If the review is very short, it may be a fake. If the writer just wants to affect the overall score, their main intent may be to vote via the “star” rating, and to boost or lower it. But because one must write a review as well, the review itself may be very short – 4 or 5 lines at most. [1] X Research source If the review is vague and doesn’t have details about the product itself, it may not be genuine. It uses generalities that could apply to many different books or products. [2] X Research source
If the review was written for a friend, the book or item may be merely described as wonderful, great for everybody, amazing, etc. , and the reviewer may say that they’re planning to purchase one for everyone they know for the holidays. If the review is by an enemy or rival, on the other hand, the item may be called pathetic, ridiculous, or a waste of time. The reviewer may recommend an alternate product or author that “has more credibility” or that you will like better.
One-star reviews should always be suspect, especially if it’s a review for a book by a controversial author.
When reading a review, don’t judge it based on whether you share the writer’s opinions of the product or book; consider instead if the review is thoughtful, fair, and well-written. Even people who disagree with you may have valid points that warrant a “helpful” click.
