Staring at a blank page after the final chapter? Here is how to write a book review: summarise briefly, state a clear opinion, back it with examples, and say who should read the book.
This guide is part of our wider collection of book reviews advice for readers.
| Item | Key fact |
|---|---|
| What a review is | A critical evaluation of a text, event, object, or phenomenon |
| Most important element | Commentary, not merely a summary |
| Role of summary | Kept to a minimum |
| Typical length in newspapers and academic journals | Rarely exceed 1000 words |
| Where your opinion goes | A clear statement resembling a thesis statement |
These points come from the UNC Writing Center’s book review guide. Guidance and word limits can change, so check the source and any assignment or publication rules before you rely on them.
What a book review actually is
A review is not a book report. The UNC Writing Center describes it as a critical evaluation, and says the most important element is that it is a commentary, not merely a summary.
That means your reader wants to know what you thought, and why. A friend who asks “was it any good?” is not asking for the plot, so give them a judgement they can use.
Step-by-step: from last page to finished review
- Finish and jot notes. Mark passages that moved, bored or surprised you, and note the page so you can find them again.
- Work out what the book is trying to do. Ask what the author’s aim is, and whether the book achieves it.
- Decide your verdict. Write one sentence stating your opinion. This becomes the spine of the review.
- Draft a short summary. Cover the subject and main argument or premise without retelling the whole story.
- Add evidence. Use a few specific examples or short quotes to show why you judged the book as you did.
- Say who it suits. Finish by saying whether the audience would appreciate it.
- Edit. Cut anything that is plot recap rather than opinion.
If you plan to publish online, our guide on how to write a book review for a blog covers the extra choices that come with a web audience.
Keeping summary under control
The guide’s advice is that summary should be kept to a minimum, and specific details should serve to illustrate arguments. A few sentences on the premise is usually enough.
A useful test: after each summary sentence, ask what it helps your reader understand about your opinion. If the answer is nothing, cut it.
Stating your opinion with confidence
The UNC guide says you should clearly state your opinion, and that this will probably resemble a thesis statement with supporting body paragraphs. Put it early, so the rest of the review has a job to do.
It also acknowledges that you may feel unqualified to judge. You do not need to be an expert, but you do need to write with a clear, reasoned voice for your particular audience.
- Vague: “I really liked this book.”
- Stronger: “The slow first half pays off, because the narrator’s doubts make the ending hit harder.”
The second version gives the reader something to agree or disagree with.
Structure and length
Most reviews follow a simple shape: a hook and verdict, a brief summary, your analysis with examples, and a recommendation. Our page on book review format sets out layouts in more detail.
On length, the UNC guide notes that reviews in newspapers and academic journals rarely exceed 1000 words, although you may meet longer assignments. Always follow the limit you are given.
Questions to ask while you read
Good reviews are built from good notes. Keep a few prompting questions in mind as you read, and jot short answers as you go.
- What is the book trying to do, and for whom?
- Which scene, argument or image stayed with you, and why?
- Where did your attention drift, and was that the book’s fault or the mood you were in?
- How does the writing itself feel: pace, voice, structure, language?
- Does the ending deliver on what the opening promised?
- Would you hand it to a particular friend, and which one?
Those answers give you material for the summary, the evidence and the recommendation without any extra research.
A quick before-and-after example
The UNC guide contrasts a flat student review that only describes a book with one that takes a position. Its livelier example opens by calling the book a “colossal disappointment”, which gives the reader a verdict straight away.
You can apply the same idea to fiction. A flat version might read: “This novel follows a family over one summer and has many characters.” A stronger version might read: “Over one summer the family’s secrets surface slowly, but the large cast dilutes the tension the first chapters build so well.”
Notice what changed. The second version still says what the book is about, but it also tells you what worked, what did not and why.
Tone, fairness and your own taste
Strong opinions are welcome, but fairness makes them persuasive. If a book is not your usual genre, say so, then judge it by what it sets out to do.
It helps to separate three things: what the author attempted, how well they pulled it off, and whether it suited your personal taste. A thriller can be expertly paced and still not be for you, and a reader can benefit from knowing both.
Be specific about praise as well as criticism. “Beautifully written” tells a reader little, while naming a passage or a technique shows that you paid attention.
Revising your draft
Leave the draft for a few hours, then read it aloud. You will hear repeated phrases, padded sentences and places where you drifted into plot.
- Check that your verdict appears early and that the final paragraph returns to it.
- Make sure each paragraph makes one point and backs it with an example.
- Remove spoilers or add a warning.
- Confirm that titles, author names and any quotations are accurate.
- Put quotations in quotation marks and keep them short, so the words in the review remain your own.
Writing in your own voice also avoids accidental copying from blurbs or other reviews, so draft before you read what others have said.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Retelling the plot instead of judging it.
- Offering opinion with no examples to support it.
- Spoiling the ending without a warning.
- Judging the book for what it is not, rather than for what it tries to be.
- Skipping the recommendation, so readers cannot tell who the book is for.
The guide also warns that a review which only describes the subject and summarises the contents leaves out the author’s argument, the reviewer’s appraisal and whether they would recommend the book.
Frequently asked questions
Should a book review include spoilers?
Show answer
Avoid revealing major twists unless your reader expects it, such as in an academic review. If you must discuss the ending, add a clear warning first.
Do I need to be an expert to review a book?
Show answer
No. The UNC guide acknowledges you may not feel like an expert, but you should write with a confident, reasoned voice for your audience.
How much of the review should be summary?
Show answer
As little as possible. Summary should be kept to a minimum, with details used to illustrate your arguments.
How long should a book review be?
Show answer
Newspaper and journal reviews rarely exceed 1000 words, according to UNC. Follow any limit set by your teacher or publisher.
