Having said that, it’s rare that I’m surprised these days. I’ve been writing for over twenty years, and successfully publishing for ten…there’s not too many plots out there that can catch me by surprise. If I can’t figure out whodunnit or what comes next before the author tells me, I know I’ve got a great new author (to me) on my hands, and I usually rush to get their back list and gobble it up.

But I try very hard to keep everyone else on their toes.

What does blow my mind, though, is the number of readers who request of me the last chapter of my books as their sample chapters. I provide a sample chapter upon request to any of my newsletter subscribers, for any of my published books, and it amazes me how many ask for the last chapter. That doesn’t even fall into the category of “spoiler”. It’s a whole different kettle of fish.

I read romance because I am assured of the HEA ending and in some circles that in itself would be considered a “spoiler.” For me a really good, well written book can’t be spoiled because I read things more than once, and I will often go back to my favorites again and again.

Sharon

And I am willing to conform for the most part to that norm because it doesn’t represent a significant sacrifice of my ability to talk critically about a book in a review (and in comments it’s much easier to tag a spoiler but still reference and discuss it, IMO).

I honestly didn’t expect the emergence of two distinct camps here, but it makes sense to me that a) what people read for, and b) how people view reviews would shape their views of spoilers.

I am definitely in the camp of those who read for the writing and the journey, so to speak, and can absolutely be surprised at plot points I actually knew about going in (maybe it’s a sever form of ADD; I don’t know). And while I tend not to re-read entire books, I do re-read book sections, and the re-read can trigger just as strong a reaction the tenth time as the first. This weekend, I was “talking” with Eric Selinger on Twitter about Kinsale’s Seize the Fire, and when I went back to the book to glance at a couple of passages, I was totally sucked in. I cried for the umpteenth time over Olympia’s goodbye letter to Sheridan, even though I practically know it by heart after so many re-reads.

As for whether reviews constitute critical discourse, I’m still on the side of “yes,” even though I understand why some people feel the opposite way. For me, even though I don’t style my own reviews on the NYTBR model, per se, I see my reviewing process as primarily analytical, an intellectual exercise in articulating what did and didn’t work for me in a book on multiple levels (including the emotional).

And I wish sometimes that I was writing more reviews long enough after a book’s publication that it could generate more discussion (I think it’s often in the comments where you see freer spoiler talk). Not that I *can’t* do that; but with my already limited time and the number of books I’m trying to read, it just doesn’t happen as often as I’d like.

Still, though, even though I’m perfectly aware of the fact that reviews can also have a promotional function, I do not see my reviews as promotional tools, but as reflective little essays that readers may use in making their own decision about whether or not to read a book. In other words, I see the reviewing process as having multiple priorities, not all of which are mine.

Ultimately, though, because so many readers don’t want to be spoiled, I don’t see it as a significant sacrifice to do what I can to try not to spoil a book. Of course whether some readers till may feel spoiled is something I probably will never be able to remedy perfectly. I figure those readers just won’t read my reviews, and that’s fine.

What she said! I think a review should give an overview of what to expect (especially useful if the cover or blurb are misleading. Oh, right, that never happens.) And the reviewers reaction, as well as some general feelings about things done really well or things done really poorly. Please leave the book to be read by the reader.

That being said, labeled spoilers are cool. I can choose to avoid or indulge as it suits my mood.

But reviews that spoil suck, and are unprofessional. No more info than the publisher/author have released into the wild, is my rule, and I don’t provide summaries – I use what they do. My review is about my assessment and reactions, and it’s not my job to provide a book report. Authors upset about spoiler reviews are entitled to their rage (though Hoffman was just ridiculous and childish.)

If a review absolutely must reveal the ending to make the point, then it *must* obscure that information in such a way that it can be avoided. Anything else is discourteous to authors and readers.