Imposter Syndrome: The Book Blogger’s Uninvited Plus-One

 

“Who am I to review this book?”
“Everyone else writes so eloquently—why would anyone read my blog?”
“I’m not even a ‘real’ critic…”

If you’ve ever muttered these thoughts while staring at a blinking cursor or drowning in a sea of unread ARCs, welcome to the club. Imposter syndrome loves to sneak into our cozy bookish corners, especially when our blogs start gaining traction or we find ourselves scrolling through feeds filled with polished prose and intimidatingly articulate reviewers.

So… What Is Imposter Syndrome?

It’s that nagging voice in your head that whispers, “You’re not good enough,” even when the evidence says otherwise. For book bloggers, it can show up like this:

• Second-guessing your opinions
• Feeling undeserving of review copies or collabs
• Comparing your writing to others and shrinking in the shadow
• Wondering if you’re “qualified” to critique anything at all

It’s a psychological gremlin that thrives in creative spaces—where there’s no rulebook, and validation can feel like chasing fog.

 

Why Book Bloggers Are Especially Vulnerable

Book blogging isn’t just about reviews—it’s about you. Your voice, your reactions, your emotional journey through the pages. That kind of vulnerability, shared publicly, can make you hyper-aware of every perceived flaw.

Now toss in the pressure of likes, retweets, literary gatekeeping, and the occasional snarky comment, and suddenly your passion project feels like a performance on a very judgmental stage.

 

How to Tame the Imposter Monster

 Reframe Your Role

You’re not auditioning to be the next J.K. Rowling. You’re a reader with a story to tell. Whether you’re dissecting Dostoevsky or fangirling over fantasy, your perspective matters.

 Celebrate Your Wins

Did an author thank you? Did a reader say your post helped them choose their next read? Screenshot it. Frame it. Tattoo it on your soul (okay, maybe not that last one—but you get the idea).

 Curate Your Feed

Follow voices that uplift and inspire you. Unfollow the ones that make you spiral. Your online space should feel like a book club, not a battlefield.

 Write Through the Fear

Perfection is a myth. Hit publish - share the messy thoughts. Your voice will grow stronger with every review, every ramble, every recommendation.

 Remember Why You Started

Was it the thrill of discovering hidden gems? The joy of connecting with fellow bookworms? The love of storytelling? Anchor yourself in that. That’s your compass.

 

 Final Chapter: You Belong Here

Imposter syndrome might never fully pack its bags—but it doesn’t get to write your story. Every time you hit “publish,” you’re proving it wrong.

You’re not an imposter. You’re a passionate reader, a thoughtful writer, and a vital part of the literary conversation.

So go ahead—review that book. Share your thoughts. Be gloriously, unapologetically you.

 

 

If imposter syndrome’s ever crept in, I’d love to hear from you in the comments. How did you deal with it? Any advice for others? Let’s support each other through it.

 

A Quiet Chapter: Why I Haven’t Posted Lately

 Hello, lovely readers,

 

 

It’s been a minute, hasn’t it? If you’ve been wondering where the book reviews went, the answer is simple: I’ve been reading… just not writing.

Sometimes life pulls you into stories that aren’t bound by pages—unexpected detours, cozy distractions, and a few plot twists of the everyday kind. I’ve had my nose in books, yes, but also in moments that needed my full attention.

And if I’m being honest, imposter syndrome snuck in somewhere along the way. That little voice whispering, “Who are you to review this?” or “Is anyone even reading?” It’s a sneaky thing, that doubt. But I’m learning to quiet it—not with perfection, but with persistence. Because loving books and sharing that love is reason enough. I've put my thoughts together on this feeling and I'd love to hear from you if this is something that you've been through - whether this is as a reviewer or an author. Please share your thoughts and experiences on this with me as I'd love to know that I'm not alone!

I didn’t mean to go silent. I just needed a pause. And while I wasn’t posting, I was still collecting thoughts, scribbling notes, and mentally drafting reviews I can’t wait to share. From psychological thrillers that messed with my head to rom-coms that warmed my heart, the stack is ready—and so am I.

Also, while I've been away, I've been reflecting on my time as a book blogger and I'll be starting a little series called Confessions of a book blogger - where I'm hoping to give you all a little peek inside my head and hopefully get you all to share your thoughts on different aspects of the book blogging world as well. 

So here’s to turning the page. I’m back, and I’ve got stories to tell.

Thanks for sticking around 💛

The Best Friend - Susanna Beard

 

It's been a while since I've posted a review and I'm thrilled to be back with a review of The Best Friend by Susanna Beard which I thought was an enjoyable read!

Alice and her boyfriend Jason live together, they have a happy life and things are ticking along nicely for them until Jason's childhood friend, Carl, unexpectedly arrives on their doorstep one night. Trouble has always followed Carl and this time around he's found himself in a real bind and he says he desperately needs Jason's help. When Alice finds out about Carl's situation she begs Jason not to get involved and is horrified to find out that it's too late, they already are and the outcome could be horrifying.

This is a book with short, snappy chapters, the type that has you thinking "just one more chapter before I switch off the light" The story races along at a great pace and although I enjoyed it, there were times when I could have quite happily banged Alice and Jason's heads together. Their decisions were so poor and they just came across as being unbelievably weak at times. That said, I still enjoyed the book as it was well constructed and flowed well. This was my first outing with Susanna Beard and I'll be interested to read her other books as I've heard lots of good things about them.

With Kind thanks to Jill at Books 'n' All Promotions and Joffee Books for my review copy.

 

Blog Tour - A Womb With A View - Mark Tilbury

 

I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of MarkTilbury's new book, A Womb With A View and I was intrigued when I heard that he was veering away from his signature twisted genre and venturing into comic crime fiction.

Private investigator Bob Blundell has been called to Featherstone Manor by Claudia, the lady of the manor, as she suspects that her husband, Eugene, is having an affair. Despite her best efforts to give Bob a cover story for being at the manor, her teenage nephew, Reuben, has his suspicions about the new arrival and as a wannabe spy he begins his own covert mission,

With an eclectic cast of characters, this is a tale of a dysfunctional family riddled with secrets and lies that had me chuckling away to myself on numerous occasions. Reuben's antics and view of the world from a teenage perspective were what made this book for me. He's walking the line of adolescence, on the one hand totally unaware of the repercussions his actions are having and on the other having a typical teenage outlook on any adult reasoning.

I'm always nervous for an author when they take off into a new genre but I'm pleased to say that my fears were left unfounded as Mark Tilbury has pulled this new style off with aplomb. The writing is of the usual high quality calibre, the plot and cleverly intertwined subplots rattle along nicely and the humour is absolutely spot on - but I will always give a lobster a questioning look from now on!

A Womb With A View is another truimphant read from this author and one that I would very highly recommend!

You can  follow the rest of the tour with these great blogs:

With kind thanks as always to author Mark Tilbury for my review copy.

Blog Tour - The Mensch - Leopold Borstinski

 

 

Alex Cohen has always been a man of integrity, honour and noble character, or Mensch, despite being a gangster, so what a fitting title for the final novel in this exceptional series.

Throughout his career Alex has rubbed shoulders with many well known historical figures from Fidel Castro to Frank Sinatra, but he knows that his career is coming to a close and he has several loose ends that require tying up. As he grows older he knows that he no longer instills fear in people like he used to and he's also aware that the FBI are still sniffing around, so severing ties and making businesses legitimate are very high on his list of things to do - but will he manage to get everything done in time?

The Mensch is another cleverly written book which has actual events weaving through it's pages, making it a compelling read. I've learned a lot about the history of organised crime and I'll now be seeking outother books on this subject - well everyday is a school day isn't it?

I've absolutely loved this series right from the get go. Alex is a bad guy but with a heart of gold and it's for that reason that I always find myself liking him more and more. I'm sorry to have to say goodbye to him but I'm happy I wasn't left with a feeling of having unfinished business, as the author deftly pulled everything together for a very satisfying conclusion and even threw in a few unexpected twists along the way.

I honestly can't recommend this whole series enough. If you enjoy historical fiction, crime novels or just have an interest in gangsters, then this fabulous series could be just what you're looking for.

You can follow the rest of the tour with these great blogs:

 With kind thanks to Zoe at Zooloo's Book Tours for my stop on the tour and author Leopold Borstinksi for my review copy.

 

The Maids of Biddenden - GD Harper

 

I always enjoy reading historical fiction and even more so if it's inspired by real life so when I heard about The Maids of Biddenden I instantly knew it was a book that I wanted to read and I'm so pleased that I did. This book is stunning!

The Maids of Biddenden were twins Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst who were born into a wealthy Kent family in 1100, but they were no ordinary twins as they were conjoined. Said to have been joined at the shoulder and the hip, back in these times  their existence simultaneously horrified and amazed the common person and they were often thought to have been seen as a sign of the devil or an evil omen sent to expose some sin or even witchcraft in the local community. Needless to say that life wasn't easy for them right from the start but the girls soldier on and soon they find that they arer no longer just surviving, they are positively thriving!

I fell in love with Mary and Eliza right off the bat. Meeting them when they were just 6 years old and hidden away from sight being cared for by the local nuns, it was clear that despite their unfortunate condition, they both had their own individual personalities. They think that everyone is born like them and that one day they will go through a 'splitting' after which they will each be able to live their lives independently. The day that they realise that this procedure is never going to happen and that they are different was so exquisitely written it actually broke my heart to read it.

This is one of the best fiction based on fact novels I've ever read. GD Harper has managed to perfectly blend local legend and his imagination together in such a seamless fashion that doesn't feel in any way cumbersome to read. We have no way of knowing their real story but I'd love to think that their lives played out as told in this book. The sisters were an inspirational pair who showed courage, strength and tenacity. They overcame adversity and wanted to give back to their community and if the local folklore is to be believed, they founded a charity and to this day Biddenden cakes are given out and can also be purchased as souvenirs. The authors notes at the end of the book were particularly fascinating and they added to my overall enjoyment of the book, which then lead me to our favouorite search engine to seewhat else I could discover.

If historical fiction is your thing - actually no, forget that,  not just historcial fictions fans - I think The Maids of Biddenden has a universal appeal for anyone who appreciates a great book and loves to lose themself in a fantastic story!

                                             

                                                About the author

Photo courtesy of GD Harper

I now live in East Sussex, not far from Biddenden in Kent, which is the setting for my latest novel, The Maids of Biddenden, set in the 12th century. My next novel is also historical fiction, set in Kent in the 16th century.

I became a full-time author in 2016. My writing was placed third in the Lightship Prize for first-time authors and has won a 2016 Wishing Shelf Award Red Ribbon, been shortlisted for the 2021 Impress Prize, longlisted for the 2017 UK Novel Writing Competition, the Wishing Shelf 2018 awards, the 2020 Page Turner Writer Award, the 2021 Flash 500 Award, the 2021 Impress Prize and the 2021 Exeter Novel Prize.

You can find out more about GD Harper, his books and connect with his using the links below:

Website
Amazon
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

With kind thanks to author GD Harper for my review copy.