I just have to share this eye-opening post from Kayla. Online bullying has become so prevalent, but when it’s on a book related like Goodreads, it seems even worse to me. Our own Dani from http://touchmyspinebookreviews.com was targeted by a troll yesterday, and was utterly devastated. Here, in a separate incident, Kayla brings to light an author who is doing the bullying, which also has me outraged and determined to never buy one of this woman’s books!
Hi Ya’ll.
So I wanted to open up a discussion about a problem I am noticing more and more across various social platforms: some authors, generally not highly-publicized authors but no promises, have been attacking reviewers for bad reviews of their book.
Just a warning ahead of time, the screenshots are a little blurry but still readable, and if you’re not a fan of bad language this post might not be for you.
I hopped on Goodreads today ready to scroll through my feed and noticed a huge conversation surrounding a review of The Black Rose byEliana Bonaguro. The posts have since been deleted that the author made, but after reading a negative review on their book that someone had written the author decided it was a good idea to start attacking that reviewer in the comments on their review. A ghost account also started insulting the reviewer at…
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By Hook Or By Book 
I’m surprised that Goodreads allow such comments, and very sorry to hear that poor Dani was ‘Trolled’ too. I have had some very negative (and unnecessary) comments on my Amazon reviews, but nothing as awful as that thread. I hope that Goodreads stops listing her books!
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’m sorry you’ve been subjected to negative comments on your Amazon reviews Pete. I honestly don’t understand people sometimes.
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On Amazon, it serves a purpose. That is to knock you down the top reviewer’s list. But I can see little point on bibliophile sites like Goodreads.
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I’m sorry that you have dealt with unnecessary B.S. on your Amazon reviews Pete! I also am sorry for blowing up Kim’s notifications! The trolling that happened to me was different than what happened to this person. I was insulted on my appearance but I agree this author’s books shouldn’t be able to be listed anymore! She took things way too far in my opinion.
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Hey! You’re not blowing up my notifications!🧐
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Oh wow, this really is seriously stupid. For an author to do something like this is just really narrow minded. I just read the whole original post including the screenshots, and felt my eyes nearly rolled out of their sockets. This is just very petty. If you are not allowed to voice your own opinion anymore than what is the point in writing a review. I have to say that so far (knock on wood), things have been really friendly here on WordPress. Everyone is just really kind here 😊 Mentioning the trolling of early this morning again, really makes me mad. It’s just so annoying that people can write hurtful comments like that, especially against a person as kind as Dani, a d think that’s okay. I really hope he gets banned, that’s for sure. Erm…end of rant 😅
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Rant away Michel. I’m right there with you!🤬
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Thanks so much Michel and Kim!!! You guys are the greatest friends a girl could ask for! *hugs* I still can’t get over the shock of being made fun of my appearance on a book site!😱😱😱 But as for this author, I definitely won’t be reading any of her books. She took things way too far.
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Unfortunately this is not the first time I read this kind of post but I’m always outraged! My key word in life and in blogging too is RESPECT. I can’t stand bashing be it bashing of authors, reviewers or bloggers. I think we are just reading books for God’s sake! This is not an international crisis so ..chillax and respect others 😉
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I agree Sophie. I think it’s all too easy for many people who are sitting safely behind the anonymity of their computer screen to engage in this kind of behavior. As far as this author, I don’t know what she was thinking, but I think she can wave goodbye to her career.
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I am with bith of you ladies! With her lack of class, who would want to read her books??! This is so messed up! This person just kept going too! Cyber bullying is so horrible! I know I shouldn’t have let the creep that trolled me get to me but he had to say it in such a jackass way and it wasn’t even about anything book related. Why insult someone’s appearance on a book site?!
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I’ve been lucky in that I haven’t been a victim of any abuse *knocking on wood nervously*, but from what I’ve read it’s all too common. What I’d like to know is why Goodreads isn’t doing more to stop it?🤔
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That’s what I want to know! I still haven’t received any feedback for flagging that troll so it’s embarrassing! Gasps!
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I keep checking to see if he’s on there ( which he is) and that’s why I sent that secondary email to customer service. Hmph!🤨
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😒😒😒😒
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wow just read the post. It is so horrible that authors think if they attack a reviewer like that they will get still get readers.
No. Reviwers make or break an author’s career. Readers make or break an authors career.
What she has done? She made it impossible for her to get hers off the ground. She might as well say goodbye.
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Exactly Rebecca. I know I’ll never pick up a book by her.
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Own goal!
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Indeed!
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That whole article made me just shake my head. Her personal attacks on the reviewers made her sound like an angry American Idol reject who has no idea how to take criticism constructively. Especially the whole “Let’s see YOU write something.” 😦 *sigh*
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Good comparison. Online bullying is unacceptable regardless of whose doing it, but when an author engages in it it’s especially disturbing.😡
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So true. For an author to do it, especially to the people who have read her book, is just sadly self-defeating. It doesn’t accomplish anything good. 😦
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Yep. You really don’t expect this from an author.
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Thanks for sharing. I left this same comment on the original poster’s site… putting here so you don’t have to travel to read. Great post and I really enjoy reading everyone’s feedback.
Wow! Thanks to Kim for the re-blog so I knew to stop by here. I’ve had a few somewhat disheartening reviews (possibly a troll, possibly just rude/mean people, possibly just poor at providing clear feedback) of my books recently, but I’d never publicly respond with negative criticism of the reviewer. I can take someone not liking my book or explaining why it was inaccurate (if it was), but there’s a fine balance to keep in this world! I usually sulk, get upset at myself, think I’ve done something wrong, yell at him/her in my head… then it dissipates over time. Even though I’m sure it might help in a few cases to chat it out fairly with the reviewers, it’s never worth it. Negativity just generates more negativity, so I choose to abstain from responding, as it will only hurt me in the end. It’s not easy, but it’s the way I’ve decided to handle it. On the flip side, reviewers need to be fair and constructive, even when they hate it. Too many people try to make a name for themselves or stand behind ‘freedom of speech’ meaning they can say whatever they want. Sure, you can, but that’s not really the right thing to do. It’s a book, not a fight for human rights. If there’s a chance you’re wrong, don’t put it in writing and potentially mislead other people. Find a way to share something balances on what was good, what didn’t work and what might be better next time. But being rude, using hateful language in a review or bullying the reviewer is just wrong. Only my two cents, but I’d rather the energy going into something constructive to help things improve in the future, not to just make someone hurt, ashamed or irate. Eye-opening posts, thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for sharing your perspective Jay, both as an author and a reviewer.
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You are welcome, thanks for the opportunity. I also connected with Dani again! 🙂
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I enjoyed reading your comment Jay. I personally never would say things against the author about the book but like you said if I leave a negative review, I just try to state why and it’s just not a fit for me but it’s not my place to say how anyone should write or how anyone should review. It was good to hear your perspective as an author and a reviewer like Kim said! Oh and the trolling with me had nothing to do with my reviews just an insult to my appearance. Smh.
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Hey, Dani! I’m so sorry for whatever was said / done to you. People are cruel way too often. I don’t understand it. I’m on a bit of a rant lately about ‘free speech’ in that I 100% believe it’s a right, but a responsibility comes with it to be fair and open-minded in what you say. Just because a person has the right/ability doesn’t mean (s)he can use it however they want. And to attack someone purely based on appearance is at the top of my list of reasons to get frustrated. I’m sure you know whatever was said to you was just stupid/wrong/false/incorrect/bad (fill in the appropriate word).
I appreciate you responding. It’s a hard line to walk with opinions, as emotions and immaturity easily play into the words people choose when they provide opinions. It takes a long time to find the best way of telling something negative or bad about another piece of work. I’m all for it, when it’s done properly. I had a review of a work recently where I thought the author truly did a bad job at portraying a character’s thoughts on a gay person. I understood it was a character’s point of view, but 3 different characters shared similar thoughts and not 1 character said anything to combat it. Even in the words chosen, it was almost as if the author felt compelled to try to be PC about it. She should have said what she wanted from the character’s POV, then a small note in the book’s acknowledgements or author’s feedback noting that it was not her opinion, but the things the book said, in a normal quiet mystery book, were just obnoxious, so I said a lot about it in the review, but along these lines. Others just wrote the nastiest things back to her… and I was like???? what does that solve? Oy… sorry for the ramble!
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I ramble all the time!!! Pretty much some person commented “No offense but you look like a creepy clown in your picture.” Ugh. I was so embarrassed because it was on the review I did for Chauncey’s book and just felt mortified. I don’t understand any kind of bullying or attacking. I am all for stating your opinion but I feel bad enough leaving a negative review about something so I would just feel horrible attacking a person at all. I guess I just live by “treat others the way you want to be treated”. I can see how that author’s book would come off for sure but I still would just simply state why I didn’t like the book and why it’s not for me then leave it like that. I do think it would have been wise in that scenario if the author wrote that in her acknowledgements but we all live and learn! See now, I am rambling!🤣
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We can ramble together. That was one rude person! I think there are more people like us out there than we realize – good ones!
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I have met some extremely kind and amazing people in the blogosphere so that must be the case!😄
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🙂
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😄💖📚 Can’t wait to read your book Jay! I will be squeezing it in soon. I have to admit I’m scared of ugly crying though. Lol.
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Ummm… I unfortunately can’t help with that part except promise to send boxes of tissues if it happens. 🙂 xoxo
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Lol. I will make sure to be prepared before hand. Have lots of chocolates and tissues nearby but I know I am going to love it!😄
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Fingers crossed!
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This is a great ramble Jay! I’ve given a few scathing reviews in my time, one of the worst was my review of E.L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey. However, I refrain from personally attacking an author. I try to list my reasons for why I disliked the book so much and almost always end by saying that despite me not liking it, others might.
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No wonder I like you so much! Honorable, Fair, Kind, Generous! So much more too. 🙂 Thank you.
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Aww. Thank you so much Jay!🤗
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Thank you so much for sharing this. I keep a list, on my phone, of authors to avoid. Ones who have bullied reviewers. She’s definitely going on the list, and will be #6.
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That’s horrible that you have to have a list Jen.😕
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I didn’t want to ever accidentally buy one of their books years down the road. And I remembered wrong, there’s more on the list than that.😑
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I agree. Those people should be ashamed of themselves. There’s no place in the world for bullies.
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Completely agree 👏🏼!
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For someone to attack someone like that is pretty low and cowardly. I despise bullies, though I am aware they will get their poetic justice in time. Good on you Kim for highlighting this. You’re a really lovely person with not a bad bone in her body.
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The way I see it, not everyone is going to like what you do. Simp,y because we all have a different opinion. It’s how you express the opinion that matters.
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Sad. There is no excuse for attacking someone for having an opinion. That does work both ways though. It’s possible to review a book without personally attacking the author, and authors shouldn’t take someone’s opinion too personally. I don’t log onto Goodreads that often, but from what I’ve heard there is a lot of negativity there.
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I agree Michelle. Although I hate doing it, I’ve done my fair share of 1-2 star reviews, but I always state the reasons for my dislike without personally insulting the author. But for an author to lash out, calling a reviewer names, is unbelievably unprofessional.
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Oh, yes, I agree. An author isn’t accomplishing anything by name-calling, and it is possible for a reviewer to say they don’t like a book without being insulting or making it a personal attack. Reviewers aren’t required to like the book they are reviewing, but they should limit their reviews to what it is about the book they don’t like i.e. plot or characters.
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Urgh! Who on earth is this person? This type of bullying is wrong on so many levels. Even if her book had thousands of five star reviews and just one one-star review – and this was the response- I would still boycott it. Sadly, all that the author has done is damage her own reputation and has shown herself up to be a horrible, vindictive idiot. Also, I refuse to believe that anyone this small minded could possibly write anything of note, so they’ve also convinced me that their one star review was entirely called for.
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I agree Lucinda. I understand how it must feel to have your “baby” criticized, especially if it’s done mean spiritedly rather than constructively. But this is not the way to respond.
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No, absolutely. I understand that it must be incredibly disappointing to put your work out there and have people slate it, but to resort to personal insults is just disgusting. Take it on the chin, accept the criticism and use it to make your writing better!
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Exactly!
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Wow! That was some immature behavior! I’ve only had one of those incidents. The author wanted me to read it again and change my review. I replied I would be happy to do that,let me know when you are finished editing/proofreading. The one thing I do wish we would do is call them out. I have seen quite a few of these posts and I always wish people would just share the author’s name so the rest of us don’t make the mistake of going there.
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I’m lucky in that I’ve never had this happen to me. *Nervously knocks on wood.* You’re right though. It’s helpful to have names so we can avoid them.
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Just checked it out- shocking behaviour from the author in question
Very unprofessional.
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I understand this completely. I had a new author who I was actually nice enough to, not only read her book, but also offer her some editing notes that she had asked for. I took that time, but because my notes were constructive criticism of how her story came together (very nicely put) and even though I offered her a 3 star review she told me that I ‘didn’t understand her’ and that my review was unwelcome… I was so shocked. I try not to be mean or rude as I understand the work that authors put into their novels. But, going in to that professii they need to understand that not everyone is going to like their book. It’s the same with bloggers. If we start a blog we need to understand that not everyone is going to like our choice of content, the way we write it, or if we review things, they may not agree with our ratings.
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I was not aware that Dani was attacked the way she was. OMG!!!! I want to flip out on the bastard now. As mentioned, he just hurt himself as an author and showed no respect, disregard, and sheer distaste as a human being for taking out his anger on one of the sweetest persons I am proud to call my friend. What a jackass!
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Oops. Sorry for the confusion. The troll that attacked Dani was a different GR member. It had nothing to do with the author in Kayla’s post.
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Oh, omg!!! I freaked out!!! Okay, now I can calm back down, even though that dude was a jerk regardless. 🙂
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It was really bad. Several people including me have flagged him and I was still so ticked off today that I sent an additional email to GR customer service. 😡
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Good for you!!! You go, girlfriend!!! Grrrrr. 🙂
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Thanks Beckie. I don’t think anything ticks me off more than bullying!🤬
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You are the best Book Sister Ever!!!!💖📚🤗😗😄
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#hugs
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#lotsofhugs
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🤗😙🤗😙🤗😙🤗😙
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💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
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Thanks Beckie! You are so sweet!😄 I was insulted on my appearance on a book related site!!!😠😠😠
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See, one more reason to stay away from GR…
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I stay away from places like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook in part because of all the bullying, but for this to happen on a book site is simply ridiculous!😡
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Seriously? How long have you been active at GR?
That’s been going on for years…
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I’ve been an active for a few years, but I’ve been lucky in that it’s never happened to me. I have heard about it though.
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I was there from the get go in ’07 but didn’t start using it til 09. But from then til I left in ’13 I saw more bad behavior than on any blog I’d ever been a part of.
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That’s unbelievable. And even more so is that Goodreads isn’t doing enough to stop it.😡
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I’m a big fan of the ban for life option there…
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Same here!
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Omg Kim! I didn’t realize you posted this. Thanks so much for your support! I just couldn’t believe someone would do that on a book related site. Now looking at these screenshots I am mortified!!! How horrible!!! I can’t believe they attacked this reviewer like this just because they stated their opinion?! That’s what Goodreads is for! This just makes me so livid just like the troll who called me a creepy clown!!!!😠😠😠
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As soon as I read Kayla’s post, I had to reblog. This hit especially hard after what that twerp put you through yesterday. But as horrible and unacceptable as any online bullying is, to have an author engage in it just pushes it to another level.😡
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I completely agree Kim!!! Highly unprofessional!!!!!😠
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Thankfully I’ve not come across anything too terribly bad myself in the last couple of years writing reviews. I’ve seen this talked about on both ends and wonder just what people are thinking starting arguments over someone else’s opinion. *sigh*
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I’ve been lucky as well Carrie, but I guess this is a huge issue on Goodreads. It really is ridiculous.😒
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I honestly don’t think I’ve every had an author say anything negative about my reviews. Most just thank me and a few I’ve gotten to know really well after reading one of theirs and they’re awesome folks. I have had a few snippy remarks from other readers but nothing too terrible and they don’t come back.
This does remind me though that I got an email not too long ago from an author offering a widget for his next book…. I was pretty sure but had to double check but his first I’d read i’d marked as DNF and gave it one star. So some seem to prefer ANY review to none at all. LOL
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Thanks for sharing this! I just can’t believe that someone got to accuse a reviewer of not being open minded when in fact, they’re the ones who can’t even accept their readers’ opinions.
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This was such eye opening post from Kayla. I’ve heard of authors bullying reviewers who have posted negative reviews but this was just awful.
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I’m not really surprised. The internet = hurt feelings all day long. Authors definitely solicit reviews but sometimes honest reviews aren’t exactly welcome. And reviews are only worth anything if they’re honest. But it’s just someone’s opinion. It doesn’t make you mean or uneducated, it just means you didn’t enjoy something. It’s hard not to take that personally, but you have to act professionally.
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Exactly Jay. And as I said to this particular author on Kayla’s post, if a review was as abusive as she claimed, then flag it and report it to Goodreads. Now she’s blown this up into a huge conflagration and is herself guilty of being abusive. By being a bully and unprofessional she’s lost future readers, including me.😡
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This is horrible!! Can’t believe authors really do this. Not everyone will like their writing. It’s not the end of the world to have different opinions. 🤷🏻♀️
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I can only imagine how difficult it must be for something you poured your heart and soul into, receive a negative review, but you need to act like a professional, not start personally attacking the reviewer. Ugh!🤦🏻♀️
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I couldn’t agree more!!
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Good to know considering I love to read and plan on reviewing books lol
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It really is too bad that some of them can’t act professionally.
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Seriously, it is bad form and highly unprofessional of an author to attack or berate a reviewer they disagree with. SMART authors keep their figurative mouths shut and either mentally write it off as not being that reviewer’s cup of tea OR they take notes on any constructive criticism offered and work at improving their writing techniques.
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It really is Tamara.😡
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I’m saddened and disheartened that someone who purports to be an author would sink to such immature and churlish behaviour.
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Wow just wow. Reading some of those comments just gave me a bit of a pit in my stomach. Like grow up, not everyone will like your book. Also everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I hate that people find the need to spread hatred like that. I know I would never pick up a book by her because of that behaviour alone.
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I feel the same way Asia. I would never buy books from an author who exhibits such abuse behavior.
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