What's your reason for not reviewing a novel?

[Hans.Trondheim]

Reasons For Not Reviewing the Novel​

We might have read a novel on SH and not left a review. Or perhaps the author asked for a review in the feedback forum, but we might have ignored the request.

I am an active member who provides reviews on novelupdates. However, on SH, I rarely provide reviews. Here are some of my reasons:

First, I have received personal attacks from authors who insist on asking for feedback. Hello, is it polite to do that to others?

Second, reviews are not appreciated. It's okay if you disagree with someone else's opinion. But respecting others is a moral obligation. Often reviews are not appreciated even if the author asks for it. Just a like or a short reply is actually basic etiquette in respecting other people's opinions. But ironically, authors (especially new ones) often ignore that. At least you should respect the existence of the reviewer. Ignoring them is the same as considering the reviewer as not existing.

Third, my energy is often used up taking care of my own novel. So I rarely read other people's novels nowadays unless asked.

Fourth, even if an author asks for a review with the promise of a review in return, and I agree to that verbal agreement. When I've already given an honest review, the author unilaterally reneges on the agreement by ignoring my review and refusing to provide a review in return. This is truly ridiculous. If they promised, why did they break it? In the end, they've compromised their own integrity. This makes it difficult for me to trust authors who ask for reviews with the promise of a review in return.

Ultimately, mutual respect, integrity, listening and accepting openly in the interaction between the author and the reader (reviewer) are important. If you don't want to listen, why do you ask for other people's opinions? If you don't want to respect others existentially, how can you demand that others respect you?

1) I'm afraid of offending the author since they didn't ask for any unsolicited review (it's another matter if they did, however).
2) I'm specific when I'm reviewing a work, meaning they need to tell me what they want me to look out for, and not just a general 'what can you tell me?' This is to avoid misunderstanding the author's intent and vision for the work.
3) I rarely have the time to review.

 

[pangmida]

I only do it for novels I really, really like. I personally don’t believe in leaving lowered scores on books I read for free, on a site where everyone writes out of fun and passion. I usually just stop reading books that I don’t like. An exception could be a story that discusses heavy topics in incredibly insensitive ways. But even then, I normally just close out and never look back.

Also I yap a lot in comments and reviews, so I’ll need things to talk about if I decide to leave one. ? Picky reader here.

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

It's not complete. Reviewing an incomplete novel may lead to having to revise the review later.

This 100%....though I still leave reviews on a few novels iv read

This makes it difficult for me to trust authors who ask for reviews with the promise of a review in return.

Scene Dark alleyway ,a tall man in a black trenchcoat approaches you.

Man - "Ppssst, care to swap reviews, I can...ahem...provide you with a good one. Don't worry, its all legit"

 

[Representing_Tromba]

Most haven't completed enough of the story to even give it a fair review. If they want a first chapter review, sure. Though, anything beyond that at least has to have a completed arc.

 

[Sylver]

Reasons For Not Reviewing the Novel​

We might have read a novel on SH and not left a review. Or perhaps the author asked for a review in the feedback forum, but we might have ignored the request.

I am an active member who provides reviews on novelupdates. However, on SH, I rarely provide reviews. Here are some of my reasons:

First, I have received personal attacks from authors who insist on asking for feedback. Hello, is it polite to do that to others?

Second, reviews are not appreciated. It's okay if you disagree with someone else's opinion. But respecting others is a moral obligation. Often reviews are not appreciated even if the author asks for it. Just a like or a short reply is actually basic etiquette in respecting other people's opinions. But ironically, authors (especially new ones) often ignore that. At least you should respect the existence of the reviewer. Ignoring them is the same as considering the reviewer as not existing.

Third, my energy is often used up taking care of my own novel. So I rarely read other people's novels nowadays unless asked.

Fourth, even if an author asks for a review with the promise of a review in return, and I agree to that verbal agreement. When I've already given an honest review, the author unilaterally reneges on the agreement by ignoring my review and refusing to provide a review in return. This is truly ridiculous. If they promised, why did they break it? In the end, they've compromised their own integrity. This makes it difficult for me to trust authors who ask for reviews with the promise of a review in return.

Ultimately, mutual respect, integrity, listening and accepting openly in the interaction between the author and the reader (reviewer) are important. If you don't want to listen, why do you ask for other people's opinions? If you don't want to respect others existentially, how can you demand that others respect you?

Well in short, I haven't read that many novels on here. I'd rather review a story after I catch up to the current newest chapter or I have finished the story as a whole.

 

[AYM]

Because I inevitably spend more time writing the review than time reading the story that's reviewed.

 

[LIKAAM]

I prefer giving and receiving comments. I find that when I read something I particularly like or dislike in a story, especially as it's being written, I like to leave a comment. It can be constructive or complementary. If the author is still writing, they can fix the issue or comment back. Someone commented on another site (RR) about a hint I dropped in my text and I loved that they caught it as they were reading! It's hard to review an ongoing or incomplete piece. As a new author I know how motivating comments are!

 

[sage61]

Mostly I'll review if the novel is exceptionally good or extremely terrible. I dislike the idea of swap reviews, cause I want the reviews to be authentic. It's totally fine if people don't review my novels, cause I just wrote for fun. Honestly though, I haven't been reading in SH for a couple of months now so I haven't even been up-to-date with my following list. So far, I mostly only drop a comment at the last chapter i've read in SH.

 

[LightHikari]

I am unbothered if I get a review or not. I feel like many reviews are pointless. There is hardly any objectivity. I've read reviews that turned me away, only to find out I liked the story. I've also read reviews that sounded like I'd love it and end up not liking it.

I know it's hard for people to be unbiased, but I think reviews are missing objectivity. I will not be the change I want to see either. I am just a small drop in an ocean.

 

[Hush25]

I must admit I actually enjoy (helpful) criticism, I feel it's far more constructive to my growth as a writer (or maybe I'm just a masochist). That said, like everyone else, I sincerely want people to like my offerings.
I used to mentor new writers as part of a CP scheme with a writing organisation and it made me realise there's a balance to be had between praise and criticism, but ultimately if the criticism is clearly well meant, it should be graciously accepted.
Recently read a novel on WattPad that clearly hadn't been edited. When the author asked for feedback I pointed out that the novel was good, but was brought down by the many, many typos, grammar mistakes etc. The author casually said they hadn't edited it and were too busy rn. Then asked me to actually find the mistakes because they were sure they weren't there. I was sorely tempted to write back and say: Sorry, I charge for my editing services.
I've given (nice reviews) and received reviews on NU and CG and never felt they were unfair.
As to review exchanges, I just found out that it's not about honouring one's word.

 

[TheEvilDuckLord]

I don't review much at all, but I might review to add information I think a reader might want to know. Don't give few stars though, if it's bad enough to take away stars, I just stop reading.

 

[ConansWitchBaby]

I forget. Simple really.

I'll probably go on another review spree after getting reminded by this thread.