On account that I write book reviews as a side hustle, I thought it would be helpful to write about the elements of a good review. A good review is something that gives readers useful information about a book. This is the essence of book reviewing. Reviewers help readers decide which books to pick up. Here are some things that aspiring book reviewers might find helpful.

Give it balance. When we say balance, talk about the book’s strengths and weaknesses. What did you like about it? What didn’t work for you? As for writing the things that you dislike, try to say it in a way that is constructive.

Now, what if you didn’t like a book in its entirety? Lev Grossman of Time magazine wrote that if he doesn’t like a book, he just leaves it alone, as books come into this world mortally wounded as it is. Remember that you are sharing your honest opinion and that your opinion is also subject to scrutiny, given that people’s reading tastes may vary.

Focus on the book, not the author. I once made the mistake of writing a review that homed in on the author rather than his work. My editor called my attention to this, and I constructively charged it to experience and rewrote my review. A reviewer must focus on the work in the same way that an art critic must focus on the painting, not the artist. How did the author handle his theme? How do plot, characterization, and setting come together? Don’t pass judgment on the author’s sexual orientation, beliefs, or other personal preferences. Don’t let your personal biases get in the way of giving an objective review. You owe it to your readers to tell them what they need to know about the book.

Don’t judge the book by its cover. Commercial books make a lot of noise for their promotional schemes. Fancy covers and a huge media buzz can override a book reviewer’s judgment. It’s only by reading the book that you can make a thorough assessment of its merits. Besides, in terms of traditional publishing, authors are not responsible for the marketing hype. If they’re self-published, they have control of promotion, but either way, don’t get lured into believing that a great book campaign makes a great book.

Avoid extensive summaries and spoilers. A book summary is easy to obtain. What isn’t easy to get is your opinion about the author’s style and the relevance of the story. As for spoilers, you’re taking out the reading pleasure from your audience, and they will hate you for it.

Think of it this way: You haven’t seen the classic Star Wars trilogy, but then decided to binge-watch it on the weekend. But one of your friends blurts out that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father. How would you feel? Do you still look forward to watching the film? Maybe, maybe not, but the beauty and excitement of finding out for yourself how the plot unravels are ruined. What you’ve heard can never be unheard. It’s the same with reading a book review containing spoilers. For the love of everything decent, don’t give spoilers. Tell readers what the story is all about in a way that will whet their appetite to read how the story is going to end.

Be specific. Sure, you have all the elements that go into the writing of a book review. You made a brief summary and wrote about your likes and dislikes. However, you need to explain why you like or didn’t like it. If you didn’t like the plot, explain why. A good explanation lends weight to your objectivity.