My Worst (and Funniest) Review

Handling reviews as an author

Reviews are a double edged sword for authors. All the advice out there says reviews are for the readers, not for the authors, and authors should stay away from the reviews. There's really no need to read them. But then on the opposite side of that coin, there is the “use reviews to promote your book”.

It make things a little complicated.

So yes, an author has to develop thick skin when it comes to perusing reviews. One of the things that you have to learn early on is that, yes, reviews are for readers. But at the same time, remembering that not everyone everywhere is going to love your book and you have to find your audience. It's not always an easy lesson to learn, but it's something to keep in the back of your mind each and every time you pull review quotes for promotional purposes.

Now, I've been doing the author thing since 2016 and I have come across my fair share of not-so-nice reviews, but probably my worst—and the funniest—one to date, and it still makes me laugh to this day, is this one. Now, I can't quote it word for word, because I don't remember where or when the review was left, so I can't go and pull it back up, but it went something like this:

”I've read math books that are more interesting than this book is.”

Now I'm not gonna lie, that kind of hurt my feelings. And I was still a baby author then, so I hadn't quite developed that thick skin that everybody recommends. But as I went along and I learned things, I was able to laugh at it, and I can still laugh at it now. But back then, it did sting a little bit.

I think, and I'm speculating here, that the person who wrote this review was expecting more drama and angst than what I delivered for that particular book. And to be honest, I don't even remember which book that this review was left for. I just remember wanting to crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head.

So, if you are a debut author—a baby author, if you will—this is what I hope you take away from this. I know it's been stated already once, but I'm going to say it again: read the reviews when you have to and be done (aka, don't live in the review comments on Goodreads or Amazon). And even though I've said it multiple times, I'm going to say it again because it bears repeating: your books are not for everyone. Learn to find your audience, and those are the people that are going to support you and give you the reviews that will make you smile. And not in the “I'm fine but will probably drink my feelings later” kind of way.

Now, a request to all my author friends out there: if you've had a rather rough or funny review, please share it with me in the comments. Because I'd love to read how you handled it and how you would suggest others in your situation might as well.

Much love and happy writing.
~HCB