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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Should I just give up??

26 replies

matamua · 29/07/2025 16:39

So, semi-lighthearted, my debut novel came out in June and I can't stop reading the Goodreads reviews....some good, some OK but a new low today.

A 1 star review and a quote I should probably get embroidered on a cushion...

"almost as chilling and gothic as a jacobs cream cracker"

Ouch, so, hit me with it, do I give up writing...or...step away from Goodreads...

OP posts:
Sminty2 · 29/07/2025 16:51

You wrote and had published a novel. That’s an amazing achievement!

All authors get mixed feedback, and reviewers never meet you, so tend to be a little more strident.

I would bask in the glow of the good reviews and when you start to write the next one, think about how some of the other reviews might help shape your next book.

As for the cream cracker, don’t worry. Nobody likes every book they read. I quite often read books with bad reviews and very often enjoy them. It’s very subjective.