Yesterday, I picked up a book I read before. I didn’t realize until partway through that I had read it before, and when I did, I went to goodreads to see what I originally thought.
One star. Unfinished. I lambasted the thing.
And the thing is, I can’t disagree with anything I said in that review, but yesterday, I finished the book, and thought it was okay. Not great, but if I were to review it today, I’d give it three stars, noting some of the same problems but adding that it was a decent fluff read.
The worst thing is, I read it in October of last year — yeah, four months ago. So I suppose I could add to the negative side that it was incredibly unmemorable, but that still doesn’t explain my extreme dislike for the book at the time, or what might have changed in only a few months.
I guess it’s really true, for those of us writing and publishing books, that luck and timing are a big factor. Something that might strike me today, I might have felt eh about if you showed it to me yesterday. Where’s the objectivity?
And which is more honest: My initial opinion, or my new opinion? Can I change my mind?
I don’t see why you shouldn’t write a new review. If it were me, I’d just mention in the review that this was a second attempt at reading it, having had trouble getting through it the first time.
I agree with Nicki. I’d put up a second review with a brief explanation that you picked up the book at a later date.