How to write a book review

Write it while it is fresh

The best time to write a review is within a day or two of finishing. After a week, the details blur and only a general impression remains. If you cannot write it all, jot down three sentences now and expand them later.

A simple structure

1. One sentence on what the book is. Genre, setting and the situation, without the ending: “A quiet novel about two sisters running a failing hotel on the coast.”
2. What worked for you. Be specific. “The dialogue is sharp” is better with a short example.
3. What did not. Fair criticism helps readers who share your taste.
4. Who it is for. “If you liked X, you will like this” is often the most useful line in a review.
5. Your verdict. A rating, or a single sentence: would you recommend it?

Talk about the plot without spoilers

Describe the setup, not what happens after it. A safe rule is to say nothing that happens after the first quarter of the book. If you need to discuss the ending, say so clearly at the top and put it in a separate paragraph, so people can skip it.

Use a quote, but just one

A short line from the book shows the writing better than any adjective. Copy it exactly, and add the page if you have it. One quote is enough; more starts to replace your own voice.

Keep it short

For most books, 150 to 400 words is enough. A few clear paragraphs say more than a long retelling. Your review should be about your reading, not a summary of the whole book.

Prepare as you read

A review is easier to write from notes than from memory. While you read, save quotes with their page and write a few words when something strikes you. The guide to taking notes while reading shows a quick way to do it, and the one on questions to ask about a book can help you find what to say.

Use Pagetime for the notes and the verdict

When you finish a book in Pagetime, the “Book finished” sheet offers a rating in half-stars and a field, “A thought about the book”, which asks what will stay with you from it; the thought is saved with the book’s notes. It is often the first sentence of your review. In the Notes tab, search a book’s title to bring together every quote and thought you saved while reading it.

From the same sheet, “Share book card” makes an image with the dates, how many days and sessions the book took, your reading time and rating. It is made on your phone and works without an account or subscription.

The free version holds up to 5 books and includes 20 page scans with text recognition in total. Deleting a note does not restore a used scan. Notes and the timer work offline without an account; sync is free after signing in. A subscription removes the book and scan limits and unlocks your full stats history, year in review and folder export. Pagetime is coming to iPhone and Android; you can leave your email below to hear when it is available. Until then, write three sentences about the last book you finished.

This independent guide is published by Pagetime and is not authorized, sponsored or endorsed by Apple Inc. or Google LLC.