Are Amazon or Goodreads or similar reviews worth the paper they are not written on?

Let's start with this – I do not do reviews – I'm a writer: not a reader who writes reviews.

I'm glad I have this rule, since most reviews that writers get enamoured with and then re-post on their websites, and other promotional forums that they value, are rubbish.

So when is a review really not worth bothering about?

Well let us start with:-

“I got a free copy of this book and although not asked decided to review it.”

Normally this is followed by the writer's bio, obviously supplied with the “Free” copy. So disregard this type of review, since it is about the information the writer supplied, not the story.

Then there is a glowing review and when you check the reviewing history of the poster, you find this review and the one for the “Girlie Magazine” or the four slice toaster and the curtains: all also sold on Amazon.

Friend and “Followers” reviews you can spot from a mile off. They are the ones with the worse style of writing. Usually they also call themselves writers, but they are not.

Reviews written without mention of the names of any of the characters in the book, or just the main character, are very suspect, as are reviews of scanned parts of the plot with an additional odd bit of the back cover blurb.

One solitary review of one book and no other ever – is obviously suspicious.

But the ones that get me are those reviews trumpeted on an author's website as from “Mr X reviewer from XYZ's X review  group” and author of 200 reviews. This review of their precious book means Mr. X is working for his next merit badge.

So in conclusion, I always wanted to conclude with a conclusion just like the best executive summaries I used to write and read.

Read a book because the author himself or herself has sold you on it with a good evocative title, a good blurb, and if it is being sold on Amazon or the like, that gives a Preview or a Look Inside feature, read those and decide for yourself.

If on the other hand the preview/look inside raises questions about the work, in terms of grammar, punctuation and maybe in some cases unsubstantiated CSI or NCIS action that is believable only in the authors mind, skip the wonderful opportunity offered to read their masterpiece.