well, i think i have to jump back in again here. as a BIG time reader and sometime reviewer, and ardent member of several Fan Clubs of authors,(not looking at Anyone in Particular of course) i will just say this. i quite often read the reviews for a story before i read it if i havent read any of that persons work before. if any of the reviews are from people i have come to recognise as others who have similar tastes to me, and who seem to appreciate the same level of writing as me, then i tend to take their reviews very seriously. if i see reviews by some whom i have little respect or affinity for, then i totally disregard them. i usually try to write a review to the author, while giving other readers some idea of why i like or dislike the story.
i will add, that if i feel like reading a story and cant be bothered scrolling to look for myself, i will go to the reviewers list and choose someone i trust and see what they have been reading lately, and try some of those.
*steps back, takes her seat, and listens once more*