Ah, reviews. Do we dread them? Do we read them? Or do we avoid them?
There are two types of reviews: those that come from the trade publications like Kirkus, SLJ, and Booklist, and those that come from the consumers of our books, the readers.
Let’s start with trade reviews as they come first in the publishing timeline.
Every part of the publishing process comes with milestones that we anticipate. The offer, the contract, the edits, the first sketches from the illustrator, revealing the cover. But one milestone that creators may find the most stressful is the first trade reviews.
You’ve created a book, something that didn’t exist before you put pen or paintbrush to paper or screen, so you want people to read it, right? But do you want to read what they think about your creations?
Let’s dig in to how we feel about trade reviews.
Vicky, do you remember your first trade review?
I do. It was for Layla and the Bots: Happy Paws and it seemed fine to me. I think I was relieved. I don’t remember much else. I don’t think I’ve ever actually had a bad trade review (knock on wood!) but I’ve sometimes had no trade review. Or inaccurate reviews! (Which seems odd, you would think at least they’ve read the book properly.) Or maybe I have had bad reviews and nobody told me, haha. I don’t think I realized at the time how much trade reviews affect library purchases.
How about you, Christine?
The very first trade review I read for my very first book was one I came across while googling my book title (not always a wise move). It hadn’t been sent to me by my publisher (who did send along later positive ones) so that should have probably been a clue about what it contained. But I carried on and read it anyway. It was not good. I was so embarrassed by it I’m not sure I even told Vicky! I spiraled and couldn’t stop thinking about it for days. In the end I googled some advice and I found this from Elizabeth Gilbert.
“I am sensitive and easily bruised. I know that critical words can hurt me, and I am not in the business of hurting myself on purpose… I will not put those words in my head. I will not put those images in my head.” - Elizabeth Gilbert1
I too am sensitive and easily bruised. So I now do my best (I don’t always succeed) to avoid reading reviews except for those sent to me from trusted sources. And that includes Amazon and Goodreads reviews.
What are trade reviews so important?
Christine: They’re vital for visibility. If librarians, educators, and parents don’t know about our books, they won’t order them. And a starred review (which both of us have had from SLJ for Dear Mr. G and Best Buddies: A Pie for Us) can give your book a boost. They can help generate buzz and preorders for your books, too. Plus trade reviews give creators and publishers pull quotes that they can use in marketing materials like websites and social media.
Vicky: Also, it feels like trade reviews are harder to get these days! I don’t know if that’s true or just my perception. But while I used to assume I would get trade reviews for my books, I don’t any more, and I am pleased when I do get one.
Let’s dig in to how we feel about reader reviews and sales numbers.
So we already know that Christine doesn’t tend to read Goodreads reviews. How about you, Vicky?
I do! I read my reviews and check my sales rank and do all the things you’re not supposed to do. I don’t really MEAN to read my reviews… but I find that I do because I’m on sites posting reviews for other people and I end up reading mine. I don’t find reviews very helpful… they do spin me up or down emotionally sometimes. But it is another data point and I like having more data.
One thing to think about too… if your book is seen by enough people, there will probably be somebody who hates it. And that’s okay! Not every book is for every person. That’s why we need so many different books in the world. So I try to ignore the occasional hurtful review and focus on the big picture when it comes to reviews.
“…if your book is seen by enough people, there will probably be somebody who hates it.”
But as for my sales rank and Bookscan sales report, oh, I check them ALL the time. For those who don’t know, you can check these both through your Amazon Author Portal. Your sales rank just reflects the book’s traffic/interest/something-or-other on Amazon. It fluctuates pretty quickly. You can also check your Bookscan sales every week. These sales numbers tend to be inaccurate representations of actual sales (as it only account for sales from some outlets—not including libraries and fairs, for example) but you can see it go up and down from week to week and catastrophize about what may or may not be happening behind the scenes. I don’t know exactly why I check all the time. I suppose I find it interesting to compare my different titles and try to understand why one book sold 500 books one week while another sold six. It gives me a general sense of how a book is doing overall.
Do you check sales numbers, Christine?
Short answer: No.
Longer answer: I do have an account on Amazon Author Portal and I have looked at it very occasionally but I do not rely on it since it’s so inaccurate. I wait for royalty statements instead (which maybe needs to be a whole other post one day). I figure that in the scheme of things, there’s little I can do personally to massively affect sales so worrying about the numbers doesn’t serve me. I have occasionally noticed a surprising blip on the sales ranking (which you can see on the Amazon page for your book) which has made me wonder why and how it happened. But I really am not a data person!
What do you read into the sales blips that you do see?
Vicky: Sometimes, it’s a total mystery and I have no idea! Other times, it’s what you would think. Maybe the publisher’s ads/promotions are hitting. Maybe a book got coverage on a media outlet that reached consumers. Maybe it’s a seasonal thing. Let’s definitely dig into this more in a future post.
Okay, so what’s the verdict? Should authors read reviews and check their sales rank or not?
What do you think, Vicky?
I guess it depends how much they upset you and what you do to handle them. Sometimes, I need to read them in small doses, and if I feel myself getting upset, I vent it out and mope and don’t read them again for a while. I do find that they upset me less than they used to, and I find it useful to know how people are responding, even if it can sometimes be irrelevant or hurtful. For Bookscan sales numbers… it’s not really helpful, but I like to know! Just remember that it’s terribly inaccurate and you really won’t know until your royalty statement comes.
How about you, Christine?
I think it’s fine to read reviews and check sales rankings if that is productive for you. But don’t obsess or let it distract you from the most important thing: Writing the next book!
Even if I don’t always read them, reviews are important and they help more people see our books. And for that reason, I’m incredibly grateful for anyone who takes the time to review one of my books. If there’s a book you love and you’ve been meaning to leave a review, do it! It’s a great way of supporting creators and their work.
From: https://www.facebook.com/GilbertLiz/photos/a.356148997800555/907629542652495/?type=3
Great post! I find that waiting to get and read trade reviews is so nerve wracking. It is a challenge to temper expectations. I am constantly reminding myself that all I can do is keep working on the next book.
This was fascinating! Thank you both so much for sharing. My first book comes out next year (a picture book with illustrator John Ledda), and I must admit, it makes my stomach roller-coaster to think about sales and reviews! But I am also trying to combat that by creating a marketing plan and, of course, writing new manuscripts. Even if it doesn't move the needle much, at least I will feel like I'm doing what I can (at least, I hope). 😬