As a writer and a story geek, I love consuming people’s content. I also love supporting other writers. To get our work in front of and build an audience, we often work for free. Screenwriters and novelists write projects on spec. Bloggers and podcasters make content free before they monetize it. So, I look for ways to support creators’ work I like. I’m a Patreon of my favorite podcasts and I subscribe to online magazines like The Epoch Times.
One of the easiest ways to help authors is to write a review of their book on Amazon and Goodreads. Amazon is a giant search engine. And the more reviews and sales a book has, the higher up to the top of the page it pops up when a reader puts in search terms.
How to Write an Amazon Review
Some people are intimidated at the thought of writing a review. A review doesn’t need to be long or complicated. Two to five sentences are all you need. Write what you liked about the book as if you were recommending it to a friend.
Tip: Avoid spoilers.
How to write a two‑sentence review:
1) Sentence 1: Emotion + one specific thing you loved.
2) Sentence 2: Who it’s for + a tiny comp (e.g., “for fans of X and Y”).
- What was your favorite thing about the book?
- Who was your favorite character and why?
- Did you have a favorite scene?
Use juicy adjectives:
- Rollicking
- Laugh out loud
- Gripping
- Moving
- Compelling
- Charming
The Headline: I like to write my review first and then pick one of the sentences to use as my headline. When I choose my headline, I think about what will motivate a reader to choose the book.
The 30-Second Headline Trick (pick one):
• Emotion-first: "Heartwarming and hopeful"
• Hook-first: "A small-town secret with big stakes"
• Trope-first: "For found-family fans"
End on a high note: If the book is part of a series, I always like to end with “can’t wait to read the next one!”
5 Stars: And finally, always use five stars. Five-star reviews are weighted much heavier than four-star reviews. So if there’s something that you didn’t like about the book which is why you want to rate it under five stars, understand that it will ding the author’s rating, which may not be your intention.
Be Positive: My goal in reviewing a book is to help readers find a story I enjoyed and support great writing. If I don’t like a book, then I don’t write a review.
Even if you don’t buy a book from Amazon, you can still review it there. As the biggest bookstore in the world, authors make a substantial part of their income from Amazon. So help them out!
Steal These Review Templates
Short & sweet: “A [rollicking/moving] read with a [favorite element—voice/setting/romance]. I especially loved [character/scene]. Highly recommend for fans of [blank].”
Character‑first: “I came for [premise], stayed for [character]. The [humor/tension/romance] kept me turning pages. Can’t wait for the next one!”
Trope‑love: “If you like [trope/genre], this hits the spot—[brief detail]. Charming and satisfying.”
Free Books Need Reviews Too
A permafree book is one that the author has set the price as free permanently. These books are usually the first in a series. It is a sales tactic to get you hooked on the series and buy more books. If I like the first one, I always review it and buy the series. I am a binge reader, and I enjoy reading a series in order back to back.
Why this matters:
Reviews of Book 1 build trust for the whole series—your single review can tip a whole row of dominoes for new readers.
Consider
If a book made you laugh, cry, or miss your bus stop, give it a review. In under a minute, a few lines and some stars boost visibility, unlock promotions, and help authors keep writing the stories you love. Your words matter more than you think.
While We’re Talking About Reviews
If How to Turn Your Screenplay Into a Novel helped you, would you leave a quick review? Two minutes on Amazon makes a huge difference for discoverability. A review tells the algorithms, “Hey, writers need this!” I’m so grateful for every single one.
👉 Amazon
How to Write a Goodreads Review (and how it’s different from Amazon)
Goodreads is the cozy book club on the internet—more conversation, more context, more “why this worked for me.” Reviews here tend to be a bit longer and more in-depth than on Amazon because you’re talking to fellow readers first, not a storefront. Think: a friendly rec you’d give at your local indie shop, plus a few nerdy details for readers who love comps, tropes, and vibes.
Key differences at a glance
- Purpose & Audience:
• Amazon: Marketplace. Short, skimmable reviews help shoppers decide and boost a book’s sales signals.
• Goodreads: Community. Reviews can be longer, chatty, and personal—perfect for sharing why a book hit for you, what it pairs with, and where it sits on your shelves. - Length & Depth:
It’s normal on Goodreads to add a little more: your reading mood, favorite trope moments, and a line you underlined. - Shelves & Discovery:
Tag your review with shelves like “found-family,” “slow-burn,” or “heists”—these help other readers find the book by vibe/trope. - Spoilers:
Goodreads lets you hide spoilers. If you mention to a twist or late-book reveal, mark that section as a spoiler so future readers can enjoy the surprise. - Verified purchase:
Amazon shows “Verified Purchase.” Goodreads doesn’t—so reviews are welcome whether you borrowed, bought elsewhere, or listened on audio.
Star ratings: Goodreads vs. Amazon
Both use 1–5 stars, but the culture is slightly different.
- Goodreads star meanings (their actual labels):
★☆☆☆☆ Did not like it
★★☆☆☆ It was OK
★★★☆☆ Liked it
★★★★☆ Really liked it
★★★★★ It was amazing
(There are no half-stars on Goodreads.) A 3★ on Goodreads is positive—“liked it”—and totally normal. - Amazon star culture (simplified):
3★ often reads as neutral/“meh” to shoppers. If you liked a book, consider 5★ (“really liked it”) on Amazon.
Paste-Ready Goodreads Review Template
Use this if you want a bit more room than my Amazon quick-hit template. Copy, fill in the brackets, and post:
Headline: [Emotion or vibe] — [Short hook]
Rating: ★★★★☆ (Really liked it)
Why I read it: I was in the mood for [trope/genre] and this promised [premise].
What I loved:
• [Specific character/relationship beat]
• [A craft moment—voice, structure, setting, humor, tension]
• [One scene or detail that stuck with you]
The vibe & tropes: [e.g., found family, slow burn, grumpy/sunshine, heist crew] — if you liked [Comp Title A] and [Comp Title B], this hits that sweet spot.
Pacing & tone: [e.g., brisk and bantery / lush and contemplative / high-stakes and twisty]
Who it’s for: Readers who enjoy [two to three qualities] and don’t mind [minor caveat, if any—e.g., a darker middle act, multi-POV, etc.]
Favorite line (optional): “[short quote]”
Content notes (optional): [Brief heads-up if relevant]
Bottom line: [One-sentence verdict—how you felt leaving the last page]
Killer Combo
Want to be a superstar? Post your fuller review on Goodreads, then paste a trimmed version on Amazon. That combo helps both readers (context!) and authors (visibility!) in under five minutes.
Consider
Think of a review as a high-five that the whole bookstore can see. It’s fast—two to five sentences—and it massively helps authors reach new readers, secure ads, and keep the creative lights on.
While We’re Talking About Goodreads
If How to Turn Your Screenplay into a Novel has been your creative espresso shot, please drop a review—just a sentence or two—on Amazon or Goodreads. Reviews help other screenwriters + novelists find it and keep me writing tips and tricks for you. 👉 Amazon | 👉 Goodreads
Learn More
How to Write Book Reviews Readers Will Want to Read
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