Books reviewed by other authors

[lancashirebornandbred]

I have recently noticed a large number of new books all with glowing reviews from the same best-selling author on the front cover, and am starting to find it very annoying. It’s hard to see how she would have time to read all these books as well as write and promote her own novels. I’ve read a couple of these books and have now got to the point where if I see her name on the cover as a reviewer I think I will avoid the book.
Has anyone else noticed this?

Yes! It's always bloody Marian Keyes.

Modern mainstream publishing is a circle jerk. I've completely lost faith in it. Everything is amazing, stunning, page-turning, twisty. Only, it's not. It's poorly written, poorly plotted drivel that hasn't seen an editor or proofreader.

Yes, she’s the one. I just don’t believe she has time to read all these books. Or that they can all be hugely intelligent, or heartwarming.

It's all utter bollix.

I've stopped reading new releases.

Currently enjoying some lesser known du Maurier

Yes, you do have to take author reviews, in fact any reviews with a large pinch of salt , I feel.
I'm sure there are a lot of cliques within writers and journo circles. You give my book a good review and return the favour, that sort of thing.

Everyone seems to rave about Marian Keyes but I have never got into any of her writing.

Her early stuff was great but she's gone massively downhill.

I've just started My Cousin Rachel after finding it in a charity shop. I like that it's well written without being overly flowery and descriptive like some of the Booker longlist stuff I read.

I knew this would be about Marian Keyes! I'm a big fan of hers and I have noticed that there's very often a quote from her on new books.
Perhaps she just loves reading and is a fast reader though? I love books and I work and have children, but still read about 3 a week, think it was about 5 before children. If someone was to offer me brand new books to read in return for a quote I would be delighted! I like to think she's just enthusiastic for new books and authors.

I disregard all reviews by fellow authors, and if I see glowing reviews from respected newspapers and magazines I consider who has written the book. If they have a background in media, publishing or politics I disregard all reviews.

And while I'm at it, reviews on Amazon are generally worthless too.

Maybe she is a quick reader, but surely she can’t adore EVERY book she reads.

This annoys me too. Puts me off the book actually. Always Marian Keyes too. I think her more recent books are massively overrated.

I understand there's a quid pro quo situation and it's probably all very normal within the industry.

Having said that, reading gushing reviews for mediocre books makes me lose respect for the author in question.

Agreed about new releases. Which is actually rather depressing.

And this too!

There are just books (either the physical books or their listing on, for e.g, Amazon) that are covered in one line reviews, front cover, back cover, inside cover!

I thought you were going to say Lisa Jewell😀