Oh, I Need a Hug...Mrs. Giggles Slaughtered Me

AllieB · Dec 7, 2009

Ah, here it is: my worst review to date, from none other than the famed Mrs. Giggles. She gave my first 2 books a 73 and 86, and I was pretty happy. But for Summer's Song, which just came out with Samhain, she gave it a 56...and spent 5 miserable paragraphs talking about how she wanted to off my heroine with a tranquilizer gun. Ouch. Double ouch. I want to crawl into a hole today and lick my wounds. Honestly, I'm just glad it isn't my first book, 'cause I'd be a lot more devastated.

The only thing that makes it a little better is that on the same day, I also got 4.5 stars (same book) from some review site called Single Titles (I hadn't even heard of them, but ok). Don't you really wonder how that's possible???? Sigh...

If you're curious, here are both reviews:

Mrs. Giggles
Single Titles

Susan Gable · Dec 7, 2009

and

, Allie. Sorry that she slaughtered you.

You can't please everyone. And you know her reputation. So, take comfort in knowing you're not alone, and that other people really loved the book.

We take these things so personally, and one bad review can stick with us so much longer than ten good ones. So keep rereading the good ones, and forget about this bad one as best you can.

Susan G.

scarletpeaches · Dec 7, 2009

I'd never heard of her.

dolores haze · Dec 7, 2009

Um, yeah, I read that and felt for you. My honest reaction? I can't wait to get slaughtered by Ms. Giggles.

Chin up, AllieB!

*RomanceWriter* · Dec 7, 2009

Sorry. Getting bad reviews stings.
At least she said you're a good writer and if she so passionately hates a character than maybe that's a positive. Arousing an emotional response is better than saying it was dullsville, right.
It's only one and the other reviewer loved it, so chin up and ignore that one!

Jersey Chick · Dec 7, 2009

Ouch. It sucks, doesn't it? But, it is only one person's opinion and she's pretty tough to please anyway.

**hands Allie a cookie**

{{{HUGS}}}

AllieB · Dec 7, 2009

I know, I know - that's what I tell other writers all the time! Chin up, it's only one person, at least she read it and had some kind of reaction...you're all right, and I thank you for the hugs and cookies!!! Still hurts...

Jersey Chick · Dec 7, 2009

I know- I had a reviewer say she hated one of my heroines so much, she wished the hero had killed her. It stung at first, but now I think, "At least there was some emotional tug there."

Wayne K · Dec 7, 2009

Just make fun of her shoes.

Lauretta · Dec 7, 2009

Never heard of her, but here is a hug for you :Hug2:

veinglory · Dec 7, 2009

I think it is worth mentioning that what she slaughtered was your book, not you

dragonjax · Dec 7, 2009

Sorry, Allie. But hey, you can't please everyone, right? And as Veinglory says, Mrs. G slaughtered the book, not you.

I remember when Sarah at Smart Bitches reviewed Hell's Belles. She gave it a C or C+ and said that she wanted to take Jezebel's stripper pole and beat her upside the head with it. (I emailed Sarah offline to suggest that she use Jezebel's shoes instead -- the pole is cemented to the stage and can't be removed, whereas the shoes are portable and pointy, so they're the perfect weapon. She got a kick out of that.) The thing was, Sarah really liked the writing, and she said so; there were just some things that the heroine did that really, really, REALLY didn't work for Sarah.

And that's what it all comes down to: reviews are always subjective. Take them with a grain of salt, and try to laugh if you can.

And meanwhile, there's always chocolate.

smlgr8 · Dec 7, 2009

I know bad reviews can smart.

That being said, I'm still not sure why anyone cares what Mrs. Giggles says. Her reviews have never caused me to buy or not buy a single book. In fact, it's rare that any review does.

Back before I became published, as a reader I never even read reviews. I bought (and still do) books based on my own personal tastes.

Robin Bayne · Dec 7, 2009

Mrs Giggles gets her readership by being snarky as entertainment. ((HUGS))

JackieA · Dec 7, 2009

A bad review stinks, but some folk say 'any publicity is good publicity'. Perhaps readers of the review will actually pick up your book just to discover what she disliked about it so much.

Like others, until I read your post, I'd never heard of her, but if her reputation goes before her, then, as I say, any publicity can be good publicity.

That said, here's a big :Hug2:

for you

DeleyanLee · Dec 7, 2009

Hmmm, but I only will consider buying those books that Mrs. Giggles pans because she is adores all the things I hate in a book.

And I know I'm not alone in that means of using her as a review site, FWIW.

So take heart--getting panned by Mrs. G means that some people will actually look at your work that haven't previously.

Horseshoes · Dec 7, 2009

Her shoes are ridiculous. And if she comes at you or your characters with a trank gun, remember to use something a bit more up tempo in returning fire.

This is a moment that will give you a wry smile for the rest of your days. "Ah, yeah, that time I got a meh review and a good one, same book, same day." It happens.

But here's you hug
((Allie))
mwah.

Cathy C · Dec 7, 2009

Sorry Allie. But I have to laugh. At least she wanted to be kind to your heroine. You got a tranq dart. She wanted to push mine face first into a wood chipper! :roll:

Ya gotta roll with the punches with Mrs. G. She's tough, but she slaughters equally, whether debut or bestseller.

Jess Haines · Dec 7, 2009

Aw, hun, sorry to hear that.

But, you know, she's not the only reviewer out there. And, at the very least, it does get your name in front of a wider audience!

Chumplet · Dec 7, 2009

I'm terrified of Mrs. Giggles, but I have a feeling she's fair under all that snark. She can't like everything, and she's not everyreader. I totally empathize with you and congrats on the 4.5!

shameless · Dec 7, 2009

(((((hugs))))) :e2cookie:

I live in fear of Mrs. Giggles. Although, I think I'd even take a bad review. If a book appears on Giggles, Smart Bitches, or Dear Author, it gets bought -- even if the review is harsh.

Deb Kinnard · Dec 7, 2009

Sandy, I hope you're right about the publicity thing. All full of hubris and five-star reviews, I sent Jayne from Dear Author ANGEL WITH A RAY GUN and she...

Let's just say she didn't like it. She said why and all. Though I didn't care greatly for the experience, that's "one under the bridge" for me and I don't think I'll be so shock-and-awed next time.

I constantly pass on DNF books to my friends and family. You never know when someone's going to love a book that I couldn't tolerate past page 30. I've had it happen more times than I can count.

:Hug2:

anyway.

Stacia Kane · Dec 7, 2009

I'm pretty much dittoing RomanceWriter and Jackie here, in saying she may not have liked the story but she liked the writing.

The thing is, Mrs. G hardly ever likes the writing, at least not usually in books she didn't like. The fact that she thought your prose was sharp enough to mention is impressive, IMO.

I really like Mrs. Giggles, because she is fair and her reviews are never personal. I never get the feeling that she's giving a book a poor or meh review because she has some sort of grudge against the author.

That being said, it hurts when she doesn't like something, especially when she's liked your previous work. She's always liked my stuff and really enjoyed PERSONAL DEMONS. So I sent her DEMON INSIDE, because she really wanted it, and she didn't like it. Thought it was too dark and depressing. She said some nice things, too, and I think she gave it a 72 or something like that (the lowest score I'd ever gotten from her), but it still hurt; I think largely because I'd been sure she'd like it, and I was surprised she found it depressing.

But we lift our chins and move on, you know?

I'll send her more books, absolutely I will. Because I just plain like her reviews, and I like her as a person.

dolores haze · Dec 7, 2009

This might sound a little weird, but I think Giggles is a damn good writer. I love the way she expresses her love (or hate) of the books she reads. Snarky, for sure, but how many reviews has she written? You've gotta have a whole lotta love for the romance novel to stay that fresh and entertaining.

*another hug for Allie*

Susie · Dec 7, 2009

Gee, that bites, but here's a :Hug2:

or

s for you. And remember, that she must have felt it had something good that kept her reviewing it!

Oh, I Need a Hug...Mrs. Giggles Slaughtered Me

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