Do Authors Overhype Their Own Books?

Today, I want to explore a topic I’ve been thinking about for a while ever since I saw the discourse on social media: Is it possible for authors to overhype their own books? Some people think so, but I’m here to argue that if an author isn’t lying or being deceitful, then no, it’s not possible. In fact, I think authors should be their books’ biggest cheerleaders. Let me break it down.

What Is Overhyping?

Some people say that too much self-promotion can set the bar too high, making readers expect a mind-blowing experience every time. And if the book doesn’t quite hit that mark, readers might feel let down. They worry that too much hype can backfire, making the author seem like they’re all talk and no substance. Plus, there’s this old-school idea that a good book should sell itself without needing all that razzle-dazzle.

So what exactly is overhyping?

It’s promising something that doesn’t deliver.

So long as you’re not lying about the contents of the book or what other people are saying about it, then just saying what it’s about isn’t overhyping. So long as you’re not promising things that flat-out aren’t true.

Overhyping By Lying

I’ve seen an author promoting their book as ‘too hot for Goodreads’ which doesn’t make any sense at all, because the book is well-received on Goodreads. It’s not banned. It has more positive reviews than negative ones. Maybe some reviewers said that the book has too much smut in it, but that’s normal these days. Authors are writing erotica and selling it as smut or romance, laying on the sex too much and forgoing plot and character development. When I looked at the reviews for this book, I didn’t see any that said the book was too much, too over the top, too this or that. It certainly isn’t ‘too hot for Goodreads’.

So long as an author isn’t promising things in the book that don’t actually happen, in which case it’s false advertising, not overhype.

Take Lightlark for example. Alex Aster promised readers that the book was ‘enemies to lovers so hot they hook up against a bookcase’. That was what sold the book for me. I wanted to see the enemies hook up against a book case.

Not only was there no bookcase hookup scene, there was also no enemies to lovers. The couple that ended up being lovers were never enemies, and the couple that you think are enemies are never lovers.

Authors shouldn’t be lying to their readers about the contents of their books.

BUT IS IT POSSIBLE FOR AN AUTHOR TO ‘OVERHYPE’ THEIR OWN BOOK while speaking the truth?

Authors absolutely need to be shouting about their book from the rooftops in today’s crowded book market. By hyping up their own book, they control the story around it. The author gets to highlight what makes it awesome and why readers should pick it up. It’s their chance to share what they love most about their story. When they’re excited about their book, it shows. Readers can feel that passion, and it makes them excited too. Genuine enthusiasm is contagious and can turn curious browsers into loyal fans.

However, if they’re being truthful about the contents, then it’s not possible to ‘overhype’. Authors who talk about the tropes, the inciting incident, and a couple of interesting scenes they think will hook a reader isn’t overhyping, even if they make a lot of posts about it. Authors saying their book is the best thing ever and it’s so amazing and you’ll definitely have the best reading experience of your life: that’s overhyping, because they can’t guarantee that experience. What they can guarantee is the contents of your book.

So don’t promise something that isn’t in the book.

Every day, new books flood the market. If you’re not out there hyping up your book, it will get lost in the shuffle. Promotion helps your book stand out and get noticed.

The Bottom Line

So, can authors overhype their own books? I say if they’re being truthful about the contents, then no. In today’s world, authors have to be their own biggest fans. Hyping up your book isn’t just okay—it’s essential. It helps your book find its audience, build your brand, and keep your writing career thriving. After all, if you’re not excited about the book, who will be?

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