Article: Should book bloggers share only positive reviews?

Plenty of book recommendations, discussions and reviews go around on Bookstagram. However, it cannot be denied that the majority of reviews are positive rather than negative. Is this justified? Or should we encourage Bookstagrammers to also share their negative experiences?

My own view on this is that whether a Bookstagrammer shares only positive reviews or shares both positive and negative reviews is entirely their decision and completely up to them. I'm not going to tell other people how to run their accounts or blogs. However, it can be useful for some readers to know what the pros and cons are to either. For that reason, I have made a list of a few things to consider.

Warped reality

This phenomenon is wide-spread across all niches and categories on Instagram. If a user only shares their successes, highlights and best moments, this creates a warped reality that, rationally, we know is unrealistic. Everyone lives through both good and bad moments, and life does a number on pretty much everyone. But even then, the way these representations make us feel can sometimes clash with what we know. We know someone's life on the internet isn't picture-perfect, but it can still feel like their lives are a hundred times better than our own. To know something and to experience it can be two very different things.

A version of the warped reality can, and often does, occur on Bookstagram. If a Bookstagrammer chooses to share only positive reviews, it might be that they are not being 100% transparent about their day-to-day reader journey. I have yet to meet a person who has enjoyed every single book they have ever read. Of course, sharing only positive reviews might bring them more joy, and keeps them motivated to continue, which are completely understandable reasons for leaving the bad reviews out. But for potential readers, this can mean that they cannot get a proper sense of the Bookstagrammer's likes and dislikes. The reason some potential readers loyally follow certain Bookstagrammers' advice is because they have experienced their taste in books to align with their own. In order for this to happen, however, the potential reader has to have access to the Bookstagrammer's personal likes and dislikes. The likes of the Bookstagrammer they have easy access to, but the dislikes are harder to find in positive reviews. Potential readers might feel comforted to know that, for example, a popular book they have been doubtful about reading wasn't liked by their trusted Bookstagrammer for the very same reasons they are hesitant to read it. Nobody wants to waste their time on a DNF. Therefore, it might be nice to follow a Bookstagrammer who is more open about what they do, and also do not, like.

The power of contrast

Positive reviews can benefit from being shared next to negative reviews. It can provide for more nuance or more contrast. If it looks like someone likes pretty much every book the same, another positive review won't pack as much of a punch. When a positive review is shared next to a negative one, it simply has more impact. It begs the questions what this book included that the other didn't, and it offers potential readers better understanding of the elements that make up a book and how they may affect the reader experience.

Entertainment value

It should be mentioned that bad reviews, especially scathing, humoristic ones, have high entertainment value. Don't believe me? Believe the 117.000 people that follow @goodreads_reviews on Instagram, a page that shares one-star reviews that range from one sentence to several paragraphs. Furthermore, "rant reviews" have steadily been gaining a great deal of views over on BookTube. This phenomenon is spreading to TikTok as well. That is how Alex Aster's writing in Lightlark became known for relating the sun to yolk - multiple times. And why shouldn't negative reviews gain traction? The opinions of others fascinate us, especially when they clash with our own. These types of reviews may even provide feelings of validation and recognition for those who felt the same. However, they can also be quite harsh to encounter for authors who stumble upon them (this might still happen on accident, despite it being generally accepted that reviews are meant for readers, not authors) and they are known to lead to heated debates and can make readers (who in fact enjoyed the book being ranted about) feel shameful about what their reading tastes. This type of review, I would say, is best taken with a grain of salt, and best read mainly for entertainment purposes.

I will say, some "rant reviews" are quite serious and provide excellent constructive feedback, and are, at times, even justified in their outrage. But many humoristic rant reviews, such as those found on the page @goodreads_reviews for example, aren't to be taken too seriously.

The importance of nuance

Why not take these scathing, humoristic rant reviews seriously, you ask? Well, because these often don't allow for a lot of nuance. Furthermore, they are often worded in such a way that makes it seem their opinion is more wide-spread than it actually is. Let me show you what I mean with an example of a 1-star review on The Summer I Turned Pretty on Goodreads:

"awful writing & insufferable characters (...) only recommend to aspiring authors who fear they're not good enough. i guarantee you anything is better than this!!!"

If the hype this summer was any indication, there are may people who don't find the characters insufferable or the writing awful. Granted, the hype was mostly gathered around the tv show, but still. The book has been reviewed over 58.000 times on Goodreads, and has an average rating of 3,7. For this person, writing "awful writing & insufferable characters" is understandable, because this was shared on a personal Goodreads account and it's likely this person couldn't or didn't want to spare more of their time to write an in-depth review. They are, of course, very entitled to their personal opinion. However, there is a world of difference between that wording and this: "The writing style was not for me, and I failed to connect to the characters". The latter leaves more room for whomever reading to think, "I'm not so picky with writing style, so maybe I could still enjoy it, and I might identify with the characters better".

A good, nuanced review distinguishes between what's personal preference and what is constructive feedback. Have you never enjoyed the specific trope that is used in the book you're reviewing? Probably personal preference. Can you go into detail about why it was a badly executed trope? Constructive feedback. Didn't like the writing style because it was free verse and you simply don't love free verse? Personal preference. Was the lack of skill in the writing in some way detrimental to your reading experience (i.e. white room syndrome, info-dumping, etc.)? Constructive feedback.

If Bookstagram reviewers keep true to themselves and distinguish between personal preference and constructive feedback, potential readers can make a more informed decision.

To sum up, positive reviews are great, especially to those Booksta accounts that dislike complaining and don't wish to dwell on their negative experience with a book. However, a mix of both positive and negative reviews can paint a more realistic picture, and through contrast and nuance add to the blogger's credibility. But the flip side is that some negative reviews can lack nuance, and reading them may discourage potential readers from reading books that they might, in reality, actually enjoy. For that reason, it's always prudent be on the look-out for reviews that recognize the difference between personal taste and fair criticism.

Have fun reading!