Over the weekend, I’ve been learning a lot about the editorial review process (no, not the most typical thing to do on warm summer days, I know), and I’ve discovered that when we say “someone reviewed a book,” it can mean one of two things.

1. They read it and wrote a reaction. This is what most reviews are like. The reader explains what they liked and didn’t like, discussing the book’s strength and weakness and why someone might want to pick it up and read it (as they did). Sometimes it can included spoilers, and sometimes it’s an excuse for a rant/gushing over the cover, but primarily, it’s a reaction in words.
2. They read it and wrote a description. This is what editorial reviews are about (or should be, if they’re any good). The goal isn’t to air one’s pet peeves but to provide the author with unbiased, honest commentary…