L.A. Garnett – Author

I don’t think it is an exaggeration to say that every author started out as a reader. There’s a reason why we want to create a world ourselves—we grew up amazed by so many talented people and wanted to try it ourselves. This doesn’t stop once we start writing either! I regularly set aside my writing to sit down and read because it lets me explore a new perspective and learn more about my craft.

When I finish a book, however, I’m faced with a question. Do I leave a review?

Instead of just being a faceless reader for whom this book was made for, I can now consider myself a peer of this author whom I do not know. We are both doing the same job and we’re in this together. So if I liked it, I’ll rate it as such. If I didn’t like it, I don’t see the benefit in dragging another author. At best, it just feels mean-hearted. I know the effort that goes into writing and I would hate to make someone feel badly about the work they put out into the world. At worst, though, they find my review and know who I am and I just lost a potential ally.

It costs nothing to keep our thoughts to ourselves. Not every opinion needs to be shared and if it hurts someone, I have no problem in keeping my more critical observations to myself.

What are your thoughts on bad reviews?