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• Top 10 Book Reviews with Examples for College Students [A Much Needed Read]

Table of content

Part 1. What is A Book Review?

Part 2. what should a book review include, part 3. 10 book review examples for students, part 4. how to write a perfect book review as a college student.

Are you a college student wanting to learn how to write an effective and engaging book review? Learning the different elements of writing successful reviews can help you hone your critical analysis and communication skills while also giving your opinions on books that may be interesting to fellow students.

We’ve compiled the best book review examples for college students so that you can get an idea of what makes for compelling, impactful book reviews and how to write a book review as a college student. Also, we will introduce one awesome tool, UPDF , to help you write the book review you need. You can download UPDF by clicking the below button then, check with us about how it can help you write your book review.

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A book review is an objective and comprehensive evaluation of a particular book. It assesses the book's content, style, and relevance to the field it covers. Written by scholars, experts, or avid readers, book reviews provide potential readers with an insight into the quality, content, and significance of a given book. They are usually written in newspapers, magazines, online platforms, and academic journals.

Book reviews can be used as a valuable resource for readers who want to make an informed decision when choosing what to read. For college students especially, reading reviews can help them gain insight into books that may be interesting and helpful for their studies.

Here's an in-depth overview of the elements of a book review:

1. Basic Information

In a book review, the basic information section provides readers with information on the:

• Author's name
• Date of publication
• Other relevant details

In today's age where customer ratings and reviews play an important role in helping potential readers decide if a book may be worth their time and money, customer ratings from popular websites such as Amazon  or Goodreads  are also included in this section.

Providing readers a place to buy the book at the end of the review ensures they can easily locate it and make the purchase if they wish to do so.

As such, this section provides a helpful overview of what the book entails without risking spoilers or giving away plot points that may take away from the reading experience.

A thorough book review should provide an analysis of how a story is developed by the author. It should pay special attention to examining how the plot progresses from beginning to end, what characters are introduced and how they help move the story forward, and any underlying themes or messages that contribute meaningfully to the narrative.

A successful book review will look at each of these elements in depth, explaining the important events, relationships between characters and themes, and why they all matter.

By providing readers with an understanding and appreciation of this complex structure created by the author, a book review can bring added insight into why certain books work so well for certain readers.

Quotes from the book can be a great way to support your review and provide a vivid illustration of why certain portions of the book are so insightful or humorous. This also helps readers have an understanding of what to expect when reading the book, aiding them in deciding if this is something they would like to spend their time with.

Quotes should be chosen well and given in a way that they maintain the integrity of the book’s content while still providing an accurate representation of what to expect when reading it.

4. Your Thoughts After Reading

This is the most important and personal part of any book review. Here, you will be able to share your own opinion on the book and give it a rating. This section should not just focus on your feelings about the book, but also provide an in-depth analysis of how it made you feel, what stayed with you after reading it, and why. This is your opportunity to explain why you would or wouldn’t recommend this book to others, so use it well.

You may also provide some helpful advice on who would best enjoy this book, such as what age group it's most suitable for or if there are particular topics that it may be helpful to those who are more deeply interested in.

5. Your Rate

At the end of a book review, you should provide your own rating of the book (on a scale from 1 to 5 stars or whatever other rating systems you prefer).

Your rating should reflect your honest opinion and provide readers with an understanding of how much you enjoyed the book. It is also important to remember that ratings are subjective and should be based on your individual experience with the book.

Your rating should reflect your opinion of the quality of the writing, the characters, and the overall story that you experienced while reading. This rating should be your final opinion on the book and will help potential readers in deciding if it is something they would like to commit their time and money to.

6. Conclusion

A great book review should end with a concise summary of the work as a whole. Here you should include your overall opinion on the book and what elements you found most enjoyable. This can help readers gain a better understanding of why the book was so successful, and how it may have impacted your life in some way.

This is also a great place to provide readers with information on where they can find the book so that they can look into it further if they choose to do so.

Book review examples are a great way for students to get more out of the books they read. Not only do examples of book reviews provide readers with an in-depth evaluation of the book’s content and quality, but they also offer students an opportunity to practice their critical thinking and writing skills.

To help you get started, we have compiled 10 book review examples for students.

1. The List That Changed My Life By Olivia Beirne Book Review Example

This example of a book review offers an honest and detailed analysis of the book. It highlights both the positive aspects, such as the strong relationship between Georgia and her sister, as well as some of the more contrived elements of the plot.

Providing a thorough assessment, it allows readers to make an informed decision before deciding whether or not to pick up the book. Additionally, the review is written in a professional and accessible tone, making it enjoyable to read.

2. The People We Keep By Allison Larkin Book Review Example

This example of a book review does an excellent job of providing a comprehensive look at the novel, covering elements such as the characters, setting, plot, and themes. It provides a well-rounded overview that will give potential readers an accurate idea of what to expect from the book.

Additionally, it includes personal insights from the reviewer which adds a level of depth and enthusiasm that can help pique the interest of potential readers.

3. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Book Review Example

This example of a book review provides an in-depth look at Brave New World and its themes. It clearly explains the book's content and offers a thoughtful analysis of the ideas presented.

The reviewer also provides some insight into their personal experience with the novel which makes it more relatable to other readers. Additionally, the reviewer offers advice on who they think the book is suitable for, making it easier to decide if the book is right for them.

4. Lord Of The Flies by William Golding Book Review Example

This example of a book review offers an honest and detailed evaluation of the book "Lord of the Flies" which makes it helpful for readers who are considering reading this book.

The review offers a thoughtful perspective on how young adult readers may appreciate the story, as well as provides information about where to buy the book.

Additionally, the review covers key plot points such as the Lord of the Flies and how the events escalated, as well as pointing out potential plot holes. This makes it an excellent resource for readers looking to gain a better understanding of this classic novel.

Finally, this review provides insight into how easily human nature can be manipulated which is an important point that is often overlooked.

All in all, this review is an excellent resource for readers interested in the book "Lord of the Flies" and offers an informed opinion on what to expect.

5. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee Book Review Example

This example of a book review offers a comprehensive overview of Harper Lee's classic novel, To Kill A Mockingbird. It provides an analysis of the book's characters and themes, giving readers a clear understanding of why it is considered one of the greatest novels ever written.

Additionally, it touches on various topics such as racism and sexism that are still relevant today.

This review is a great resource for readers who are looking to gain a deeper understanding of the novel and its themes. It is also useful for readers who want to get a better idea of how Lee's writing style has stood the test of time.

Finally, it provides an insightful look into why To Kill A Mockingbird continues to be read and enjoyed worldwide. Therefore, it is a great review to check if you are considering picking up this classic book.

6. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald Book Review Example

This review example is a great resource for students to use as an introduction to book reviews. It provides them with a comprehensive overview of the content and structure of a typical book review, while also highlighting some of the unique features that make This Side of Paradise so special.

In addition, reading it gives readers an insight into the historical context in which Fitzgerald wrote, making it an invaluable tool for literary analysis and appreciation.

Finally, the review also contains insightful comments about Fitzgerald's writing style, which may provide valuable tips for aspiring authors.

7. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky Book Review Example

This example of a book review provides a comprehensive overview of Dostoevsky's 'Crime and Punishment', highlighting the pros and cons of the work. It also offers insight into the characters and their relationships, as well as an in-depth look at Dostoevsky's purpose for writing the novel - to defeat nihilism.

Students should read this review example to gain a better understanding of Dostoevsky's masterpiece and the impact it had on 19th-century literature.

Students can also learn valuable lessons from the novel, such as how to think critically about radical ideas and how not to fall into nihilism. Additionally, by studying this review example students can develop their own critical analysis skills. They can learn how to identify a work's strengths and weaknesses, as well as its overarching themes and purpose. This review example provides students with the perfect starting point for further research into 'Crime and Punishment' and Dostoevsky's other works.

8. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Book Review Example

This example of a book review shows how to analyze a text analytically and draw conclusions about the book's themes, characters, and motifs. It provides an in-depth look at how different elements of the book combine together to create a powerful story.

Additionally, this review provides insight into why certain aspects of the novel might be interpreted differently by different readers. By reading this review, students can gain a better understanding of the novel, its themes, and how they may relate to their own lives. This will help them form their own opinions on the book and connect with it more deeply.

9. Animal Farm by George Orwell Book Review Example

This review example of Animal Farm by George Orwell provides an in-depth analysis of the book that goes beyond a basic plot summary. It uses historical events to illustrate many of the themes present in the novel, and it also explores how religion can be used to control people's thoughts and actions.

By reading this example of a book review, students can get a better understanding of the book, its characters, and its broader messages. Furthermore, it provides a useful template for writing their own reviews of the book in preparation for exams or other assignments.

Overall, this review serves as an informative introduction to Animal Farm and is sure to help students better understand the themes present in the novel.

10. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg Book Review Example

This example of a book review offers a great insight into the power of habits and how they can be changed. It includes an explanation of the principles behind habit formation and highlights some tips for creating new habits to replace old ones. The review also provides an engaging story that showcases how these principles worked in one person's life, which is helpful for readers who are looking for personal insight and motivation.

Additionally, this review includes an infographic that summarizes the key points from the book, making it easy for students to understand and remember the material. This example is a great reference point for anyone looking to apply the principles of habit formation in their own lives.

Writing an effective and meaningful book review can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right approach and some helpful tips, anyone can craft a great book review.

We will walk you through how to write a book review example, from taking notes while reading to writing your first draft and beyond.

So if you want to know what it takes for success in this endeavor, read on!

Step 1. Taking Notes When Reading

The first step in writing a book review is to take notes while you read the book. This will help you remember key points and details that you can reference when writing your review.

If you are reading a PDF format book, we recommend using the UPDF app to take notes. If you do not know which sites can download e-books in PDF formats, you can check these 10 e-book download websites .

UPDF gives users the ability to highlight text, add comments and annotations, and stickers to their PDF book – all within a single interface. You can download UPDF here and follow the below guide to take notes.

Here's how to use UPDF for note-taking:

1. Select the book you want to read and open it in the UPDF reader and editor.

2. Head to the left toolbar and click on the comment or pencil icon.

3. Now you can add comments in three ways:

• Text Comment (Typewriter)  – add comments in the form of text.
• Text Box – insert a box to write down your thoughts.
• Sticky Note – add a sticky note to mark important points.

4. Once you have added your comments, click save and you’re done!

By taking notes with UPDF, you can easily refer back to your notes when it's time to write your review. Moreover, you can explore the comments directly.

What I like most about UPDF is that it has AI features that can help me summarize the whole book in seconds, explain the difficult terms for me, and translate the language into the one you can understand.

Why not download UPDF via the below button to make your book review writing much easier?

And UPDF does not only have the features mentioned above. You can know all its features by reading this UPDF review article from Techadvisor or watching the below video tutorial.

Also Read: 5 Best Note-taking Apps for Students

Step 2. Outline the Book Review

Before you start writing your review, it is important to create an outline. This will help you organize your thoughts and identify the main points of your review.

A general outline for a book review should include:

Introduction: Provide an overview of the book and explain its main takeaways.

Summary:  Summarize the plot, characters, and themes of the book.

Analysis:  Analyze the author's writing style and technique, as well as the book's overall message.

Opinion: Share your personal opinion on the book and any ideas or insights you've gained by reading it.

Final Thoughts: Wrap up your review with a conclusion.

Step 3. Checking Book Reviews Examples

Before writing your own review, it can be helpful to check examples of book reviews. A good example of a book review provides an insightful analysis of what makes the book worth reading, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses.

As you go through examples, take note of the structure and tone used in each review. You can also take note of any key points in the book that may have been overlooked or not covered.

Reading reviews can help you get a better understanding of the book and gain valuable insights into its content, in preparation for exams or other assignments.

Step 4. Writing the First Draft

Now that you have taken notes and created an outline, it is time to start writing your first draft. As you write, remember to keep the tone of your review professional and unbiased.

Make sure to include in-text citations and a list of any sources you use when relevant, as this will add credibility to your review. Additionally, use language that is easy to understand, and don’t be afraid to inject some of your own thoughts and opinions.

Once you have written the first draft, take a break and come back to it with fresh eyes before revising and editing.

Step 5. Reread The Book Review and Update

Once you have written the first draft of your book review, it is important to reread it and make any necessary updates. Pay close attention to any grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes. Additionally, ensure that all the points you mentioned in your review are accurate and true to the book's content.

Finally, make sure you have written in an organized and coherent manner that is easy for the reader to follow.

Writing a book review for college students can seem challenging but with the right preparation and some helpful tips, anyone can craft a great book review. By taking notes when reading, creating an outline before you start writing, checking book review examples, and revising your work after writing the first draft - you can create a thoughtful and insightful review. And we are sure these 10 book review examples for college students will be very helpful to you.

So, the next time you are assigned to write a book review, keep these tips in mind and you will be sure to impress your teacher or professor.

If you're up for a challenge, try using UPDF to take notes and track your progress as you read – it might just give you the extra edge in writing a great book review. Download UPDF via the below button and make your book review easier with it.

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Writing a Book Review – FREE Template (PDF)

How to Write a Book Review [Video]

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Why not use our free template below to write a book review for homework or as a class project. Whether it’s a review of your favourite book or a book you’ve just finished reading, writing a book review certainly makes for a nice writing practice activity!

Direct download: https://purlandtraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/writing-a-book-review-template.pdf

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Book Review Template

About this printout

Students can use this template as a means of communicating about a book that they have read.

Teaching with this printout

More ideas to try.

As students begin reading books at a young age, it is important to teach them to communicate their thoughts and ideas about the books they read.  This template is a good way to teach students to begin putting their thoughts on a text into written form.  Students will be able to process the information they read in a given text and process their ideas.  Additionally, the Book Review Template allows the teacher to check a student's comprehension of a certain text to assess and inform instruction.

• Create a bulletin board with book reviews done by different students.  The bulletin board can be organized by different genres of books or in other ways that are useful to students. Students can use this bulletin board as a way to read about their peers' thoughts on different books and to find books that they, too, might enjoy reading. 
• At the beginning of the school year, do a read aloud and have students each do a book review on the same book that was read to the class. Have select students share their book reviews and/or thoughts on a book.  Follow up by having a class discussion about why all of the book reviews are not alike, even though they were done on the same book.  This discussion will familiarize students with different opinions and thoughts on the same books, and will also give struggling students a more concrete idea of how to do future book reviews on their own.
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Book Review Writing

Book Review Examples

Book Review Examples to Help You Get Started

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How to Write a Book Review - A Step By Step Guide

A Complete Book Review Format Guide For Students

Are you in desperate need of some assistance to up your book review writing game? 

We know that penning down a review can come off as a tricky challenge, but do not worry!

To help you write book reviews that carry the essence of the book and engage readers, we have collected a handful of book review examples in this blog. 

The included examples will enable you to understand different writing styles and approaches taken toward book review writing . So, you can use your words effectively to craft the perfect book review.

Let’s kickstart things off!

• 1. Good Book Review Examples for Students
• 2. Short Book Review Examples for Fiction Books
• 3. Non-Fiction Book Review Examples

Good Book Review Examples for Students

You might be a professional writer, or you may not have any experience in writing book reviews. Rest assured, we’ll show you how to write perfect book reviews with the help of a sample template and great examples.

See this template to know what you should include in your book review: 

Book Review Template

Here is a good book review example for 4th-grade students:

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

Book Review Examples for Middle School Students

Reading reviews written by others can help you get a feel and flavor of good book reviews. Learning how to write a perfect book review can help students to:

• Critically analyze a text
• Give a personal opinion on the text
• Improve analyzing and critical thinking skills 

Here are some interesting book review examples suitable for middle school students. 

Book Review Example for Middle School Students

Book Review Example for Kids

Book Review of Any Book in 300 Words

Science Book Review Example

Book Review Examples For High School Students

Below, you can also find some good book review examples for high school students. These real-life examples can help you get a clear understanding of the standard book review format that you should follow.

Book Review Example for High School Students

Book Review Examples for Class 9

Book Review Example for Grade 10

Book Review Examples for College Students

As a college student, you are required to demonstrate that you have examined the book from different angles. The points you raise in your book review need to be supported with clear facts and evidence.

The following are some interesting critical book review examples for college students to learn how to write a perfect review. 

Book Review Example for Class 12

Short Book Review for Students

Conclusion of Book Review Example

Short Book Review Examples for Fiction Books

Fiction book reviews follow the same basic formula as writing book reviews of any other genre. For your help, we have compiled exciting examples of fiction book reviews that you can get valuable assistance from. 

Short Book Review Example for Fiction Books

Book Review of Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

“The Hazel Wood” by Melissa Albert is a work of fiction and falls into fantasy and young adult fiction genres. The novel revolves around fantastical fairy tales, and magical realism, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.

Here is an example of a comprehensive review of the book Hazel Wood:

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Non-Fiction Book Review Examples

For reviewing a non-fiction book, you are required to describe the book and summarize major points of interest. You should evaluate the author’s contribution to a subject that you may know very little about.

Here is a great non-fiction book review example to help you come up with a critical perspective on a text. 

Non-Fiction Book Review Example

Hopefully, with the help of the above examples, you get a better idea of how to write a perfect book review.

To wrap it up, Writing a great book review is a tricky task, no matter if you are a high school, college, or university student. Book review writing might seem like a simple task, but it requires excellent analyzing and critical thinking skills.

But, not everyone can crack this task easily. They might need additional help from expert book review writers. That’s why our expert essay writing service offers professional book review writing help whenever you need it. 

Professional essay writers at MyPerfectWords.com can help you with all your academic requests within your specified timeline. Just contact our customer service and we’ll handle all your queries promptly.

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Book Review

Book Review Examples

Book Review Examples for Struggling Students With Free PDFs

Published on: Jan 6, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 5, 2023

On This Page On This Page

Writing a book review is an easy process. You can plan and follow this guide to make sure that you write the best reviews. It will work for any book, even if it isn't your favorite genre.

The internet is an excellent resource for learning how to do things. However, there are so many different examples out there that it can be hard to decide which one you want! Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses; therefore, not everyone can write a perfect book review.

But we have made it easy by compiling some of the best examples of book reviews for you. We hope they will help you get the best knowledge of book reviews.

Continue reading this blog for the best examples on how to write a perfect book review.

Book Review Examples for Middle School

A traditional  book review  is an evaluation of the text that typically offers a brief description and overall impression. They appear in journals, newspapers, or magazines with limitations on word count between 500-700 words but can be longer.

A book review is a critical analysis of a text which is usually short. It gives the reader an opinion about the book. Reading reviews by other people can help you understand what a good review should sound like. It can also teach you how to analyze and think critically about texts.

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If you are a middle school student, it can be hard to start writing a book review. Here is an example of a book review for middle school students.

Middle School Book Review Example

So now, if your friend recommends you a book to read and provides a book report or reviews it. Do not hesitate.

Book Review Examples for High School Students

A book review is when you are telling people about a book. You have to say what you liked about the book. You also have to tell how the reader will benefit from reading this book.

Assignments like book reviews are an excellent way for students to learn how they should critically evaluate the material that is being presented.

Below you will find some great examples of book reviews for high school on popular books, which can give guidance when creating your own article or paper in this format!

High School Book Review Example

Book Review Examples for College Students

Book reviews are written by people who have read the book. They are usually written by people who work in publishing. They also might be written by experts on the topic, journalists, academics, or students to give a better understanding of what the book is about.

Writing a good book review means that you need to know about the subject and also the type of book. As a college student, you need to show that you have examined it from different angles. You will support your points with clear evidence as in other forms of academic writing.

College students can learn how to write perfect reviews by reading the example below.

College Student Book Review

Short Book Review Examples for Fiction Books

Fiction books consist of fairy tales, and they are far away from real life. If you are assigned to write a review of a fiction book, then you should know how to approach it. You should follow the same basic formula as with any other book review.

We have brought an example of a fiction book review. You can use them to see how people write reviews. Experts review the plot summary and state their opinion about the book to create an understandable review.

Fiction Book Review

Easy Book Review Examples for Non-Fiction Books

A non-fiction book tells you facts about the real world. It is like a story, but it is not made up. In your academic career, you may be asked to write a non-fiction book once.

Nonfiction book reviews are hard because people have to show what the author is trying to say about a subject. It can be hard when they don't know anything about it.

While reviewing non-fiction books, you must describe the book, summarize major points of interest, and give your opinion about it.

Below you will find some helpful tips for writing reviews to help you come up with an opinion.

Non- Fiction Book Review

Hopefully, by reading these examples, you have an idea of how to write a good book review.

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To write a good book review, one should think critically about the text. This can be difficult for high schoolers and college grads because it takes skillful writing ability and an understanding of how other people might react to their opinions on different topics.

In addition, the reviewer can put forth honest suggestions on how the text could be improved next time around if it were ever released by its author.

If you find yourself struggling to write a book review, don’t worry! You can get professional help from  FreeEssayWriter.net  anytime. We only require that you place your order by following some simple steps.

If you do, then we will provide quality work on time to meet all of your academic standards but not be too challenging or overwhelming. This way, students won't need to procrastinate and can just do the work.

Feel free to contact us anytime and get your book review written.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a book review in simple words.

A book review is a description of the book. It is also an analysis and evaluation of the meaning and quality of the book.

What does a book review include?

A successful book review summarizes the book and background information about the author, and then an evaluation of the content. First, you should say what the book is about and then tell why it matters.

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Book Review - A Complete Guide to Write a Great Review

Book Review Format - Know all the Basics to Write a Review

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Blog – Posted on Friday, Mar 29

17 book review examples to help you write the perfect review.

It’s an exciting time to be a book reviewer. Once confined to print newspapers and journals, reviews now dot many corridors of the Internet — forever helping others discover their next great read. That said, every book reviewer will face a familiar panic: how can you do justice to a great book in just a thousand words?

As you know, the best way to learn how to do something is by immersing yourself in it. Luckily, the Internet (i.e. Goodreads and other review sites , in particular) has made book reviews more accessible than ever — which means that there are a lot of book reviews examples out there for you to view!

In this post, we compiled 17 prototypical book review examples in multiple genres to help you figure out how to write the perfect review . If you want to jump straight to the examples, you can skip the next section. Otherwise, let’s first check out what makes up a good review.

Are you interested in becoming a book reviewer? We recommend you check out Reedsy Discovery , where you can earn money for writing reviews — and are guaranteed people will read your reviews! To register as a book reviewer, sign up here.

Pro-tip : But wait! How are you sure if you should become a book reviewer in the first place? If you're on the fence, or curious about your match with a book reviewing career, take our quick quiz:

Should you become a book reviewer?

Find out the answer. Takes 30 seconds!

What must a book review contain?

Like all works of art, no two book reviews will be identical. But fear not: there are a few guidelines for any aspiring book reviewer to follow. Most book reviews, for instance, are less than 1,500 words long, with the sweet spot hitting somewhere around the 1,000-word mark. (However, this may vary depending on the platform on which you’re writing, as we’ll see later.)

In addition, all reviews share some universal elements, as shown in our book review templates . These include:

• A review will offer a concise plot summary of the book. 
• A book review will offer an evaluation of the work. 
• A book review will offer a recommendation for the audience. 

If these are the basic ingredients that make up a book review, it’s the tone and style with which the book reviewer writes that brings the extra panache. This will differ from platform to platform, of course. A book review on Goodreads, for instance, will be much more informal and personal than a book review on Kirkus Reviews, as it is catering to a different audience. However, at the end of the day, the goal of all book reviews is to give the audience the tools to determine whether or not they’d like to read the book themselves.

Keeping that in mind, let’s proceed to some book review examples to put all of this in action.

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Book review examples for fiction books

Since story is king in the world of fiction, it probably won’t come as any surprise to learn that a book review for a novel will concentrate on how well the story was told .

That said, book reviews in all genres follow the same basic formula that we discussed earlier. In these examples, you’ll be able to see how book reviewers on different platforms expertly intertwine the plot summary and their personal opinions of the book to produce a clear, informative, and concise review.

Note: Some of the book review examples run very long. If a book review is truncated in this post, we’ve indicated by including a […] at the end, but you can always read the entire review if you click on the link provided.

Examples of literary fiction book reviews

Kirkus Reviews reviews Ralph Ellison’s The Invisible Man :

An extremely powerful story of a young Southern Negro, from his late high school days through three years of college to his life in Harlem.

His early training prepared him for a life of humility before white men, but through injustices- large and small, he came to realize that he was an "invisible man". People saw in him only a reflection of their preconceived ideas of what he was, denied his individuality, and ultimately did not see him at all. This theme, which has implications far beyond the obvious racial parallel, is skillfully handled. The incidents of the story are wholly absorbing. The boy's dismissal from college because of an innocent mistake, his shocked reaction to the anonymity of the North and to Harlem, his nightmare experiences on a one-day job in a paint factory and in the hospital, his lightning success as the Harlem leader of a communistic organization known as the Brotherhood, his involvement in black versus white and black versus black clashes and his disillusion and understanding of his invisibility- all climax naturally in scenes of violence and riot, followed by a retreat which is both literal and figurative. Parts of this experience may have been told before, but never with such freshness, intensity and power.

This is Ellison's first novel, but he has complete control of his story and his style. Watch it.

Lyndsey reviews George Orwell’s 1984 on Goodreads:

YOU. ARE. THE. DEAD. Oh my God. I got the chills so many times toward the end of this book. It completely blew my mind. It managed to surpass my high expectations AND be nothing at all like I expected. Or in Newspeak "Double Plus Good." Let me preface this with an apology. If I sound stunningly inarticulate at times in this review, I can't help it. My mind is completely fried.

This book is like the dystopian Lord of the Rings, with its richly developed culture and economics, not to mention a fully developed language called Newspeak, or rather more of the anti-language, whose purpose is to limit speech and understanding instead of to enhance and expand it. The world-building is so fully fleshed out and spine-tinglingly terrifying that it's almost as if George travelled to such a place, escaped from it, and then just wrote it all down.

I read Fahrenheit 451 over ten years ago in my early teens. At the time, I remember really wanting to read 1984, although I never managed to get my hands on it. I'm almost glad I didn't. Though I would not have admitted it at the time, it would have gone over my head. Or at the very least, I wouldn't have been able to appreciate it fully. […]

The New York Times reviews Lisa Halliday’s Asymmetry :

Three-quarters of the way through Lisa Halliday’s debut novel, “Asymmetry,” a British foreign correspondent named Alistair is spending Christmas on a compound outside of Baghdad. His fellow revelers include cameramen, defense contractors, United Nations employees and aid workers. Someone’s mother has FedExed a HoneyBaked ham from Maine; people are smoking by the swimming pool. It is 2003, just days after Saddam Hussein’s capture, and though the mood is optimistic, Alistair is worrying aloud about the ethics of his chosen profession, wondering if reporting on violence doesn’t indirectly abet violence and questioning why he’d rather be in a combat zone than reading a picture book to his son. But every time he returns to London, he begins to “spin out.” He can’t go home. “You observe what people do with their freedom — what they don’t do — and it’s impossible not to judge them for it,” he says.

The line, embedded unceremoniously in the middle of a page-long paragraph, doubles, like so many others in “Asymmetry,” as literary criticism. Halliday’s novel is so strange and startlingly smart that its mere existence seems like commentary on the state of fiction. One finishes “Asymmetry” for the first or second (or like this reader, third) time and is left wondering what other writers are not doing with their freedom — and, like Alistair, judging them for it.

Despite its title, “Asymmetry” comprises two seemingly unrelated sections of equal length, appended by a slim and quietly shocking coda. Halliday’s prose is clean and lean, almost reportorial in the style of W. G. Sebald, and like the murmurings of a shy person at a cocktail party, often comic only in single clauses. It’s a first novel that reads like the work of an author who has published many books over many years. […]

Emily W. Thompson reviews Michael Doane's The Crossing on Reedsy Discovery :

In Doane’s debut novel, a young man embarks on a journey of self-discovery with surprising results.

An unnamed protagonist (The Narrator) is dealing with heartbreak. His love, determined to see the world, sets out for Portland, Oregon. But he’s a small-town boy who hasn’t traveled much. So, the Narrator mourns her loss and hides from life, throwing himself into rehabbing an old motorcycle. Until one day, he takes a leap; he packs his bike and a few belongings and heads out to find the Girl.

Following in the footsteps of Jack Kerouac and William Least Heat-Moon, Doane offers a coming of age story about a man finding himself on the backroads of America. Doane’s a gifted writer with fluid prose and insightful observations, using The Narrator’s personal interactions to illuminate the diversity of the United States.

The Narrator initially sticks to the highways, trying to make it to the West Coast as quickly as possible. But a hitchhiker named Duke convinces him to get off the beaten path and enjoy the ride. “There’s not a place that’s like any other,” [39] Dukes contends, and The Narrator realizes he’s right. Suddenly, the trip is about the journey, not just the destination. The Narrator ditches his truck and traverses the deserts and mountains on his bike. He destroys his phone, cutting off ties with his past and living only in the moment.

As he crosses the country, The Narrator connects with several unique personalities whose experiences and views deeply impact his own. Duke, the complicated cowboy and drifter, who opens The Narrator’s eyes to a larger world. Zooey, the waitress in Colorado who opens his heart and reminds him that love can be found in this big world. And Rosie, The Narrator’s sweet landlady in Portland, who helps piece him back together both physically and emotionally.

This supporting cast of characters is excellent. Duke, in particular, is wonderfully nuanced and complicated. He’s a throwback to another time, a man without a cell phone who reads Sartre and sleeps under the stars. Yet he’s also a grifter with a “love ‘em and leave ‘em” attitude that harms those around him. It’s fascinating to watch The Narrator wrestle with Duke’s behavior, trying to determine which to model and which to discard.

Doane creates a relatable protagonist in The Narrator, whose personal growth doesn’t erase his faults. His willingness to hit the road with few resources is admirable, and he’s prescient enough to recognize the jealousy of those who cannot or will not take the leap. His encounters with new foods, places, and people broaden his horizons. Yet his immaturity and selfishness persist. He tells Rosie she’s been a good mother to him but chooses to ignore the continuing concern from his own parents as he effectively disappears from his old life.

Despite his flaws, it’s a pleasure to accompany The Narrator on his physical and emotional journey. The unexpected ending is a fitting denouement to an epic and memorable road trip.

The Book Smugglers review Anissa Gray’s The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls :

I am still dipping my toes into the literally fiction pool, finding what works for me and what doesn’t. Books like The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray are definitely my cup of tea.

Althea and Proctor Cochran had been pillars of their economically disadvantaged community for years – with their local restaurant/small market and their charity drives. Until they are found guilty of fraud for stealing and keeping most of the money they raised and sent to jail. Now disgraced, their entire family is suffering the consequences, specially their twin teenage daughters Baby Vi and Kim.  To complicate matters even more: Kim was actually the one to call the police on her parents after yet another fight with her mother. […]

Examples of children’s and YA fiction book reviews

The Book Hookup reviews Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give :

♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 5 stars! I can’t imagine how challenging it would be to tackle the voice of a movement like Black Lives Matter, but I do know that Thomas did it with a finesse only a talented author like herself possibly could. With an unapologetically realistic delivery packed with emotion, The Hate U Give is a crucially important portrayal of the difficulties minorities face in our country every single day. I have no doubt that this book will be met with resistance by some (possibly many) and slapped with a “controversial” label, but if you’ve ever wondered what it was like to walk in a POC’s shoes, then I feel like this is an unflinchingly honest place to start.

In Angie Thomas’s debut novel, Starr Carter bursts on to the YA scene with both heart-wrecking and heartwarming sincerity. This author is definitely one to watch.

♥ Review: The hype around this book has been unquestionable and, admittedly, that made me both eager to get my hands on it and terrified to read it. I mean, what if I was to be the one person that didn’t love it as much as others? (That seems silly now because of how truly mesmerizing THUG was in the most heartbreakingly realistic way.) However, with the relevancy of its summary in regards to the unjust predicaments POC currently face in the US, I knew this one was a must-read, so I was ready to set my fears aside and dive in. That said, I had an altogether more personal, ulterior motive for wanting to read this book. […]

The New York Times reviews Melissa Albert’s The Hazel Wood :

Alice Crewe (a last name she’s chosen for herself) is a fairy tale legacy: the granddaughter of Althea Proserpine, author of a collection of dark-as-night fairy tales called “Tales From the Hinterland.” The book has a cult following, and though Alice has never met her grandmother, she’s learned a little about her through internet research. She hasn’t read the stories, because her mother, Ella Proserpine, forbids it.

Alice and Ella have moved from place to place in an attempt to avoid the “bad luck” that seems to follow them. Weird things have happened. As a child, Alice was kidnapped by a man who took her on a road trip to find her grandmother; he was stopped by the police before they did so. When at 17 she sees that man again, unchanged despite the years, Alice panics. Then Ella goes missing, and Alice turns to Ellery Finch, a schoolmate who’s an Althea Proserpine superfan, for help in tracking down her mother. Not only has Finch read every fairy tale in the collection, but handily, he remembers them, sharing them with Alice as they journey to the mysterious Hazel Wood, the estate of her now-dead grandmother, where they hope to find Ella.

“The Hazel Wood” starts out strange and gets stranger, in the best way possible. (The fairy stories Finch relays, which Albert includes as their own chapters, are as creepy and evocative as you’d hope.) Albert seamlessly combines contemporary realism with fantasy, blurring the edges in a way that highlights that place where stories and real life convene, where magic contains truth and the world as it appears is false, where just about anything can happen, particularly in the pages of a very good book. It’s a captivating debut. […]

James reviews Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight, Moon on Goodreads:

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown is one of the books that followers of my blog voted as a must-read for our Children's Book August 2018 Readathon. Come check it out and join the next few weeks!

This picture book was such a delight. I hadn't remembered reading it when I was a child, but it might have been read to me... either way, it was like a whole new experience! It's always so difficult to convince a child to fall asleep at night. I don't have kids, but I do have a 5-month-old puppy who whines for 5 minutes every night when he goes in his cage/crate (hopefully he'll be fully housebroken soon so he can roam around when he wants). I can only imagine! I babysat a lot as a teenager and I have tons of younger cousins, nieces, and nephews, so I've been through it before, too. This was a believable experience, and it really helps show kids how to relax and just let go when it's time to sleep.

The bunny's are adorable. The rhymes are exquisite. I found it pretty fun, but possibly a little dated given many of those things aren't normal routines anymore. But the lessons to take from it are still powerful. Loved it! I want to sample some more books by this fine author and her illustrators.

Publishers Weekly reviews Elizabeth Lilly’s Geraldine :

This funny, thoroughly accomplished debut opens with two words: “I’m moving.” They’re spoken by the title character while she swoons across her family’s ottoman, and because Geraldine is a giraffe, her full-on melancholy mode is quite a spectacle. But while Geraldine may be a drama queen (even her mother says so), it won’t take readers long to warm up to her. The move takes Geraldine from Giraffe City, where everyone is like her, to a new school, where everyone else is human. Suddenly, the former extrovert becomes “That Giraffe Girl,” and all she wants to do is hide, which is pretty much impossible. “Even my voice tries to hide,” she says, in the book’s most poignant moment. “It’s gotten quiet and whispery.” Then she meets Cassie, who, though human, is also an outlier (“I’m that girl who wears glasses and likes MATH and always organizes her food”), and things begin to look up.

Lilly’s watercolor-and-ink drawings are as vividly comic and emotionally astute as her writing; just when readers think there are no more ways for Geraldine to contort her long neck, this highly promising talent comes up with something new.

Examples of genre fiction book reviews

Karlyn P reviews Nora Roberts’ Dark Witch , a paranormal romance novel , on Goodreads:

4 stars. Great world-building, weak romance, but still worth the read.

I hesitate to describe this book as a 'romance' novel simply because the book spent little time actually exploring the romance between Iona and Boyle. Sure, there IS a romance in this novel. Sprinkled throughout the book are a few scenes where Iona and Boyle meet, chat, wink at each, flirt some more, sleep together, have a misunderstanding, make up, and then profess their undying love. Very formulaic stuff, and all woven around the more important parts of this book.

The meat of this book is far more focused on the story of the Dark witch and her magically-gifted descendants living in Ireland. Despite being weak on the romance, I really enjoyed it. I think the book is probably better for it, because the romance itself was pretty lackluster stuff.

I absolutely plan to stick with this series as I enjoyed the world building, loved the Ireland setting, and was intrigued by all of the secondary characters. However, If you read Nora Roberts strictly for the romance scenes, this one might disappoint. But if you enjoy a solid background story with some dark magic and prophesies, you might enjoy it as much as I did.

I listened to this one on audio, and felt the narration was excellent.

Emily May reviews R.F. Kuang’s The Poppy Wars , an epic fantasy novel , on Goodreads:

“But I warn you, little warrior. The price of power is pain.”

Holy hell, what did I just read??

➽ A fantasy military school

➽ A rich world based on modern Chinese history

➽ Shamans and gods

➽ Detailed characterization leading to unforgettable characters

➽ Adorable, opium-smoking mentors

That's a basic list, but this book is all of that and SO MUCH MORE. I know 100% that The Poppy War will be one of my best reads of 2018.

Isn't it just so great when you find one of those books that completely drags you in, makes you fall in love with the characters, and demands that you sit on the edge of your seat for every horrific, nail-biting moment of it? This is one of those books for me. And I must issue a serious content warning: this book explores some very dark themes. Proceed with caution (or not at all) if you are particularly sensitive to scenes of war, drug use and addiction, genocide, racism, sexism, ableism, self-harm, torture, and rape (off-page but extremely horrific).

Because, despite the fairly innocuous first 200 pages, the title speaks the truth: this is a book about war. All of its horrors and atrocities. It is not sugar-coated, and it is often graphic. The "poppy" aspect refers to opium, which is a big part of this book. It is a fantasy, but the book draws inspiration from the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Rape of Nanking.

Crime Fiction Lover reviews Jessica Barry’s Freefall , a crime novel:

In some crime novels, the wrongdoing hits you between the eyes from page one. With others it’s a more subtle process, and that’s OK too. So where does Freefall fit into the sliding scale?

In truth, it’s not clear. This is a novel with a thrilling concept at its core. A woman survives plane crash, then runs for her life. However, it is the subtleties at play that will draw you in like a spider beckoning to an unwitting fly.

Like the heroine in Sharon Bolton’s Dead Woman Walking, Allison is lucky to be alive. She was the only passenger in a private plane, belonging to her fiancé, Ben, who was piloting the expensive aircraft, when it came down in woodlands in the Colorado Rockies. Ally is also the only survivor, but rather than sitting back and waiting for rescue, she is soon pulling together items that may help her survive a little longer – first aid kit, energy bars, warm clothes, trainers – before fleeing the scene. If you’re hearing the faint sound of alarm bells ringing, get used to it. There’s much, much more to learn about Ally before this tale is over.

Kirkus Reviews reviews Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One , a science-fiction novel :

Video-game players embrace the quest of a lifetime in a virtual world; screenwriter Cline’s first novel is old wine in new bottles.

The real world, in 2045, is the usual dystopian horror story. So who can blame Wade, our narrator, if he spends most of his time in a virtual world? The 18-year-old, orphaned at 11, has no friends in his vertical trailer park in Oklahoma City, while the OASIS has captivating bells and whistles, and it’s free. Its creator, the legendary billionaire James Halliday, left a curious will. He had devised an elaborate online game, a hunt for a hidden Easter egg. The finder would inherit his estate. Old-fashioned riddles lead to three keys and three gates. Wade, or rather his avatar Parzival, is the first gunter (egg-hunter) to win the Copper Key, first of three.

Halliday was obsessed with the pop culture of the 1980s, primarily the arcade games, so the novel is as much retro as futurist. Parzival’s great strength is that he has absorbed all Halliday’s obsessions; he knows by heart three essential movies, crossing the line from geek to freak. His most formidable competitors are the Sixers, contract gunters working for the evil conglomerate IOI, whose goal is to acquire the OASIS. Cline’s narrative is straightforward but loaded with exposition. It takes a while to reach a scene that crackles with excitement: the meeting between Parzival (now world famous as the lead contender) and Sorrento, the head of IOI. The latter tries to recruit Parzival; when he fails, he issues and executes a death threat. Wade’s trailer is demolished, his relatives killed; luckily Wade was not at home. Too bad this is the dramatic high point. Parzival threads his way between more ’80s games and movies to gain the other keys; it’s clever but not exciting. Even a romance with another avatar and the ultimate “epic throwdown” fail to stir the blood.

Too much puzzle-solving, not enough suspense.

Book review examples for non-fiction books

Nonfiction books are generally written to inform readers about a certain topic. As such, the focus of a nonfiction book review will be on the clarity and effectiveness of this communication . In carrying this out, a book review may analyze the author’s source materials and assess the thesis in order to determine whether or not the book meets expectations.

Again, we’ve included abbreviated versions of long reviews here, so feel free to click on the link to read the entire piece!

The Washington Post reviews David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon :

The arc of David Grann’s career reminds one of a software whiz-kid or a latest-thing talk-show host — certainly not an investigative reporter, even if he is one of the best in the business. The newly released movie of his first book, “The Lost City of Z,” is generating all kinds of Oscar talk, and now comes the release of his second book, “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI,” the film rights to which have already been sold for $5 million in what one industry journal called the “biggest and wildest book rights auction in memory.”

Grann deserves the attention. He’s canny about the stories he chases, he’s willing to go anywhere to chase them, and he’s a maestro in his ability to parcel out information at just the right clip: a hint here, a shading of meaning there, a smartly paced buildup of multiple possibilities followed by an inevitable reversal of readerly expectations or, in some cases, by a thrilling and dislocating pull of the entire narrative rug.

All of these strengths are on display in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Around the turn of the 20th century, oil was discovered underneath Osage lands in the Oklahoma Territory, lands that were soon to become part of the state of Oklahoma. Through foresight and legal maneuvering, the Osage found a way to permanently attach that oil to themselves and shield it from the prying hands of white interlopers; this mechanism was known as “headrights,” which forbade the outright sale of oil rights and granted each full member of the tribe — and, supposedly, no one else — a share in the proceeds from any lease arrangement. For a while, the fail-safes did their job, and the Osage got rich — diamond-ring and chauffeured-car and imported-French-fashion rich — following which quite a large group of white men started to work like devils to separate the Osage from their money. And soon enough, and predictably enough, this work involved murder. Here in Jazz Age America’s most isolated of locales, dozens or even hundreds of Osage in possession of great fortunes — and of the potential for even greater fortunes in the future — were dispatched by poison, by gunshot and by dynamite. […]

Stacked Books reviews Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers :

I’ve heard a lot of great things about Malcolm Gladwell’s writing. Friends and co-workers tell me that his subjects are interesting and his writing style is easy to follow without talking down to the reader. I wasn’t disappointed with Outliers. In it, Gladwell tackles the subject of success – how people obtain it and what contributes to extraordinary success as opposed to everyday success.

The thesis – that our success depends much more on circumstances out of our control than any effort we put forth – isn’t exactly revolutionary. Most of us know it to be true. However, I don’t think I’m lying when I say that most of us also believe that we if we just try that much harder and develop our talent that much further, it will be enough to become wildly successful, despite bad or just mediocre beginnings. Not so, says Gladwell.

Most of the evidence Gladwell gives us is anecdotal, which is my favorite kind to read. I can’t really speak to how scientifically valid it is, but it sure makes for engrossing listening. For example, did you know that successful hockey players are almost all born in January, February, or March? Kids born during these months are older than the others kids when they start playing in the youth leagues, which means they’re already better at the game (because they’re bigger). Thus, they get more play time, which means their skill increases at a faster rate, and it compounds as time goes by. Within a few years, they’re much, much better than the kids born just a few months later in the year. Basically, these kids’ birthdates are a huge factor in their success as adults – and it’s nothing they can do anything about. If anyone could make hockey interesting to a Texan who only grudgingly admits the sport even exists, it’s Gladwell. […]

Quill and Quire reviews Rick Prashaw’s Soar, Adam, Soar :

Ten years ago, I read a book called Almost Perfect. The young-adult novel by Brian Katcher won some awards and was held up as a powerful, nuanced portrayal of a young trans person. But the reality did not live up to the book’s billing. Instead, it turned out to be a one-dimensional and highly fetishized portrait of a trans person’s life, one that was nevertheless repeatedly dubbed “realistic” and “affecting” by non-transgender readers possessing only a vague, mass-market understanding of trans experiences.

In the intervening decade, trans narratives have emerged further into the literary spotlight, but those authored by trans people ourselves – and by trans men in particular – have seemed to fall under the shadow of cisgender sensationalized imaginings. Two current Canadian releases – Soar, Adam, Soar and This One Looks Like a Boy – provide a pointed object lesson into why trans-authored work about transgender experiences remains critical.

To be fair, Soar, Adam, Soar isn’t just a story about a trans man. It’s also a story about epilepsy, the medical establishment, and coming of age as seen through a grieving father’s eyes. Adam, Prashaw’s trans son, died unexpectedly at age 22. Woven through the elder Prashaw’s narrative are excerpts from Adam’s social media posts, giving us glimpses into the young man’s interior life as he traverses his late teens and early 20s. […]

Book Geeks reviews Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love :

WRITING STYLE: 3.5/5

SUBJECT: 4/5

CANDIDNESS: 4.5/5

RELEVANCE: 3.5/5

ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 3.5/5

“Eat Pray Love” is so popular that it is almost impossible to not read it. Having felt ashamed many times on my not having read this book, I quietly ordered the book (before I saw the movie) from amazon.in and sat down to read it. I don’t remember what I expected it to be – maybe more like a chick lit thing but it turned out quite different. The book is a real story and is a short journal from the time when its writer went travelling to three different countries in pursuit of three different things – Italy (Pleasure), India (Spirituality), Bali (Balance) and this is what corresponds to the book’s name – EAT (in Italy), PRAY (in India) and LOVE (in Bali, Indonesia). These are also the three Is – ITALY, INDIA, INDONESIA.

Though she had everything a middle-aged American woman can aspire for – MONEY, CAREER, FRIENDS, HUSBAND; Elizabeth was not happy in her life, she wasn’t happy in her marriage. Having suffered a terrible divorce and terrible breakup soon after, Elizabeth was shattered. She didn’t know where to go and what to do – all she knew was that she wanted to run away. So she set out on a weird adventure – she will go to three countries in a year and see if she can find out what she was looking for in life. This book is about that life changing journey that she takes for one whole year. […]

Emily May reviews Michelle Obama’s Becoming on Goodreads:

Look, I'm not a happy crier. I might cry at songs about leaving and missing someone; I might cry at books where things don't work out; I might cry at movies where someone dies. I've just never really understood why people get all choked up over happy, inspirational things. But Michelle Obama's kindness and empathy changed that. This book had me in tears for all the right reasons.

This is not really a book about politics, though political experiences obviously do come into it. It's a shame that some will dismiss this book because of a difference in political opinion, when it is really about a woman's life. About growing up poor and black on the South Side of Chicago; about getting married and struggling to maintain that marriage; about motherhood; about being thrown into an amazing and terrifying position.

I hate words like "inspirational" because they've become so overdone and cheesy, but I just have to say it-- Michelle Obama is an inspiration. I had the privilege of seeing her speak at The Forum in Inglewood, and she is one of the warmest, funniest, smartest, down-to-earth people I have ever seen in this world.

And yes, I know we present what we want the world to see, but I truly do think it's genuine. I think she is someone who really cares about people - especially kids - and wants to give them better lives and opportunities.

She's obviously intelligent, but she also doesn't gussy up her words. She talks straight, with an openness and honesty rarely seen. She's been one of the most powerful women in the world, she's been a graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School, she's had her own successful career, and yet she has remained throughout that same girl - Michelle Robinson - from a working class family in Chicago.

I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't benefit from reading this book.

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