A classic "should I respond to a review" post

2268 Views 26 Replies 14 Participants Last post by T. B. Crattie, Dec 22, 2012

JRTomlin

Discussion Starter · Dec 21, 2012

One of my historical novels--one of my most violent in which

the main characters kills his lover because he cannot save her from a horrible captivity that is slowly killing her

--is compared in the headline to a Harlequin Romance and says it is a historical romance.

Well, it has 50 reviews. One is no big deal but that is in the heading and is rather prominent. My concern is that it will have the opposite effect of killing sales and cause some people who LIKE Historical Romances to buy it. I assure you they would HATE the novel.

So I typed a response saying the reviewer has every right to his opinion but if you like historical romances please do NOT buy this novel because it is very violent and you might really hate it. And then deleted the comment.

But the review is really deceptive. I decided not to comment, but I'm wondering if I was right.

1 - 20 of 27 Posts

Courtney Milan

· #2 · Dec 21, 2012

As someone who reads historical romances, I can assure you that the cover and the cover copy do NOT shout historical romance, and that that review very particularly screams that it was written by someone who does not know what a historical romance is and has not read one, ever. It is so condescending to readers of the romance genre (Really? we're "sweet young things" who want someone else to "swoop in" and save us?) that trust me, no romance reader will look at it and say, "Huh. Maybe I'll buy that and have a nice book about a feisty young girl and the nice, young man who watches William Wallace get hanged, drawn, and quartered."

I would not be swayed by that review to purchase this book to fuel my historical romance reading habit.

(I might read it because I read things BESIDES historical romance, but not if I was looking for something in that genre.)

So don't worry about it.

Atunah

· #3 · Dec 21, 2012

Ok, breathe

This is coming from a romance reader. There are 2 reasons I would not confuse your book with a historical romance. First is your cover, blurb etc.

The other reason is that this particular reviewer has a dislike for whatever they think a romance is. Its glaringly obvious.
We romance readers come across these types all the time.

Anytime anyone uses the words "its a harlequin romance" in this disgusted tone, I know exactly the type.

. You know, the one that wouldn't know a romance when it bites them in the you know what.

I am guessing its a good insult for some to use at historical fiction novels they didn't like.

So there is 100% no danger in anyone that loves historical romances thinking that yours is one. Mind though that many historical romances readers also read historical fiction and/or many other genre's.

I wouldn't bother responding to that one to be honest.

eat: I was still typing while Courtney was posting hers. Minds thinking alike and such

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JRTomlin

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 21, 2012

Thanks for the reassurances. You're right that it is thoroughly insulting to anyone who does like historical romance. I didn't look at it that way. I was just kind of horrified at the idea of anyone reading the book and coming away with that take and even more at the idea that readers might believe him. I mean hate if you like. I have no doubt there are people out there who do -- but a romance?!!

There is a love story in there, mind you. I suppose that is what he was objecting to. But ... anyway, I won't worry about it then. I'm sure you're right. Thanks!

ETA: It is a long, long way from the worst thing that has ever been said about one of my novels.

Katy

· #5 · Dec 21, 2012

Yeah, I've had snide reviews calling my book a not-very-good Harlequin romance masquerading as a post-apocalyptic story. *sigh*

And someone recently called it a "great zombie read!" (there are NO zombies!) *double sigh* (That's the one I've most wanted to respond to. The three days tied up in front of the TV finally cured me.)

Caddy

· #6 · Dec 21, 2012

Gastien would tell you to have a good drink of absinthe and relax. I will say just stick with a nice glass of wine or a tangueray and limeaid.

JRTomlin

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 21, 2012

Caddy said:
Gastien would tell you to have a good drink of absinthe and relax. I will say just stick with a nice glass of wine or a tangueray and limeaid.

No absinthe in the house, but a thoroughly laced eggnog might do it.

Thanks, everyone. I should know by now not to over-react to these things.

G

· #8 · Dec 21, 2012

Caddy said:
Gastien would tell you to have a good drink of absinthe and relax. I will say just stick with a nice glass of wine or a tangueray and limeaid.

Glutton would just say to drink a 40 of St.Ides like he plans to tonight while watching Hunger Games.

robin_hart

· #9 · Dec 21, 2012

AHHHHHH Courtney Milan is above me in the posts...that was such a shock...
Anyhoo. I agree that people love to throw romance around like an insult when they don't know what romance is. Any romance reader would see the disdain and know that person is ignorant. And the look of your books is NOT that of historical romance. It's hard not to want to debate that review, but let the other 49 do it for you. Just my opinion, the author arguing against something never seems to come out okay for the author, even when the reviewer is in the wrong.

G

· #10 · Dec 21, 2012

robin_hart said:
Any romance reader would see the disdain and know that person is ignorant. And the look of your books is NOT that of historical romance.

Even a non romance reader would know... I mean where is the closeup of a beautiful, beautiful man?

Atunah

· #11 · Dec 21, 2012

Not all romances have a closeup of a beautiful man. But romance readers know that.

G

· #12 · Dec 21, 2012

Atunah said:
Not all romances have a closeup of a beautiful man. But romance readers know that.

You caught me red handed in my ignorance... do they at least usually have a close up of a beautiful, beautiful person?

JRTomlin

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 21, 2012

Atunah said:
Not all romances have a closeup of a beautiful man. But romance readers know that.

True. But not many have a battle.

Caddy

· #14 · Dec 21, 2012

And not all close-ups of a beautiful man are romances. Some are dramas.

Atunah

· #15 · Dec 21, 2012

JRTomlin said:
True. But not many have a battle.

Which is why the first thought I have looking at your book covers is Historical Romance.

Tempted to waste time trying to find a HR with a battle on the cover.

Monique

· #16 · Dec 21, 2012

Atunah said:
Tempted to waste time trying to find a HR with a battle on the cover.

Hee. There's got to be at least one!

Quiss

· #17 · Dec 21, 2012

Caddy said:
And not all close-ups of a beautiful man are romances. Some are dramas.

True that.
I've had a couple of complaints from people who assumed my books to be romances. The reason I chose those images was because, although sci-fi, the stories are very much about people (who happen to be flying around in space going pew pew) and didn't want to run afoul those looking for hard sci fi.

On the other hand, I've made converts out of some folks who were looking for cover-to-cover space chick-lit and ended up enjoying the adventure

Darn those indies - always messing with genre definitions!

Avis Black

· #18 · Dec 21, 2012

If readers think a review is misleading, that's what down-voting reviews is for. I'd let the readers take care of it.

N. Gemini Sasson

· #19 · Dec 22, 2012

It's good practice to type those replies out and wisely delete them. Some reviews speak more strongly about a reader's tastes than anything and those are usually clear to other potential customers who come across them. Like everyone else has said, I don't think you need to worry too much about your book being confused with a romance novel.

Also, there seems to be a small faction of HF readers who think any romantic elements turns it into a historical romance and if there is a strong love story, they take note of it. I've gotten similar comments on my books and they perplex me. Romances can contain historical events. So why can't HF contain a love story?

JRTomlin

Discussion Starter · #20 · Dec 22, 2012

N. Gemini Sasson said:
It's good practice to type those replies out and wisely delete them. Some reviews speak more strongly about a reader's tastes than anything and those are usually clear to other potential customers who come across them. Like everyone else has said, I don't think you need to worry too much about your book being confused with a romance novel.

Also, there seems to be a small faction of HF readers who think any romantic elements turns it into a historical romance and if there is a strong love story, they take note of it. I've gotten similar comments on my books and they perplex me. Romances can contain historical events. So why can't HF contain a love story?

Well, it is a simple fact that in history men and women... did the same things they do now.

It's how we got here. Good lord, even Cornwell has romance elements in his novels. But I suspect you're right that it was one of those HF readers who objects to any romance element at all.

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