To use the #AskELJames as an example of where “If you’ve got nothing nice to say…” should have applied, is perhaps particularly unfortunate because what happened on that hashtag was that many people called James out for romanticizing emotional abuse and for depicting BDSM in a way that was not just plain wrong, but also extremely dangerous. James had been dismissive (and that’s putting it politely) about those concerns in the past, so I think it’s no wonder that this hashtag was taken over. Yes, there were also people who were simply making fun of James’ writing, but don’t throw them all into one pot.

I agree. I review for a review blog, where we decline to review if we can’t post a 3*, but even with a 3* we are still careful to balance the less positive comments with the good. I think my own writing has improved partly because of negative comments – no book is 100% brilliant, and it’s unrealistic to suggest that it is. Laying out anything you’ve created in front of the public is a risky business; are we such babies we can’t deal with a little constructive criticism? I don’t think so 🙂

Amy, there are groups on Facebook that provide this service. The authors buy each others’ books and post 5* reviews without them having been read. I’ve been invited to join one. I have also had other authors tell me that they’ve had 5* review swaps suggested to them, and have had two authors suggest them to me. I told them both what I thought, in no uncertain terms.

I’m just pleased for you that you haven’t come across this apalling behaviour!

Yes!
My own perspective on this issue has changed over time as well!

These days, with my own books on the market, I feel that even more strongly. Readers are able to draw their own conclusions about long-published books without many reviews. There’s no need for me to put anything there at all if I don’t like something. I just close that book and pick up the next one.

Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment!

Thank you for reading and commenting. I have never heard any author say publicly (or privately) that they will post positive reviews of a book regardless of the standard, so I have to respectfully disagree that this is a widespread problem – at least in the women’s fiction genre.

Thank you for your thoughts – there has been great dialogue on this issue – and for that I am so grateful!