Whether they’re on social media or special review portals, consumers look to reviews to help them make purchasing decisions. But writing a great review can be challenging.
The first step is to determine what your goal is. You’ll want to be as specific as possible so readers can understand your experience.
1. Start with a Pitch
When people read reviews, they usually look for a combination of information. Whether it’s a star rating, number of reviews, or common themes, it all influences their decision to purchase a product.
A good place to start is by stating the theme and genre of the book. This gives readers a sense of what to expect from the book and sets the stage for your review.
Next, state what about the book caught your attention. This could be a character, a certain aspect of the plot, or the author’s style. Make sure you include what you like about the book without spoiling anything for readers. For example, if you loved the lyrical prose, you can say that without giving away anything about the story.
2. Be Specific
When you write a review, it’s important to be as specific as possible. Your goal is to help other people make a decision about whether or not they want to read, visit, watch, or buy the product or service you’re reviewing. A useful technique is to think about where this work fits among other products like it.
This can be done by looking at common themes across reviews of the same product or service. For example, if many of the reviews you read mention a similar theme, such as explicit love scenes, that’s probably a good indicator that you should avoid the book or film. Similarly, when writing a restaurant review, be sure to address the quality of the food and service you received.
3. Don’t Be Afraid to Be Honest
When writing a review, you should always be honest. People will appreciate the truth, even if it is hard to read. It is better to write in a tone that is calm and reasonable than in a fit of anger. For example, if you were not satisfied with the service at a store or the product you purchased, be sure to mention that.
Some reviews are wildly funny, such as the one of sugar-free gummi bears that went viral. These kinds of reviews get attention and are helpful to potential buyers, but they are not necessarily essential to a review.
On the other hand, if you write a review that slams a book, it will not make that author very happy. It could even hurt their sales.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Be Critical
When writing a review, it is important to be critical. This is because it helps you to identify weaknesses and areas that could be improved upon. Ultimately, it also allows you to provide an accurate and fair analysis of the product.
The most critical section of your critique is the discussion portion. This is where you critically discuss 2-3 key issues in the texts. Your discussions should be supported with evidence from the text and other sources (case studies, history, other books and articles).
When you have finished your discussion section, you should then evaluate the overall contribution of each text to the development of knowledge in this particular area or discipline. This is known as implicit evaluation. It is less direct than explicit evaluation and is more difficult to do as a student.
5. Be Creative
Writing is a creative endeavor, so it’s important to let your personality shine through. You can do this by using a conversational tone and creating a rhythm through short, snappy sentences.
Unlike an essay, a review does not have to follow the same rigid structure of a thesis developed over the course of several closely connected paragraphs. Instead, think of it as sharing an experience with a friend.
Consider relating your experience of reading the book by telling a story about it. People want to hear stories about books — they’re more interesting and engaging than simply a chapter-by-chapter analysis. It’s also a way to help readers connect with your thoughts about the book and decide whether it would be worth their time. As a writer, it’s your job to care about other readers.
