Can we really trust reviews?

Reviews: it’s what writers and publishers alike both love and dread. A good review can brighten anyone’s day, as it validates all the effort that’s been put into the work and rewards the faith that the publisher had in the writer’s talent. It can also lead to more sales, which is always something to be welcomed. But even a bad review can be useful, if it’s well-written and closely reasoned – letting an author know where they’re going wrong is just as valuable as praising what they got right.

Can we really trust reviews?