So uuuuuugh.

I got my first less-than-stellar review.

It’s bound to happen, and I know that. Even JK Rowling and Stephen King have one-star reviews and people who consider them highly overrated.

And really, this one wasn’t bad bad. It was actually very well thought-out, and the reviewer went so far as to say that she loved the first 3/4 of the book. What turned it for her was the ending. To her credit, she didn’t spoil the ending other than to say she didn’t like the way it resolved.

So all in all, she really liked the book until the ending – an ending that I took a huge chance on because it isn’t your typical linear romance-novel ending at all. There are bound to be people who aren’t okay with that sort of deviation, and I get that. Bottom line, she had some thoughtful insight, and I get where she’s coming from, even if I don’t entirely agree with all of it. And she liked it, mostly. I’ll take my lumps on that one and call it a 3/4 win.

You can’t make everyone happy as an artist. I have an author friend who had very positive reviews on her debut novel, but a few bad reviews hit the radar, of course. One guy went so far as to create an entire YouTube video dedicated to trashing her book! Yeesh! But she landed a TV deal off her second book and she’s smiling and waving all the way to the bank.

So far, I’ve had a couple of dozen reviews – all good, and one 3/4 good. For a debut author in a very competitive genre (and these are reviews off the galley copy), that’s not too shabby. I stand by my work because I love the story, I love these characters, and I know I’m not alone in that. I also know that won’t be my last less-than-stellar review.

Live and learn, and keep on writing.