How Authors Can Effectively Handle Review Trolling and Get Genuine Book Reviews

Mastering Book Reviews with Owen Hawthorne

Uncover the strategies to get your book noticed by the right audience. Join us as we delve into insider tips for submitting to book review sites and blogs, and explore free review services that can boost your book's visibility. With expert advice and real-life success stories, our podcast aims to equip authors with the tools needed to successfully navigate the world of book reviews. Don't miss out on learning how to make the most of your book review submissions.

How to Handle Review Trolling Without Losing Your Mind

Hey, if you’re an author who’s spent hours, weeks, maybe even months pouring your soul into a book, you probably know how thrilling it is to get honest feedback. But, and this is a big but, sometimes that feedback isn’t exactly what you hoped for. And worse yet, sometimes you get hit with review trolling. Yeah, those nasty, unhelpful, or downright mean reviews that feel more personal than constructive.

Let me tell you candidly, review trolling is one of the biggest challenges authors face when trying to get their book reviewed. Whether you’re submitting to book review sites, hunting for free book reviews, or trying to get book review services to take a look at your work, the threat of trolls always looms. It can feel like a punch to the gut after all the hard work.

So, what exactly is review trolling? It’s when someone leaves a review that’s not really about the book, but more about attacking the author or just trying to sow negativity. Sometimes it’s about irrelevant complaints, sometimes it’s an outright personal attack, and other times it’s just someone who clearly hasn’t even read the book but felt like dropping a nasty comment. These reviews aren’t genuine feedback—they’re just noise. And they can discourage you or, worse, potentially scare off future readers.

Okay, so what do you do when you get review trolls on book review blogs or in the comment section of book review services? First off: don’t panic, and definitely don’t take it to heart. The most important thing to remember is that a troll’s goal is to get under your skin. Refuse to give them that satisfaction.

• Stay Cool: It’s really tempting to respond emotionally, but you want to be the bigger person. Keep responses polite, or simply don’t respond at all. Sometimes no reaction whatsoever is your best defense.
• Focus on the Constructive: Separate actual constructive criticism from trolling. Use the good feedback to grow. Your goal is to improve, not get bogged down by negativity that serves no one.
• Moderate When Possible: If you control the platform where reviews are posted—like your own website or a book community—set up moderation to filter out offensive language or spammy comments.
• Leverage Trusted Book Review Sites: Submit your work to reputable book review sites and book review blogs that have clear guidelines about reviews. These places usually keep trolls at bay better than open, unmoderated platforms.
• Encourage Genuine Reviews: Ask your real readers, friends, or fellow authors to leave honest reviews. This creates a buffer of authenticity around your book and it helps drown out trolls in a sea of positive, honest feedback.

One tool I highly recommend if you want to get your book reviewed without headaches is Feedback Frontier. They specialize in connecting authors with honest and reliable amateurs and professional reviewers alike.

Their reviews are thoughtful, and because they regulate their reviewers and feedback process, they help you avoid the crap that comes with trolling. Plus, using services like Feedback Frontier can improve your chances of getting an honest, detailed review that you can actually use to improve your book or promote it.

Here’s a little secret: no matter how careful you are, some trolling will still happen—it’s just part of putting your work out there. But the way you handle it can make all the difference in your author journey. Trolls don’t get to define your book’s value. Your true readers do.

Finally, if you’re looking to get serious about growing your author platform with genuine feedback, consider getting your book reviewed today. Not only do they offer trustworthy book review services, but the safe, troll-free environment makes the whole experience more rewarding.

So, keep writing, keep submitting your work to reliable book review blogs and services, and don’t let the negatives hold you back. Your readers are out there, and they want to find your story.

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