How to Write a Book Review in 2021 | Lilly Fei Method

I am an avid reader and an avid writer. I love reading so much, I want to tell everyone about the books I read. As a result, I track my reading on my own Notion account, here on the blog, NetGalley, on GoodReads, and Instagram. More recently, I joined an online publication as a staff writer. What is my contribution? Book reviews. 

Writing a book review may seem like a daunting task, but once you figure out a routine that works for you, it ends up being a lot of fun.

Here’s my strategy for reviewing books.

I skim the back jacket summary. I prefer going into books without much of an idea of what is going on. I typically predict endings accurately (this is a major bummer for psychological thrillers) so I found that going in with almost no information is the best method for me. 

I jot down some predictions, initial thoughts, and concerns I have before beginning the book. This lets me read back and figure out if the book met my expectations or did something groundbreaking.

I start reading. 

If I own the book, I will annotate it (WITH PENCIL) and mark the pages with page flags. I keep my book journal next to me to take note of any significant segments I will want to reference later on. 

I finish the book and start drafting my thoughts. I start with my own summary of what happened.

I will then write from the perspective of an Asian adoptee. If there are offensive and/or triggering topics, I will for sure call them out. 

I’ll give it a star rating so those who follow my reviews can compare it to other books I’ve read. 

I will share it to all relevant platforms. 

I used to be afraid of sharing more negative reviews. I realized that by not doing so, I was not being an authentic reviewer. Especially if a book is problematic towards marginalized communities. I now am more “brutal” with my reviews, but if a review is negative (and the book is not problematic), I never tag the author on social media. That’s common courtesy. 

In the beginning, my reviews were really short and I never included a summary. Now, I realize just how many people use my reviews to create their own To Be Read lists.

I try to add as much relevant information as possible without spoiling the book. I focus on topics that could be offensive or triggering because the worst thing in the world is reading a book and coming across wildly offensive material. 

Remember, practice makes perfect. Just start by keeping a book journal and once you feel more comfortable consider posting your thoughts online. I recommend starting with GoodReads or another book-focused social media platform. Then when you know you are committed, consider creating your own platform that you maintain. 

It’s all about sharing our love of books and finding new titles to add to our ever-growing stacks. Happy Reading!