141 followers

Follow

Follow

Follow

1/8

0 saved

3

10

My favorite books one star reviews

Pls read these books, they’re actually sooooo good!!

#book #bookrecommendations #bookwormsoflemon8 #goodreads #onestarreviews

2024/10/17 Edited to

In the realm of literature, not every popular book receives unanimous praise. This article examines well-known titles that have garnered one-star reviews, challenging our perception of literary acclaim. For instance, "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo, despite its strong fanbase, faced criticism regarding its plot complexity, with some readers feeling lost in its intricate narrative. Meanwhile, "Iron Widow" has sparked debates about its feminist themes, leading some readers to voice disapproval of its approach. Likewise, Andrew Joseph White's "Hell Followed With Us" has drawn ire for its focus on character pronouns over plot progression, highlighting differing reader expectations when it comes to story depth versus representation. Reviews from passionate readers reveal that personal taste plays a significant role in how books are received. The discussion surrounding "Captive Prince" and other titles showcases the diversity of reader opinions, with some enjoying the content while others felt it fell short of their expectations. Understanding these varied responses not only deepens our appreciation for literature but also prompts us to reflect on our reading choices. Join the conversation and share your own personal reviews of favorite books that have received one-star critiques, creating a space for dialogue and exploration within the vibrant community of book lovers.

Related posts

TERRIBLE REVIEWS of my faves …

i can’t tell you how many times i’ve picked up a book … BECAUSE of a negative review i saw about it! so with that in mind - and because i think you should always be able to laugh about the things you love - here are some one star reviews of books i loved. thanks to the goodreads reviewers who

781 likes

The book cover for 'The Great Believers' by Rebecca Makkai, a 421-page literary and historical fiction novel with a split timeline, summarized in pink text boxes. The book is on a fluffy brown surface.

The book cover for 'The Spear Cuts Through Water' by Simon Jimenez, a 544-page quest fantasy novel with a unique structure and multi-POV, rated 4.5 stars. Summarized in text boxes on a fluffy brown surface.

books with LGBTQ+ main characters 🏳️‍🌈

Happy Pride Month!!! Here are six book recommendations featuring LGBTQ+ characters, none of which are romance novels. I see everyone recommend LGBTQ+ romance books and i wanted to suggest some I don’t see super often (except one iconic book, The Song of Achilles). I have personally read all

1269 likes

one star reviews of kid’s books!

did you guess any of the books before i showed the covers? I know this is a silly video, but I really do believe in the value of negative reviews. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve decided to buy something because I read a one star review!! do you check out negative reviews when shopping?

863 likes

1 star reviews of my favorite books

i feel like people can be really sensitive around negative reviews and one star reviews … but i love them! i think it’s great to engage with them lightly and giggle. :) and soooo many times those terrible reviews are what actually makes me pick up a book (which inspired this series). #lemon

256 likes

A dark background filled with skulls, featuring the title 'Books about real life CANNIBALISM' in white and red text, with two cartoon bone-and-meat icons.

The book 'Born Evil' by Adrian Havill, featuring a man's photo, is described as a true story of cannibalism and serial murder, about a real-life serial killer.

The book 'In the Heart of the Sea' by Nathaniel Philbrick, showing a whale and ship, is described as a true story of a shipwrecked crew forced to unimaginable acts to survive.

Books about real life people eaters

Okay. It’s spooky season. We can’t talk about spooky season without real life spooky stuff. Come at me all you want. I know I’m not the only weird girly out there into true crime, has a favorite serial k!ller, and likes gore. And if I am, I don’t mind. All of these books are based on true stori

9761 likes

one star reviews of my five star books!

I think these are so hilarious 😂☠️ I know reading is subjective but it feels wrong to say these things about these amazing books!! are you a fan of any of these books? #lemon8bookclub #bookwormsoflemon8 #lemon8reader #readersoflemon8 #onestarreviews

91 likes

One Star Reviews

Meanwhile I’ll talk about my 1 star books for days. Oops! #bookreview #BookTok

32 likes

A collection of books, many with pink covers or spines, are displayed on a light-colored surface. Visible titles include 'Say You Swear,' 'God of War,' 'Till Summer Do Us Part,' 'Meet Me at the Lake,' and 'Flawless.' An open book with pink-edged pages and a pink decorative item rests nearby.

pink books + pink emoji tag💗

here’s a little book challenge I was tagged in💕. you’re all invited to join (tag me, so I can share my love😍) - purse👛: the last book you purchased Mile High by Liz Tomforde😛 - cherry blossom🌸: recent five star read Under Your Scars by Ariel N. Anderson🖤. I don’t think I’ll ever get ove

47 likes

A gold mirrored tray on a bed with green and white checkered bedding, holding a phone, a clear drink, and a ribbon. Text overlay says "My Favorite Books" and "matcha".

The book "Heavenly Bodies" by Imani Erriu, featuring a dark cover with a celestial zodiac design, resting on a gray and white checkered blanket. Text overlay says "this book is engraved into my brain".

The book "Fairytale" by Veronica Lancet, with a black and white cover depicting classical statues and a woman's face, on a gray and white checkered blanket. Text overlay says "this felt like a fever dream".

My Favorite Books 🌸

These are some of my most recent 4.5-5 star reads! If you couldn’t tell, I tend to sway towards the romantasy genre but one contemporary worked its way into my top reads! ✨ Have you read any of these? Did you love them or hate them? Some of these definitely have mixed reviews! 🌸 #bookreco

42 likes

A man in a brown hoodie and shorts sits on a green couch, reading a book. A coffee cup and tablet are on a black table in front of him. Text overlay reads 'BF REVIEWS MY FANTASY BOOKS'.

The book 'Fourth Wing' by Rebecca Yarros is displayed on a bed. Text overlays show a review: 'Actually fire. Dragons were cool. Main guy gave off 'brooding gym rat' vibes but I respect him.' Rating: 8.5/10.

The book 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' by Sarah J. Maas is open on a bed. Text overlays show a review: 'Everyone's hot, but why does no one talk like a normal person?' Rating: 6/10.

He reviews my favorite fantasy books ❤️📚

My partner reviews my books! So I finally convinced him (who reads maybe one book a year) to read some of my fave fantasy books… and y’all… the reviews were unhinged 😭 He had thoughts on the worldbuilding. Confusion about the maps. And some very bold opinions about beloved characters I’ve bee

20 likes

The book cover for "Dungeon Crawler Carl" by Matt Dinniman is displayed, alongside two 1-star reviews from Lana and Laken, expressing strong dislike for the book.

The book cover for "Yesteryear" by Caro Claire Burke is shown, accompanied by two 1-star reviews from Janssen and Aashna, describing negative emotional reactions to the book.

1 star reviews for my 5 star reads

will never grow tired of reading 1 star reviews of my favorite books 😂😂😂

4 likes

A library shelf background with three book review cards for 'The Christmas Guest', 'Widow's Point', and 'Comfort Me with Apples', showing titles, authors, star ratings, and small cover images. Text 'SWIPE->' is at the bottom.

A library shelf background featuring a review for 'The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson' with a 5-star rating, its cover, and a detailed text review describing it as a fun, murdery holiday novella.

A library shelf background featuring a review for 'Widow's Point by Richard Chizmar & W.H. Chizmar' with a 4-star rating, its cover, and a detailed text review praising it as a creepy horror book.

mini BOOK REVIEWS 📚😋

One thing about me, I’m never going to do long, in depth book reviews 😂 I simply cannot put my thoughts into words that well 🫣🤷‍♀️ These mini reviews are my favorite way to show how I felt about books, more than just a star rating. My ratings are also just purely vibes based, so having context h

15 likes

fantasy books you won’t want to miss

Fantasy is absolutely my # 1 all time favorite genre 🐉 There are so many possibilities within the realm of fantasy that there is something out there for everyone, even if you’ve never read fantasy before! These series and standalones are soooooo so good and you will regret not reading them 👀

801 likes

A white cat lies on a floral patterned quilt next to the book "A Hundred Other Girls" by Iman Hariri-Kia, rated 3/5.

A white cat lies on a floral patterned quilt next to the book "My Year of Rest and Relaxation" by Ottessa Moshfegh, rated 5/5.

A white cat lies on a floral patterned quilt next to the book "Such a Fun Age" by Kiley Reid, rated 5/5.

Reading Reviews w/ Chai

hey ! I've wanted to review some of my favorite reads of 2023 for a bit and my sweet Kitty, chair just had to get in on the action !! • A Hundred Other Girls by Iman Hariri-Kia ⭐️Overall rating: 3/5 Wow, what a fun read! As a sort of play on the infamous The Devil Wears Prada, the novel fol

5 likes

A hand adorned with rings and a Hamsa bracelet holds four books with colorful sticky notes, labeled "4 essential books for witches" covering basics, exercises, glossaries, and various topics.

The book "Year of the Witch" by Temperance Alden, featuring a nature-themed cover, is described as a blend of traditional and modern witchcraft for all practitioners.

The dark blue book "Planetary Spells & Rituals" by Raven Digitalis, with cosmic designs, is highlighted for cosmic magick, astrological guidance, and its glossary.

🕯️4 Essential books for new witches

I’m so excited to start this series of book sharing! 📖 If you saw my get to know me post, I really am a homebody bookworm at heart. I have a pretty large collection of metaphysical books that are neat and dear to my heart and many more I have to dive into! 💫I wanted to start this mini book s

1059 likes

A hand wearing a black wrist brace gives a thumbs-up gesture next to a stack of several small books on a white textured surface, with the words "short books" visible.

The book "Graveyard Shift" by M.L. Rio is displayed on a white surface, accompanied by a Goodreads summary and text indicating it's 145 pages, a mystery, botanical horror, and gothic.

The book "Annihilation" by Jeff VanderMeer is shown on a white surface, with a Goodreads summary and text describing it as 195 pages, science fiction, dystopian, and mystery.

books you can read with one hand (and in 24 hrs) 🤪

Hot girl summer has quickly turned into dorky brace and occupational therapy summer 😪 (who knew picking up a 40lb toddler a thousand times a day could tear a ligament????) ANYWAY. I am a physical book girlie and i also don’t own an e-reader, so I’ve found it easier to pick up and handle small (

1668 likes

My boyfriend reviews my favorite fantasy books

My BF reviews my fantasy faves 😂 Letting your boyfriend (now husband! hehe) read your favorite fantasy books is a risky little love language 😅 I handed him The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The NeverEnding Story and asked for honest opinions… and boy, did he deliver. He was shocked that

16 likes

1 star reviews of one of my favorite books #books #bookrecommendations #bookwormsoflemon8 #booktok #booksoflemon8

1 like

A flat lay of the four books from the 'Twisted Series' by Ana Huang: 'Twisted Love', 'Twisted Games', 'Twisted Hate', and 'Twisted Lies', arranged on a gray blanket. The image is titled 'My Reviews on the “Twisted Series” (Each book)'.

The book 'Twisted Love' by Ana Huang, Book One of the 'Twisted Series', with a light blue cover. An overlaid review describes it as 'twisted in many ways' with a 'Spice level: 🌶️🌶️'.

The book 'Twisted Games' by Ana Huang, Book Two of the 'Twisted Series', featuring a cream and gold cover with a crown design. An overlaid review praises it as the favorite, noting a 'Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️'.

My Reviews on the “Twisted Series” (Each book)

These are my opinions on it but y’all need to read it for yourselves to see what y’all think. The spice levels is based off of which had the most 🌶️ scenes. Twisted Games and Twisted Hate had the most. While Twisted Love and Twisted Lies didn’t have many maybe 4-6 max. I might do ratings on the Twi

1224 likes

A collage of science fiction book covers, including 'Project Hail Mary,' 'Red Rising,' 'Dark Matter,' and 'On Earth as It Is on Television,' with the title 'SCIENCE FICTION book recs' in cut-out letters.

The book 'Project Hail Mary' by Andy Weir on a knitted blanket, with text bubbles highlighting its themes: 'lost in space,' 'very science-y but easy to grasp,' 'humorous, yet serious,' 'humanity's last chance,' and '478 pages.'

The book 'The Memory Police' by Yoko Ogawa on a knitted blanket, with text bubbles describing it as 'dystopian,' featuring a 'draconian surveillance state,' 'themes of trauma and loss,' 'translated from Japanese,' and '274 pages.'

sci fi books for the girlies!!

I just finished Red Rising, which is what inspired me to make this list!! Red Rising and Dark Matter are both very dude-bro, if you catch my drift, so be prepared for a lotttt of testosterone 🤪 that being said, Red Rising was very fun and familiar, à la The Hunger Games and Ender’s Game. And Dar

78 likes

A bookshelf filled with various books, including 'Room,' 'The Girl on the Train,' and 'The Woman in the Window.' The image is overlaid with text stating 'My favorite BOOKS From Thrift stores,' highlighting a collection of pre-owned books.

A hand holds the book 'Room' by Emma Donoghue, a national bestseller and soon-to-be major motion picture. The cover features the title in colorful, childlike letters. Overlay text praises it as 'Amazing!! Its a great story and told from the little boys perspective.'

A hand holds 'The Woman in the Window' by A. J. Finn, a #1 New York Times Bestseller and major motion picture. The cover shows a woman's face partially obscured. Overlay text advises, 'Great book! But skip the movie'.

My favorite books I got from Thrift stores

I’ve found a lot of good books at thrift stores. These are my favorites so far. Most are psychological thrillers and are definitely worth reading. 📚Room: Held captive for years in a small shed, a woman and her precocious young son finally gain their freedom, and the boy experiences the outside

24 likes

A collage of books with text overlay "1 REVIEWS OF MY 5 READS" and star/thumbs up/down emojis, featuring a 1-star review for an Ana Huang book and a 5-star review for Layne Fargo's "Catching."

A hand holding the book "My Lovely Wife" by Samantha Downing, displayed with a 5-star review stating "I loved this nasty little book" and a 1-star review describing it as "weird and gruesome."

A hand holding the book "Demon Copperhead" by Barbara Kingsolver, shown with a 1-star review calling it "way, way, way too sad" and a 5-star review praising it as "a lifetime achievement level work."

1 star vs 5 star reviews of books i loved

i LOVED these books, almost as much as i love the reviews. all of these books were 5 stars for me! #lemon8bookclub #books #book #lemon8bookchallenge #BookReview #bookrecommendations #bookwormsoflemon8 #readersoflemon8 #booktok #bookstagram

15 likes

One sentence book reviews

Super short book reviews Sometimes that whole “reading the synopsis” thing feels like way too much effort. So, because I'm all about efficiency, I'm sharing some one-sentence reviews of nonfiction books that blew my mind. Consider it your cheat sheet to smarter living. Reply in th

50 likes

Mini book reviews 📚🫶

I’m once again telling you that I will never do long, in depth book reviews 😂 it’s just not my style🤷‍♀️ These mini reviews are my favorite way to show how I felt about books, more than just a star rating. My ratings are also just purely vibes based, so having context helps with recommendations

10 likes

A flat lay of ten book covers, including 'Divine Rivals,' 'A River Enchanted,' 'What the River Knows,' 'Things We Never Got Over,' 'The Secret Book of Flora Lea,' 'The Stationery Shop,' 'Fable,' 'Crescent City,' and 'Fourth Wing,' with the overlay text 'My top 10 Reads of 2023'.

Two book covers, 'The Secret Book of Flora Lea' and 'The Stationery Shop,' categorized under 'favorite historical fiction,' with accompanying descriptive phrases 'felt like magic!' and 'broke my heart and made me feel!'.

Two book covers, 'What the River Knows' and 'A River Enchanted,' categorized under 'favorite YA fantasy,' with accompanying descriptive phrases 'adventure & intrigue!' and 'a whimsical & lyrical romance'.

My Favorite Books of 2023!!!

This was insanely hard to narrow down to this list, but here are my top 10 reads of 2023! This was also the year I deep dove into fantasy, and I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon 😂 #Lemon8 #creatoroflemon8 #lemon8bookclub #readersoflemon8 #bookwormsoflemon8 #topreadsof2023 #lem

136 likes

even more spicy books I need to read ASAP!!🌶️🖤

I am absolutely obsessed with a good, spicy, smutty, dark romance book and I keep buying more and more! The spicier, the better!!! 🌶️❤️‍🔥 My TBR is growing by the day and I seriously cannot get enough!! With that, here are a few more of the spiciest books on my physical to-be-read shelves and m

2007 likes

50 Favorite Books to Celebrate 500 Followers! 📚 💕

first of all, thank you so much! 🎉 i wouldn't be here without you! 🩷 it's been so much fun getting to see my cozy & nerdy little corner of Lemon8 grow. ☕ second, this is in NO way a comprehensive list of my all-time favorite books. if anything, it's a Favorite Books From Th

96 likes

The book cover for "Voyage of the Damned" by Frances White, featuring a blue background with a ship and sea creatures. Below it are three 1-star reviews for the book, and a drawing of a sailing ship.

The book cover for "The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller, featuring a yellow background with a Greek helmet. Below it are four 1-star reviews for the book, and a drawing of a Greek chariot.

1⭐️ reviews on my 5⭐️ reads

i genuinely loved these books i wanted to see why people may have not liked them haha 🛥️ voyage of the damned ~ i loved the book so much i thought i would combust from reading it. i genuinely thought this book was a masterpiece and wish i could read it for the first time again and again.

17 likes

3 books, 3 reviews

It’s been a while… March was my birthday month and April has just been a little tough for me but I’ll get back on my feet soon. Here are 3 books I read recently and what I thought of them! #reading #reviewsoflemon8 #bookish #alihazelwood #romancebooks

33 likes

A hand holds five fantasy books, with text overlayed that reads 'five fantasy books to read in 2025'. Yellow star graphics are also overlaid. The books include 'The Shadow of What Was Lost', 'The Spear Cuts Through Water', 'Jade City', 'Babel', and 'The Poppy War'.

The book 'The Spear Cuts Through Water' by Simon Jimenez is displayed on a patterned blanket. Overlays indicate it has 544 pages, is a standalone quest fantasy, LGBTQ+, and a 'six star read'. A goodreads summary is also included.

The book 'Jade City' by Fonda Lee is shown on a patterned blanket. Overlays describe it as 508 pages, urban fantasy, book 1/3, gritty & violent. It also highlights it as a World Fantasy Award winner. A goodreads summary is provided.

fantasy books u need to read in 2025!!

As much as i love literary fiction and contemporary novels, fantasy has my heart <3 These are five books you ABSOLUTELY should read in 2025 if you haven’t already (or if you have, read them again 😉). Are only two of them standalones? Yes. Are the other three traps to make you read three separ

468 likes

A hand holds a stack of five books: Anywhere You Run, The Color of Blood, The Passenger, Pink Slime, and Dearest. The image is overlaid with 'SWIPE' and 'MY RECENT Reads' against a bookshelf background.

A hand holds 'Anywhere You Run' by Wanda M. Morris, featuring two women's faces in blue on the cover. The book's title and author are prominent, with a quote below.

A hand holds 'The Passenger' by Lisa Lutz, with a black cover showing a road and white text. A red 20% off sticker is visible on the bottom right of the cover.

Books Reviews! + Ratings!

- Anywhere You Run by Wanda M. Morris follows 1 sister who finds herself stuck in a horrible marriage, 1 sister on the run, and 1 man who is paid to find them. Set in Jim Crow Mississippi following 2 black sisters which adds a new level of horror to this already heart pounding novel. With the perfe

33 likes

A flat lay of numerous books with the text '2024 Reviews MY FAV BOOKS' overlaid, indicating a book review compilation.

A hand holds the orange cover of 'The Seven Year Slip' by Ashley Poston, with 'Magical realism & romance' text, against a window with white curtains.

A hand holds the gold-toned cover of 'Fourth Wing' by Rebecca Yarros, featuring 'Romantasy' text, against a window with white curtains.

Reviews of some of my 2024 favs📕

The first 3 reviews of my 9 favorite books this year! 🍋the seven year slip-4.5⭐️ This magical realism romance is perfect for fans of a cute romance, cooking, and time travel! I loved every bit of this book. 🐉fourth wing-5⭐️ I mean we all know about this book by now but as my first romantas

14 likes

my favorite books from my childhood

This is another trend on BookTok that I wanted to bring over here. These are the books that made me, the books that altered my brain chemistry and made me who I am today. I had a deep love for all of these books, and I had a lot of fun thinking back to each phase of my life and the books I associat

40 likes

Self-Help Shelfie: My 1-2 star reviews

We've all been there - staring down a bookshelf overflowing with self-help promises. But are they all sunshine and rainbows? While self-help books can be a gamble. You spend your hard-earned cash, eager to unlock your ultimate potential, only to find yourself wading through pages of fluff.

23 likes

Thirty Books Thirty Reviews Day 2: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Day Two of the Thirty Days Thirty Reviews we're traveling to Scotland with Author Nichole Van. ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Love Practically will go down as my most highlighted book ever. I couldn't pick just one quote to share so I made three graphics and I could have made more 🫣 ❤️5 Reasons I think

10 likes

A person holds an e-reader displaying book-themed stickers and the text "My Favorite Books of 2025" with a red heart icon. The stickers include phrases like "STILL INTO fairy tales BUT NOW THEY'RE spicier" and a dragon silhouette.

The book cover for "For the Hope of It All (Merrymount #1)" by Ila Sikorski, featuring a collage of postage stamp-like illustrations. Below, it shows a 4.27 rating from 416 ratings and 113 reviews.

The book cover for "Daylight (Merrymount #2)" by Ila Sikorski, featuring a collage of postage stamp-like illustrations on a pink background. Below, it shows a 4.56 rating from 236 ratings and 60 reviews.

My Favorite Books of 2025

I’m a little late but here are my favorite books of 2025. I need to preface that 2025 is when I got back into my love of reading. I only read 8 books because I have 2 little ones that keep me on my feet. But I LOVED every book I read. If you haven’t yet, you need to explore Merrymount with @aut

8 likes

An open book rests on a white bedspread, with the title overlay '5 books i would read again'. The image includes Lemon8 branding and the user handle '@gannasumar'.

A hand with light green nail polish holds the physical book 'The Perfect Marriage' by Jeneva Rose, featuring a cover with two rings and blood splatters. A rating of '5/5' is displayed.

A hand with light green nail polish holds the physical book 'Local Woman Missing' by Mary Kubica, featuring a cover with a forest and cloudy sky. A rating of '4/5' is displayed.

5 BOOKS I WOULD READ AGAIN!✨

a year into my book journey and these are just a few of my favorite books that I’ve read so far 😇 • The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose • Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica • Don’t Let Her Stay by Nicola Sanders • The Locked Door by Freida McFadden • The Inmate by Freida McFadden I have m

1197 likes

A hand holds a tablet displaying the cover of "More Like Enemigas" by Stephanie Hope, featuring two women against a scenic background. The text overlay reads "reviews of my debut are rolling in!" with bookshelves in the background.

A speech bubble with a positive review about a WLW book, praising its characters and enjoyable plot, is overlaid on a background of library bookshelves.

A speech bubble with the review "Holy telenovela!!" is overlaid on a background of library bookshelves.

reviews of my debut are rolling in!

my heart is absolutely full reading reviews on Netgalley for my debut, More Like Enemigas 😭🧡 i am so grateful for everyone who has taken the chance on little ol' me and enjoyed the story i created. this book is honestly so fun and the humor is my favorite part, but its also so personal. see

5 likes

See more