Welcome to another TTT! This week’s topic is Ways in Which My Blogging/Review Style Has Changed Over Time, and was submitted by submitted by Susan @ Bloggin’ ’bout Books. I decided to tweak this a little because there’s no way I can find 10 ways my style has changed. But even this tweaked topic is still a bit of a tricky one for me, as I’m not sure I’ve changed much since I started reviewing books waaaaaay back in 2011. But I’ll see what I can do!
*30 minutes later* Ok, I’m changing this to five ways my blogging habits have changed because this is too hard. LOL
1. I am pickier about the books I accept for review. I used to accept almost anything I thought I might like because I wanted to get some experience, show that I’m trustworthy, and build a name for myself in the blogging world. I’m pickier now, which helps me keep my reading schedule under control and allows me more freedom to be a mood reader.
2. I am more willing to DNF books, which means I write way fewer negative reviews than I used to. I used to make myself finish every book in the beginning, even if I wasn’t enjoying it, so I ended up writing more negative reviews. Now that I DNF (and sometimes quickly), I get to spend more time gushing about the books I love and promoting authors rather than talking about why a book didn’t work for me. I love this, and it’s what kept me reviewing all these years later.
3. I’ve switched up the kinds of books I review! I used to read YA almost exclusively. My reading habits changed, and so did my review habits. I now focus primarily on adult romance, with the occasional mystery and historical fiction novel thrown in here and there.
4. I quit summarizing the book in my reviews. I actually quit this very soon after I started reviewing. It takes forever and why not just use the summary the publisher paid someone to write in the first place? It helps avoid spoilers, it saves time, it avoids redundancy, and it’s allowed my readers to find my thoughts easily without having to slog through a synopsis they most likely don’t need since they already read the official one (or one written by another reviewer). I really don’t love it when I go to read someone’s review and 95% of the review is their own summary of the book (which is often too detailed and gives away the entire book), followed by a couple generic sentences saying that they either liked it or didn’t. I’d much rather know what you liked and what you didn’t like and why you felt that way than read another summary.
5. I’ve allowed myself to write shorter reviews. I used to think that long, detailed reviews were preferred but then I realized I didn’t like reading long, detailed reviews from other people! And I don’t like writing them myself! Now that I’ve shortened my reviews it doesn’t feel like such a chore to write them… and I’m writing more. Imagine that!
How have your blogging/reviewing habits or style changed since you started reviewing books?
I’m STILL working on writing shorter reviews and discussion posts, and while I have gotten better, I still NEED to improve. (And I have to confess, I also try to change how I wrier/what I share based on things I enjoy best as a reader which I then translate into how I create things.) Here’s hoping I continue to get better there. :)
Great list, Jana. I still tend to write a synopsis, but I might be cutting those out, too. I’m definitely pickier about the books I agree to review these days. Thanks for sharing.
I found this prompt hard too. I’ve only been blogging since 2021 so am still fairly new. I’m still at that accept stage to build trust and I have only DNF one book.
I always use the synopsis of the book at the beginning of my review and then do my actual review focusing on the style of the book. Like you say it means that there are no spoilers and I’m not just rewording what is already there!
I used to do short reviews but then when I started doing Blog Tours I felt like I had to give more. For one Tour the publisher wanted a minimum number of words which has freaked me out for all the others!
Anyway, have a lovely rest of the week!
I concur with several of these, especially DNFing or moving on from a book if it’s not my cup of tea.
Oh nice! I do find I write in some sort of recap of main events from the synopsis. Never so much that it’s a detailed retelling, but depending on the book, I feel like some of these synopses aren’t very good at telling you what the book’s about. It’s hit or miss these days with them. Usually the ones that are very bland end up coming from an author I already know so I know the story will be good! Lol. I honestly forgot to include the “requesting less” part as I guess my brain just skipped over that thought! Lol. But I have been requesting/accepting less review books unless it’s something that really grabs at me or was one I kept debating about. This way I can try it out and not feel like I wasted money if we’re not a good fit!
Here’s my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
After reading your list, I could have come up with a few more, LOL! Instead, I went a different direction because I didn’t think I had much to say on the topic. I agree with all of yours.
I’m right there with you when it comes to including book summaries! I really dislike when someone’s review is mostly a summary, especially on Goodreads or Storygraph or similar websites where the official synopsis is right above the review! I don’t even copy and paste the official synopsis on my blog. I link to Goodreads and let the reader decide if they want to go find a synopsis. XD
I also prefer shorter reviews as well. I don’t need an essay here. Obviously certain books will get a longer review from me because of the fangirling, but I want to be as concise as I can and not ramble, especially when I’m writing a review for a publisher or NetGalley. My own blog can include my ramblings (that’s the point), but if I post it elsewhere, I try to make it short and to the point.
I’m sorry, but I didn’t follow this one; it was a bit hard. So, I did a backlist theme: 10 of my favorite bookmarks. I have been doing shorter reviews for a while now. But sometimes, I feel guilty for writing shorter reviews. Isn’t that crazy? But I will not be that person they call out about ruining a book for someone.
I am trying to write shorter reviews too!
Being pickier about books and DNFing more are both great changes to have made! Reading is supposed to be fun. :)
Good changes. I sometimes don’t like summarizing the book. I’m forever putting in NO SPOILERS because I hate it when people tell too much.
Yes! I relate to almost all of these. #4 is one I’ve thought about a lot, too. I should start doing that. Why reinvent the wheel, right?
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
I relate to the length of reviews. I mean, I write longer reviews myself, but don’t like to read long ones. Oh the irony!
My TTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2025/05/17/top-ten-tuesday-ways-in-which-my-bloggin-reviewing-style-has-changed-over-time/
I’ll definitely look into writing shorter reviews! I want to get back into blogging so not feeling pressure to write longer reviews would help A LOT