How can you write a review that hooks readers?

Always tell readers what the book entails in the subtitle. Craft the subtitle in a manner that highlights the core essence of the story.

I would say only write a review if you feel you have something genuine to say, that will add to whatever already exists. Mostly, reviewers now are not professional critics, but consumers who leave a review on an aggregated website, like an online bookseller. But that doesn't mean you don't have something worthwhile to say -- if anything, you have a better reason to comment, because you feel inspired by something you have enjoyed about a particular book, and you want others to find out about it. Or you want to call something dubious into question, like inaccurate facts in a non-fiction book.

My reviews tell how long it takes to read the book, for whom it is appropriate, and something about the book (characters, setting, possible triggers), but NO spoilers.

That is, be clear with how you feel about the book before you set out to write a review. This includes figuring out your stance and then exploring aspect that support your argument.

ICP ICP ICP The more you know, the better you become at crafting valuable content. One thing about writing is that there's no such thing as bad writing. It's simply a matter of having the right target audience or not. If you understand your audience well and create content that's relatable, engaging, and adds value to them, you'll always succeed. There's no secret recipe to understanding your audience. What works best is being curious, observant, and experimental when writing for your ideal customer persona!

I would say a catchy title isn't a bad thing to do, but the problem is that the whole of the internet is saturated with click-bait headlines, and in a way, many people have either become immune to them, or highly cynical that the actual content that the title is pointing towards, will bring them genuine satisfaction. Often, one salacious detail is picked out for a headline -- and then you read the actual article or review, and find that it doesn't match up, and at worst, the content has actually been misrepresented. I would say that you should still try and write an interesting headline, but make sure that it reflects your true feelings, rather than an ambitious goal of getting more eyeballs on your review.

Though the internet might be filled with misleading titles, a catchy title has proven to prompt more opening rates. I employ this in all my book reviews and it works since humans are more in need of some curiosity to draw them in.

The power of a title cannot be underestimated. Yet, an engaging introduction is equally essential to keep them captivated and prevent them from leaving prematurely. Consider commencing with an intriguing narrative—a cinematic snippet, a literary excerpt, a thought-provoking quote, or even a poignant moment from your own life. By weaving a captivating tale, you provide readers with a distinctive entry point into your article. This approach will instantly transport readers into a world brimming with intrigue and emotion. It's the art of setting a scene that sparks curiosity, creating a unique connection that ensures your audience is not only drawn in but also compelled to journey deeper into the heart of your piece.

Strong introductions in reviews can not be overemphasized. There is a lot of writing, audio, and whatnot content on the Internet and the human attention span is a fickle thing. Avoid the cliche boring introductions. Think out of the box.

Support your claims and counterargument with extracts from the book you're reviewing. For eg, if you say the author uses straightforward/figurative language in writing his/her book, support your claims in quotation marks below that sentence.

Be genuine- consider how others might find it useful. Be brief- no one enjoys reading a thesis on why it wasn’t for you. And be positive- there’s something out there for everyone.