If a reviewer contacts you

If there are multiple formats, I ask them what version they want.

(Note: this is only for self-published material. For others, I direct them to my publisher.)

It's not unusual for a reviewer to ask for books in dead tree format.
Before I published with Musa (ebook only), I always sent paper copies. All of my other work was published with Kensington, and they sent me advance reader copies for the purpose of mailing to reviewers prior to release, and then final copies to do with as I would--no e-version except through NetGalley.

If a reviewer contacts me, I'd think it was a wrong number.

When I book review, the authors usually just offer a kindle download, smashwords coupon, or PDF. But that's probably because those are my guidelines. Before I posted my guidelines, they had always offered those versions though. I didn't even know it was common to send out paperbacks. i'd be afraid it'd get lost in the mail or something.

As long as I know the person really is a reviewer, I have the publisher send him one, but I contact teh publisher myself. It can save time and trouble.

I also have spare copies from the pubisher to use specifically as review copies when speed is of the essence.

My publisher only provides a limited number of printed review copies, so I try to persuade most reviewers to take an electronic copy.

ebbrown said:

A reviewer contacted me by email asking for a copy of my book. The email was polite and professional. He said he loved the cover and sample and wanted to review it to share with his readers. Frankly, I was flattered, and I said sure.

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Make sure that the person is really a reviewer and not someone cadging a free copy. Who are they writing for? URLs for some of their reviews? Etc.

I review books, and I don't have an e-reader. So I will of course strongly prefer a paper copy for review. (It takes me much longer to read a book on the PC screen, and it's not really comfortable.)

When it comes to asking for ARCs/review copies, there's only a few authors I know well enough online to ask directly. I know authors don't get that many review copies, and there's only been a couple of cases I have felt justified in asking them directly. In one of the cases I asked (, and I think it's three or four times I've asked,) the author told me that they didn't have any copies left, and told me to ask the publisher. And I saw absolutely nothing wrong with that.
I would never ask an author I hadn't interacted with online for a copy of their book for review. But then again I've been following publishing online for about five years now, and have lots of blogger friends online, so I know quite a bit about how ARCs/review copies work. I have no problem in asking the publisher for an ARC though, and it's not really hard to get hold of them.

A reviewer should not have a problem with being directed to contact the publisher by the author. And in these days, if there's e-ARCs on Netgalley, I see no problem in directing them there either.
If I get offered an e-ARC/e-Book directly from the author, I will tell them I prefer paper but I will take the e-book if that's the only one available. (I live in Norway, so I also tell them I understand if the postage is a bit too much.) But I will also tell them the simple truth, that it will take me longer to get to an e-book version.

Basically, you don't have an obligation as an author of providing a reviewer with a copy of your book at all, and especially not mail them a paper copy/ARC. Directing them to your publisher is not something you should feel guilty for doing.