Getting a book reviewed?

Stevewritesbooks · Apr 23, 2013

Is there a decent list of websites that do book reviews around these parts? Sniffing around the web hasn't lead me to anything that seems particularly useful yet.

I'm hoping to start following a few good sites now, before I need to try to actually get reviews for a book.

EDIT: After continuing to hunt, I found this site, which contains a few ideas. [link]. It's a great place to start, but I'm still intrested in hearing from community members here about review sites and such that they personally reccomend or do not reccomend and what not.

sarahdalton · Apr 23, 2013

You could start here: http://bookbloggerdirectory.wordpress.com/

I'm not sure how up to date it is and you'll have to have a search through, but it's a good place to start.

Michael Davis · Apr 23, 2013

Vary your search parameters. Each year I re-search and find more review sites/blogs. Try "book review list directory"

Also, the review world has changed since my first novel was released. In 2007 I received 7 four and five star reviews on first novel. Now I still get 5 stars but lucky to get 1. I contacted a few of the sites and they shared that because of the economy (reviewers having to go back to work for survival) and the surge of releases from SP authors, their backlog/rejection rate has increased 2/3ths. Getting mighty rough out there.

Rjo · Apr 23, 2013

sites that don't charge?

Thanks for the links. I too am interested in review sites, especially those that don't charge you a fee upfront before they read (or claim to read) your book.

haunted · Apr 23, 2013

reviews on Smashwords?

This is a bit off topic, and I apologize, but your thread came up on my search of "reviews" and i'm hoping you might know the answer.

I have a question about reviews on Smashwords--I just published there, and got one review a few days ago. They sent an email letting me know about it. Now today, I got another email saying i got a review. But I can't find it when I go there?

Do they usually send out more than one email about a single review? Or does it take awhile for the newest review to show up? Or am I not going to where they can be seen! LOL Thanks for your help!

Rjo · Apr 23, 2013

Smash reviews

Damn! Why didn't I go with Smashwords instead of CreateSpace (who doesn't do reviews).
Sorry I can't help with your question, however.

veinglory · Apr 23, 2013

You can do both. And both allow customer reviews.

haunted · Apr 23, 2013

Yeah-Emily you took the words out of my mouth. Both allow reviews.

AgathaChristieFan · Apr 25, 2013

Hey SteveWritesBooks,

If you're a self-published author, then The Indie View website would be a good place to subscribe. It shows the bloggers who will do book reviews for self-published books. It also shows what genres they prefer and a link to their contact page.

Celeste Carrara · Apr 25, 2013

For me it has been really hard finding blog reviewers that are able to take on a new book. They all seem to have too many to read & aren't taking any more on.

I have recently signed up on Library Thing & am an "Library Thing Author" and have offered 25 free copies of my first book, for their member giveaways page, for read & review. After contacting the winners, only 14 responded with which format they needed and I'm hoping at least half will actually post a review.

You could also try a giveaway on Goodreads. But, you need a print copy of the book and it has to already be listed on Goodreads. (it's simple to do if it's not there already) No gaurantee the winners will do the review, but it's worth a shot.

Also, on Goodreads there are groups where you could join and offer your book for free in exchange for a review to people who read your genre. That is how I got most, if not all of my reviews.

AgathaChristieFan · Apr 26, 2013

Hey Celeste,

Yeah I guess that's true about most bloggers being too busy to do a book review. Or having waiting lists for few months.

I looked at Library Thing, but I noticed people had to pay after having so many books on there, so I decided against it. I guess I'm a cheapskate. But if it's a good way to get book reviews, then I should look into it again. It could be worth the investment.

Celeste Carrara · Apr 26, 2013

AgathaChristieFan said:
Hey Celeste,

Yeah I guess that's true about most bloggers being too busy to do a book review. Or having waiting lists for few months.

I looked at Library Thing, but I noticed people had to pay after having so many books on there, so I decided against it. I guess I'm a cheapskate. But if it's a good way to get book reviews, then I should look into it again. It could be worth the investment.

It's my understanding that you have to pay (a minimal amount) when you put over two hundred books on there. Don't quote me on that. So the site is free for me at this point & costs nothing for me to do a giveaway.

Right now I only have 6 more people from the 25 that won that still need to contact me for my ebook. The people who have been in touch were very enthusiastic about reading my book so I'm hopeful they will all write a review.

veinglory · Apr 26, 2013

You need to query quite a few blog review sites now to get a few hits. My own self-pub review blog currently reviews less than 5% of submissions.

AgathaChristieFan · May 1, 2013

Celeste Carrara said:
It's my understanding that you have to pay (a minimal amount) when you put over two hundred books on there. Don't quote me on that. So the site is free for me at this point & costs nothing for me to do a giveaway.

Thanks Celeste. I noticed it was 200 or 250 books, so you're right.

tpolen · May 8, 2013

You might want to try this blog http://readfulthingsblog.com/ Ionia reads a wide range of books and does very fair and balanced reviews. She has her submission requirements listed on her blog.

SRHowen · Jun 9, 2013

One of my authors, on her blog, a list of about 250 review sites listed a to z.

250 review sites to check out

annetpfeffer · Jun 10, 2013

I hesitate to bring up the subject of blog tours, because many of those operators are fly-by-night and not to be trusted. That said, there are also competent, honest, reasonably priced blog operators out there who will help you enormously. The key is to find them.

A tip: Many bloggers these days write most of their reviews through blog tours. At the top of any of these reviews,they have a banner giving the name of the tour operator. If it's a well established blogger and they've done lots of recent reviews through that operator, I would think the operator is more likely to be reputable.

At least, that's how I've found my tour operator, who I love. NOTE: the good ones I know about charge less than $250 for a 30 day tour. I wouldn't trust someone charging a lot more than that.

jeracoo · Jun 22, 2013

I find forums are great, you can post your book on sites that are related to it, even better if you're writing about a niche topic.

knsiwu · Jul 6, 2013

Cool, why didn't you tried with .goodreads .theindieview with some other good book review websites are there. Suggestion - go through google and find a better solution for your ebooks.

Jamesdomus1066 · Jul 9, 2013

The thing is, Steve, it's important to keep trying. Through what AgathaChristieFan suggested, the IndieView http://www.theindieview.com/indie-reviewers/, I persevered and found a wonderful reviewer who loves my work and has reviewed several of my books and will very likely continue to review my works in the future. Once you find one or two and they enjoy what you've written, you have a good source to keep going back. Obviously, if they don't like your work, they might not review again, but stick with it.

Getting a book reviewed?

Stevewritesbooks

fishing for little gods...

sarahdalton

Michael Davis

Rjo

.

haunted

Now is the winter of my discontent.

Rjo

.

veinglory

volitare nequeo

haunted

Now is the winter of my discontent.

AgathaChristieFan

proud writer

Celeste Carrara

practical experience, FTW

AgathaChristieFan

proud writer

Celeste Carrara

practical experience, FTW

veinglory

volitare nequeo

AgathaChristieFan

proud writer

tpolen

SRHowen

Erotica is not a four letter word!

annetpfeffer

practical experience, FTW

jeracoo

knsiwu

Jamesdomus1066

I Aim to Misbehave