How to Write an ARC Review Without Spoilers (And Still Say Something Useful)

You finished the book. You have feelings. Big ones. Maybe you ugly cried at chapter 22, maybe the villain twist made you throw your Kindle, maybe the hero's grovel had you reading the same page three times.

And now you have to write a review without ruining any of that for someone else.

Here's the good news: writing a spoiler-free ARC review is a skill, and it's a lot easier than it sounds once you know what to focus on.

What an ARC Review Actually Needs to Do

Before we get into the how, it helps to understand the why. An ARC review has one job: help future readers decide if this book is for them.

That means you don't need to recap the plot. You don't need to analyze the author's literary technique. You don't need to write an essay. You just need to give someone enough information to decide whether to one-click it on release day.

With that in mind, here's what actually belongs in a review.

1. Start With Your Overall Impression

One or two sentences about how the book made you feel. This sets the tone for everything else and gives readers an immediate sense of whether your tastes align with theirs.

Examples:

• "This one wrecked me in the best possible way — I finished it in a single sitting and immediately wanted to reread it."
• "A slow burn that actually paid off. The wait was completely worth it."
• "Lighter than I expected but in a really fun way — perfect if you want something swoony without the angst."

You haven't spoiled a single thing. You've already told the reader a lot.

2. Talk About the Tropes and Vibes, Not the Plot

This is the key to spoiler-free reviewing. Tropes are not spoilers. The emotional experience of reading the book is not a spoiler. The atmosphere and pacing are not spoilers.

Safe to mention:

• Which tropes delivered (and which didn't, if any)
• The heat level and whether it matched your expectations
• The pacing — slow burn, fast burn, action-heavy, dialogue-heavy
• The emotional tone — angsty, funny, cozy, dark, chaotic
• The chemistry between the main characters
• Whether the side characters added to the story
• The setting and whether it felt immersive

What to avoid:

• Specific plot events ("when X happens in the third act...")
• Character reveals or twists
• How the conflict resolves
• Anything that happens after the midpoint of the book

3. Use Comp Vibes, Not Plot Summaries

Instead of explaining what happens, compare the feeling of the book to something readers might already know.

Examples:

• "If you loved the slow burn tension of [author]'s work, you'll feel right at home here."
• "It has the same chaotic energy as a classic rom-com but with way more spice."
• "Reminded me of cozy romantasy with a darker edge — think soft magic system but emotionally devastating."

You're giving readers a reference point without giving anything away.

4. Be Specific About What Worked (and What Didn't)

Vague reviews aren't very useful to anyone. "I loved it!" tells a potential reader almost nothing. Specific observations — even short ones — are much more helpful.

Vague: "The characters were great." Specific: "The banter between the leads felt completely natural — I believed their chemistry from the first scene."

Vague: "The ending was good." Specific: "The grovel was everything I needed. No notes."

Vague: "I had a few issues with the pacing." Specific: "The middle section slowed down a little for me, but the final act more than made up for it."

None of these spoil anything. All of them are genuinely useful.

5. End With Who You'd Recommend It To

This is the most practical thing you can put in a review and the most often skipped. Tell readers exactly who should pick this book up.

Examples:

• "If you love morally grey MMCs who grovel spectacularly, this is your book."
• "Perfect for readers who want spice with actual plot — this one delivers both."
• "Ideal for anyone who's been burned by slow burns that don't pay off. This one does."

A Simple Template to Get You Started

If you're staring at a blank review box and don't know where to begin, use this:

Opening: One sentence on your overall reaction.

Middle: 2-3 sentences on what worked — tropes, chemistry, pacing, atmosphere. One sentence on anything that didn't land for you (optional but useful).

Close: One sentence on who you'd recommend it to.

That's it. Four to five sentences minimum and you have a review that's genuinely helpful, completely spoiler-free, and takes less than ten minutes to write.

Where to Post Your ARC Review

Most authors will ask you to post on Amazon and Goodreads on or close to release day — check your ARC agreement for the specific timeline. Some also appreciate posts on BookTok, Bookstagram, or Threads, especially if you tag them.

A review doesn't need to be long to be valuable. A genuine three-sentence review posted on release day does more for an indie author than a detailed essay posted six months later.