How to Write a Good Book Review for a Blog

(Last Updated On: March 18, 2022)

There are several means to format book reviews and hence it tin can be hard to pick one. Especially when you lot're in a blogging slump or don't know how to begin the review.

At such times, seeing other reviews for inspiration or options helps. Information technology tin can requite you an thought of how you want your book review to expect and inspire you to start writing it.

This guide will help you lot write groovy reviews by listing out ideas, providing examples and inspiration—all in one identify. Nosotros volume bloggers need some aid from time to time.

I was actually looking for a guide with book review formats to assistance with my indecision. When I googled variations of this title, I did not notice any posts! So here I am, writing this guide, instead of writing the review that I've been procrastinating on for months 🙂

how to write a book review for your web log

Yes, this mail is about formats but it is skilful to start with the basics.

The starting time rule of writing book reviews on your web log is to throw away all the rules that yous were taught.

Reviewing books on blogs is very different from what we are taught in schoolhouse. I definitely don't review the way I was taught. It is because that format is the standard for newspapers. Skilful formatting is very dissimilar for blogs.

Blogs are an entirely different domain with different features and requirements. You can exercise so much more with reviews on your blog.

Don't worry about going anarchistic or trying a new review format. Those are fun. Don't call up nearly sticking to the professional mode equally well. Shout in your reviews, if you lot want to! Use all caps, bold, GIFs, images—whatever yous like.

It is YOUR web log. The only rules in place are the ones made by you. Instead of seeing how to write reviews that others will read, just write what y'all desire to say. And choose a review format that fits what you want to say.

basic book review layouts

In that location are 3 basic parts in every review—introduction, bones information on the volume, and your review.

The introduction is a few lines where you can say how y'all came across the book, why yous picked it up, and a line on whether it surprised you or not. Or, it can be a short catchphrase to hook in readers. For case, "this book blew me away. I was not ready when I picked information technology up."

Basic data on the book can include title, author proper name, genre, category, blurb, publisher etc. Yous can besides mention how you acquired it (bought/review copy).

The review office is where you explain your opinions and discuss the book. The 10 review formats that I'll mention soon is for this section.

At that place are three pop and basic layouts. Most people choose one and stick to it throughout their blog, simply you can switch it upwards if yous like.

1. The volume'due south information kickoff, introduction, then review torso. This is an easy format that a ton of book bloggers get for. Example: Dedra's review of Float Plan.
2. Introduction, the book'due south information, then review torso. This is another fun manner because you can give an introduction first without dealing with the blurb etc. Case: my review of The Correct Swipe.
3. Introduction, review torso, and information on the book at the last. Use this when you want your words to be the highlight and stick the bones info at the end, in instance people want to see it. Example: Kat's review of Game Changer.

You tin can skip the basic book info if you desire merely you'll have to give a brief on the book'southward plot yourself.

volume review format ideas

At present onto the main part of the post. All the suggestions in this post are standard formats that you tin can take and utilise to your reviews easily if your thoughts fit the format.

These ideas are for book reviews as individual web log posts only you can modify them for mini-reviews and social media reviews.

Note: I am NOT mentioning reviews that are gratuitous-flowing thoughts because those reviews don't involve a standard format beyond and are more specific to books and thoughts.

i. divide your review into basic categories

This is the nearly pop and like shooting fish in a barrel method of formatting reviews. Choose categories and explain your views below the subheadings.

Basic categories are ones that everyone recognizes. For example plot, characters, writing mode, and representation. The categories can modify based on the genre. Romance books can have "romance" and "chemistry". Fantasy books can have "world-building". Mystery or thriller books can accept "suspense".

Example reviews: Erin'south review of Legend duology, my review of Drag Me Up

two. CAWPILE rating + review arrangement

This is a rating system devised by Book Roast which makes your decision procedure easier when rating books. It is a categorized system that is standard beyond genres so you always have set categories to consider.

It can as well extend into a reviewing format every bit you tin mention your private rating and explain why y'all gave that rating.

The categories and more are explained by the creator in this video.

Example review: Ursa's review of The Starless Sea, Bianca's review of Dark and Shallow Lies

3. divide into "liked" and "disliked" sections

This format is good if you have articulate opinions on what you liked and didn't similar. It is not skillful when you have conflicting thoughts about something.

Additionally, you can also have "liked", "it was okay", and "didn't like" sections.

Another way to phrase this would exist "enjoyed" and "didn't enjoy."

Note that this review format is highly subjective and then it is good for volume reviews where you don't want to talk from a neutral perspective and want to only share your experiences and opinions.

Example: Marie'south review of Crier'due south War, Janhabi'due south review of You Truly Assumed

4. split up into pros and cons sections

This is similar to the above review format just it is suitable for more neutral reviews i.e. reviews where yous're stating facts similar "this exists" which is generally a pro or a con like multifariousness, plot tropes etc.

To give you an thought, a pro for me is friends-to-lovers romance and con would exist a bad/unnecessary third act break up in romance books.

Case reviews: Shealea's review of The Bone Shard Daughter

five. review using book-specific subheadings

Instead of using the basic categories, yous can use custom and specific categories for the book. The categories can be "a corking grapheme arc", "disappointing ending", "vivid chemical science" etc.

How to get about writing this review: annotation down the biggest things you lot want to talk about similar "well-rounded characters", "contradicting plotlines", "plot holes" etc. Make these your subheadings and expand upon each of the points under them.

This does require a little flake of planning before starting the review. Just it is a great format if you lot can't go into a review without a program.

Examples: Kate's review of Black Lord's day, Avalinah's review of Skyhunter

6. list reasons why others should read the book

This is a bully review format for books that yous loved and want people to read. The title is catchy besides, and so people are more probable to read your review.

The reasons can act as subheadings and you can expand on the bespeak below the heading.

This as well requires planning beforehand almost the reasons you desire to listing. Make some notes with what you liked near the volume, run into if they tin can fit into "reasons", make a listing of the reasons, and then start writing the review.

Examples: Joce's review of Where Dreams Descend, my review of The Henna Wars

vii. reviews with discussions

This format is good for book reviews where the book includes a topic that yous're very passionate well-nigh or you have a lot to say about the topic which is tangentially related to the book. Sometimes the posts may be more discussion than a review of the volume, just it'southward okay! Many times, discussion posts do better than reviews and so this would be hitting both categories.

These posts are rarer (from what I've seen, probably because they involve a lot of effort and opinions) but are very interesting to read. They include discussions, rants, and raves forth with thoughts on the book. Information technology's a great fashion to convince people to read a book you honey or completely mark off a book you didn't like.

Examples: Shruti'due south review on Starfish with discussion on fat representation in KidLit, Anukriti's review of Loveless with discussion on representation and college life

8. "thoughts while reading" reviews

These are about similar vlogs. You take the reader with you on your experience of reading the volume. This is a fun way to review books if you want to showcase your feelings/thoughts, peculiarly if the book has a lot of plot twists or invoked a ton of feelings in you. You tin can annotate when reading or make notes elsewhere and apply it for this review.

This would be very fun with spoiler-filled reviews. Doing it spoiler-free would be a bit of a challenge.

Examples: Isabella's review of Nosotros Complimentary The Stars, Riza's review of This is How Y'all Lose The Time War

9. spoiler-free and spoiler-filled sections

This is for when you Demand to talk at length almost parts in the book that are spoilers merely besides want to pitch the book to new readers.

Having spoiler-gratuitous and spoilers-ample sections is very fun. I almost ever practise information technology with my Kdrama reviews, and it can exist done with book reviews besides!

Example reviews: my review of This Is How You Lose the Time War, Mehek'south review of Tiny Pretty Things

10. free-flowing thoughts that are loosely categorized

This is a very popular, and sometimes easy, reviewing style. Information technology can make the reader feel like they are having a coincidental chat with you equally the entire review flows together.

At the aforementioned time, there are clearly sections in the review which makes it easier for you to write and for the reader to follow. This format is good whether you plan it beforehand or not. Information technology allows both.

In society to subtly separate the sections of your review where yous talk about different topics, yous tin can use quotes equally a divider. Quotes that lucifer your points will fit in very well. Some bloggers use their custom post-dividers for this too.

Notation: try to highlight important parts of your review so that it is easier to skim. Yes, we'd love our readers to read every discussion only sometimes life is just too busy and highlights help.

Examples: my review of American Betiya, Minna's review of The Poppy War

additional elements to level up your reviews

Book reviews tin be much more than just talking near the book. You can spice it upward by including elements that can assistance the reader know more about the book. These are some suggestions that come up to my mind but there are innumerable ideas that you tin implement.

content and/or trigger warnings

I'm putting this under additional elements that you can add, but yous SHOULD add them. Content and trigger warnings are Non interchangeable. They hateful different things. But you can use "content warnings" as a blanket term for both of them.

Just mention warnings somewhere in your reviews (I generally put them along with basic info) then that readers can be enlightened of any topics they may desire to avoid.

Read this mail service by Marie to understand more than on why y'all should include warnings.

"permit's chat" department at the finish

Information technology tin can be termed "let's chat", "talk to me", "shout your opinions", or whatever else. Yous tin can include a section at the end with some questions for the readers. Basically, a call to action.

Book reviews are hard to annotate on unless the reader has either read the book or connected to a topic in the book. You can make it easier for them to comment by adding questions to prompt them.

They can be full general or specific questions relating to the book. Do include at least one full general question as that would be easier to respond to.

your own short version of the blurb

Many bloggers include a few lines on the plot themselves fifty-fifty after including the basic information in society to explain more about the volume. This is a gray area because sometimes it is redundant.

If you include the book's blurb in your review, and information technology explains everything, don't add together another version of your own. But practice it if the official blurb is inadequate* or if yous are not including the official blurb at all.

*I've seen this happen a lot with romance books which was why I used to write my own blurb. Some books have blurbs like "he is bad for me, yet I wanted him. Simply I can't have him." It'southward SO ANNOYING. Many times the book is actually good but the blurbs suck!

diversity/representation overview

Like content and trigger warnings, you tin can have a pocket-sized section to mention the various representations nowadays in the volume. By representation, I mean factors like disability, mental illness, Asian-American characters, sapphic beloved etc.

This can be a helpful section if readers are looking for books with specific factors for readathons or challenges. Other times it just signals how diverse the volume is.

Case: Gargee's review of American Betiya

custom ratings and rating images

Showtime of all, I believe ratings themselves are optional. I don't apply ratings on my volume reviews anymore because they are not sufficient to betoken all that I want to say.

If you do include ratings, you can level them upwards past using images that relate to your blog theme like Leelyn.

You can also use a modified rating system like Shealea or completely switch it up to a organisation of your own.

links to Own Voices reviews

There is a ton of discussion on using the term "Own Voices" considering experiences and views can exist wildly dissimilar. Not all Indians would relate to my story and vice-versa. The publishing manufacture has besides started to misuse the term which has caused many to finish using the term at all.

Read this postal service by Camillea to know more virtually the term "Own Voices" and what "Ain Voices review" means.

In the end, I withal retrieve the term has its merits when it comes to reviewing. Specifically, considering only Ain Voices reviewers can properly signal out accurate and problematic representation.

If you're reviewing a volume that represents a marginalized group for which y'all are NOT an Own Vocalisation reviewer, consider linking to Own Voices reviews. They might bring upward important points that yous would not have noticed.

For example, I quoted and linked Own Voices reviews in my review of Children of Blood and Bone. I simply didn't like the book and noticed some concerns raised when going through other negative reviews so linked them in mine.

recommended if/avoid if

This is a cool way to end reviews. Readers can quickly make decisions whether to pick up the volume or non based on general tropes and factors.

For example, check out Julia's review of The Guinevere Deception.

moodboards/aesthetics

I've seen some bloggers do this and it is so fun to come across! Mood boards and aesthetics can exist images or collages that depict the volume's setting or the characters.

For example, you lot tin await at Cielo's review of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and Lila's review of Raybearer.

a quotes section

If you don't similar calculation a few quotes in the middle of the review, or simply have too many that you want to share, you can add a quotes section at the cease and share your highlights.

These quotes can sometimes be enough to convince readers to understand the writing style and get hooked on the volume.

For example, my review of Maybe You lot Should Talk to Someone.

book review checklist

When writing book reviews, we can be very focused on putting down our thoughts and might forget to include all the required elements in the review. To help, I've created a handy checklist of elements y'all should have in every book review to refer to before hitting publish.

If y'all are already a office of the inner circle, you tin directly access the checklist in the resource library. If y'all're not, you tin get instant access past signing upwardly below!

endnotes

There is no right or wrong way to write a book review, especially on YOUR weblog. The mentioned ways to format book reviews for your blog are just my opinions and suggestions. At the end of the twenty-four hour period, you write your reviews and you should do it the way you lot like best.

You also don't take to stick to a format throughout your blog. Certain, it creates a brand, especially if information technology is a unique reviewing format (similar what Kat @ Novels and Waffles uses with on-make terms like "ingredients", "kitchen of the writer", and "cooking directions"). But sometimes, you need the flexibility to cull formats based on the books. Allow yourself to experiment and try out new things.

This is also not an exhaustive list of ways to format book reviews. There are then many unique styles and many more generic formats. These are the ones that are easy to selection upward and apply to your reviews if you're stuck.

Related post: How to Brand Your Blog Posts More Readable

conversation with me!

Are you a book blogger? Practise you apply whatsoever of the review formats that I've mentioned in this mail? Do you use any additional elements in your reviews?

What are your favourite kinds of reviews to read? Have I missed any easy review format? If and so, do mention information technology in the comments and I'll mention your comment in the post!

Besides, is there whatsoever blogger whose reviews you dear to read because of their reviewing fashion or format? Requite them a shoutout in the comments so the rest of us tin can admire them too!

taylorcortall1997.blogspot.com

Source: https://thewordyhabitat.com/ways-format-book-reviews/

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