So far, I have avoided writing about books by people I know well. It is hard to be objective when you know the person, and if one says nothing negative, readers are likely to assume that the review is a puff piece. I think that providing information about what is actually in the book, though, and what it does well, can help readers decide whether the book is likely to interest them. The least helpful reviews, in my opinion, are gushy ones that tell you more about the reviewer's enthusiasms than about the book itself.
Susan
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