Can You Spot a Fake Book Review? Every Blurb Tells a Story — But Not the Whole One.
Ever bought a book because the blurb promised brilliance—only to regret it by chapter two? Learn how to spot fake or recycled book reviews before they fool you... again.
How often have you bought a book based on the cover sentence?
“Scary and suspenseful!”
Sold! If Stephen King found it scary, this will be scary...
(Wait, did he read it?)
Yes, some authors really do read the books they endorse — and genuinely love them. And we greatly appreciate you.
But many reviews exist for other reasons.
You scratch my back, I scratch yours...
Anthony Horowitz, in an article for The Guardian, writes:
“Browsing through the crime section of my local Waterstones, I get a true sense of conspiracy. Harlan Coben praises Michael Connelly. Michael Connelly loves Jeff Abbott (‘A hell of a page-turner’). Jeff Abbott is praised by Lee Child, who is admired by Stephen King and by Jeffery Deaver... But the overall impression is simply that big writers like big writers, and my reaction is – so what? Tell us something we don't know.”
Different Book Entirely Reviews
This one still surprises me.
A review from The Hitchhiker’s: “Utterly absorbing” — by Gillian Flynn.
It goes on to say Still Missing — now referencing a completely different book by the same author, but not the book you have in your hand.
How is that relevant, unless I plan to read Still Missing?
Generic Reviews
“A real page-turner!”
“Book of the year!”
“An instant classic!”
If it’s that obvious, maybe the book is just as bland?
Publisher + Endorsement Blurb on the Same Line?
This is likely written by the publisher’s marketing team — designed to be more professional than honest.
That doesn’t mean it’s fake!
Just something to keep in mind.
Is It Guaranteed if It’s a NYT Bestseller?
You make the list by selling a significant number of copies — between 5,000–15,000 in the first week from varied retailers.
The problem is, the majority of debut books have mediocre marketing.
And it’s much more challenging to generate early NYT sales when you’re unknown to the universe.
But the NYT list is quick to access and delivers a wide variety of options.
(You just miss some good ones that didn’t make it.)
Or, Get Personal
Look for book reviews made by real sources (the people!).
Blogs, small bookstore reviews, or just asking the associate at Indigo — or your cousin who reads the same genre — what she’s been reading.
(She’ll love the conversation just as much.)
Passing on the perfect book to another human is doing the book a solid.
Share the goods.
Until next time,
Sheila
