Information in this section presents: 1) a number of providers of book review services for independent books, and 2) excerpts of language from their websites, with links to the full websites indicated. Wordsmith Associates has limited working familiarity with these providers, so we do not offer opinions or attest to the accuracy of information or to the effectiveness of any review-related actions. (BTW: We have found that one of the best ways to gauge various publishing services is actually to engage with authors & publishers who have used them.) Feel free to share your experiences or to offer other provider suggestions on the Contact Us form. [Updated 01/18/2018]
Bestseller’s World
We try to accommodate requests for a free review. Due to the large amount of requests we receive, however, this has become almost impossible. Therefore, we must limit the amount of free reviews we do. There is no guarantee your book will be reviewed. Your title will be added to a list for reviewers. If it is not chosen within 30 days, it will be removed from the list and donated to a charity.
Books for a free review may be sent to: (Please include your contact information and email address).
Nancy Eaton
P.O. Box 765
Browns Mills, NJ 08015
With an Express Review you are guaranteed a review.
EXPRESS REVIEW PACKAGE A – You pay a fee of $110. The fee must be received before the book will be reviewed. Within two weeks, your book review will be provided for you. It will appear on Bestsellersworld.com and remain as long as Bestsellersworld.com is active. It will only be removed upon your request.
- Your book cover will be featured on the Featured Books page of Bestsellersworld.com for seven days starting on the day the review is posted on the website.
- Your book cover will appear on the main page of Bestsellersworld.com for seven days starting on the day the review is posted on the website. The book cover will be listed under the “featured books” category.
- Your book cover and “blurb” will also appear in the book news section of the website.
- The book cover and a short “blurb” will also appear in our newsletter and will be posted on Bestsellersworld.com.
- Your review will also be posted on ezinearticles.com which has 20,000+visitors per day.
- Your book cover and a link to your review will also be included on Bestsellersworld.com’s Facebook page.
- We will also send a Tweet regarding your book review.
Other EXPRESS REVIEW PACKAGES provide additional services for additional fees.
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Book List (American Library Association)
Book List will review books on a complimentary basis but requests that submissions be made at least 15 months before publication.
Book List partners with BlueInk for sponsored reviews.
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BlueInk
Book List reaches more than 60,000 librarians. It is one of the most highly respected review publications in the country.
BlueInk considers for review in Book List any book that has been published at least in part through the efforts and payments of its author (commonly called a “self-published” or “independently published” book). Even if your publisher pays you royalties, if you financed the publication in some way, including, for example, by committing to purchase a quantity of books, your book would qualify for a review. We review ebooks, on-demand books, printed books in any format, English translations and English-language submissions from outside the United States, as well as galleys.
Options:
Standard Review (7-9 weeks): $395
Fast Track Review (4-5 weeks): $495
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Kirkus
Our Indie program curates the self-published segment of the industry to help consumers and industry influencers discover books they may otherwise never find. About 250-300 words, our reviews include summary to give our readers context, along with a concise, unbiased opinion that can be positive, negative, or, most likely, mixed. Each Kirkus review gives both a general sense of a book’s worth and specific information about its strengths and weaknesses. No matter the outcome, you will have the option of keeping the review private and simply using the assessment as feedback to improve your craft. Otherwise, you can publish the review and use it to market your book to consumers or to try to catch the attention of a literary agent or publisher.
Traditional Review (7-9 weeks) – $425
Expedited Review (4-6 weeks) – $575
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Portland Book Review
The mission of Portland Book Review (PBR) is to connect people through their love of books, the city of Portland, and the Pacific Northwest. PBR is produced by Smyth Enterprises, LLC located in Portland, Oregon.
Sponsored Book Review Program
This is a service that allows authors and publishers to receive professional and honest review of the book with a guaranteed review on the website. You will also be able to use the review in your own marketing efforts with credit given to Portland Book Review. Our reviewers provide their unbiased opinion, and participation in our Sponsored Review Program does not guarantee a favorable review. Reviews are the opinion of the independent reviewer only and do not reflect the general opinion of Portland Book Review.
Book Review:
Standard Turnaround (6-10 weeks) – $100
Expedited Turnaround (3-4 weeks) – $175
Book Review plus Interview:
Standard Turnaround + Interview (6-10 weeks) – $250
Expedited Turnaround + Interview (3-4 weeks) – $350
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Publishers Weekly
BookLife is Publishers Weekly division for working with authors and independent publishers. By submitting your book through BookLife to Publishers Weekly for review, it means your book will be judged by professional standards, the same standards Publishers Weekly applies to books submitted by traditional trade publishers. This means your book must be ready for a wide, general-interest readership that expects cleanly written, well-edited, and engaging books.
PW review consideration is free. You do not have to pay anything to submit your book for review consideration. There is no cost associated with submitting your book, or any aspect of the reviewing process should your book be chosen for review. Only a small percentage of books submitted will be reviewed – we receive over a thousand books a month from self- and trade publishers; unfortunately, we can’t cover them all.
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Reader’s Favorite
Most of what we do is provide free book reviews to authors. In fact, we provide hundreds and even thousands of free reviews each month to authors from all over the world, from independent authors to best sellers and celebrities. However, even with over 1,000 reviewers we are not able to keep up with the ever-increasing demand for free reviews.
Although we cannot guarantee that all books will receive a review, more than half of the books submitted for a free review will receive one within three (3) months. Some books are reviewed in less than a week while others are never selected for review. As a company, we play no part in the time it takes for a book to receive a review because we do not assign books to reviewers; they select them from a detailed list. Reviewers search through the genres they are interested in, read your description, look at your cover, and can even read a portion of your book to ensure it is something they are interested in reading. We designed this process to mimic that of a bookstore to ensure you get a reader who represents your core audience.
If you are interested in a guaranteed review, getting your review back more quickly or would like multiple reviews of your book, please look at our Express and Express Package options. Although many review companies charge hundreds of dollars for a single expedited review, our Express Reviews start at just $59 and include a Mini-Critique and free advertising. At Readers’ Favorite, we are trying our best to give authors more bang for their buck.
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