In basic terms, a book review is an assessment of a novel that may include criticism on various aspects of plot, character, setting, and style. Essentially, a book review is an opportunity for a reader to share their thoughts on a novel they’ve read.
We’re going to explore the reasons book reviews are invaluable for authors and readers, as well as discover some strategies for getting your own novel reviewed as an indie author…
IMPORTANT: It is unethical to pay for people to post reviews of your book, especially when they haven’t read it. Be aware of scams that claim to be providing a paid book review service, when they’re actually just running your book through AI software to generate a false review that could land you, as the author, in trouble with your audience and publishing platforms.
Why are book reviews so important for authors?
While there are plenty of sales-based gains for authors whose books receive positive reviews, such as increased visibility leading to increased sales, other reasons book reviews are important to authors include:
- Feedback that supports them to improve their writing – since constructive reviews that provide positive comments alongside suggestions for improvements will help (particularly newer) authors become even better at what they do!
- Copy that can be used in book descriptions – snippets from reviews are a fantastic addition to book descriptions because they inspire readers to pick up a book, and help to establish an element of credibility for authors.
How do book reviews benefit readers?
For those of us who aren’t speed-readers, reading a novel requires an (often significant!) investment of time. Therefore, checking a book’s reviews before reading it can help a potential reader decide if they’d enjoy investing time in that story, or not.
Additionally, books with lots of reviews tend to have enhanced visibility. This benefits readers by introducing them to books they may never have heard of before – potentially helping them discover their next favourite author!
Ways for indie authors to obtain book reviews:
1 – Build a trusted team of beta readers.
Reviews aren’t just provided post-publication… Receiving feedback from beta readers prior to completing your final round of edits will empower you to polish your manuscript until it sparkles. By improving your book to the best of your ability, with the support of professional editors and beta readers, you’re ensuring it can be enjoyed by as many readers as possible.
Please note, however, that not all feedback will be helpful to you; which is why it’s essential to choose beta readers who understand the genre within which you’re writing. In case you need support from an experienced beta reader, Horseshoe Books offers a beta reading service 🙂
2 – Offer Advance Reader Copies, or ARCs, of your book.
To support your book’s launch ahead of its publication date, invite a group of avid readers to review it. Anyone can be an advanced reader of your book, from friends and family to colleagues and popular book reviewers. Their reviews could then be utilised as part of your book’s marketing strategy, as long as you and/or your ARC reviewers make it clear they received a free copy of your book in exchange for an honest review.
Legitimate companies that require a fee (usually to cover admin costs) but could support you with distributing ARCs include:
Alternatively, here are three potential websites through which you might find ARC readers for free (though please be cautious when sharing your books with unregulated communities online):
3 – Reach out to book reviewers directly once your book has been published.
Sometimes, book reviewers are happy to be contacted directly with a request to review your book. You should be able to find details about whether or not a book reviewer is happy to be contacted via their website or social media pages. For instance, we know that author D.E. Kendall frequently posts book reviews – visit Dannika Reviews… to find out more. Please be prepared to provide the reviewer with a free copy of your book, though (which could be in eBook or print format).
Don’t forget! Remind the reviewer to add a note that they ‘received your book for free in exchange for their honest feedback’ when they post their review.
Did you know Horseshoe Books enjoys reviewing novels (for free), too? You can visit our Services page for more information 🙂
Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: This article does not contain affiliate links.
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