I must admit that I do look at other people’s reviews for insights into what works. No with regards to the particular book I am reviewing but with regards to the style and format of the book review.
LikeLike
Yes, I look at both, the style as well as what they thought. It’s almost like a quick book club meeting, but I get the last say because they have no reason to read my post. That would be an interesting concept, wouldn’t it?
LikeLike
Excellent tips on writing professional looking book reviews Marsha. Will definitely be sharing this!
LikeLike
Thanks, Marje, that’s high praise coming from a fellow reviewer!
LikeLike
[…] by Marsha Ingrao | Mar 12, 2017 | Book Reviews | 12 […]
LikeLike
Oh wow Marsha, how amazing! How wonderful to be staying in heavenly Sedona. You will love it! And I look forward to your reports after. 🙂
LikeLike
It’s one of my new favorite places. 🙂
LikeLike
You’re quite welcomed Marsha.
Don’t forget knowledge is useless unless it is shared.
If anyone is interested in reading the kind of reviews I write, you welcomed to check them out at:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A19QLCLVPLZH0B
ALL THE BEST !!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks again, Robin! I’ll check it out.
LikeLike
Wow! 1.3K helpful votes! That is more than impressive. I’ll post a link to your Amazon profile on this post. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
LikeLike
Just another fantastic post and most helpful for people who want some instruction on book reviewing. Lol, I have to laugh, I was thoroughly engrossed in reading your post and how you put together the infographs (thank you by the way for those tips), when I took a double take on my own book! Lol, would you believe I was looking at the infograph for a few seconds before it dawned on me, IT WAS MY BOOK you used for it. Have I been on vacation too long???? LOL Thanks as always Marsha. ❤ 🙂
LikeLike
hahaha! I just booked our vacation to Sedona for April 13-20. You inspired me. Vince and I love it. we found one of our timeshare resorts that will take animals. Normally we have to leave our baby home with his sister. Wish we could have been there the same week. That would have been so fun! 🙂 My life here doesn’t slow down until the end of this week. 🙂
LikeLike
Aw shucks!Thank you Terri. ❤
LikeLike
Very helpful information, Marsha! I’ve been writing monthly book reviews (maybe not as professional as yours) but I did steal a couple of your ideas (yes, I read YOUR reviews and followed a similar process). Good point that it should not be a book report. I think an Amazon review should be succinct and I include the actual review into my blog post review, again, taking good ideas from you, Debby and Colleen!
LikeLike
I need to publish one of your reviews, Terri. Why don’t you send me one of your favs? I still put my spin on it with the infographics. I did a post of Tina’s like that. I love posting other people’s reviews, and honestly, they usually draw more traffic than my own. 🙂 or maybe I should say 😦 hehehe
LikeLike
As a individual who writes book reviews and posts them on Amazon [I’ve got 513 currently posted there with an Amazon Reviewer Ranking of 2,118 with quite a few being deem the most helpful], GoodReads, LibraryThing and occasionally on my two blogs there are several things I do.
I’m never afraid to state that I’ve received the book [stating the format] through a giveaway, etc – which in the US is required by federal regulations. If in reading a particular book my mind should recall something such as a song from my younger days I make sure to include that fact in my reviews; in hopes that some potential reader might recall the same song and begin to relate their memories related to the same as well and it would tweak an increase in possibly considering buying a copy. On a few occasions the author after reading my review has told me that what she had in mind when she wrote the book; in fact, on one occasion I had recalled three songs. each one had been what she wanted her readers to get, with one of them having been the inspiration for the book’s storyline. Doing this allowed me, and it will allow other authors to better connect with authors as well as potential readers, readers who might even become a follower for the reviews a reviewer writes in the future.
And if I should get any sort of other feelings, emotions, as I read a particular book, or I’m able to connect the book to something else which I can relate it to I include it as well as the same reasoning; someone else might be able to do the same.
Have a GREAT WEEK with whatever you do !!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
Wow, Robin! Thanks for such an in depth response. You have done so much in the way of promoting books. I haven’t posted nearly as many in Amazon as I’ve written. I feel that my reviews are just now getting better. I love this, “y mind should recall something such as a song from my younger days I make sure to include that fact in my reviews; in hopes that some potential reader might recall the same song and begin to relate their memories related to the same as well.” Great idea! Thanks again for stopping by. It’s been a while since we connected, and it’s so good to hear from you. 🙂
LikeLike