The perils (and joys) of being a writer-reviewer

Some readers make it clear that they’d prefer authors to stay out of their reviewing space, and I completely understand that viewpoint. Reviews are ultimately written to help other readers choose books, not for authors to see what people think of their book. But what about authors who are also reviewers? And what about reviewers who tag authors in reviews, drawing them into the conversation? I’ve found it’s not only possible but beneficial to be active in both worlds, though there are areas where authors can make missteps.

I started my book blog in 2015 and now review books predominantly on YouTube and TikTok. I’ve met some of my closest friends through the book community, and it’s also given me huge opportunities. Every year, I’ve attended the Young Adult Literary Convention (YALC) as a blogger and initially as an aspiring author. I successfully pitched to my agent and met my publisher at consecutive YALCs. Making a personal connection and seeing the enthusiasm for my book in real life told me I’d found the right home for it.

Being a blogger has also helped me to strengthen my writing, because I was a reader first. Figuring out what I like about books and reading well-crafted sentences and plots has been the most important way to develop my own writing. I can still sit back and enjoy a book as a reader, but I love reflecting on why a book works and what I can take away as an author.

My blogging background has likewise been an advantage while marketing my books. I already had author contacts when it came to getting blurbs, and blogger friends were keen to read my books. If you’re an author reading this and thinking you can’t optimise social media because you haven’t been blogging for years, it can still be a great resource for connecting with booksellers, librarians, bloggers and other authors.

By helping to promote books over the years, I’ve seen what has created real buzz. My publicity team have allowed me to bring my experience to the table, and we’ve created campaigns together that we’re all excited about. I think it’s useful as an author to keep an eye on what other people are doing and think about what could work for your book.

Every word we write online leaves ripples, and anything an author says can affect their career for better or worse

I’ve spent a lot of time describing the advantages of going from blogger to author, but there are challenges too. I love reading and reviewing books as well as writing them, so I have to navigate both spaces. But I’m constantly mindful of the fact that the publishing world is small and everyone seems to know each other. Every word we write online leaves ripples, and anything an author says can affect their career for better or worse.

As I previously mentioned, readers should feel free to review honestly without fearing backlash from publishers or authors. Reviews lose their meaning if people can’t give their true opinions. That being said, my personal philosophy is to keep reviews on the positive side, because a book that doesn’t resonate with me will still have readers that love it. As an author, I also know how much effort has been poured into every page. But reviewers have very different styles, and they should be able to express themselves openly.

The best thing I’ve done in terms of reviews is not to seek them out. Reviewers often tag authors in positive reviews, which feels amazing, and I always share and comment on those. Stumbling across a review is more complicated. I spend a lot of time scrolling (some might say too much), and I often come across reviews that I haven’t been tagged in. I tend to do one of two things: keep scrolling, or read on if the temptation is too strong. When I want to comment or share an untagged review, I reach out to the creator for permission.

Another thing I want to mention is the nightmare scenario for an author, and one I’ve fortunately not had to face: going viral for the wrong reason. In my time as a blogger and author, I’ve seen scathing reviews blow up on social media or authors being publicly called out about the content of their books. Authors can handle it in different ways, and the most dignified one seems to be owning the mistake and expressing how they will act on it. I hope never to be in this situation, but it’s good to know there’s a way to learn and move on.

Every author has a different publication journey, but being a blogger has been a huge part of mine. Although some authors delete their reviewing apps to avoiding reading reflections on their books, it means they can no longer participate in the reviewing world.

I create reviews because I love it and have no intention of giving up. Writing and reviewing books are so entangled at this point that I couldn’t and wouldn’t want to do one without the other.