Most of my books receive 4- or 5-star ratings on Amazon. All but three ratings fall in that range. It always feels good to receive a strong rating, especially when the reviewer takes the time to write a thorough review alongside it.
But the day comes for every author when someone leaves a negative review. A 3-star “it was okay.” A 1-star that says it was rubbish. It does not matter how good your book is or how well received it is overall. Someone is not going to like it.
I recently received a 1-star review on a novel written under a pen name. The reviewer left a very long, detailed explanation of why she thought the book was “a piece of trash” and a “complete waste of time.” She described the main character as “petulant” and “annoying,” the story as “horrible,” and the dialogue as “redundant” and “boring.” Printed out, it exceeded two pages. Someone had a lot to say.
Here is what I have learned about handling bad reviews across 113+ published books.
Your Emotional Response Is Normal
A single negative review among dozens of positive ones can shake your confidence more than it should.Share on X
A single negative review among dozens of positive ones can shake your confidence more than it should. That reaction is normal. You put months of work into a book, and someone dismissed it in a paragraph. For more, see facts about review bombing. The sting is real.
The important thing is to not act on the emotion. Do not respond while you are upset. Do not post about it on social media. Do not send the reviewer a message. Walk away from the screen, give yourself time, and come back when the initial reaction has passed.
Read It for What Is Useful
Once the emotional charge has faded, read the review again with a professional eye. Bad reviews sometimes contain legitimate feedback buried under harsh language. Not always, but sometimes.
If a reviewer says the pacing dragged in the middle, that might be worth examining. If they say the dialogue felt repetitive, it might be worth a second look at your dialogue patterns. You do not have to agree with the review. But dismissing every negative comment without consideration means you miss the ones that could make your next book better.
The two-page review I received was mostly venting. But buried in it was a valid observation about the main character’s behavior in the first act. I did not change the published book, but I kept the note for future work.
Do Not Respond Publicly
This is the most important rule. Never respond to a negative review in public. Not in the review comments. Not on social media. Not in a blog post. Not even to thank the reviewer for their “honesty.”
Engaging publicly with a negative review attracts attention to the review, invites trolls into the conversation, and makes you look defensive. Readers who see an author arguing with reviewers form a negative impression that lasts longer than the review itself.
Your silence is your professionalism. Let the review sit alongside your positive reviews and let readers make their own judgment.
Do Not Respond Privately Either
Some reviewers include email addresses in their profiles, and it can be tempting to reach out privately to address their concerns. In almost every case, this is a mistake. You are unlikely to change their opinion, and the interaction has a high chance of escalating. The best outcome is neutral. The worst outcome is a reviewer who updates their review to include the fact that you contacted them, which looks worse than the original criticism.
Bad Reviews Actually Help
A book with nothing but 5-star reviews looks suspicious to experienced book buyers. A mix of ratings, including a few negative ones, makes the positive reviews more credible. Readers understand that not every book works for every person. A few bad reviews among many good ones signal that real people are reading your book, not just your friends and family.
The 1-star review on my novel sits alongside dozens of 4- and 5-star reviews. Any reader browsing the reviews can see the pattern and make their own decision. The negative review has not hurt sales.
Review Trolls Are Real
Some negative reviews are not genuine criticism. They are trolls. These are people who deliberately target authors with inflammatory, personal, or malicious comments designed to provoke a response. They may attack you personally rather than commenting on the book. They may leave suspiciously similar reviews on multiple books.
The same rule applies: do not engage. Trolls feed on reactions. Silence starves them. If a review contains obscene language, hate speech, or other violations of the platform’s terms and conditions, report it to Amazon. They will investigate and remove reviews that violate their guidelines. Otherwise, the review stays, and you move on.
Amazon’s Review Policy
Amazon will remove a review if it violates their community guidelines, which cover hate speech, obscenity, harassment, and spam. They will not remove a review simply because it is negative or because you disagree with it. Familiarize yourself with their review guidelines so you know what is reportable and what is not.
The Long View
Every successful author has received bad reviews. Every single one. A negative review does not define your book, your career, or your ability as a writer. It is one person’s opinion on one day. Your job is to keep writing, keep improving, and keep publishing.
For more on managing reviews as part of your book launch strategy, see the Book Promotion Course. For fiction writers working through the revision process, see the Revisions Handbook.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Excellent advice. Let it go!
Very wise advice! Knee jerk reactions seldom help a situation. Learning from criticism is important.
Since I don’t have a published book (yet) I’m going to have to file this one away in my memory. I”ll be ready for the negativity by trying my best to be like a duck and let it roll off my back. I’m taking particular note about not responding publicly and also not replying back if they should have to include their email. Those may be the 2 hardest suggestions to follow.
Excellent information, Richard. You’re so right in that there’s nothing you can do but move on – swiftly! As authors we need to grow incredibly thick skins, and understand that our work will not be to everyone’s tastes.