Alle responds to: "A three-star Amazon rating with no review."

Is my book doomed?

My book launched last week. Someone on Amazon posted a 3-star rating with no review. Has all my hard work been for naught?

I posted the same message two years ago, with one difference: a one-star review. It read:

I loved this book so much and so believed it that I was so disappointed when I found out that it was not a memoir.

My initial—and somewhat enduring—thought was, “The cover states: A Novel. Don’t blame me that you can’t friggin’ read.”

I have (mostly) let that one go, in favor of absorbing the good advice I received.

Good and bad reviews come and go. It's a good idea to post in support of your book, hopefully to receive good reviews and star-rating to bring up your ratings, so don't quit doing that.

Just: don't worry. Work harder!

A book increases its readership in proportion to the amount of smartly-chosen, sometimes-lucky, and therefore effective promotions that you undertake.

On the emotional front, ongoing promotion is something that I can DO, rather than wasting my energy (as I will) into stressing out about a review that I cannot change.

So, fuck' em and get to work!