It's true.. I hate book reviews

 I hate book reviews.

Okay, that's not entirely true. But I hate most book reviews. 

I am of the opinion that there is a book for everyone. That just because one person doesn't enjoy a book doesn't mean that the book is a bad book. It just wasn't the right book for that person. 

What I have come to notice in reading some reviews recently (specifically reviews on Goodreads) is that when the reviewer doesn't agree with what the author did they personally attack the author's storyline. It makes me so angry and usually, I will decide to read the book anyway just to spite the reviewer. 

I believe that everyone should be nice. I don't believe that you have to like everything that you read but that you have to respect the fact that a human being wrote a book! Do you know how hard it is to write a book? I do, as I've never succeeded in writing one. Let alone getting it published. Do you know how hard it is to be a human? Yes, we all do. This is why I don't understand reviewers (all reviewers not just book reviewers) tendency to act like what their reviewing is not a product that was thought up and produced by a human.  

I think that we all have the right to dislike something or to not recommend it. But everyone should be kind when they do it. 

This is why I struggle to write reviews. I don't rate my books on Goodreads when I finish them. I don't review a book when Amazon asks me to. I have a hard time even giving a book recommendation unless I genuinely believe the person I'm talking to is going to like to book. 

I could blame this on being a Libra. I see both sides of everything so I can always find something good and something bad in every situation. Ask me to decide if this should be a three or four-star read. I won't be able to commit to an answer. 

Books are also so personal. The reason someone chooses to read a book. The reason someone really enjoyed a book. The reason someone really hated a book. The reason someone rereads a book. It's just so hard to give a review when so many personal things go into it. 

That being said, in this blog I REALLY want to review some of the great reads that I find but I don't want to be one of THOSE reviewers. I also don't think I can leave a review as just stars. So, I've devised my own ratings that will help my indecisive brain. 

How much did I cry: 💧    💧💧   💧💧💧

How much did I laugh: 😂  😂😂   😂😂😂

How much anxiety did it give me:  💣   💣 💣    💣 💣 💣

How likely am I to recommend it to someone who likes this type of book:  📚   📚📚   📚📚📚

Truly, this is the best I can do. But hopefully, it's a format that will work for me. Because everyone is human, and everyone deserves kindness, and no one should be shamed into or out of any book that brings them joy and helps them escape from this reality.