Welcome to Caffeinated Confessions !
I wanted a forum where we could talk about bookish subjects from swoon-worthy covers to the price of eBooks. I hope to share my thoughts on a different subject each month. So that we can all chat and share opinions. In the process I hope we get to know each other a little better. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and lets dish!
~*~*When You Don’t Love it too…*~*~
Has this ever happened to you?!?
I just finished a book. It was AMAZING! I write and post my fangirl review. I am telling everyone what an epic, must read it is. I loved it so much! I want to dedicate a Pinterest page to it! Best Book Ever!!!
That’s when I stumble across a review.
At first I am all excited for the chance to relive it through your thoughts..
and then it happens…….
You crush my fandom,
you pick apart my beloved characters..
and I am left heart-broken and at a lost for words… Why? No, just No. *curls into ball and weeps* Someone hand me a truffle….and my world will never be the same.
That is until I read a review that shares my enthusiasm and makes me…..*dance* *skip* and want to hug you through the internet!
Has this ever happen to you? Do you shake it off? Does it secretly break your heart?
- Lenore @ Nocturne Reads
- Stephanie @ Cover 2 Cover Blog
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Trish
I’ve been on both sides! The one where I loved the book and others are slamming it. It’s like they are kicking me in the gut. And the one everyone else loved and I’m wondering why I’m not getting it. Neither are a lot of fun. But when you meet someone who agrees with you and you can fangirl/bitch together that, I like that! And reading other peoples opinions often make me consider something I hadn’t noticed so there is always that.
Dani
It does make me a bit sad if someone I think I have a lot in common with (reading taste wise) doesn’t just love a book that I thought was the bomb. I know I have made some people feel that way and I hate to disappoint them. I just know that we each have different reading needs and not every book can fulfill those needs.
Tanya
I used to always question my views on the book when I read a less than stellar review of a book I loved, but I’ve grown out of that and now I just let the reviewer have their thoughts and search my list of blogs until I find someone that liked it as much as I did so I can fangirl with SOMEBODY! LOL I do feel bad for my characters though, like, how could someone not like them, when they are so lovable, that must hurt their feelings. No, I need to remember they are not real! LOL
Melissa Robles
Too many times! I sometimes wonder if we’re reading the same book, lol. I guess we all have different likes and look for something in particular for a book to reach our reading standards. That’s why I try not to read negative reviews before I write my super fangirling thoughts. I don’t want them to ruin my mojo. 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Ooo agreed Melissa, this is how I feel after my review has published and I stumble over a review. I avoid reviews before.
Christa
This happens to me all the time! And it always breaks my heart because when I love a book I want everyone to love it (even though I know that’s not realistic). But I also love discussing books with people when we have different opinions. It’s kind of a catch-22.
Lupdilup
I feel the same way, but for every time I get sad when someone doesn’t like a book that I loved, I get two times happier when some loves it too 🙂
Reviews from a Bookworm
HAHA! Is it bad that it’s more like that when I HATE a book and I go discover so many other reviews that are gushing about it. I’m like, NOOOO WHAT DID I MISS!!??!??!!?! Love your use of gifs though 😉 I’m actually stopping by as someone linked you up to my Blogger Love post today, great blog and following via bloglovin!
Chrystal
Yes this has happened so many times, but now I just shake it off. Not everyone will love every book, so why worry so much what others think. It should only matter what you think about the book! 🙂
Kim { Book Swoon }
YES! LOL…All the time. Then I wonder, am I crazy and is there no one else who shares my love for the book?!! I feel almost like a momma bear protecting her baby (ha-ha, and I’m not even the writer) and feel sad even sometimes angry if the other review is mean! Then, like you mention (love the gifs btw) I feel like doing the fangirl happy dance right across to the other positive reviewers blogoshpere home 😉
Mary
YES!!! And, what’s worse is sometimes I think about what they’re saying (as they’re picking apart the book I was just happy-dancing about) and say, “Yeah. Actually, that was kind of annoying.” (or whatever). But then I shake myself — hey, I might agree with some points but, overall, I liked the darned book so let me tell the world! 🙂
Michelle
Most of the time I don’t mind negative reviews about books I really enjoy, because I typically already know the issues (and have chosen to ignore them, lol). But sometimes…sometimes it causes me immense pain. It’s not often and only about the books I hold dear to me like Harry Potter, the Redwall series, Lord of the Rings (Hobbit), and Brandon Sanderson’s epic fantasy books.
A Voracious Reader
I can’t say I’m upset by a review on the opposite scale of mine, but it is a tad disappointing that a favorite of mine isn’t loved by everyone. lol It is a major bummer when it’s someone I know that has similiar tastes as I do and the book falls flat for them. That does suck, but I shake it off because if we all agreed about everything life would be so b-o-r-i-n-g. And there’s always the next book. And the next one… 🙂
Victoria (aka Zemfirka)
Yup, that happens! 🙂 It’s okay though… maybe I’m weird but I often like reading negative reviews of the books I loved (and vice versa).
Jenna
I’m usually the one who doesn’t like the book everyone else loves…
Kristin
Happens all the time!! Makes me wonder if I know what I’m doing sometimes…. 🙂
Glad it’s not only me!!! YOU ROCK!!!
Vilia
I don’t mind if people have wildly different opinions to me but I really hate it if they can’t articulate why. I want to know if it was the characters that irked them, the plot or if the setting didn’t ring true rather than just ‘I don’t like it’. I am guilty of doing a little happy dance though when people have the same attitude to a book as me 🙂
kara-karina
It does! That’s why I generally don’t read other reviews until I read a book and write my own review, because it either makes me question my own judgement or put me off reading the book altogether. 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
I am the same way, I may skim but until I have read and written my review I try to avoid reviews on books I am reading.
Kim
I hate when this happens! Really. It about half breaks my heart. But then, I think it all depends on *how* the person reviews it, too. Some people are just flat-out mean. I’m a firm believer you can write an honest review without being a jerk. This is part of why I find Goodreads so frustrating. I read reviews on there occasionally of books I loved and see where people are truly heinous – and worse, other people egg them on! It’s very disheartening and it makes me feel awful for the author.
Equally frustrating is when *everyone* loves a book and I read it and I’m left shrugging my shoulders at the end, wondering what it was everyone else loved so much. 🙂
P.S. Love the minion gifs. 😉
Livia
:))) Those gifs are simply pure win!!
I’m thrilled when others loved a book as much as I did, especially peeps I tend to read the blogs of for instance, peeps I know have recommended me books I did love, that sort of thing. I only get bummed out when someone’s picking apart a book just for the sake of picking apart and being nasty. Because seriously, if you want to be nasty, you can be nasty on anything, find the tiniest flaw in whatever and dig in with gusto until it seems a freaking canyon, right?
Maja (The Nocturnal Library)
I think this happens to everyone who reads/writes book reviews. I often feel like the odd one out, but it makes me appreciate friends with similar tastes even more.
But I hate it when negative reviews are mean and nitpicky, it kind of hurts my feelings, especially when I know and like an author.
Jennifer Bielman
Oh yeah, it happens to me all the time. But I never let it get to me. I know we all love different things. But I do hate when someone reads a book I suggested then didn’t like it. That makes me feel like a bad book recommender.
Deborah Camp
Oh, yes. If I run across a wonderful book and see a bad review it really irritates me. It’s especially hurtful to read a bad review for one of your own books. Hard to bounce back from that. The worse is when it’s obvious that the reviewer just missed the whole reason why the book stood out. Sometimes it just seems as if the reviewer was having a bad day.
Jeann
YES it happens all the time, but I try not to take reviews personally if other people didn’t love it as much as I. I just love everyone’s different opinions and even though I loved a book sometimes, I can still agree with their critical points that others picked out. At the end of the day it’s about personal opinion. Awesome post Kimba! <3
Candace
I’m so bad. Often when I LOVE a book I have to read reviews on goodreads. So of course I read the negatives first and I get so ANGRY! I always just walk away but yes, totally do it all the time. But when I see the positives it’s fun cause I can squeal at them about how much I loved it too. 🙂
Braine Talk Supe
For sure but mine is usually the reverse, I don’t like it as much as some other blogger loved it. Awkward!
Katherine
Yes! A good friend and I swap books all the time and normally our taste lines up but there was a novel that she LOVED – like best book of the year kind of loved. I thought it was okay at best and then that happened with a nonfiction travel book that I loved and she couldn’t stand. On the other side I hate to be really negative about a book because that’s someone’s work. I can say why I didn’t like it but I feel bad about saying “this is just an awful book” or “absolutely nothing redeemable”.
Terri M.
Great post, Kimba! I love the gifs. I’m not sure I’ve had this happen to me yet. But when I don’t like a book, I go look for other reviews to make sure I’m not the only one that disliked the novel. I’ve reached out to other reviews to say, “I’m glad I’m not the ONLY one who felt this way.”
Did either you or Katherine see this article from Book Riot?
How To Tell A Loved One Their Favourite Book Sucks: http://bookriot.com/2014/05/12/tell-loved-one-favourite-book-sucks
It fits right in with this conversation!
anna
Aws yeah been there. Always makes me a bit sad when someone hates one I enjoyed. Especially if they picked it up because of me liking it. Ah well. We won’t all like the same things but yep makes me a bit sad they didn’t adore it as well.
Angie
I felt this way not only with Fifty Shades of Grey but also A Discovery of Witches. I had a really hard time getting into that book and DOW is one I really really wanted to love. I might try it again someday. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood.
Rita
Has happened to me, on both sides of the fence! Yes, it makes me feel a bit letdown because I suppose I want everyone to cheer the book on with me, but I get over it quickly. I respect everyone’s opinion, as long as they don’t say negative things about me just because I had a different point of view.
I don’t want you to give away the specific review that crushed you, but are you willing to give the title of the book that you really love? If not it’s cool; we are talking in generalizations here anyway 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Hi Rita, It wasn’t really based on a particular book, more of a how i feel when someone else blasts a book that I love. We all have different opinions which is great, this was meant to capture that feeling when you are still riding the book high and stumbled across a review that trashes it. 🙂 As you said, we get over it quickly, usually when we read another fangirl review 🙂 LOL
Sharlene Wegner
I love the visuals! 🙂 I have read reviews before reading a book that I am looking forward to & get upset if they don’t like the book! I usually read it anyway. I am really not that picky & I find very few books that I don’t like, but I tend to stick to my genres & authors I trust.
Kay
Yes! Yes! Yes! Isn’t that the worse, but also the best when they love the book too? It can always be so stressful when I’m recommending books to people, I’m so worried they won’t like it. :/
Berls
I get particularly nervous when I fangirled about a book and then someone reads it based on my recommendation. I read their review biting my nails just hoping they love it too. It’s always a relief when they do and I feel bad if they don’t. But any review of a book I love can make me excited or feel sad – I always shake it off though, because I know how I felt about the book.
Lisa
I am actually used to it being the other way around. I read all these reviews, and everyone loves x book, so I decide to read it. Then, I hate it. I find rather the opposite of what everyone else thinks, and then I am crushed.
Melliane
Oh yes when I love love a book I’m so impatient to see what my friends whill think about it and it makes me so happy when they feel the same!
ShootingStarsMag
Hah, love the gifs! But yes, I know what you mean. It’s always difficult to love a book so much and then see bad reviews for it. You’re like “Nooo…don’t ruin this! Why can’t you love it too?” It’s the same in person, if someone you know talks about not really liking or even hating a book you loved. It’s personal, man! lol
And I love your title for these posts. I have discussion post ideas I want to do but I can’t think of a clever little title…Sigh. ideas? haha
Chelsea
This was amazing….These gifs are perfect.
Judy-Ree
The only thing worse than reading the book and finding that disheartening review, is having been hotly anticipating a book, and finding that review. True Story.
Jenea
It kinda does break my heart a little. I understand the feeling on both sides. There is a book that I tried a few weeks ago, the cover was gorgeous, but I didn’t know anything about it other than that. I try not to read the blurb all the time so I will go in without a lot of expectations. I read a couple of chapters, and just couldn’t continue reading it. It just wasn’t for me, but the reviews have been glowing for it, so I feel like I am in minority majorly because I didn’t like it. I don’t do reviews for DNF’s, I just send something to the publisher. It just isn’t me to tear something apart because I didn’t care for it. Everyone can’t like the same things.
Sandy
Great post! I hate when this happens. I find myself being immediately heartbroken that someone hated a book that I loved. Or even if they just mildly liked it. But it happens the other way around too when someone loves a book that I didn’t. So I tell myself that we all have different opinions. Different things affect us. We have different experiences that we bring to each reading. And so I try to let it go. But I go away secretly thinking that person is an idiot for not agreeing with me (just kidding…kind of). 🙂
Melissa
This happens all the time…in both directions. We book reviewers are sure a wonderfully diverse bunch! It doesn’t really get to me much.
Laurel-Rain Snow
I just shrug when that happens…unless, of course, the other reviewer decides to attack someone (like me) for having a different view. Don’t like that at all!
kindlemom1
I really do get sad when I read a review for a book I loved and someone else hated it and tears it down, especially when it is someone that I thought for sure would love it too. It is so hard to see! And I admit, it makes me start questioning everything I loved about the book, well not the book but maybe my judgment of it. Especially when the bad review has some really valid points.
It is funny how we can each see things differently in stuff, even when in the past we have had the same thoughts and feelings on books. I don’t think it will ever get easy seeing a book you loved get talked down by someone else. I think for me when I fall in love with a book or character they become like family to me and it hurts to see someone else not like them.
And now I sound like a need a ticket for the crazy train but truly that is the best way I can put it, it feels like someone trash talking your best friend and you want to put that person in their place LOL!
aurian
O yes it has happened. And it does break my heart, did they read the same book I did and loved? Twice I have seen that Meg from Written in Red came over as a Mary Sue. What? How can you think that? Noooo
It is horrible, and if the reviewer does that more often to my beloved books, I will unfollow that blog because we don’t have anything in common and I can’t trust her recommendations as I won’t like those books either.
Grace Fonseca
I know this feeling very well indeed. So many people love a book, but then you read it and don’t feel the same. It’s like you are a black sheep. Enjoy your new books.
sherry fundin
Not like your reaction. LOL I love the post and the new look for Caffeinated.
Christine
Reviews expressing the opposite feelings I had about a book don’t bother me too much unless the reviewer is being unnecessarily cruel. I might feel a bit sad about it, but I do know (and try to remind myself) that not every book is for everyone. Negative reviews don’t change how I felt about the book, though I will admit sometimes other reviewers make good points that my rose-colored glasses didn’t want to see the first time around! But a negative review is more likely to make my not pick up a book in the first place than to change how I feel about one I’ve already read. Great post 🙂
Stephanie B
Oh my gosh, yes. It does break my heart. If I’m on someone’s blog and I’m reading a review for a book I’m going to read or have read, I’ll check their rating first though. If they didn’t like it, sometimes I’ll skim or not read it. When I do read those reviews though, I just tell myself something to the effect that we all have different readings tastes.
I know some people really get wrapped up in the world building and need to see it with dystopians or high fantasy. I’m content as long as I have the information I need and it all makes sense (the world building is a plus with the high fantasy though). It is hard to see someone you know not like a book you love.
Bea
This happens to me often. 😀 My tastes are frequently out of the step with the majority. I don’t worry about it. It’s the different opinions that make life interesting. 🙂
Lisa
ALL the time. I’m usually able to blow it off, but it does sadden me at first. Great post, Kim!
Rachael Turns Pages
I have had to write some negative reviews on books everybody loves. I have also had people not like books I love. Such as the book I just reviewed How to Love. I read some reviews where people didn’t like the boy in the story so that changed their perception of the book. Then I went and read a review when the person liked the story just as much as I did.
Diana Leigh
Yep, it happens to me all the time. Makes me sad, but whatever! There are times I’m the one not loving a book, but I do try to be respectful about it. I don’t want to hurt feelings!
finley jayne
It only happens with one book, Angelfall. I think this book is my all time favorite book and when someone writes a bad review about it, I want to reach through the computer and wap them upside the head he he.
I actually thought about this topic yesterday, as I was writing a draft for a book that I read, based on a glowing review from another blogger. However, I thought the book was horrid and that comes across just a wee bit in my review 😛 I’ll feel bad if the other reviewer reads my review, but seriously-the book is rubbish lol.
tonyalee
YES! I am always nervous to recommend books to others. I always want them to LOVE it too and it’s disappointing if they don’t. But more often than not, I like what other’s don’t and vise versa, so I learned to shrug it off haha
Librarian Lavender
Yes, sometimes it happens. I don’t really like it when someone is very negative about a book at all. Writing a book is hard work and I appreciate the effort very much even if I don’t like something. I try to stick to my own opinion though, but I do read others and sometimes it happens that something sticks and that’s horrible. Did you talk about a specific book?
kimbacaffeinate
A specific book review is what triggered this post. The review I stumbled upon was written months before I even discovered and devoured the book. Like I said, it’s that book you want to create a pinterest board for, that you talk about to everyone. They tore the book apart, and this post was inspired by the feelings I had while reading the review. I just captured that moment. I still adore the book and recommend it all the time. It owns a little piece of my heart. Everyone has different opinions and I respect that, but it does sting to see a beloved book torn to shreds..LOL
Librarian Lavender
I know the feeling. I stumbled upon a review of one of the best book I’ve read last year and the post was so negative. Not only that, the writer of that post wrote the clue of the book in there and made it ugly while it was so beautiful. I hate when that happens. I’m glad you still love the book and keep promoting it, but it does make you mad right?
Debbie Haupt
I feel your pain Kimba. Yes it happens often, no it doesn’t crush me. A very wise man once said no two people will ever read the same book, or something to that effect. I see it more often in my in-person book club when we (of like minds) don’t see eye to eye. And I will occasionally review bust an RT review of a novel where I’ve either read the author or the book. It just happened a few weeks ago when I read a reviewers review of The Given by Vicki Pettersson so I just read and reviewed it on my own.
Great post
xo
deb
Angela Adams
I was so caught up in the adorable pictures…I forgot to read the post! (now, I have to go back and read…)
Naomi
Yes, it has happened to me! I get so excited! Often when I post to Goodreads, I scroll through to see what other’s rate their reviews and often I’m shocked!
Great post Kimberly!
Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
Sharon - Obsession with Books
Ooh yes, many times and I feel bummed but also understand everyone has different reading likes and dislikes.
brandileigh2003
This!
blodeuedd
Yes it has happened but I am cool with it. Then there are those who attack others, which is so not cool
Bieke
I hate it when someone doesn’t love a book as much as I do. But sadly, that’s the way it is. It’s their opinion and I’m not going to be mad at them for not liking a book. 😛 I just don’t talk about that book with that person anymore. 😛
Aimee
ALL THE TIME! It does make me wonder “why?” but mostly I just shrug it off. Everyone has different thoughts anyway. Eventually I’ll find someone who thinks the way I do! 🙂
Adria
Pfft, I’ve had it happen several times and I want to curl into a corner and cry and then say “How could you NOT see the awesomeness of this book?!”
Christy
I just rant to you and then I feel better. lol! I have learned that when I feel very strongly about a book, I try very hard to not read any reviews. Sometimes it’s hard not to take it personally or as an insult when someone blasts a character or situation you identify so closely with. Irrational? Yes. I just move on, though and think about how much they suck. 😉
Kimberly
This has happened to me so many times, I feel so bummed afterwards I’m always a little heartbroken.
Dre
YES! This has happened to me a lot. I feel bad when the person that I follow for reviews didn’t like the book I loved. But I feel super ecstatic when it’s otherwise!