Writing Book Reviews That Sell!

Book reviews can and do influence potential readers.  A book reviewer must be a true book lover.  He must love to read and write and have a desire to share this passion with others.  This guide will give you some tips on writing reviews that will have buyers rushing to your eBay listings to buy your books. 

1. Try to mention the name of the author and the book title in the first paragraph — there's nothing more frustrating than reading a review of a great book but not knowing who wrote it and what the title is!
2. If possible, use one paragraph for each point you want to make about the book. It's a good way to emphasize the importance of the point.

3. Try to get the main theme of the book across in the beginning of your review. Your reader should know right away what he or she is getting into should they choose to read the book!

4. Think about whether the book is part of a genre. Does the book fit into a type like mystery, adventure, or romance? What aspects of the genre does it use?

5. What do you like or dislike about the book's writing style? Is it funny? Does it give you a sense of the place it's set?

6. Try using a few short quotes from the book to illustrate your points. This is not absolutely necessary, but it's a good way to give your reader a sense of the author's writing style.

7. Make sure your review explains how you feel about the book and why, not just what the book is about. A good review should express the reviewer's opinion and persuade the reader to share it, to read the book, or to avoid reading it.

I worked as a school librarian for many years.  I read hundreds of book reviews each year.  These reviews were written by other librarians and children's literature experts.  I respected the opinions of these reviewers and based my book purchases on what they wrote. 

Your reviews can have power and authority.  Write from your heart and reap the rewards!