At least it seems that way. I mislike how critical reviews are getting attacked these days. Here's a couple of examples.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/yourstore/home?ie=UTF8&ref_=topnav_ys

http://www.amazon.com/Shades-Gray-Novel-Civil-Virginia/product-reviews/0979600006/ref=cm_rdphist_1?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&filterBy=addOneStar

And of course one of the recent best, just follow the comments on Barb's one star review of Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander. Friends shouldn't let friends.......

Since I've been burned by too many hyped, award-winning books (hello, Willocks' The Religion!), I'd approach any book that was 1) hyped and/or 2) award-winning with appropriate expectations of being underwhelmed. :P

Wow, I read through the comments to the one star review of "Tears of Pearl".  Can anyone say "crazy"?  These people are taking a negative review a bit too seriously; is someone not allowed to dislike a book? 

Jerry Rhoades, in particular, is a nice guy......"You seem upset that Tasha has more friends that you do"......And then if you keep reading, turns out all these nasty people are friends of the author.  Really?!  Is that how we try to sell books?  Seriously, as you say, friends shouldn't let friends....

Jerry Rhoades attacked Barb's review at Goodreads as well (he was quite nasty, but its since been deleted), as well as two people who had *sock* accounts there. They don't help themselves at all, do they?