Reviews are not for you.
I revisit this topic periodically because I continue to see writers becoming upset about reviews. And I always say the same thing: ignore reviews. They are not for you.
Reviews are for readers to tell other readers whether they think something is worth reading. That’s it. They have no other function. They aren’t a critique of the author’s work, suitable for consideration when writing new books. They aren’t a method of communication between the reader and the writer. They are not for you.
I’m not saying reviews are useless, but they are. Especially if a reader uses a review to trash a writer personally, or otherwise tries to use it as a way to teach the writer a “lesson” about disappointing them. “Make me mad, will you? I will ruin your day!”
Reviewers are suitable for readers; that’s all I’m saying. For writers? Not so much. Don’t fret them. Hell, don’t even read them. I haven’t read a review in over a decade, and I don’t feel any need to change that. I don’t care about my star ratings; none of that matters. I’m comfortable with my work and my sales. I don’t need an ego boost or the opposite of that. If people dislike my writing, it’s not like there aren’t a million other people out there willing to take their money.
I knew an author who’d blow a gasket over even a mediocre review. Don’t be that guy. Life is too short to waste.