10 Reader Review Phrases That Might Mean Formatting Is Failing You

You finally hit publish on your romance novel. You’ve poured your heart into every chapter, your characters are unforgettable, and the plot hits all the right emotional beats. But then... the reviews start trickling in. They don’t mention typos. They don’t critique your story. And yet... there’s a lingering sense that something just didn’t click with your readers.

It might not be your story—it might be your formatting.

Professional formatting makes your book feel polished, immersive, and effortless to read. Poor formatting, on the other hand, can be a silent deal-breaker—dragging down your ratings and pushing readers away, even if they loved your characters.

Not sure if formatting is the issue? Look for these 10 subtle phrases in your reviews. They’re often code for “something was off,” and formatting is often the culprit.

1. “Hard to follow”

This often signals layout issues: broken paragraph spacing, bad scene breaks, or no clear transitions between character Point of View (POV)s. It’s especially important in romance, where emotional flow is everything.

2. “I kept losing my place”

This usually points to inconsistent indentation, missing section breaks, or poor eBook re-flow formatting. This can make it difficult for readers to track where they are, especially on a phone or Kindle.

3. “Felt amateurish”

Ouch. If readers say this but don't call out the plot or characters, it’s likely due to visual presentation. Pay attention to fonts, margins, alignment, or inconsistencies that scream “self-published without polish.”

4. “Looked weird on my Kindle”

Translation: your eBook file wasn’t properly formatted or previewed before publishing. This can include hard page breaks, floating headers, or image alignment problems.

5. “Just didn’t feel smooth”

An intangible but common complaint. This usually reflects uneven formatting rhythm. Look for chapter headers that don’t stand out, strange spacing, or a lack of visual hierarchy.

6. “Confusing when the POV changed”

In romance, especially dual POVs, clean formatting between scenes or narrators is essential. If your book lacks proper scene break symbols or spacing, readers might not realize the perspective has shifted.

7. “It took me a while to get into it”

This phrase often hints that your book’s opening pages weren't visually inviting. Poor font choices, cramped spacing, or an overwhelming wall of text can all be responsible.

8. “The story was great, but something was missing”

This vague statement might signal formatting that failed to match the emotional tone. Romance formatting should enhance the mood, not distract from it.

9. “It looked like a draft”

If readers say this without referencing your actual writing, your document might have inconsistent headings, ragged spacing, or the feel of an unedited manuscript.

10. “Not as polished as other indie books I’ve read”

This points directly to design quality. This is especially true if you’re being compared unfavorably to other self-published authors. The truth is, formatting is a big part of that “polished” feel.

🛠️ What to Do If You See These Phrases in Your Reviews

Don’t panic. You don’t ignore it either.

Even the best stories can lose readers if the formatting gets in the way. The good news? Formatting is fixable. It is often faster and cheaper to correct than a rewrite.

We are developing a course to help. If you're not sure where to start, our free mini-course: Formatting Mistakes That Will Ruin Your Romance Book (And How to Fix Them) may help. We’ll walk you through the common pitfalls, show examples of good formatting in action, and help you decide if it’s time to DIY or call in a pro. The good news is... we have you there also.

💌 Want personal feedback on your book's formatting?

After the free course, we are developing a more detailed course -

Formatting Mastery Course. The course will provide full checklists for you, hands-on lessons, and a personalized formatting review from a trained expert.

Because your story deserves to shine—from the first glance to the final kiss.

Have you ever read a book that looked wrong, even if the story was great? Let me know in the comments—or tag me on Instagram @brandystoker.author with your thoughts.

Whether you're polishing your next romance novel or devouring your latest book crush, I hope this post gave you something to think about.

If you're a romance writer ready to grow, check out my free mini-course or sign up for writing tips. If you're here as a reader, don’t miss my latest release, Escape from Media — full of heart, heat, and hope.

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