Authors are often told not to read the reviews of their books, but I’m pretty sure most authors can’t resist looking at those reviews. I will admit that I have often read reviews. Of course, I adore the ones where readers say they loved the book or couldn’t book the book down until it was finished. But like most authors, there are reviews that I wish I hadn’t read or reviews that leave me puzzled. The puzzling type is the one I’m going to address today.
First I will talk about a reviewer who gave one of my books three stars. All the other reviews on the book are either four or five stars. I know not every book appeals to every reader. I know books that others are all raving about, and I just didn’t like it. So I know there are a variety of opinions out there, but the statements in the review puzzle me. Why did the reviewer give the book three stars when they found the book, “enjoyable” with “very good writing” and a “good ending?” The one negative mention was “very predictable.” Is that the reason for the three-star review? I don’t know. Was it predictable because the hero and heroine wind up together? Isn’t that the point of a romance? Don’t we know going into a romance that we know the ending? Or was there another reason for the “predictable” comment?
The next review I’d like to mention is somewhat puzzling and hard to read. Someone really didn’t like my baby. She was very clear about all the things she didn’t like about the hero and heroine and why they weren’t very smart in their decisions. Of course, she also mentioned that the book was “predictable.” The most puzzling thing for me is why she gave the book a three-star review instead a one-star review with all the things she didn’t like about it.
Finally, I have one more. This one was short and not so sweet. Here’s a quote: “
Just for fun I thought I’d throw in this book trailer that I may have shared before. I ran across it when I was adding my Youtube link to the site before we say goodbye. The photo above is in the trailer. I hope you enjoy this trailer for my book, Hometown Cowboy. Just click or tap on the link.
What are your thoughts on the predictability of romances?
Since this is my last post, I wanted to say how much I’ve enjoyed this community of authors and readers. I’ve been with the group for almost all of the ten years. I did take off about a year when we were doing a lot of traveling, and it was hard to predict when I would have good internet access, especially overseas. I hope you will check out and follow me on all the social media sites below and sign up for my newsletter if you haven’t done so already. You can use the buttons below.
I would also like to thank Valerie, Elizabeth, and Narelle for all their hard work over the past 10 year.
Here’s one last giveaway. I will give away a paperback book to one person who leaves a comment. If you are international, it will have to be an ebook. I have several to choose from and will give the list to the winner of the drawing. I will draw the winning name on March 28 at 9PM MST.
“Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.”
Merrillee Whren is an award-winning author who writes inspirational romance. She is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of thirty plus years, and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Florida but now makes her home in the Arizona desert. When she’s not writing, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking while she does the plotting for her novels.
It may simply be that to one person a 3 star rating means right in the middle “average” and has room for improvement (be nice if they said how tho, wouldn’t it?).
While to another person who gives out 5 star ratings to everything they like, a 3 star rating seems harsh.
I’m following you already!! Honestly, I don’t do three star reviews. If it’s a three star from me, I really didn’t enjoy the book! And, there are very few of those!! I’m thinking the ones you mentioned had to be by bots, or something. I mean, ALL romance books are “predictable” in that they have HEA’s as you said. That’s the point!!! We WANT them to be that way!! If they weren’t, we sure wouldn’t be reading them like we do!! Especially me, since I read over 200 a year!
I usually don’t read reviews because they either rehash the story or I’m left wondering did they read the same book as me. I can’t imagine unless the printer messed up the book how your books would only receive a three star, but that’s my personal opinion. With respect to why, most people would say “nice” not having any concept that nice means absolutely nothing – it is rare in my experience that people are specific and quantifiable in their responses which leaves you as an author scratching your head for them. The three star may have been that the person saw you had consistently high ratings, didn’t appreciate your baby, but wanted to be kind because her personal feelings were balanced with what she wrote about the writing style. Will miss you on the blog, guess I’ll need to start reading your newsletters now (yep, I’m one of those readers). Cheers
Good predictable sometimes refers to the reader seeing the development of the story coming since we all know the ending of a romance novel.
But it’s a matter of taste. Personally, I prefer a well-done story to meaningless plot twists just for the sake of the author wanting to be “new.”
Hi I love your book trailer and your book sounds like such a Great read!! Well it is hard to predict what these reviewers meant by it being predictable, and yes who doesn’t love HEA’s and we all hope for HEA’s especially in a great story when the couple just connects. Thank you so much for all your wonderful posts you have posted all through the years. I already follow you . Thank you for everything and yep , there are all kinds of readers, some way too picky then others so you my friend , you just keep on doing what you are doing and be satisfied with your great books that you write, and always know that you can’t and we can never please everyone. Have a great day and a great rest of the week. God Bless you and your family.
It is a shame that the person who categorized the story as being “predictable” did not give proper feedback. How is an author supposed to improve if the reviewer does not provide examples of what they found predictable in the story. I can’t believe they gave it three stars with that kind of a lame review. I always shake my head when I see people give one, two, and three star reviews when they are not adequately providing feedback. All I can say, is shame on them.
I wonder if the 3 star reviewer is one who actually does the ratings right with the 3 still being a good read but not the best of the best or the above average. In reality 3 is middle of the road so not as bad as many think. (I personally think 3 star ratings on items actually tell way more than 5 stars at times)
I know a few years back I was reading books and I got that Predictable feeling in many. at around 80% or so, there was that issue that always turns up a miss understanding or something and the derailment which then they work it out and all live Happily ever after. Like in a Hallmark movie with about 20 mins to go something happens. Hero or Heroine sees a hug happen with the ex and thinks they are back together when its actually the farewell hug. or someone says something thats incorrect. I admit in recent years I haven’t had that Predictable feeling when reading.
It has been great getting to know you and I already stalk you one FB and on your newsletter. You are one of the few Authors I know who have visited Australia. I wish you all the best for your future endeavors.
The predicable comment is interesting.
I find it’s the sort of thing said by people who don’t read romance, “oh I couldn’t read a book like that, they’re too predicable “. People never seem to say it about other genres, like crime, which alsohave a formula and follow the same pattern.
And I suppose in a way, romances are predicable – the hero and the heroine fall in love, and you get the HEA ending. But a good romance draws you in to the characters, makes you experience the wonder and joy of them falling in love, and shows beautiful moments of connection between two people. A sunset is predicable, it happens every day, but it doesn’t make it any less beautiful.
Thank you for all your posts here.
Parts of romance stories are meant to be predictable, that’s why we like them. I’d try to ignore it unless they can give you specifics. I loved the trailer, it was so beautiful! I’m following you everywhere I can & I subscribed too.
I’m going to try to answer this from a book reviewer perspective. So, every reader/reviewer has their own subjective rating system, but for example, for me a three star rating means the book was okay/average, and depending on the book I might criticise it more or less. I’ve even had four and five star reads where it seemed like I criticised them quite a bit, but the things I liked/loved outweighed the things I didn’t.
But basically, a 3 star is a book I don’t regret reading, I had fun reading it, maybe I’ll check out the sequel (if it has one) or maybe I won’t, but it didn’t envoke strong feelings in me. Usually with three stars I couldn’t connect to the characters even if the plot or writing was good, or I didn’t feel the chemistry between the characters in a romance novel so it wouldn’t feel right to give it a four or five.
It’s really not a negative rating though, not at all, unless, like someone already said, the person mostly gives out 5s so to them a 3 is harsh. It’s also possible reviewer #2 recognised the book wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t for them, so they upped the rating to a three when maybe it could’ve been a two for them.
Now the predictability comments, I don’t use that often in my reviews, but when I do I don’t mean things like they meet, fall in love, probably break up in act 3, get back together, HEA, but more like I was able to predict almost every single thing that happened to the characters in between all of that. I hope that makes sense.
This also isn’t always a bad thing, sometimes that’s exactly what I’m looking for, stories that are very similar to books that I already loved, and then those new books become new faves.
Anyway, Hometown Cowboy sounds so good, let me add that to my tbr really quick :)
I don’t really read book reviews. I usually read the blurb to see if a book interests me. I prefer reading books that have an HEA, no cliffhanger.
When a book review is 3 stars or less, I always wonder about the why, especially when “predictable” is a reason. This is how I look at a book, specifically a romance. Yes, it is predictable in that the main characters will end up together. But, that isn’t all there is to it. The ending is expected, but the journey the characters went through to get to that ending is what makes a story special. Sometimes there may be a similarity to another story, but the other events leading up to the end differ in some way or another, and that journey to the HEA is what makes each story special.
Hi Wenonah,
You may have a point. Everyone’s rating system may be different.
Hi Trudy,
Wow! That’s a lot of books. I know for sure that these weren’t bots. And I’m with you, I read romances because they have happy endings. I remember years ago when I read a book that must have been over 400 pages, and the hero dies in the end. I couldn’t believe it. I’d invested all that time reading, and there wasn’t a happy ending. Boo!
Hi Dianne,
Thanks for your comments. I will also miss interacting with the readers here. Please do read my newsletter. I usually have a giveaway there each month.
Hi Lilly,
You are right. Everything is a matter of taste. I like the books I read to have a happy ending. That’s why I gravitate to romance. I recently read a thriller. It was good, but the female protagonist died in the end. That would never happen in a romance.
Hi Aicia,
Thanks for your kind words and encouragement. Thanks for following me.
Hi Cherie,
Some reviewers may feel that they just give their opinion and don’t need to provide any feedback other than what they’ve stated. Thanks for your comments.
Hi Ausjenny,
Thanks for being part of this group. You always have had inciteful comments.
Thank you so much for sharing. I would have to say, no there is not a straight line in romance that would lead to all of them being the same. There are different characteristics to each character as well as the life experiences they bring to the table. So it would make each romance different. Thank you for all you have contributed in the last 10 years. God bless you.
Hi RuthieH,
You are so right. I never thought about the sunset always being there. We have beautiful sunsets in Arizona. Yes, it’s the wonder of reading about two people falling in love. Thanks.
Hi Joannie,
I’m glad you enjoyed the trailer. Thanks for following me.
Hi Milica,
Thanks for much for your comments about reviews. That makes a lot of sense. I hope you do enjoy Hometown Cowboy.
Hi Diana,
The blurb is my go-to for information on a book. If the blurb intrigues me, I will get the book. I don’t like cliffhangers either. My husband reads a lot, and he won’t read another book by an author who leaves him hanging at the end of the book. I like a resolution, a happy and satisfying ending.
Hi Dali,
Yes, it is the journey that keeps us reading. Love those HEAs.
Hi Debra,
Thanks for being a part of this blog. I always appreciate your comments.
some are predictable
Most of the romance I read is predictable, and that’s why I like it. Romance is usually lighter, and it helps when life is stressful. It’s good to know that no matter how bad things seem, it will work out OK.
For several years I spent hours reading reviews, before I would decide to read a book or not. One particular book, I spent about 4 hours reading reviews, and it was getting me nowhere. Finally I read it, and it was terrific! There are several reviewers that I follow, but I’ve learned to take most reviews with a grain of salt. I’ve found most reviews to be too subjective, so I came up with my own system.
Here’s my rating system:
5 stars: loved it/ would recommend to anyone.
4 stars: liked it/ would recommend to some.
3 stars: didn’t really enjoy it/ wouldn’t recommend, but it a free country.
2 stars: didn’t like it at all/ wouldn’t recommend.
1 star: it should be burned. (Fortunately I haven’t read too many of these).
Of course, I’m not completely objective, but it works pretty well when I’m deciding on a rating.
Hi Marti,
Thanks for sharing your rating system. I’m sure every reviewer has some sort of system for the ratings they use.
I say the same – 3 stars is OK. Not brilliant, but an enjoyable book I would recommend and I would read the sequel too. I do not do reviews below 3, but I give 3 to many which are good. Holiday books to be read once, for example. Just that they have not raised a turmoil of emotions/ I did not learn very much from them.
I give 4 stars to most books I liked, but the 5 stars are only for the ones which really moved me, the ones I consider exceptional.
About being predictable – yes, some people who do not read very much romance (or read more thrillers/mystery/ SF/ fantasy/ adventure with romantic subplots) think that romance is predictable, because it has the compulsory HEA/HFN. Some even ask – why to read it if I know from the start that they end together? Why? For the journey to happily ever after…
Hi Marina,
Yes! It’s for the journey to find love. Thanks for your comment.