How to Review a Novel for a Magazine or Newspaper

One of the greatest honors for a writer is to be given the opportunity to review a colleague's work for a magazine or newspaper. However, it is sometimes harder than it looks because your review can determine how well the book sells and can also influence public opinion. When writing a review of a novel for a magazine or newspaper, it is your job to be as objective and as fair as possible.

Read the Entire Novel

There is no margin for error here -- you must read the entire novel. Even if the book bores you to tears, you'll need to have read every word in order to write an accurate review for a magazine or newspaper. For example, what if a pivotal character dies at the end, and you never read that far? Not mentioning such an important event in your review will be a dead giveaway that you didn't bother to finish the novel. And don't think that you can rely on a friend who has read it to give you the information you need. The review must be written from your perspective, from beginning to end.

Write In the Present Tense

Just as if you were writing a synopsis of your own novel, you should always write in the present tense. This is true for all manner of literature review, but especially in the case of a review for a magazine or newspaper. Writing in the first person allows your reader to experience the novel with you, and places the reader in the exact time and place of the novel. As you describe scenes, styles, characters or opinions, make those observations now rather than in the past.

Know the Your Audience and Purpose

Generally speaking, the audience of your review will be anyone who reads the magazine or newspaper in which it will be published, so request a summary of the key demographics from the publisher. Your purpose is to tell readers why they should or should not purchase the novel you are reviewing. Keep this in mind during the entire time you are writing the review, and never stray from it. Your purpose is not to go into detail about the themes, subplots or ending to the novel; rather, you should encapsulate those qualities into an opinion piece about the novel.

Know the Author