On the Carina Press author loop recently was a discussion about reviews. One author had gotten a particularly thoughtful review on Goodreads and wanted to post a comment thanking the reader, and also providing more information that the reader had wondered about. During the discussion, the question was posed wondering whether authors should say anything at all in response to reviews, or if they should simply maintain silence about reviews, in response to reviews, across the board.
On one hand, there’s an argument that it might feel rude not to thank someone for a particularly glowing, thoughtful or in-depth review. On the other hand is the idea that’s been put forth before that having the author show up in the comments–whether on Goodreads, Twitter or blog comments can stifle conversation about the book, or make readers feel as if the author is watching. Of course, readers understand that authors ARE watching, but to some, perhaps, the appearance of the author in the comments makes this more of a reality than just a possibility and creates a feeling of now having to watch what they say.
Authors on the Carina loop were, of course, in agreement that NO response should be made to negative reviews, but there was some honest confusion about positive reviews.
You tell us, what do you think? Should authors thank a reviewer for a positive review? Is it better if it’s done via a private email or private message (on a site like Goodreads?) rather than in the comment thread? Or is it better if the author simply maintains radio silence across the board? If you’re a reviewer, do you enjoy getting an acknowledgment from the author, of the time spent reading their book and writing a review, or does an author response really not matter to you?
If you get a notice of “yes, we will review” or “your review will post on” at that time a “thank you for your time” could be sent covering yourself both ways.
They did take the time to review. Not everyone does.
JIMHO
Bobbi
I’ve replied to a handful of reviews. In one case, it was a thoughtful albeit low-star review at a big site, so I thanked the reviewer for the helpful (for future books) commentary. In another (on GR), the review and some follow-up comments had raised a couple of questions, so I answered those. I’ve also left “thanks, glad you enjoyed it” comments now and then.
Generally, though, I don’t reply to GR reviews (although there is a “like” option there), and for review sites, I post a link with thanks on my blog.
I have had several authors email to thank me for good reviews. They tend to move up on my “buy on publication day” list. Well, those who aren’t already on my “get your hands on the ARC and THEN buy a copy on publication day” list.
I am a huge believer in honesty in reviewing and a huge hater of brown-nosing, but I actually love it when an author takes the time out to thank me for a positive review in any forum. Rather than stifling the conversation, I think it makes for a great feeling of connectedness with the author, the work, and the community, and it definitely bumps up the chances that I’ll make the effort to buy and read the author’s work in the future.
I think that replying to positive reviews has the potential to be as much of a minefield as replying to negative ones. In a reader space like Goodreads it can feel like an intrusion. And there’s a certain arrogance about assuming that the reviewer wants the approval of the writer. They might think that if the writer leaves a “thank you” in comments on a review that people will assume they are friends and take the review less seriously. The reviewer might consider getting a thanks from the writer to be something that could reduce their credibility as a reviewer.
Also, thanking one reviewer for a positive review and not replying to one who gave negative review (which may be just as thoughtful and in-depth) can look like favouritism, even though the writer is just following the rule about no replies to a negative review.
Hmm, I could go on about this for ages, so I think I’ll save the wittering for a blog post of my own!
While I have seen many readers say that they prefer authors to keep out off reviews (and, I infer, review sites) I enjoy, very much, engaging with authors. They are, after all, readers themselves.
I love it when authors have a positive reaction towards one of my reviews! However, I would prefer to get the compliment through a private message or though email (:
I had an author respond with a T.Y. to a goodreads review. To be honest, it freaked me out. Plus it was about 2.5 seconds after I posted it. It made me think twice before posting another honest review, becuase the author could be sitting there stalking their readers.
If he or she contacts me directly I respond. A few bloggers have sent me nice emails. To these I respond with thanks and whatever info they requested.
Otherwise, I am too afraid I would respond to a negative to even consider it. If I went about posting “thanks for the positive review,” it’s sitting on the border of “wow, you missed the entire point of my deep and thoughtful subtext about monkeys and pancakes, you philistine!”
No. Lock tickd.
I get both sides of this argument but I think that the idea of the author stays in the abstract until they post a review – and I think I fall on the side of ‘don’t do it’. I just feel that it does more harm than good, stifling a reader’s voice and making everyone aware that the author is playing big brother. But then again, it is nice to get a glowing rave on your book.
No. I say, no. Don’t.
I think.
I think Celine made a good point. If you receive a thoughtful, positive review and thank the reviewer privately, the reviewer has the option of either continuing this positive exchange with the author or ignoring the private mail.
I do think the author’s sudden appearance in a reader dialogue can have a quelling effect. On the other hand, when a negative review degenerates into a small subset of malicious people thoughtlessly trashing someone and clearly deriving enormous pleasure from the negativity (we have all seen a few of these), the possibility of quelling that malicious, unhelpful dialogue might be tempting to the author!
I think a ‘thanks for reviewing and I am glad that you liked the book’ or ‘thanks for the thoughtful review’ even if the review is not glowing is great.
I’m own a book blog where I’m the only reviewer. I don’t believe that a note through goodreads or twitter is appropriate, and some blogs that have more than 1 reviewer usually don’t encourage authors to leave comment.
No matter the rating, as long as they’re respectful, I believe a polite “thank you for your time” email is always the best approach to authors – especially those who don’t know much about the place the review had been posted. Now if you know the blog’s readership and the blogger, you can have the liberty of leaving a comment and engage a further discussion.
If you can’t contact the reviewer directly, you can always send an email to the website and tell them to please thank the reviewer for you – they always get that.
And you can always develop a relationship with the blogger for future events by contacting them. Even a simple “thank you” is good enough.
This is a really interesting discussion. Thanks Angela for raising it and for the reviewers who are responding. Good to get this insight!
I used to thank every reviewer, because I do appreciate their thought and effort even if I don’t like what they say. But then I got castigated–called a creepy stalker–and that scared the crap out of me. It’s just not the rep an author wants.
Hmmm.
I’m leery of directly addressing reviewers for all to see. I do, however, post their reviews on Twitter and FB and offer my sincere thanks for their time and consideration there, but I always try to be respectful of their (web)space. And when it comes to GR, I personally choose to stay waaaaay out of it. Readers (and I’m one of ‘em) need their space to openly and freely discuss their opinions. The most I’ve ever done on GR is to hit the Like button.
This is such a good topic. I can see both sides of the debate here.
Sometimes an author will “like” my review on goodreads and that is just fine with me. I have also gotten a couple messages there thanking me for reading the book. Also fine with me. But commenting on a review does make me feel a little awkward, depending on the comment/context. If I want the author to acknowledge my feelings about their book, I comment on their wall or @reply them.
The decision to ‘thank’ should be respected as personal. However, it makes sound marketing sense to strengthen a relationship with a receptive reader. You can’t put a value on the little glow of appreciation the reviewer will feel at being acknowledged.
Interesting perspectives! I had been sending personal thank-you’s because I just thought it was the polite thing to do. Hope no one thought it was creepy!
I’m late to the game, but here’s my two cents.
Reviewers have so many requests and such limited time, I always feel it’s polite to thank them for choosing my book to read. Even a bad review to me is a blessing, and I always appreciate an honest review. I comment simply to express my thanks that they gave my story a read.
I come down on the “no response” side, although I must admit it feels wrong–Please and thank you were the holy grail of my upbringing. I’ve thanked a couple who reviewed my books and have become friends, but have tried not to take advantage of those friendships. The bad ones? Well, not everyone likes the same thing, and I’ve never encountered a reviewer who was actually intent on doing me personal or professional damage.
Thanks for starting the discussion, Angela.
I love what Incy Black has to say, because I’ve been there–as a reviewer, it feels very nice to be acknowledged. It’s tricky for both author and reviewer when the review is not all glowing praise, but then not all books are for everyone.
Sandy James mentions the main reason why it felt so nice to receive a “thank you for taking the time to review my story”–at the time, I literally had hundreds of books lined up to review (not to mention the hundreds more in the TBR mountain range of doom)
At the MOST I would leave a simple, “Thanks for taking the time to review.” Period. Though, I feel an author should keep themselves out of the equation of any review…the reviewer “works” for the readers, not the authors.
As silly as it may seem I think if an author leaves a comment others might be less inclined to leave a critical comment, which is their right.
Just my $.02
Yes, I’m all for commenting especially when it is to reflect on a thoughtful review and not to attack. But if the author feels more comfortable sending their thanks and comments via an e-mail is even better. I love interacting with authors and wouldn’t want them to feel hindered in reaching out to discuss it.
Reading Reality is a single-reviewer site, so not Goodreads.
And I appreciate the acknowledgement, the “thanks for taking the time to review”, whether it’s on the blog or in email.
I also tweet my reviews to the author and the publisher. A retweet means a lot to me, it’s potentially more readers of the review, and hopefully more people coming back to my site.
I really appreciate this discussion on how to respond to a review. I always want to thank someone for their time and consideration but I can see how it might intimidate or cloud the issue of a review. It is a very tricky position to put a reviewer. Being new to this, I feel maybe no response may be the best alternative. Surely a reviewer knows how much their effort is appreciated by the author even for the negative reviews. I know I appreciate any acknowledgement. I would love to give a “Thank you” to all of them but I can see the problems inherent in that.
Sincerely,
Linda Hays- Gibbs