You Finished a Great Book—Now What?
You’ve just closed the cover on a book you enjoyed… maybe even loved.
So what’s next?
You might look up the author to see if they’ve written anything else. Maybe you tell a friend about it, fire off a quick text, or drop a post on Facebook.
All of that is great—but there’s one small step that often gets skipped.
And it only takes a minute or two.
Write a Review.
“But I Hate Writing Reviews…”
I get it. Back in school, book reviews were homework.
But this isn’t that.
You’re not being tested. No one’s judging your grammar. And there’s no minimum word count.
Think about this instead: how often do you read reviews before buying a book?
Chances are, you checked out what other readers had to say before you decided to give that story a chance.
Reviews help readers discover books they’ll love.
And they matter immensely to authors.
As a romance author, I can tell you this firsthand: I rely on reader reviews. They don’t just help my books reach new readers—they help me grow as a writer so the next story I tell is even better.
Where You Can Leave a Review
Whether you read the book as a paperback, ebook, audiobook, borrowed it from the library, or got it from a friend, you can still share your thoughts. As long as you have an account, you can leave a review on sites like:
(I regularly review library books myself.)
Rating vs. Reviewing: There Is a Difference
Most book sites use a five-star rating system. Stars are helpful, but on their own, they don’t tell much of a story.
A star rating doesn’t explain:
- Why you loved the book
- Why it didn’t quite work for you
- What made it stand out—or fall flat
That’s where a review comes in.
Even a few sentences can provide insight that helps other readers decide if the book is right for them—and gives the author meaningful feedback.
How to Write a Book Review (Without Overthinking It)
Good news: Your review does not need to be long. It does not need a plot summary. And it definitely doesn’t need to sound like an English paper.
What readers really want to know is:
- What did you think?
- What worked for you?
- What didn’t?
Why did you give it three stars instead of four? What made it a five-star read? Or why did it miss the mark entirely?
Authors want to know these things too.
A helpful review might mention:
- What you enjoyed most (characters, pacing, emotion, themes)
- One thing that didn’t quite land for you
- Who you’d recommend the book to
That’s it.
Honest. Thoughtful. Human.
A Small Act That Makes a Big Difference
If you enjoy discovering new books and authors, reviews are one of the best ways to support the reading community.
You help:
- Other readers find stories they’ll love
- Authors reach new audiences
- Writers (like me!) understand what resonates—and what doesn’t
So the next time you finish a book you enjoyed, take a moment to leave a review.
It may feel small, but to an author, it means more than you know.