Why I read my reviews.

Created with Ideogram 20 Jul 25

Many writers avoid reading reviews, which is entirely understandable. Some reviewers can be needlessly cruel. I don’t understand the need some reviewers have to write a scathing comment just because a book didn’t appeal to them. I would rather stick to the old adage: If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.

That said, not all reviews are awful. Some are genuinely uplifting, and also occasionally offer constructive, helpful feedback. That’s why I choose to read all my reviews, even the negative ones.

It seems a common belief among writers that Goodreads is only for readers. But I question that. As writers, I think we can use Goodreads not only to learn from feedback but also to connect with readers. Lately, I have started thanking readers who give my books a five-star review. Sometimes, I will follow them to find out what they read and to better understand my audience. And let’s not forget that writers are readers as well.

If I were concerned about harsh reviews, I might consider asking someone to read them to filter out the unhelpful and pass on the useful insights. But this hasn’t been a problem so far, because I have so few reviews. In fact, I have only had one two-star review, and while it wasn’t easy to read, I understood the reader’s point of view.

Do you read your reviews? Or do you think Goodreads is only for readers?