⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reviews Aren’t Report Cards—They’re Recommendations
I know it's unpopular to talk about... but here we go.
One of the biggest surprises I’ve encountered as an indie author has nothing to do with writing books.
It’s how people think about reviews.
Most of us grew up with report cards.
90–100? That’s an A.
80–89? Still great.
Four stars out of five? That’s really good!
And honestly? In everyday life, I still think that way.
But online stores don’t. And algorithms don’t.
Whether you’re shopping for books, restaurants, gadgets, or even hotels, star ratings aren’t really “grades.” They’re recommendations.
Think about it this way:
If your best friend asks, “Should I read this book?” your answer probably isn’t, “Well, technically it earned an 86%.”
You’d say one of two things:
“Oh my gosh, YES! You have to read it!”
or
“Eh...it wasn’t really for me.”
That’s how online marketplaces increasingly interpret ratings.
Five stars generally tells both readers and the recommendation system, “I loved this and would absolutely recommend it.”
Lower ratings suggest varying degrees of hesitation.
That’s why authors often celebrate every single 5-star review—not because we expect perfection, but because those ratings tell retailers that readers genuinely recommend our books.
It’s Not About Perfection
Here’s a not so little secret:
I’ve never written a perfect book.
I never will.
Every reader brings different tastes, life experiences, favorite tropes, pet peeves, and expectations.
And that’s okay!
If something truly didn’t work for you, an honest review is valuable. It helps future readers decide whether a book is right for them, and thoughtful feedback can help authors grow.
But if you absolutely loved a book...
...it made you laugh.
...it made you cry.
...you stayed up far too late because you couldn’t stop reading.
...you immediately wanted Book Two...
that’s exactly what a 5-star recommendation is for.
Not because the book is flawless.
Because you enjoyed it.
Reviews Belong to Readers
This is something I feel very strongly about.
Reviews are reader spaces.
Always have been.
They’re not written for authors—they’re written by readers, for other readers. I respect that completely.
In fact, I was a reader long before I ever became a writer, and I’m still a reader today. I know what it’s like to finish a book and want to gush about it, or to explain why it didn’t work for me. Those spaces are important because they help readers find stories they’ll love.
I’m never asking anyone to leave a review they don’t honestly believe.
What I am asking is this:
If something brought you joy...
If a story made you laugh after a hard day...
If a character stayed with you long after you finished the last page...
If you found yourself telling a friend, “You have to read this!”
Please consider saying that in a review, too.
Reviews Matter More Than You Think
One thing many readers don’t realize is how few people actually leave reviews.
Thousands of people might buy a book.
Hundreds might read it.
Only a tiny fraction ever leave a rating or review.
That means every review carries more weight than most people imagine.
Reviews help:
❤️ Other readers discover books they’ll enjoy.
❤️ Retailers decide which books to recommend.
❤️ Authors reach new audiences.
❤️ Small independent authors continue publishing the stories they love to write.
A review isn’t just feedback.
It’s word-of-mouth in digital form.
Let’s Celebrate the Good More Often
As people, we’re naturally wired to speak up when something disappoints us.
We leave a review when the restaurant gets our order wrong.
We post about delayed shipping.
We complain when customer service lets us down.
But when something delights us?
When a book makes us smile.
When a movie leaves us speechless.
When a local bakery makes the perfect cupcake.
When a small business goes above and beyond.
We often smile...and move on.
What if we changed that?
What if we made it a habit to share the things that made us happy just as often as we shared the things that frustrated us?
Recommend the book.
Leave the review.
Tell your friends.
Share the post.
Tag the creator.
You might think it’s just a few sentences on the internet.
To the person who created that book, artwork, small business, recipe, podcast, or handmade item, it could be the encouragement they needed to keep going. It could introduce their work to someone who ends up loving it just as much as you did.
You never really know how far one recommendation can travel.
From This Author’s Heart...
Whether you’ve left one review or a hundred...
Whether you’ve borrowed my books from the library, bought them direct, listened to an audiobook, or recommended one to a friend...
Thank you.
Authors don’t write in a vacuum.
Books become successful because readers talk about them.
Every review, every recommendation, every shared post, every “I loved this!” helps another reader discover a story they might never have found otherwise.
So here’s my little PSA:
Don’t save your voice only for the things that disappoint you.
Use it for the things that bring you joy.
Recommend the stories you loved.
Celebrate the creators who made your day a little brighter.
You may never know the difference your words make—but I promise you, they matter.
And if you’ve ever taken a few moments to recommend one of my books, thank you from the bottom of my heart. ❤️
Happy reading and writing folks!
del mare alla stella,
C.D. Gorri
Truly enjoyed this piece. I have always approached my reviews as recommendations. How a book makes me feel is number one in my thought process. I write for other readers, generally, not so much the author.