When I opened my first restaurant, the first one star review killed me. We were at a perfect 5.0 for the first 50 reviews (heavily skewed by friends and family of course). Then we got a 1 star and it was because we refused to break the law and let someone enter after 2am. That’s life, and it was a valuable lesson for me. It’s the aggregate that matters and you have to let the specific roll off your back.

For all you know, that 2 star rating was for a different book and the reviewer was drunk. Let it roll off.

Here’s the question though - what’s the right forum for giving honest critical feedback? I don’t think such a forum exists outside of your closest colleagues or friends and even then, it better be sandwiched between 7 layers of compliments. If you like your own writing, that’s the important thing.