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The 13 Best Book Review Sites and Book Rating Sites

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Nobody likes to spend money on a new book only to face that overwhelming feeling of disappointment when it doesn't live up to your expectations. The solution is to check out a few book review sites before you hit the shops. The greater the diversity of opinions you can gather, the more confidence you can have that you'll enjoy the title.

Which book review and book rating sites are worth considering? Here are the best ones.

1. Goodreads

Goodreads is arguably the leading online community for book lovers. If you want some inspiration for which novel or biography to read next, this is the book review site to visit.

There's an endless number of user-generated reading lists to explore, and Goodreads itself publishes dozens of "best of" lists across a number of categories. You can do a book search by plot or subject , or join book discussions and reading groups with thousands of members.

You can participate in the community by adding your own rankings to books you've read and leaving reviews for other people to check out. Occasionally, there are even bonus events like question and answer sessions with authors.

2. LibraryThing

LibraryThing is the self-proclaimed largest book club in the world. It has more than 2.3 million members and is one of the best social networking platforms for book lovers .

With a free account, you can add up to 200 books to your library and share them with other users. But it's in the other areas where LibraryThing can claim to be one of the best book review sites.

Naturally, there are ratings, user reviews, and tags. But be sure to click on the Zeitgeist tab at the top of the page. It contains masses of information, including the top books by rating, by the number of reviews, by authors, and loads more.

3. Book Riot

Book Riot is a blog. It publishes listicles on dozens of different topics, many of which review the best books in a certain genre. To give you an idea, some recent articles include Keeping Hoping Alive: 11 Thrilling YA Survival Stories and The Best Historical Fiction Books You’ve Never Heard Of .

Of course, there's also plenty of non-reading list content. If you have a general affinity for literature, Book Riot is definitely worth adding to the list of websites you browse every day.

Bookish is a site that all members of book clubs should know about. It helps you prep for your next meeting with discussion guides, book quizzes, and book games. There are even food and drink suggestions, as well as playlist recommendations.

But the site is more than just book club meetings. It also offers lots of editorial content. That comes in the form of author interviews, opinion essays, book reviews and recommendations, reading challenges, and giveaways.

Be sure to look at the Must-Reads section of the site regularly to get the latest book reviews. Also, it goes without saying that the people behind Bookish are book lovers, too. To get a glimpse of what they’re reading, check out their Staff Reads articles.

5. Booklist

Booklist is a print magazine that also offers an online portal. Trusted experts from the American Library Association write all the book reviews.

You can see snippets of reviews for different books. However, to read them in full, you will need to subscribe. An annual plan for this book review site costs $184.95 per year.

6. Fantasy Book Review

Fantasy Book Review should be high on the list for anyone who is a fan of fantasy works. The book review site publishes reviews for both children's books and adults' books.

It has a section on the top fantasy books of all time and a continually updated list of must-read books for each year. You can also search through the recommended books by sub-genres such as Sword and Sorcery, Parallel Worlds, and Epic Fantasy.

7. LoveReading

LoveReading is one of the most popular book review sites in the UK, but American audiences will find it to be equally useful.

The site is divided into fiction and non-fiction works. In each area, it publishes weekly staff picks, books of the month, debuts of the month, ebooks of the month, audiobooks of the month, and the nationwide bestsellers. Each book on every list has a full review that you can read for free.

Make sure you also check out their Highlights tab to get book reviews for selected titles of the month. In Collections , you'll also find themed reading lists such as World War One Literature and Green Reads .

Kirkus has been involved in producing book reviews since the 1930s. This book review site looks at the week's bestselling books, and provides lengthy critiques for each one.

As you'd expect, you'll also find dozens of "best of" lists and individual book reviews across many categories and genres.

And while you're on the site, make sure you click on the Kirkus Prize section. You can look at all the past winners and finalists, complete with the accompanying reviews of their books.

Although Reddit is a social media site, you can use it to get book reviews of famous books, or almost any other book for that matter! Reddit has a Subreddit, r/books, that is dedicated to book reviews and reading lists.

The subreddit has weekly scheduled threads about a particular topic or genre. Anyone can then chip in with their opinions about which books are recommendable. Several new threads are published every day, with people discussing their latest discovery with an accompanying book rating or review.

You'll also discover a weekly recommendation thread. Recent threads have included subjects such as Favorite Books About Climate Science , Literature of Indigenous Peoples , and Books Set in the Desert . There’s also a weekly What are you Reading? discussion and frequent AMAs.

For more social media-like platforms, check out these must-have apps for book lovers .

10. YouTube

YouTube is not the type of place that immediately springs to mind when you think of the best book review sites online.

Nonetheless, there are several engaging YouTube channels that frequently offer opinions on books they've read. You’ll easily find book reviews of famous books here.

Some of the most notable book review YouTube channels include Better Than Food: Book Reviews , Little Book Owl , PolandBananasBooks , and Rincey Reads .

Amazon is probably one of your go-to site when you want to buy something. If you don’t mind used copies, it’s also one of the best websites to buy second-hand books .

Now, to get book reviews, just search and click on a title, then scroll down to see the ratings and what others who have bought the book are saying. It’s a quick way to have an overview of the book’s rating. If you spot the words Look Inside above the book cover, it means you get to preview the first few pages of the book, too!

Regardless of the praises or criticisms you have heard from other book review sites, reading a sample is the most direct way to help you gauge the content’s potential and see whether the author’s writing style suits your tastes.

12. StoryGraph

StoryGraph is another good book review site that's worth checking out. The book rating is determined by the site's large community of readers. Key in the title of a book you're interested in and click on it in StoryGraph's search results to have an overall view of its rating.

Each book review provides information on the moods and pacing of the story. It also indicates whether the tale is plot or character-driven, what readers feel about the extent of character development, how lovable the characters generally are, and the diversity of the cast.

13. London Review of Books

The London Review of Books is a magazine that covers a range of subjects such as culture, literature, and philosophy. Part of its content includes amazingly detailed book reviews. If you feel that most modern book reviews are too brief for your liking, the London Review of Books should suit you best.

You'll gain insight into the flow and themes of the story, as well as a more thorough picture of the events taking place in the book.

Read Book Reviews Before You Buy

The book review sites we've discussed will appeal to different types of readers. Some people will be more comfortable with the easy-to-interpret book rating systems; others will prefer extensive reviews written by experienced professionals.

Although it’s easy to be tempted by a gorgeous book cover, it’s always best to have a quick look at the book reviews before actually buying a copy. This way, you can save your money and spend it on the books that you’ll be proud to display on your shelves for a long time. And check out recommendations, as well, to help you find what's worth reading.

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Empty Mirror

a literary magazine

10 places to find reviewers for your self-published book

But before we get to that – and before you start to contact reviewers – it’s important to understand how to contact them.

What to do:

1. Do your research. Only contact reviewers who are interested in reviewing the type of books you have written. (See below for some good places to find the right reviewers.)

2. Read their review policy. Do they only want e-books, or printed books? What genres are they currently interested in reading? Are they currently accepting new books for review? Check out their rules, and follow them.

3. Write a personalized email to the potential reviewer. No one likes to get a form letter, or spam. Use a salutation, and their name – not just “Hi” or “Dear reviewer,” but rather, “Dear Jane Smith” or at least “Dear Jane.” If there’s no personal name listed, use their username.

Tell the reviewer who you are, how you found them, a little bit about your book, when it will be published. Tell them that if they’re interested, you’d be glad to send them a copy. Specify what format the book will be in (which ebook format, printed book, or if they will have a choice). Thank them for their time and consideration, and say that you look forward to hearing from them. Then sign it, with your full name.

Don’t forget the subject line, either: emails with the subject “Review Inquiry” or “Review Request” will get a better response as they make it easy to identify what your message is about.

Here’s how to write an excellent review query.

4. Before sending your email, spell-check and proofread. Errors leave a poor impression and make the reviewer less likely to accept your book. They’ll figure your book is full of typos, too.

5. The ultimate purpose of a review isn’t to please you. Books with reviews do tend to sell better. However, it’s important to understand that reviewers ultimately aren’t written for the author’s benefit. They’re written for the potential reader to give them enough information so that they can make a purchasing decision.

What not to do:

1. If they do accept the book, don’t expect the reviewer to guarantee a review. Reviewers don’t accept books they have no intention of reviewing, but sometimes they may not be able to – or wish to – eventually review it. That’s OK. They’re not the only reviewer out there. Move on.

2. Don’t expect, or ask for, a positive review. No reviewer can promise this. Any reviewer worth approaching has integrity and will always post an honest review, whether one star or five. (As people’s opinions will naturally vary, there’s often something fishy when books have only five-star reviews, anyway.)

3. Don’t ask the reviewer to promise a review to be published on or near a particular date. (Do feel free to tell the reviewer the date of your book’s publication.) Please understand that most reviewers have a big stack of books to review. Reviews take more time than you might think. The reviewer reads the book – maybe more than once – takes notes, then writes and posts the review. You’re asking them to do at least several hours of work for you, on their own time, for free. And they’re not doing it for money, but rather for the love of books, and of reviewing.

This is why you can’t expect a promise of a review by a certain date (or even at all). It’s understandable that you’re anxious for the reviews to start rolling in, but just hang tight, keep soliciting reviews, and one day you’ll have a bunch of them.

4. Never offer payment for a review. All an honest reviewer will accept is the book itself. Don’t offer a bribe! Paid reviews are not allowed on any reputable websites and can get the reviewer – and sometimes yourself – in a world of trouble, and banned from review websites.

5. Don’t expect an answer to your query. I know – that almost seems unreasonable, doesn’t it, not to expect the reviewer to reply. The reason that some don’t reply is that many reviewers – especially popular and highly-ranked ones – get so many review queries that it takes too much time to reply to them all. So, they wind up only replying to those they have an interest in reviewing.

6. If a potential reviewer declines to review your book, take it graciously. Don’t ask why, try to change their mind, or pester them. Stay on good terms – reply briefly with thanks for their time and consideration. Who knows, perhaps they’ll review your next book.

7. After a review is published, don’t comment on the review . Not even if you disagree with it. Even if the reviewer says something terribly wrong, even factually wrong. Even if they say it’s the best book they’ve ever read. Or the worst! Commenting can make you look petty, overbearing or argumentative, and can turn potential readers against you, ensuring they never read your book. Just. Don’t. Do. It. Ever. ( Here’s why. )

10 places to find reviewers for your books.

OK. Now that you understand how to approach reviewers, how do you find them?

1. Amazon’s “Meet Our Authors” Forum

Amazon has “Meet Our Authors” forum where you can introduce yourself, and also ask for reviews. There are various genre-specific threads too.

Update: Amazon has shut down all of their forums. They suggest that you visit Goodreads instead, where it’s easy for authors to interact with readers. (Amazon owns Goodreads.) See #4 on this list for more about Goodreads.

2. Amazon’s Top Reviewers

Amazon ranks its reviewers according to a variety of criteria and publishes the list. You can go through the list to look for those reviewers who review books in your genre. It will take some time. Those reviewers who include an email address or website in their profile are usually open to being contacted regarding potential reviews. (Some are not.) Before emailing, read their reviews of books in your genre. Pay close attention to any review guidelines which are included in the reviewer’s profile.

TheCreativePenn has a great blog post on getting Amazon reviewers to review your book .

3. Peruse the Amazon book pages

Check out other books similar to yours, and see who’s reviewed them. Look on these reviewers’ profiles to see if they’re open to review offers, as described above. If so, contact them.

4. LibraryThing & Goodreads

On LibraryThing , people catalog, review, and discuss books. The site also functions as a social networking site and is a great place for authors to connect with potential readers. There are lots of things you can do to get the word out about your book here. One of them is to find reviewers.

LibraryThing offers the “Member Giveaway” – where you can give out your own books. Ebooks and printed books are equally welcome. You set a number of available books to offer, and people will enter a drawing to win them. Usually there are more people who sign up than available books, so there is a drawing at the end of the giveaway period.

Though those who receive your books are not required to review your book, you can let it be known that you hope they do. LibraryThing reviewers can post their reviews on that site, but some often post their reviews elsewhere, such as Amazon.com and Goodreads.

Goodreads is similar to LibraryThing, but bigger. Only publishers can give away books for free there, but you can still find potential reviewers through their groups , some of which are dedicated to connecting authors with reviewers. (Use the group search box to find them.) Before posting review opportunities, be sure to check that the rules of the particular group allow it.

5. Social networking sites

Search for people who review your genre of book on Twitter, Facebook, and other social networking sites, and start making connections. Much has been written elsewhere on how to connect with people on these sites, so that’s all I’ll say about it here.

Turn to Google to find bloggers who review books similar to yours. Try various searches such as the name of your genre (e.g. YA, poetry, American history, vampire fiction) followed by one of these phrases: book blog, book blogger, book reviews, book review blog, book review blogger. Try various combinations and think of some of your own, investigate the results, and you’re bound to come up with some good ones.

7. Services which connect authors and reviewers

There are quite a lot of specialized websites which will make your book available to reviewers. Here are a few we know of:

The Bookbag . Publishes book reviews on their site, with links to the books on Amazon.

4226 Spruce St . Makes it easy for authors of Kindle books to connect with Amazon reviewers. Free.

8. Reviewer directories and lists

The Book Blogger List . A categorized directory of book reviewers, organized by genre, which makes it easy to locate potential reviewers for your book. Free.

Book Reviewer Yellow Pages (formerly Step By Step Self Publishing). Offers an online directory of book reviewers. It’s free, but they also offer paid Kindle and paperback versions.

List of literary / poetry review publications (many print-based)

9. Ask other authors

Ask other authors you’re acquainted with – either on or offline – who reviewed their book, and who they think you should get in touch with. Most authors are very willing to share their experiences and recommendations. When writing to a reviewer, be sure mention that your fellow author recommended that you contact them.

10. Look close to home & offline

There are plenty of local, offline sources for reviews, too:

• local daily or weekly newspapers
• school newspapers
• organization and company newsletters
• contact local indie bookstores to see if they know of any local reviewers

11. (yeah, forget 10 – we’re turning this baby all the way up to 11!) The Indie View

The Indie View has a great list of reviewers in a number of genres. They also spotlight reviews and authors. Check it out.

don’t forget us

You know, if your book is arts-related nonfiction, or has anything to do with the Beat Generation, you might check out our very own review policy . We don’t accept many books for review – but you never know until you try! We also sometimes publish author interviews and book excerpts.

Summing up…

That’s all for now. If you have suggestions about getting reviews, please leave a comment. And stay tuned for more articles about promoting your self-published books!

Empty Mirror publishes new poetry, criticism, essays, book reviews, and art every Friday.

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Pat Sutton says

March 4, 2020 at 11:53 am

Denise, thank you, Your comments and explanations will save me time on how to find a reviewer and what to expect.

Antonio Chevalier says

October 11, 2020 at 3:47 pm

You need to pay for The Bookbag. Publishes book reviews on their site, with links to the books on Amazon.

Empty Mirror says

November 8, 2019 at 4:50 pm

There’s also a directory of over 300 reviewers, sorted by posting frequency, at https://indiestoday.com/reviewers-list/ . Thanks to Dave Allen for pointing out this resource!

Derrick Washington says

October 31, 2019 at 7:13 pm

Hi, Denise, I just want to say thank you for sharing this information. I have been searching online where to find book reviewers, and your blog answered, pretty much, all of my questions. Once again, thanks.

Bruce Miller says

October 16, 2019 at 2:36 pm

Excellent article and we enjoyed reading it. It is very comprehensive and useful. Well done!

We review books. We are retired people in New Zealand and we are amazed at the creativity and original ideas people have. It’s like sitting in a school class with students raising their hands and announcing amazing creative ideas! We love it. But we only review books we like. No erotica, but most everything else. We’ve done hundreds of reviews. Check us out > https://www.teamgolfwell.com/free-book-reviews.html

Julian Hardy says

July 1, 2019 at 8:44 pm

Denise Thank you for your insightful website. I have recently self-published a book on KDP/Amazon. After doing some research about reviews/reviewers, I found the Artisan Book Reviews website. Is it worthwhile using such services as those provided by Artisan Book Reviews (as they are quite costly). Also, I’m assuming such paid reviews do not contravene Amazon’s review rules. Is this true? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Regards Julian

Denise says

July 29, 2019 at 11:07 am

It’s true that paid reviews are forbidden by Amazon and can’t be posted there by the reviewer.

However, you can post them yourself with your book information on your book’s page. They can also be useful for use on your website and promotional materials.

Thomas Juarez says

May 4, 2019 at 8:16 am

Thank you for the quick reply! While searching through other parts of your website I found someone I made a connection with. Finally gaining some traction (I think).

Awakening Cocijo will be making a book tour to test its worthiness!

May 3, 2019 at 9:24 am

I have recently self published on Amazon, currently Amazon is having an issue tracking my book sales and I am falling in the ratings. I made them aware of some of the recent purchases, they know there’s a problem and they are looking into it…I have faith in them!

In any case, it has been very difficult to find reviewers that are available in the next 3-4 months. It’s been frustrating to say the least.

I paid for the editing of my book so that I would have a polished product. I was hoping this would make my book more attractive to buyers and/or reviewers. I would be more than happy to provide a pdf or kindle copy to potential reviewers.

The book is called Awakening Cocijo and is available only on Amazon. It is a metaphysical fiction book centering on the Zapotec empire and a current attempt (fictional, of course), to awaken Cocijo…the god of lightening and rain.

May 3, 2019 at 2:13 pm

You might try getting reviews via Goodreads (you can even give away free books/ebooks in Goodreads’ Member Giveaway). That might give you some reviews in shorter than three or four months.

If you’re on social media, you could try giving some copies away for review that way.

Celeste says

April 26, 2019 at 10:55 am

Thanks Denise! I’m going to network as best I can, which means helping other authors with their efforts, too. I joined Goodreads so I could post reviews and hopefully boost the sales of books that I enjoy reading.

April 22, 2019 at 7:57 pm

Denise, thanks for the quick follow-up.

I believe it’s far too time-consuming to find reviewers on Amazon, considering that many of them don’t have contact info available. It’s probably better to invest time and effort in building a network, e.g., through Goodreads and Bookbub. I’m an introvert, so it makes me cringe to think of having to actively pursue getting followers. Otherwise my novel is likely to die on the vine after it’s published, no matter how good it is.

April 25, 2019 at 11:40 am

That’s certainly a valid objection and there are other methods of getting reviews. I wish you success with your novel!

April 21, 2019 at 4:28 pm

This article is dated March 6, 2014, so perhaps something has changed as far as finding book reviewers on Amazon. I went to the Amazon Top Customer Reviewers listing. There are 10,000, with zero indication as to what they review. To find that out, you have to click on each name one by one, then scroll through their reviews to see (1) if they even review books, and (2) what genre of books they review. With 10,000 reviewers, you may be able to go through that list in, oh, let’s say a year. And of course it changes daily so you’ll need to keep a list of whose reviews you looked at.

If someone knows of a better way, I’m all ears. Otherwise, I think Amazon is doing its best, as always, to make things difficult.

April 22, 2019 at 1:34 pm

Yes, you do have to look at each reviewer individually — there’s no list with email addresses included. So, it’s usually best to find books similar to yours, see who’s reviewing them, and get in touch those with contact information (email, website, or even a Google-able name) on their profile. It does take some detective work, for sure.

Diane Fadden says

April 10, 2019 at 6:12 pm

Indiebook review is a scam operation. Buyer beware.

roy tawes says

August 25, 2018 at 10:43 am

Denise- Iasked for a personal review. Never heard back, but I see you’re using my complimentary comments for this website. Just give me a simple yes or know

August 29, 2018 at 10:53 am

Congratulations on the publication of your book! It sounds fascinating.

EM’e review guidelines are here: https://www.emptymirrorbooks.com/empty-mirror-review-policy

Guidelines in short: Due to time constraints, I’m only able to accept very few books for review. I’m looking for specific types of non-fiction and am unable to review fiction, poetry, or memoir.

Unfortunately, due to the volume of book review requests received and that fact that I’m the only one here, I’m only able to reply to those I intend to review. I regret that I’m not able to respond to all.

Comments are voluntary and are not “used” for anything. They can be deleted by request. I did leave the link in your previous comment so that others could check out your book!

best wishes, Denise

Tyrell Perry says

August 19, 2018 at 12:13 pm

Great intel. This newly published author will be putting it to use.

Wilburson says

July 2, 2018 at 6:30 am

This is such useful information Denise, which I have added to my growing information pile on getting reviews. Thanks for taking the time.

Vishal Sharma says

April 6, 2018 at 11:14 pm

Hey Denise, Thanks for sharing such awesome tips loved it. It was very useful for me.

Roy lawson tawes MD , FACS says

January 10, 2018 at 2:22 pm

Very helpful information for INDIE authors.Thank you. I like your considerate style.

It’s a long shot to request a personal review, but you mentioned an interest in the Beat generation that spawned the hippies in the ’60s. I just published my sixth novel, RECALL that deals with the topic . Returning to San Francisco from Vietnam where I served as a flight surgeon, I witnessed the cultural revolution up close and personal. I tried to capture that turbulent era in my historical narrative. You might find it interesting and enlightening. I’m getting good early reviews , but not from anyone of your professional stature. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.So why not ask you?

If you have any interest, please consult my website: RLawsonauthor.com. All the information you require to make a decision is available there, including blogs. Maybe we will find an intellectual connection. Life never follows a straight path, Stranger things have happened. I love writing and hope someone influential in the literary field will promote my work.

Thank you for your consideration. You sound like a nice person in your responses above, trying to help aspiring writers. We need guidance, It’s a maze to navigate.

Brad Foster says

January 3, 2018 at 4:06 am

No worries, Denise – thanks anyway and careful of that perilous tower of books! :)

January 2, 2018 at 6:48 pm

HI Denise – thanks for this post! I noticed that the link to Amazon’s “Meet Our Authors” is defunct – this is what I get: “Our Discussion Boards feature has been discontinued.

Amazon would like to thank the members of this community for contributing to the discussion forums. As we grow and evolve, we encourage you to explore Goodreads Groups for book discussions and Spark for other interests. For device questions and help, please see our new Digital and Device Forum.”

I will try the other tips, though I haven’t had much luck so far with the Amazon Top Reviewers (reminds me of my dating years, when I got completely ignored! ). Say, if you wanted to review my newest e-book, I’d be happy to send you a free copy. No pressure – thanks again and I hope one — if not more — of your points help me out!

January 2, 2018 at 9:08 pm

Hi Brad — Thanks for the update about the Amazon forums. I’d heard about that but had forgotten to update this list. I really appreciate the reminder.

Top reviewers are tough — you really have to find the ones who are into your genre, and Amazon has begun making it tougher to find contact information for them (although email links still appear on individual profiles).

Wish I could help with your book, but I don’t typically read e-books, and my reading stack is perilously tall. But I wish you much success with it!

Cristina G. says

October 21, 2017 at 3:02 am

Gold dust. Thank you so much. I am working on a few new books and I need reviews. Blessings to you and to those who invest their valuable time reading and reviewing our lifetime work.

August 8, 2017 at 8:31 am

Thanks, Denise, for your helpful information.

June 12, 2017 at 3:55 pm

This site looks nice but there are two issues with it: – The reviewer lists can’t be accessed without completing a third-party offer. – Kaspersky shows a warning about a phishing link when the site is loaded.

If you would like to talk about this, please email me. Denise

May 15, 2017 at 6:51 pm

Thanks Denise for a cohesive listing of what to do. It’s early days for me in the world of marketing my children’s mystery novels, so it’s really helpful. Many thanks.

May 15, 2017 at 7:34 pm

Cathy, I’m so glad to hear that you found this article helpful. I wish you much success with the novels!

Indira Sahay says

April 9, 2017 at 9:54 am

Thank you for your reply. I shall certainly take up some of your suggestion

April 8, 2017 at 11:42 am

I was looking for interested reviewers for two Sociology books written by my late husband which remained unpublished when he passed away last year.the first one is already printed and the second one is being got ready for printing. this will take about three months. As the books are academic I would like to send them to academics with similar interests. What do you suggest?

Layla Rose says

March 20, 2017 at 7:03 pm

What a great find. I did some freelance publicity work for an author recently, and as a writer myself, it was sobering to see what it takes as an indie author. So much work. And having a disability which is difficult to manage really slows me down. So I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me.

Walter Stoffel says

March 3, 2017 at 1:23 pm

In part helpful ,in part confusing. Denise, you suggest steering clear of Amazon Top Reviewers(they’re touchy) yet you link to Creative Penn article that outlines process for contacting those same top reviewers.

Lanre Ayanlowo says

February 28, 2017 at 1:41 am

Hello, i have two self published books. Can you please help me publish them traditionally?

March 3, 2017 at 3:13 pm

I wish I could help, but Empty Mirror is just an online magazine; we don’t publish books. I may be able to answer some questions for you, but can’t recommend any particular publishers.

Tom Turkington says

February 21, 2017 at 7:16 pm

Thank you, Denise, so much. As a first-time author and technophobe besides, I’ve despaired of generating any sense of direction in my efforts to get my book into the hands of unbiased readers. Your suggestions are clear, concise and orderly, and likely the jumpstart I’ve needed. Were my book concerned with the arts or the Beats, I’d try to hoist it upon you, but no: it’s a 120,000-word chronicle of the first eighteen years of my life. Trying to make an asset of living in the past. Thanks for your push in the right direction(s).

Marcus De Storm says

January 1, 2017 at 2:36 pm

Thank you Denise for this information useful as a Self Published Author. As it is difficult to find genuine information and where to go to get my book reviewed. This has helped me very much.

January 1, 2017 at 2:37 pm

I’m glad you found the article useful, Marcus! I wish you much success with the book!

Mdu Rohtak says

November 18, 2016 at 5:33 am

Excellent tips, and thanks for the shout-out.

Sheree W. Davis says

November 17, 2016 at 7:52 am

Denise, Thanks for this wonderful check list! I’m a new self-published author and am grateful for the wisdom you are willing to share! God Bless! ~Sheree W. Davis

Johnb9 says

June 8, 2016 at 5:18 am

Thanks so much for the article.Much thanks again. Great.

ferris robinson says

May 2, 2016 at 5:11 am

Denise, Thank you so much for this informative and detailed post! So helpful! And I really appreciate the heads-up on commenting on reviews – I had no idea! I feel like I should be writing them a thank you note for taking the time to read my book, and taking even more time and energy to review it! Thanks for all you do for writers!

January 13, 2016 at 6:56 am

Hi Denise, great article, thanks. Quick question – when do you suggest author start asking for reviews? How long before the publish date – or after the publish date? Thanks.

Alec Stone says

August 20, 2015 at 6:14 am

Hi, don’t forget about reviews-easy.com.

This service is doing all the work for you. You only have to register and search the Amazon the reviewers by categories, products they review or by personal details. Then, a list of reviewers with contact details will be generated and you can download it. Then you can send personalized emails to all of them or do what you want with that data.

August 20, 2015 at 7:25 am

Alec, thanks for the suggestion. I have mixed feelings about Reviews Easy. I haven’t used it myself, but from a brief look at their website, it certainly appears to make it easy to search for Amazon reviewers.

Maybe too easy. I don’t enjoy reading e-books and don’t review them. That fact is stated very clearly on my Amazon profile. And yet, authors very often email to ask me to review their e-books. Some of these authors have told me that they were referred to me by Reviews Easy, and they’ve been surprised that I have no interest in e-books.

It seems that somehow Reviews Easy is leading authors to believe that I want to read e-books. (But since I haven’t used the site, I am not sure how or why this is happening.)

The site may be a good resource. But authors who choose to use it should double-check the reviewers’ profile information and preferences!

Thanks again — Denise

Tim Williams says

August 2, 2015 at 5:06 am

after reading everything that i’ve read i find myself asking …why self publish it seems like more of a pain in the ass then what it’s worth . i mean is this he only way to to go ? i write because i like to write not to share. the only reason publishing has come up is cause everyone that reads my book won’t stop bugging me about it . anyone hit me up cause i don’t see the benefit . thanks

August 3, 2015 at 1:06 pm

Most authors self-publish because they want their work to be read. But there’s no sense in publishing if you don’t feel compelled to.

While most people who write never publish, some of those still have a few books printed for themselves, family and friends who have expressed an interest. It’s an option. And, in that case, you needn’t bother with arranging for reviews, or with other promotional methods.

Others wish to reach a wider readership so look into either traditional or self-publishing, and eventually spend time promoting their book.

If you fall into the latter category, then self-publishing may be for you. But if you don’t, just keep writing for the love of it — and ignore those who pressure you.

all best, Denise

Rena George says

April 10, 2015 at 11:35 pm

Thank you for such a helpful, informative post, Denise. Authors really do need to put in the work to find approachable reviewers – and be prepared to overcome disappointments. Most reviewers are so overburdened that they have closed their lists for the foreseeable future. However the more potential reviewers an author can contact, the greater the chance of success. Perseverance is the secret, I think.

April 11, 2015 at 3:44 pm

Hi Rena, Thanks for your comment. I’m happy to hear that you found the post helpful.

Unfortunately I’m one of those reviewers who is often full-up on books to be reviewed…but I try to make time if just the perfect book is offered. There just isn’t enough time, though, to read – and review – everything I would like to.

Thanks again! Denise

Erik D. Weiss says

March 9, 2015 at 5:47 pm

Thanks, Denise! This is a fantastic little guide, great for new writers like me, eager to get my two fiction books out there. This is great advice, and you’ve inspired me to get to work getting my books reviewed and more visible!! Erik

March 9, 2015 at 7:32 pm

Erik, I’m so glad to hear you found the guide to reviews helpful. Good luck in finding reviewers! – Denise

J Haeske says

January 20, 2015 at 1:56 pm

If I only had known then what I know now… Thanks for that, Denise.

Molly Gambiza says

January 11, 2015 at 6:49 am

Thank you very much for taking your time to share this helpful information. That’s very generous of you. I am after honest reviews for my book A Woman’s Weakness. Now you have given me the directions, the ball is in my hands.

January 11, 2015 at 11:07 am

Glad we could help, Molly! Good luck with the book reviews!

christynathan930 says

September 24, 2014 at 5:28 am

Thanks for the great information and also for great tips too, and now I also check my book reviews.

James Jean-Pierre says

September 8, 2014 at 10:58 am

Thank you for this post, this list will definitely boost up my reviewer count.

August 10, 2014 at 7:55 am

I published my book in may, overlooking the need for a review. Since the time I must have approached 200-300 bloggers/sites for review unsuccessfully. any advice to get a free review? regards, jt

Denise Enck says

August 10, 2014 at 8:43 am

Congratulations on the publication of your book! Getting reviews is definitely a challenge. Without having seen your book or query email, I’m not sure why you haven’t had positive responses to your review query. But a lot depends upon the particular reviewers contacted, and how they are chosen.

First, do your research to find reviewers who review the types of books you write, and who are currently accepting books for review.

For example, I’m a reviewer; I clearly state on my review page here on Empty Mirror that I review Beat Generation and art-related books, do not review fiction, and am not accepting more books for review for the next few months. However, almost every day I receive review queries from authors who didn’t bother to read that; they offer me books about knitting, fantasy fiction, memoirs, guitar chords, children’s books, cooking, and more. I receive a lot of these, and most of them are deleted without reply.

There are websites which categorize book bloggers/reviewers by the genres they review; those can be really helpful in finding the right reviewers. Or go to Amazon and see who has reviewed similar books to yours, and see if they have an email address on their profile.

Second, sometimes it’s in the way that you approach the reviewer. Many queries I’ve received have been very impersonal, had spelling errors (doesn’t bode well for the book), were poorly written, required me to click a link to find out about the book, or wanted me to download free from Amazon on a particular day. Make it easy for the reviewer – address them by name if possible, give a brief synopsis of the book, tell where and when it’s available and in what formats. Don’t require the reviewer to do additional work to find out the basics about your book.

(However, include a link to Amazon – or wherever the book’s sold – so they can investigate more if they want to.)

Your query should contain everything necessary for the reviewer to make a decision.

Also – make sure the book is in good shape and ready for review. Sometimes, before accepting an already-published book for possible review, I’ll read the sample on Amazon to see if it appeals to me. If I find excerpts full of typos, formatting errors, or awkward writing, I won’t accept the book.

It’s harder to find reviewers for some genres than others. For example, fiction, YA and children’s book reviewers are plentiful (though often overburdened); reviewers for non-fiction, art and poetry are a little trickier to find.

But some of it is just timing, and a little bit of luck. Most reviewers get lots of queries and have to turn down even books that sound really enjoyable to them due to time constraints. But following the tips above can give you better odds.

You might also take a look at our article, “How to write an excellent review query” – https://www.emptymirrorbooks.com/publishing/how-to-write-an-excellent-book-review-query

Good luck, JT! If you have further questions, just let me know – I’d be really glad to help. all best, Denise

November 27, 2014 at 1:10 am

Hello Denise, I have a question is that any website which can give all the details of ebooks like how much ebooks are sale and in which with reviews because if any tool provide all of these things in one place it will be really helpful for many publishers.

selfpubber says

April 22, 2014 at 6:06 pm

I’ve used https://www.selfpublishingreview.com/ and it worked out pretty well. It’s a paid review, but it wasn’t a shill review (i.e. overly nice).

February 26, 2014 at 9:13 pm

I’ve used easybookreviews.com a few times. If you are willing to review other books in return it is a guaranteed way to get some (honest) reviews.

I’m also going to try story cartel but my books are already in kdp so I can’t have them available for free anywhere else at the moment. Also, story cartel aren’t amazon verified purchase reviews.

February 27, 2014 at 11:40 am

Thanks for the tip, Emily!

Be careful though, if you’re posting those reviews on Amazon. Amazon doesn’t allow reviews by “reviewing circles” (groups of people who review each other’s books) and has been known to revoke reviewing privileges for those caught doing it.

Gerard Thomas says

November 6, 2013 at 1:02 pm

OMG! I’m so happy now you’ve mentioned everything from A-Z.

Lenita Sheridan says

November 1, 2013 at 9:49 pm

This really helped me. I already got one “yes.” You might tell people to put “Review Request” in the subject line, otherwise they might get ignored the way I did when I put “possible book review?” I learned the hard way, but one website fortunately told me what to do, so I changed my tactic from then on.

November 1, 2013 at 10:04 pm

That’s a great idea, Lenita! Thanks so much. I’ll edit the article to include that. I’m glad you got a good response!

@IolaGoulton says

July 7, 2013 at 6:05 pm

10 ways to find book reviewers (and some useful links) #writing #reviews

June 30, 2013 at 11:35 pm

https://storycartel.com/ is another resource for authors to connect with reviewers.

July 1, 2013 at 8:36 am

Thanks Iola. I hadn’t heard of this one before, but I just checked it out – great resource! – Denise

@marqjonz says

May 28, 2013 at 3:50 am

@Phaedra4Real says

April 2, 2013 at 11:09 am

Dan’s right, great write-up.

ChaoticReader says

April 2, 2013 at 11:02 am

Great article on how and where to find reviewers for your book. https://t.co/wtpNTZszk5

Vennie Kocsis says

March 27, 2013 at 4:32 am

This was so very informative. Thank you for providing these resources for us budding authors.

March 27, 2013 at 11:16 am

So happy to hear you found it helpful! I wish you all the best with your book! – Denise

Rinelle Grey says

March 6, 2013 at 8:38 pm

A very extensive list of resources, I’ll be trying some of these.

One you missed is Goodreads. There are several forums that have dedicated space to helping authors find reviewers. Make sure you check that this is OK though, some groups encourage it, some dislike it.

March 6, 2013 at 9:24 pm

Thanks, Rinelle. I’ll add it. Unlike LibraryThing, GoodReads’ giveaways are only through publishers rather than authors, which is why I left it off the list. But I forgot about the forums! So I’ll add it to the list. Gracias. – Denise

Established in 2000 and edited by Denise Enck, Empty Mirror is an online literary magazine that publishes new work each Friday.

Each week EM features several poems each by one or two poets; reviews; critical essays; visual art; and personal essays.

Recent features

• My Father’s Map
• Seeing Las Meninas in Madrid, 1994
• Visual poems from 23 Bodhisattvas by Chris Stephenson
• Historical Punctum: Reading Natasha Trethewey’s Bellocq’s Ophelia and Native Guard Through the Lens of Roland Barthes’s Camera Lucida
• Panic In The Rear-View Mirror: Exploring The Work of Richard Siken and Ann Gale
• “Art has side effects,” I said.

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Book reviews help readers determine if a book would be a good fit for them and help them achieve their goals. Professional book reviews can always be used as a marketing tool to generate interest in a book. Making it beneficial for authors to have their books reviewed by professional reviewers.

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Stay tuned as we reveal the top book review sites for 2024!  Whether you’re in the mood for a classic drama, a modern thriller, or an enlightening non-fiction, there’s a review site that can point you in the right direction.

We’ve also included the advantages of every book review site for readers and authors. So without wasting time, let’s get started! 

Ensure your book gets the glowing reviews it deserves! Learn more

1. Goodreads

Goodreads stands out as a titan in the field of book review sites, especially in 2024. As the biggest community of readers, authors, and reviewers on the internet, you can find reviews for almost every book on Goodreads. 

You can also join reading groups, catalog books, engage in discussions with fellow readers, and follow your favorite authors. Moreover, by integrating Goodreads with your Kindle account, you can track your reading progress, get personalized book recommendations, and write reviews that get posted on both Goodreads and Amazon automatically. 

Subscription Fee: None

2. Kirkus Reviews

Present since 1933, Kirkus Reviews is one of the oldest book review websites that has earned a reputation for its authoritative and unbiased reviews. You can access quality book reviews for a variety of genres either on the website, by subscribing to the free weekly email newsletter, or by subscribing to the paid semi-monthly magazine.

The main advantages of Kirkus Reviews include access to “best of” lists across many categories and reviews about each book mentioned in the list. The only downside to Kirkus Reviews is the paid nature of the magazine, which can limit access to reviews of new bestsellers to only a few people.

Subscription Fee: Ranging from $49 to $179, based on the chosen duration of the subscription.

3. LibraryThing

LibraryThing, a book lover’s haven for cataloging books, is one of the best book review websites. It offers a robust platform for readers to explore reviews, rate books, and meticulously organize their collections by genre.

The charm of LibraryThing lies in its social features—you can connect with fellow readers, share your bookshelves, and exchange thoughts on your latest reads. It’s a cozy corner on the internet for those who take pleasure in tracking their reading journey and finding kindred spirits within the pages of their favorite genres.

Apart from these features, LibraryThing provides a feature for authors to create their own Author’s page. Besides this, LibraryThing provides readers the opportunity to meet with fellow readers and authors by releasing updates about local book events. 

4. Book Riot

Book Riot is one of the most versatile book review sites where you can access fictional and non-fictional book reviews, articles, and essays about top books across different genres. In addition to this, you can access information about discount deals for e-books and printed books and purchase from a huge variety of book merchandise.  

The one thing that sets Book Riot apart from other sites is access to podcasts, which you can listen to if you don’t feel like reading book reviews. The only downside to Book Riot is that the site’s format doesn’t provide the feel of a traditional book review experience. 

Subscription Fee: $4.99/month for authors who subscribe to Book Riot Insiders for information about new releases.

5. LoveReading

LoveReading emerges as a cherished resource among book review sites, particularly for its UK-based but globally accessible content. As one of the top professional book review sites, it allows you to access ebook and audiobook reviews across multiple genres. 

The advantages of LoveReading include access to books and debuts of the month, weekly staff picks, and yearly list features. The only downside to LoveReading is the limited availability of reviews about books published outside the UK. 

Amazon is one of the top free book review sites in 2024. It allows readers to rate books using a 1–5 star scale and receive a verified purchase tag after they have purchased books, increasing the authenticity of their reviews. Additionally, readers can engage with each other by adding comments to other reviews and stand a chance to receive a higher ranking if their reviews are well-received by a larger audience. 

7. Booklist

Booklist, a veteran publication by the American Library Association since 1905, has evolved into a premier online destination for book reviews. You can look at the reviews of many print and audiobooks from various genres on Booklist. 

The benefits of using Booklist include access to webinars and a variety of newsletters like Read Alert, Booklandia, and more. The only downside to Booklist is that it doesn’t provide a space for reader interaction or discussion, which restricts the community aspect of the reading experience.

Subscription Fee: $184.95/year

8. Publishers Weekly

Dominating the publishing world since 1872, Publishers Weekly is one of the oldest children’s mystery and romance book review sites. Apart from book reviews, it provides access to news about upcoming books. 

The advantages of Publishers Weekly are access to the latest industry news, stats, bestseller lists, and exciting podcasts about authors and contemporary books. The only downside to Publishers Weekly is that you need to pay a subscription fee to have complete access to the content present on this site.

Subscription Fee: $15/month

9. NetGalley

NetGalley is one of the top book review sites for authors and readers alike. Readers can view reviews, request advanced reader copies (ARCs), and write reviews about pre-released books by various authors. Also, readers can check out book reviews, recommendations, and the must-read section at Bookish, an editorially independent division of NetGalley. 

The only downside to NetGalley is that it can be difficult to secure ARCs of highly anticipated books due to fierce competition among reviewers. 

10. Fantasy Book Review 

This site includes various categories for book reviews such as urban fantasy, high/epic fantasy, dystopian/post-apocalyptic fiction, magic users, and heroic/ sword and sorcery, etc. Depending on the category, book reviews for the best fantasy books are added to the website. With this, the site also provides readers with a list of the top 100 fantasy books of all time, recommendations of fantasy series, and interviews with fantasy authors.  

Check out the top ten book review sites mentioned above to find your next best read, and let these curated sites lead you to memorable stories and transformative literary adventures. If you need help to create perfect book reviews or refine your book, consider our professional editing and proofreading services for assistance.

Here are some other articles you might find useful: 

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Frequently Asked Questions

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LoveReading, the leading book recommendation brand is now an online bookstore too!

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Juan Gómez-Jurado

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To Kill a King

David Gilman

The Land of the Living and the Dead

Shauna Lawless

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My Good Bright Wolf

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Sanaka Hiiragi

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Rosen's Almanac

Michael Rosen

Author Talk

Guest Editor, Lee Child - Discover the Books that Built Jack Reacher

Over one hundred million books sold, yes you read that right - 100 million! Lee Child is one of the world’s leading thriller writers. He was born in Coventry, raised in Birmingham, and now lives in New York.

Today's Book Love

Wolfson History Prize 2024 Shortlist Dominated by Global History

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FT & Schroders Announce 2024 Business Book of the Year Shortlist

Debuts of the Month

Please Fear Me

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The Instrumentalist

Harriet Constable

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Alyson Greaves

Other Names, Other Places

Ola Mustapha

Finding Your Feet

Rhiane Fatinikun

Liz Robinson's Picks of the Month

The Exopotamia Manuscript

Maxim Jakubowski

Not Available

North Woods

Daniel Mason

Indie Books We Love

Marc Rosenberg

They tested our loyalty

Keith Mackenzie Ross

£10.79 £11.99

For Your Benefit

Patrick Canning

The Consciousness Company:

Being a Happy Mind

Sarah Bizsley

LoveReading Litfest

In Conversation With Lucy Hannah and Marie Bamyani, contributors to My Pen is the Wing of a Bird

In Conversation With Alka Joshi, Author of The Secret Keeper of Jaipur

Festival Favourites: Great Summer Reads For Kids

Meet The Experts: Marketing

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UK's Premier Source Of Book Review Writing Service

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Best Paid Book Review Sites for Authors

Jan 6, 2022

Reviews are the lifeblood of your book’s success. Getting them is vital throughout your author journey, starting from before until long after you launch your piece of writing. Paid services are, of course, well aware of this fact. There are so many to choose from, so if you’re wondering what the best paid book review sites are, keep reading!

Dozens and dozens of companies are happy to take your money in exchange for the promise of landing you some good reviews.

With the many book review sites out there, you might be wondering which one should you choose.

Not All Paid Book Review Sites Are The Same

You can easily find plenty of companies out there that promises reviews in exchange for dollars. But, as much as you’d want them to be, not all of them will turn out effective. In fact, you may come across some that aren’t even legit.

Rather than take you through all the options available, I’ll share the tried-and-tested ones we use to help get your search narrowed down.

Here at Book Launchers, we use:

• BookSirens, and
• Booksprout for our authors.

Now, you might be thinking, “ A review is a review. So why so many different sites for the same thing?”

Well, if you haven’t noticed, paid book review sites aren’t all the same. Your book category, overall strategy, goals, and who you’re targeting are essential aspects to consider before going with a review company.

Still, every review site has the same ultimate goal: increase your exposure, find new readers for your book, and bump up those review counts.

Not all sites can make sense for every author. The best course of action would be to pick those that best suit your unique needs.

Here are the four best paid book review sites you can rely on for non-fiction authors, each with its distinctive features.

#1 goodreads.

Goodreads is the most popular review site in the publishing industry today. It remains the top on-line community for book lovers and authors alike.

Amazon runs it, so it boasts some perks for authors with books in the Amazon database.

Right through the site, you can claim your profile and earn a badge that verifies your identity. You’ll also be able to access a wealth of statistical information on your books listed on KDP.

So, how do you know if Goodreads is the way to go? Well, if you want your book to go viral and gain as much exposure as possible, Goodreads could be your ticket.

Here, the strategy is to get people to add your book to their virtual bookshelves, and of course, leave some reviews on it.

This way, your book gets raised visibility. Other users can now see it in their friends’ feeds, giving it a much better chance to be added to their reading list.

Think of it as like playing a giant book-fueled game of telephone with 80 million people.

Speaking of games, did you know that we have an entire YouTube channel dedicated to guiding authors like you to create an excellent self-publishing game plan. Check it out, and if you like what you see, let’s see how fast you can smash that subscribe button.

Back to our topic, you can also run a giveaway on Goodreads, a surefire way to get book reviews. It’s something we do regularly for our clients.

All active giveaways are listed on the giveaway section of the website. Your fans can link to it and encourage their friends to enter the giveaway.

Here’s a video dedicated entirely to helping you get all the goods you can get on Goodreads.

#2 NetGalley

Next up on the paid book review site list is NetGalley. NetGalley is a service that delivers digital Advanced Reader Copies, better known as ARCs.

This service provides ARCs of your book to professional readers. We’re talking about reviewers, media, journalists, bloggers, librarians, booksellers, podcast hosts, and many others.

These professional readers use NetGalley to access digital copies of your book, making it an effective marketing tool not just for your book but for your entire brand as an author.

It allows your work to be made available to people who want to read it in their professional capacity.

A NetGalley promotion offers your ARC three months to be highlighted in their database’s recently added and read now sections. The promo also lets you showcase your book to the sections specific to your title’s categories.

By opting for this promo, all users will see your book listed on the NetGalley website.

There’s a lot more to NetGalley when it comes to figuring out if it’s the right one for you.

To help you out, we have a video that goes into all the details of this review site. We also dive deep into costs because it can be pretty expensive and may not be worth it for all books. Stick to the end of this video to make sure if this review site is for you.

The following two on this list are similar to NetGalley. These two book review sites also deliver your ARC copy to both readers and reviewers. But, they focus more on getting your ARC securely to reviewers, bloggers, and your book army.

#3 BookSirens

BookSirens boasts over 10,000 readers across various genres with an average review rate of 75%, making it an attractive site to get book reviews.

The high average review rate is because their users are vetted and accepted as serious book reviewers. Before users can get approval to join BookSirens, they must have posted at least 20 starred ratings on Goodreads.

How this works is that you first need to send your book to the BookSirens team for evaluation. They will then confirm if it is a quality book – something that they want to offer to their users. Once approved, they will add your book to its appropriate category where users can discover it, download the ARC, and start reading.

A remarkable feature of BookSirens, which leads to their 75% success rate, is that readers can only download one ARC at a time. They can’t download a new ARC until they finish reading and reviewing their active one.

This feature is pretty cool for authors because your advanced reader is much less likely to ghost you without leaving a review. And they’re entirely focused on one book at a time.

BookSirens will also give you a direct link that you can send to your book army. So, those folks can hop on over there and securely download their ARC for free.

You also have the option of choosing whether your reviews are posted on Goodreads, Amazon, or both. Now if you’re wondering about getting book reviews from your book army (And how to keep them from being removed) – check out this article .

#4 Booksprout

Booksprout is another option to consider if your main priority is a prelaunch review push.

Similar to BookSirens, Booksprout is a review site that automates the delivery of your ARC to over 40,000 users.

Their average review rate is around 79%. Even your book army will find it challenging to beat that.

Before you get all excited, we’ve been testing this one for some time, and we’re getting mixed results.

Self-Publish and Succeed , well after launch, got four reviews from a single Booksprout listing. Yet, the other books we tested did not bring any results.

Right now, we’re playing with it to figure out whether it’s a timing issue, a topic, or something else.

We’ve experienced the same thing with BookSirens. My book wasn’t even accepted by them for their reviewers. So, I only used BookSirens for ARCs, but some authors from our client base have gotten good reviews.

BookSirens Vs. Booksprout

So what’s the difference between the two paid review sites? Which one is better for you? Let’s discuss the main differences between BookSirens and Booksprout:

• Booksprout focuses on getting reviews by a specific date, while BookSirens focuses on getting a particular number of reviews.
• On BookSirens, you can post your book and have the reviews roll in for as long as your little heart desires. But on Booksprout, your reviewers have a time limit to read and write their review.
• Booksprout also limits the number of reviewer downloads depending on your subscription level. The more money you spend on their service, the more downloads you can do.
• BookSirens is a fee-per-book service, letting you choose the number of downloads from as little as 5 to as many as 250.

On the plus side, you can request Booksprout reviews posted on up to eight different sites rather than just Goodreads or Amazon. They include options like Kobo, Apple Books, Google Books, and even BookBub.

Whether you go with BookSirens, Booksprout, or both, these two book review sites are easy to use. They’re effective if you need a little help building up your audience.

If this is your first book or your book army looks a little sparse on the prelaunch battlefield, one of these two review sites, or maybe both, could be your answer.

Now that you know some of the best sites that can help you get book reviews in bulk, maybe it’s time to get in touch with us. See what we can do to help you take off even further, even months post-launch.

Here at Book Launchers we help authors like you in every stage of the self-publishing process. Whether you write the book yourself or with our help, we’re with you every step of the way.

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Professional Book Reviews: List of Paid Book Review Sites

In our latest annual publishing industry research, in which where we polled hundreds of publishers, publicists and writers, 91.2% reporting that professional book reviews are important or very important. This is no surprise, as countless studies of consumers all industries consistently show that in terms of influencing sales, reviews are as statistically powerful as recommendations from friends and families.

In an age where any reader can post amateur ratings and reviews books on sites like Amazon, GoodReads and Barnes and Noble, discerning readers still look for independent sources to make their books stand out from the rest. In an increasingly crowded marketplace, books with critical acclaim have a leg up on the competition.

How Professional Book Reviews Compare with Movie and TV Reviews 

The need for independent professional reviews is not limited to the book world. It pertains to movie marketing as well.

In contrast, the audience scores are reflections of the opinions of the common viewer. These scores, garnered from individuals who have invested their time in viewing the film, offer a glimpse into how the movie has resonated with the public. Through the combination of both scores, Rotten Tomatoes paints a complete picture of the film’s overall reception. The result is a powerful tool for those seeking to make informed decisions about what they watch, as well as to uncover those films and TV shows that are held in high regard by critics and audiences alike.

How The Profile of Book Reviewers Has Changed

Once upon a time, every small, mid and major market newspaper, most magazines, and virtually every weekly publication had salaried book reviewers on staff. These reviewers were often journalists with journalism degrees.

That all changed with one-two punch of the digitization of media and the Great Recession. With the exception of a chosen few publications such as the New York Times and Entertainment Weekly , many professional book reviewers have been downsized or eliminated.

This dire situation has left independent authors vying for the attention of a precious few book reviewers – the same few that are already working with major publishers. And to be completely realistic, if you’re a genre writer – romance, mystery, horror, thrillers and the like – your odds of getting reviewed by mainstream publications aren’t much better than winning the lottery. For the most part, reviewers at mainstream publications prefer to take on either non-fiction or “literature” that doesn’t fit neatly into any genre.

That’s why today professional book reviewers are far less likely to work at major newspapers. While there are still journalists who work in the field, there are also many librarians and professionals with publishing industry experience or a strong passion for literature. Compared with decades past, these individuals are now more likely to write for companies that specialize in professional book reviews than newspapers or magazines.

List of Professional Book Review Outlets

To help, here’s a list of several paid book review services that work with independent authors and small publishers [full disclosure: BestThrillers.com reviews mystery and thriller books ].

1) BestThrillers.com

Reviews are posted on BestThrillers.com, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Goodreads and distributed to our list of email subscribers.

2) Midwest Book Reviews

Here is the MBR’s policy on format as of this writing: “We review audiobooks, CDs, and DVDs, but we can only accept physical review copies in CD, MP3-CD, or DVD format. We cannot accept download links, digital media, or digital media that has been “burned” to a CD.” Check with MBR on process and pricing.

3) Clarion Reviews

The service is clear and straightforward. As of the time of this writing, reviews cost $499 per book with an express delivery option of 4-6 weeks. Check with Clarion for the latest information on process and pricing.

4) Kirkus Reviews

Advice for authors seeking professional book reviews.

So what’s a writer who’s either independent or with a smaller publisher to do?

• Rule #1 – Don’t send your books to mainstream reviewers and delay publication for weeks or months, hoping to get lucky. This tactic rarely favors writers without connections.
• Rule #2 – Realize that even many well-known writers, at some point in their career, have paid for professional book reviews in one way or another. You’d be surprised at how many brand-name authors have been reviewed by BestThrillers.com or Kirkus .
• Rule #3 – Factor a review service into your book marketing budget.
• Rule #4 – Realize that even paid book reviews may not always be positive, so it’s wise to use more than one service.
• Rule #5 – Make sure the professional book review service also includes distribution. If nobody sees your paid book review, its impact on sales may not be significant.

Frequently Asked Questions about Professional Book Reviews

1. What is a professional book review? A professional book review is a critical assessment of a book written by a knowledgeable reviewer who evaluates various aspects such as plot, writing style, character development, themes, and overall impact. These reviews are often written by individuals with expertise in literature, journalism, or the specific genre of the book. 2. Why are professional book reviews important? Professional book reviews offer potential readers insights into a book’s quality, themes, and overall worthiness. They can help readers make informed decisions about which books to read and also provide authors with feedback that can aid in improving their writing and storytelling skills. 3. How can authors get their books professionally reviewed? Authors can submit their books to various sources for professional reviews, such as literary magazines, newspapers, online review platforms, and reputable book bloggers. Some publishing houses also have in-house reviewers who assess books before publication. 4. Do authors have to pay for professional book reviews? Some review sources offer paid review services. Others provide non-paid reviews, but the largest typically only work with top agents and publishers, leaving out small publishers and indie authors from the equation. 5. What elements are typically covered in a professional book review? A professional book review typically covers elements like the plot summary, characterization, writing style, themes, pacing, originality, and the reviewer’s overall impression. It might also include comparisons to other works or authors within the same genre.

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Blog – Posted on Tuesday, Sep 24

Get paid to read: 18 legitimate sites that pay reviewers.

Serious question: do you want to get paid to read? You might laugh it off at first, thinking that that sounds too good to be true, but it’s not. You can get paid for spending time on what you love: reading books. 

Of course, the key to this #hack is book reviewing, where you offer your personal opinion of a book after you’re done with it. (If you’d like to learn more, check out this post to discover how to write a book review .) Because books are constantly being published, book reviewers are generally always in demand. 

So whether you’re a voracious reader of nonfiction, genre fiction, classics, or indie books, there’s probably an outlet that’s willing to compensate you if you read (review) for them! Without further ado, here’s a definitive list of the 17 sites that will help you get paid to read. If you want to cut to the chase and find out which of them is the right fit for you, we recommend first taking this quick quiz:

Which review community should you join?

Find out which review community is best for your style. Takes 30 seconds!

Then read on for the full list of all of the ways to get paid while reading!

 1. Kirkus Media

💸 Pay: Freelance basis

👀 More information: Check here

If you’ve ever lingered on a book’s Amazon page before, you’ll have heard of Kirkus Reviews. It’s one of the most respected sources of book reviews out there, publishing many of the blurbs that you’ll see on Amazon, or on the cover of your favorite titles.

You have to wonder: where do all of these reviews come from? That’s where you come into the picture. Kirkus Media lists an open application for book reviewers. As of right now, they’re specifically searching for people who will review English and Spanish-language indie titles. Some of the qualities that they want in reviewers include: experience, a keen eye, and an ability to write about a 350-word review in two weeks’ time.

To apply, simply send your resume and writing samples! You can find out more about this opportunity here .

2. Reedsy Discovery

💸 Pay: Tip basis

A powerhouse in the world of indie books, Reedsy Discovery gives book reviewers the chance to read the latest self-published books before anyone else. You can browse through hundreds of new stories before picking one that piques your interest. And if you’ve built up a brand as a book reviewer on Reedsy Discovery, you can liaise with authors who contact you directly for a review.

Its application process is pretty simple: just complete this form to be selected as a book reviewer. Once you’re accepted, you can start looking through the shelves and reading immediately. One more thing: book reviewers can get tips for their book reviews. Readers can send $1, $3, or $5 as a token of appreciation (which, let’s be honest, all book reviewers deserve more of).

If this system intrigues you, you can “discover” more about how it works on this page .

3. Any Subject Books

Any Subject Books is a full-suite self-publishing service. More importantly for you, it hires book reviewers on a book-by-book basis to help them review new books.

They’re big on in-depth, honest, and objective reviews. No fluff here! They’re also happy to give you books in your preferred genres, so if you’re a voracious reader of war fiction, you won’t typically be asked to read the latest paranormal romance hit (or vice versa).

Sadly, Any Subject Books is not currently open to book reviewer applications, but check back again — this could change at any time.

4. BookBrowse

BookBrowse reviews both adult fiction and nonfiction, and some books for young adults. The site focuses on books that are not only enjoyable to read, with great characters and storylines, but that also leave the reader knowing something about the world they did not before. Reviewers also write a "beyond the book" article for each book they review.

5. Online Book Club

💸 Pay: $5 to $60

Online Book Club’s FAQ begins with a warning for all aspiring book reviewers: “First of all, this is not some crazy online get-rich-quick scheme. You won't get rich and you won't be able to leave your day job.”

That daunting reminder aside, Online Book Club’s setup is pretty reasonable, not to mention straightforward. You’ll get a free copy of the book and you’ll get paid for your review of that book. Moreover, it’s one of the few sites that’s transparent about their payment rates (anywhere between $5 to $60). To begin the sign-up process, simply submit your email here .

6. U.S. Review of Books

U.S. Review of Books is a nation-wide organization that reviews books of all kinds and publishes those reviews in a popular monthly newsletter. The way that it works for a book reviewer is simple: when a book title is posted, reviewers can request to read it and get assigned.

A typical review for U.S. Review of Books is anywhere between 250 and 300 words. They are looking particularly for informed opinions and professionalism in reviews, along with succinctness. To apply, submit a resume, sample work, and two professional references via email. But we’d recommend that you check out some previous examples of their book reviews here to first get a better sense of what they’re looking for.

7. Women’s Review of Books

💸 Pay: $100 per review

Women’s Review of Books is a long-running, highly-respected print publication that’s a part of Wellesley Centers for Women. This feminist magazine has been published for 36 years and is looking for more book reviewers to join their force.

If you plan on writing reviews for Women’s Review of Books , you should be aware that its reviews are published “in the service of action and consciousness.” Most of its writers are also academics, journalists, or book reviewers with some years of experience behind them. If you meet these qualifications and are accepted, you’ll be compensated $100 per review.

To pitch then a review, send them an email with a quick proposal. For more details, click here .

8. eBookFairs

eBookFairs primarily helps authors grow their author platforms, but it also has a Paid Book Reader program where readers can earn money by, you guessed it, reviewing the books listed on their site.

Note that they do have clear instructions on what qualifies as a review, so do read their guidelines carefully before applying to make sure you can meet them. For instance, the review must be at least 250 words, you must allow at least 3 days between reviews submitted, and it must provide helpful feedback for the author. There are also a limited number of paid reader positions available.

💸 Pay: Variable

If you’re a freelancer, you’re probably already familiar with Upwork! One of the biggest marketplaces for freelancers, Upwork has fingers in every industry’s pie. So it won’t be a surprise to learn that people who are looking for freelance book reviewers regularly post listings on its marketplace.

Because each job caters to an individual client, the requirements and qualifications will differ. It might be a one-time project, or the gig might turn into a long-running collaboration with the client. Generally, the listing will specify the book’s genre, so you’ll know what you’re getting before you agree to collaborate with the client on the other end.

To begin, you’ll need to sign up as a freelancer on Upwork. Find out more information on Upwork’s FAQ page!

10. Moody Press

💸 Pay: Free ARCs

Moody Press is a nonprofit publishing house of Christian titles and Bible study resources. If this is your niche, you’ll definitely be interested in Moody Press’ Blogger Review Program! As part of the program, you’ll get free copies of book published by Moody Press.

Like some of the other programs on this list, you won’t get paid for your review, but you will get a free book. Moody Press also asks you to write your honest review within 60 days of reading it. To get a feel for it, try joining the MP Newsroom Bloggers Facebook group , where you can directly interact with existing members of the program.

11. New Pages

💸 Pay: Variable 

Not interested in writing anything longer than 300 words? Are quick flash book reviews more your pace? If so, becoming a NewPages reviewer might be just your speed. NewPages.com is an Internet portal to small presses, independent publishers and bookstores, and literary magazines. More importantly, they’re looking for short book reviews (generally between 100 and 200 words) on any recent literary magazine or book that you’ve read.

If you’re already a fan of books from small presses or unknown magazines, even better: that’s exactly the kind of reviewer NewPages wants to work with. If you’d like to look through some of their past book reviews to see if your style matches, check out their book review archive here .

12. Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly is an online magazine focused on international book publishing and all that that entails. More pertinently, it regularly reviews both traditionally published and self-published books, which means that it does occasionally have a call for book reviewers. As of right now, it’s closed to applications — but if you check its Jobs page every once in a while, you might see an opening again.

13. Tyndale Blog Network

Tyndale Blog Network runs a program called My Reader Rewards Club, which is based on an innovative rewards system. If you join as a member, you can earn points for certain actions that you take on the site (for instance, inviting a friend to the program and sharing a direct link to MyReaderRewardsClub.com on Facebook each fetches you 10 points).

Writing a review for a Tyndale or NavPress book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble gets you 10 points, with a maximum limit of 50 points in 30 days. In turn, you can use your accumulated points to receive more books off of Tyndale’s shelves. If this sounds like something that may be up your alley, check out their FAQ here.

14. Booklist Publications

💸 Pay: $12.50 to $15 per review

Booklist is the American Library Association’s highly respected review journal for librarians. Luckily for freelance writers, Booklist assigns freelance book reviews that vary from blog posts for The Booklist Reader to published book review in Booklist magazine.

As the site itself suggests, it’s important that you’re familiar with Booklist Publication’s outlets (which include Booklist magazine, the quarterly Book Links , and The Booklist Reader blog) and its writing style. Reviews are generally very short (no longer than 175 words) and professionally written. You can discover more of its guidelines here — and an archive of previous Booklist reviews here .

To apply, contact a relevant Booklist editor and be prepared to submit a few of your past writing samples.

15. Instaread

💸 Pay: $100 per summary

Not interested in writing critical takes on the books that you read? Then Instaread might be for you. Instaread has an open call for book summaries, which recap “the key insights of new and classic nonfiction.”

Each summary should be around 1000 to 1500 words, which makes it a fair bit lengthier than your average flash book review. However, Instaread will compensate you heartily for it: as of 2019, Instaread pays $100 for each summary that you write. You can peruse Instaread’s recommended Style Guide on this page , or download Instaread from your App Store to get a better feel for the app.

16. NetGalley

If you’ve dreamt about becoming an influencer in the book reviewing community, you may want to give NetGalley a look. Put simply, NetGalley is a service that connects book reviewers to publishers and authors. Librarians, bloggers, booksellers, media professionals, and educators can all sign up to NetGalley to read books before they’re published.

How it works is pretty simple. Publishers put digital review copies out on NetGalley for perusal, where NetGalley’s members can request to read, review, and recommend them. It’s a win-win for both publisher and reviewer: the publisher is able to find enthusiastic readers to provide an honest review for their books, and the reviewer gets access to a vast catalog of books.

The cherry on top is that NetGalley membership is 100% free! Simply use this form to sign up. And if you’d like more information, you can dip into their FAQ here .

17. getAbstract

Are you an avid reader of nonfiction books? getAbstract is a site that summarizes 18,000+ nonfiction books into 10-minute bites. Their Career Opportunities page often includes listings for writers. At the time of this post’s writing, getAbstract is looking for science and technology writers who can sum up the latest magazine articles and books. They pay on a freelance basis, so apply through their website to get further details.

18. Writerful Books

💸 Pay: $10 to $50

Writerful Books is an author services company that provides everything from beta reading to (you guessed it) book reviewing. As such, they’re always on the lookout for book reviewers with fresh and compelling voices.  

One of the benefits of this gig is that you can review any book that you want for them (although they prefer contemporary award-winning American, Australian, British, Canadian, Irish, and New Zealand authors). Getting a regularly paid gig with Writerful Books isn’t a guarantee, but if you regularly publish quality reviews for them, they may contact you. 

To apply, you’ll have to be able to provide previous book review samples. Here’s the job listing if you’re curious to learn more about this role.

If you're an avid reader,  sign up to Reedsy Discovery  for access to the freshest new reads — or  apply as a reviewer  to give us  your  hot takes!

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Independent Book Review wants you to read indie. Books that you’ve just got to hear about are being published by indie presses and self-publishers every day, but you might not see many of them on the shelves of your local bookstore. Why? Because they weren’t published by the Big Five. And you know what? We think that kind of sucks.

In april 2018, we started ibr to encourage more readers to find their way to indie books. bold, independent thinkers are publishing incredible books that don’t fit the mold of the big five, but instead of collecting dust, they’re being published by passionate, bookish people who believe that there are more than five ways to write a damn good book. in addition to publishing reviews and book lists, we celebrate indie bookstores with city-roundups, and we provide author services to help authors improve their manuscripts and get their published books into the hands of more readers..

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Free Book Reviews

Where can I have my book reviewed?

Writerful Books is currently offering free book reviews for authors within chosen genres. Book reviews provide authors with a proven way to increase their discoverability and online presence. It has been shown that an in-depth and honest book review can result in increased book sales and also be a boost to your author platform. People buy books on the strength of honest reviews and trusted recommendations rather than hype.

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We usually charge $49 to read and review unsolicited books but we will be reviewing certain books for FREE for a limited time. If we decide to review your book, the review will appear on Writerful Books as well as Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Due to the change in Amazon policy we no longer do reviews there. If we think your book is exceptional we may invite you to participate in an author interview.

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Written by S. Kalekar January 28th, 2019

16 Magazines Accepting Books for Review

These are literary and other magazines and websites that accept books for review. So if you’re an author looking to promote your fiction, poetry, or nonfiction book, these are places that could review your work; some of them also have author interview sections. Sending a book doesn’t guarantee a review, however, and they often review only specific kinds or genres of books, so make sure you check out their guidelines and the website/magazine for the kinds of books they review. These magazines do not charge authors for the reviews they publish, or they have fee-free options.

Publishers Weekly Books must have US distribution to be considered. They review nonfiction, fiction, mystery/thriller, science fiction/fantasy/horror, romance/erotica, poetry, comics, and lifestyles (cooking, gardening & home, health & fitness, or parenting). Children’s titles have their own guidelines, as do Canadian books. They consider self-published books for review via BookLife , which also has a services directory for advertising, marketing and others for Indie authors. They do not review audiobooks, textbooks, technical manuals, reissues or new editions unless 60% or more of the content is new, reference books, books of strictly regional interest, travel guides, media and game tie-ins, journals, coloring books, devotionals and prayer books, or playscripts and dramatic works. There is a specific lead time for galleys/books/bound manuscripts to be sent before publication, in the guidelines. Details here .

Neon Books Neon Books is a UK-based independent publisher, working with authors anywhere in the world, and producing a small number of chapbooks, pamphlets and other ephemera each year – they lean towards literary and slipstream writing, with a preference for the magical realist and the extremely odd. They also have one of the longest-running independent literary magazines in the UK, and a review blog. They accept small press books, poetry, novellas, collections, anthologies and anything that is a bit in-between for review on their blog. If authors/publicists like to have something reviewed on the blog, they should send a query. Details here .

The Quarterly Conversation This is a magazine that publishes book reviews, essays, and interviews that address literature from original and provocative perspectives – they do not publish fiction or poetry. They review fiction and nonfiction, so long as the books are of literary and/or cultural value. They are especially interested in books that have been translated into English, and particularly in works translated from traditionally neglected nations or languages. They are also interested in out of print works of literature that have recently been brought back into print. They ask publishers to ideally submit books prior to publication, but they run reviews of titles up to a year old. Details here .

Necessary Fiction They publish book reviews each Monday, a featured short story each Wednesday, a contribution to their Research Notes series each Friday, and occasional interviews, essays, and other surprises. They are especially interested in reviewing fiction from independent publishers, with a moderate emphasis on short story collections, novellas and translations. Self-published authors are welcome to submit their books. Their focus is on literary fiction for adult readers, broadly defined, and they say they probably aren’t a good fit for books in other genres or for younger readers. For their Research Notes series, they invite the author of a recent book of fiction to reflect on the “research” behind it, and for their Translation Notes series, they invite translators of literary fiction to write about the process of bringing a book into English. Publishers, authors, or publicists wanting to submit a book for consideration are asked to query. Details here .

The Malahat Review This magazine publishes reviews of Canadian-authored books of poetry, fiction, and literary nonfiction in every issue, apart from fiction, nonfiction, poetry and translations. They rarely publish articles and interviews. Publishers and authors may send copies of their new titles by mail for potential review. Email announcements of new titles are also welcome. They say that they receive over 200 books every year; between 25 and 38 of them are reviewed. Details here .

Strange Horizons They publish in-depth reviews of speculative art and entertainment, especially books, films, and television, three times a week. They normally cover new works, although they do occasional features on older works. They are especially interested in reviews of worthy material that might not otherwise get the exposure it deserves, and in reviews of works that push traditional genre boundaries. They ask those wishing to submit a review copy to query by sending a short description of the work over email. They accept both physical and electronic review copies and try to match reviewers with the work. Details here .

Existere Journal of Art and Literature This biannual journal of art and literature publishes artwork, poetry, short plays, short stories, postcard/flash fiction, art and literature reviews, critical essays, interviews, sketches, photos, etc. They receive books for review and books to be considered for any forthcoming issue should arrive at their office no later than two months before the deadline for each issue, in order for them to have time to give it a look and write a review. Details here .

Book Reporter The majority of the reviews on their website are fiction. They review bestsellers, debut authors, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, mysteries, thrillers, some fantasy/science fiction and some romance. They also review nonfiction, newsworthy books, biographies and memoirs. They generally do not review how-to, self-help, medical/health, religion, or travel guides. They review self-published books on a select basis – these must be available with wide distribution offline as well as online. They rarely cover ebook-only titles. Besides Bookreporter.com, The Book Report Network is comprised of other online book review and author feature sites, including ReadingGroupGuides, where authors/publishers can provide their guides for a fee, as well as: — 20SomethingReads (includes, but is not limited to, new age, contemporary fiction, women’s fiction, humor/satire, memoirs and gift books); — Teenreads (largely fiction for teens aged 12-18, some nonfiction, select self-published titles, rarely ebooks); — Kidsreads (typically fiction for children aged 6-12, some nonfiction, and on a select basis, select self-published books, rarely ebooks, and books for slightly younger readers, though not picture books – they do have a monthly round-up of picture books, but these are not reviewed); — GrapicNovelReporter (graphic novels, can review books or galleys)

Typically books are reviewed within three months of publication. Details here .

QBR the Black Book Review They are dedicated to books about the African experience. Their website says, “In its pages you will find fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s books, health and lifestyle management, writers from Africa and the Caribbean–the whole of the Diaspora, the whole of our experience. How do you know who the newest authors are? How do you know what to read? Do you still wait for second hand “word of mouth” recommendations for the books you read? How do you know which books are good for your children? QBR is your reliable source for what is current in Black books.” QBR also produces the Harlem Book Fair, held annually in New York City and throughout the US. They have paid author promotion services but the reviews (books for review selected at their discretion) are free. Details here .

London Review of Books This magazine publishes some of the world’s best writers, and publishes book reviews, reportage, poems, reviews of exhibitions and movies, ‘short cuts’, letters and a diary. They accept books for review. They cannot review ebooks. Details here .

New York Review of Books This prestigious magazine publishes essays and reviews of books and the arts, including music, theater, dance, and film, and they accept books for review. When a book is reviewed, they send copies of the review to the book’s publisher. Details here (click on the ‘Editorial’ tab under Frequently Asked Questions).

filling Station This is a literary and arts magazine publishing innovative poetry, fiction, nonfiction (creative and critical nonfiction, reviews, articles, interviews, live event reviews, photo essays, etc). The magazine is produced in Canada and their mandate is to support emerging writers. They will generally not accept reviews of non-experimental literature unless the review itself is experimental – they are looking to engage with and draw attention to literature that pushes the boundaries of genre, form, methodology, style, etc. They provide an address for those wishing to submit books for review, and say that filling Station is interested in works of experimental or otherwise innovative poetry, fiction and nonfiction. They also provide an email address if writers or publishers wish to query about the books that fS seeks to review before sending in review copies. Details here .

Ethos Literary Journal This is a bi-annual literary journal of fiction, nonfiction, as well as book and film reviews. Their website says that the journal aims to “reflect the truest ethos of the current times – the quintessential yet varied, fast-diversifying yet emblematic, “spirit,” so to speak, of the exciting post-modernist times we are living in.” They ask publishers or authors wishing to submit books for review to query first over email with details of the book, and they may request a copy or two. Details here .

Hippocampus Magazine This is a magazine of nonfiction and creative nonfiction, and they have certain fee-free submission periods and categories for writers. They review new memoirs, creative nonfiction anthologies and craft books. If writers/publishers would like them to consider an upcoming/recent book for review or for an interview, they should send an email query, or post the books to them for review. They do not review self-published titles, or books that are exclusively available online. Details here .

Identity Theory This is an online magazine that publishes short fiction, nonfiction, poetry, interviews, as well as book and film reviews. They also have a social justice section and blog. They ask those wishing to send a review copy to contact them for an address to send copies to. Details here .

EcoLit Books This is a community passionate about books with environmental and animal rights themes, supported by Ashland Creek Press. They review literature relating to environment and animal rights in all genres, from fiction to poetry to nonfiction. They consider queries only from publishers, for receiving books to review. Details here .

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September 20, 2024

Free Talk: Writing the Essential Scenes of Act II

  Download the Slides Ley Taylor Johnson is a writing consultant, author, and regular contributor to Authors Publish Magazine. Ley is also a member of the Northwest Editors Guild and the Editorial Freelancers Association. For those interested in working with Lee, I encourage you to visit their website.

Available to watch right now, completely free.

September 6, 2024

Free Talk: The Art of Historical Fiction – How to Write Fact into Fiction

September 26, 2024

7 Literary Journals that Accept Humorous Writing

Literary journals accepting humorous poetry, fiction, cartoons, nonfiction, and more.

The Secret Sauce for Pitches and Blurbs

So you can grab the attention of editors, agents, and readers.

The Nomad: Now Seeking Submissions

A new literary journal accepting poetry, fiction, nonfiction, book reviews, letters, and essays.

Truth and Reconciliation Day – September 30th

Honoring the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities.

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Now that the weather has turned, my favourite thing is to light a scented candle , cover myself in a blanket and get lost in a good book. Luckily there's a whole host of exciting new books to usher in the autumn - so we won't be bored! Whether you want a page-turning thriller , a gripping historical novel or a feel-good read , we've got some great choices out this month.

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins

When a human bone is discovered in an art installation, rumours swirl that it may be connected to the artist’s adulterous husband, who disappeared 20 years before. Hawkins has created a darkly atmospheric, engaging mystery – her best book since The Girl On The Train .

What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella

This heartbreaking, yet hopeful, novella mirrors the author’s experience of being diagnosed with brain cancer (read Sophie’s moving account of it on page 46). Eve is a mother of five and recounts her experiences through anecdotes as she faces treatment and rehab. A beautiful reminder to hold those you love tight.

What Does it Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella

The Book Of Witching by CJ Cooke

A pacy, atmospheric story based on real-life events and the 72 women who were burned at the stake during the North Berwick witch trials in the 1500s. In 1594, Alison is accused of witchcraft, while in the present day, Clem receives a call to say her daughter has been found with severe burns on a beach in Orkney.

The Book of Witching by CJ Cooke

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

Whether someone other than Shakespeare penned his plays isn’t a new idea, but Picoult makes a strong argument for them being the work of poet Emilia Bassano in this electrifying, richly detailed novel. In present-day Manhattan, a young female playwright, Melina Green, goes along with a lie in order to see her work performed.

The Christmas Cottage by Sarah Morgan

It might feel a bit early for a Christmas book, but I highly recommend this one when you’re ready. It provides all the festive feels: a family drama that pulls at the heart, a sweet love story and a picture-perfect Cotswolds village, where every tree is strung with fairy lights.

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

Rooney’s writing can be Marmite for some, but if you love introspective, meandering novels that weave in thoughts on everything from the Dublin housing crisis to modern masculinity, this is for you. At its heart, it’s the story of two brothers, 10 years apart in age and light years in personality, reconnecting after the death of their father. Tender and true.

Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret by Benjamin Stevenson

I loved this fun, Christmas-themed mystery that’s divided into 24 chapters – with 24 clues – making it a great Advent read. When the ex-wife of detective Ernest Cunningham is accused of murder, it’s his job to find the real killer before it’s too late.

The Land In Winter by Andrew Miller

Two couples are trapped together in a snowstorm in a Somerset village in this intimate novel from the author of Pure. The writing is stunning and the details of the 1960s setting are particularly evocative. Another psychologically rich novel from one of my favourite writers.

The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller

Our Evenings by Alan Hollinghurst

The award-winning author of The Line Of Beauty returns with a beautiful meditation on race, class and sexuality. The story follows two boys of different fortunes who meet at an exclusive boarding school and whose lives intertwine over the years.

The Widow by Helene Flood

In the aftermath of the death of her husband, Evy becomes more and more unsettled in her home, as doors she’s locked are left open and objects mysteriously move around. This creepy, compelling, slow-burn thriller is my first of Flood’s, and it won’t be my last.

The by Helene Flood

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The best self-publishing companies

• Self-publishing companies help independent authors produce and publish their books. Some also provide additional services and tools to help you create a highly saleable book.
• There are four main types of self-publishing businesses. These are aggregators, book retailers, coaching companies, and author services.
• The best self-publishing companies include Amazon KDP and Book Baby. Other notable companies to work with are IngramSpark, Barnes and Noble, and Apple Books.

The great thing about self-publishing is that anyone can write a book and launch it to the public. The gatekeepers of traditional publishing houses don’t exist when you take the self-publishing route.

Although publishing your book is very exciting, it can also be nerve-wracking, especially if you’re just starting out and not sure how to get started.

This guide will cover the best self-publishing companies you can pick for your book(s) today! We delve into each one and explain their royalties, pricing, reputation and more.

What do self-publishing companies do?

In short, self-publishing companies help independent authors produce and publish their books on different platforms and retailers.

The process can sometimes be convoluted, so such companies can help you navigate it with ease. This is their core offering, but many also offer additional services and helpful tools to make self-publishing more straightforward.

Types of self-publishing companies

When choosing a self-publishing company, keep an eye out for what exactly is included in their services. Generally speaking, there are four main types and what you go for will depend on your needs and how much help you want:

• Aggregators – Companies like BookBaby and IngramSpark help you publish and distribute your book to multiple online retailers. This can save you a lot of time, but usually costs a bit more.
• Book retailers – A self-publishing retailer company is a platform which sells books exclusively through its own online book store. This includes Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Apple Books.
• Education and coaching – These companies, and sometimes individuals, provide education courses and programmes to help authors build a successful self-publishing career.
• Author services – They usually offer new authors book editing services, formatting, book cover design, marketing, publishing and other services.

What are the best self-publishing companies?

Here’s a list of the best self-publishing companies UK authors can use.

1. Amazon KDP

• ‍ Pricing: Free to get started‍
• Royalties: 70% or 35% (depending on the country your book is sold in)( more here )‍
• Rating: 1.4 rating from 282 reviews ( Trustpilot )‍
• Type: Retailer

2. Bookbaby

• Pricing: Self-publishing packages start from $1,090 ( more here )‍
• Royalties: 10% - 50% depending on how/where your book is sold ( more here )‍
• Rating: 4.6 rating from 4,489 reviews ( Trustpilot )‍
• Type: Author services / Aggregator

3. IngramSpark 

• ‍Pricing: Setup is free, but you may need to pay for additional services. eBook publishing starts from $25 per title ( more here )‍
• Royalties: Depends on multiple factors, so use their calculator . ‍
• Rating: 3.1 rating from 1,340 reviews ( Trustpilot )‍
• Type: Author services

4. Apple Books

• ‍ Pricing: Free to get started ‍
• Royalties: 70% on every book ( more here ) ‍
• Rating: We couldn’t find customer reviews. ‍

5. Barnes & Noble

• Pricing: Free to get started
• Royalties: 70% regardless of book pricing ( more here )
• Rating: 4.0 rating from 1,778 reviews ( Trustpilot )

6. PublishDrive

• Pricing: From $14.19/month‍
• Royalties: ‍ Depends on the store where your book is sold ( more here )
• Rating: 2.8 rating from 4 reviews ( Trustpilot ).‍

• ‍Pricing: Depends on your requirements ( more here )‍
• Royalties: Up to 100% (but you’ll need to meet Blurb’s minimum payment thresholds to receive the cash)
• Rating: 4.4 rating from 4,576 reviews ( Trustpilot )‍

8. Flipsnack

Flipsnack is an online ebook maker that allows users to effortlessly create or customise their marketing materials to obtain engaging digital publications.

• Pricing: 14 days free trial to get started, pricing plans from $14/month
• Royalties: N/A
• Rating: 3.8 rating from 152 reviews ( Trustpilot )

9. Draft2Digital

• Pricing: No upfront charges for formatting, conversion, distribution, or sales tracking
• Royalties: Up to 90% (usually closer to 60% when all fees are paid)
• Rating: 2.3 rating from 48 reviews ( Trustpilot )

Can I self-publish on multiple platforms at once?

It depends on the terms of the self-publishing company you use. If you decide to self-publish on Amazon KDP and other websites like Barnes & Noble and Apple Books, then there's no limit. You can use one of the aggregator self-publishing platforms mentioned in this article to publish your book on multiple platforms at once.

The free ISBN you receive from Amazon when publishing on Kindle, cannot be used on other platforms. You'll have to buy a new ISBN if you wish to distribute your book elsewhere.

Also, if you enroll for KDP Select (which includes inclusion in Kindle Unlimited), your e-book will have to be made exclusive to the Kindle Store. The good news is that you can distribute the paperback version (or any other format) anywhere else you like!

Self-publishing VS traditional publishing companies

Self-publishing and traditional publishing (i.e. signing up with a literary agent who can sell your book to an established publisher) both have distinct  advantages and disadvantages. Some writers will find one specific route more appealing than the other.

Here are the key differences:

Traditional publishing companies:

• The intellectual property rights of your manuscript are purchased outright by the publishing company. The transaction usually takes place via a literary agent. Well-known publishing companies include Penguin/Random House, Hachette Book Group, Harper Collins, Simon and Schuster, and Macmillan.
• The publisher will help you distribute your book widely, thanks to their connections with bookstores (e.g. Waterstones), online platforms (e.g. Amazon Kindle) and retailers/supermarkets.
• Your book is likely to have four separate editions  - hardback, paperback, e-book, and audiobook.
• Having big publishing names behind you means you will have a better chance of being reviewed by big-name newspapers or magazines.
• You’ll be paid royalties for every book sale, but the publishing house will take a large cut from it. You’ll often receive an advance payment as well.
• You no longer have full control over your book because many of the rights will belong to the publisher. You might offer some marketing ideas, for example, but the publisher will always have the final say. This also applies to the editing process.
• You could buy the rights back but that may be costly.

Self-publishing:

• When you use a self-publishing company, you call the shots. If you’re not happy with the company and their service, you can pull your files and choose a different one.
• You don’t have to sell the rights to anyone, ever!
• That also means you won’t get a payment advance, so you’ll have to have money saved up and be ready to invest. We’ve covered the cost of self-publishing extensively in our guide.
• Self-publishing means you’ll be responsible for editing, book cover design , formatting, publishing, marketing, promotions, outreach, and sometimes getting copies printed.
• You may not have a huge chance of getting featured in popular newspapers or magazines, but you can still find influencers/bloggers in your niche who can help get your name out there.
• Some self-publishing retailers can help with getting physical copies in bookstores, but that isn’t very common.
• What’s more common is POD (print-on-demand), where a physical copy is printed as soon as an order has been placed. The good thing is you won’t have to hold any stock and dispatch them on your own (although you could if you wanted to!).
• If you’re selling your book through Amazon, you will have to carry out your own Amazon KDP keyword research to find how people search for books from your genre and use this in your Amazon KDP listing.

When it comes to earnings, traditionally published authors would normally get an advance, while self-published authors have to put their own money and time into every step of the publishing process. Authors can still make quite a lot of money self-publishing , although breaking through may be a bit more difficult!

Here’s a summary table showing the key points:

* Royalties depend on your approach and how you decide to self-publish. If you do all of the printing and distribution on your own, you could keep all the profits to yourself essentially.

5 steps to choosing a self-publishing company for your book

Decided to go down the self-publishing route? Here are the 5 major steps for choosing a company to help you self-publish your book in the UK.

• Decide which services you need

If you already have a sizeable social media following, you might feel you can take care of the marketing without too much investment or hassle. But book cover design, distribution, and other services are trickier to do yourself if you don’t have the necessary skills or connections. Decide which services are worth paying for, then whittle down your self-publishing company shortlist accordingly.

• Define your budget

Decide how much you have to spend on self-publishing your work, and consider how this might be allocated to the key expenses required:

• Distribution
• Book cover design

You can then look at the services provided by each company and match it to the one that best meets your needs.

• Check reviews

Reviews vary significantly between self-publishing companies, so check out what other authors are saying about each one. This can help you weigh up the experience they offer against the cost and potential returns.

• Compare royalty rates

There are often terms and conditions you need to check out before signing up with a company that promises up to 100% royalty rates.

For example, Draft2Digital takes a 10% fee when you sell a book — but this is on top of the fee taken by the bookstore. So you’re unlikely to be earning a 90% royalty rate, as most book buyers won’t purchase direct from Draft2Digital.

• Check the content policy

Not all self-publishing companies will list or sell every type of book . Check your book adheres to the company’s content guidelines before investing in their services. 

Things to keep in mind when choosing a self-publishing company

To get the most from your self-publishing experience, there are a few key things to keep in mind when picking a service:

• Some companies pay out royalties more slowly than others.
• Retailers and aggregators may have strict content policies which means not every book will be accepted.
• The publishing process may be a little convoluted and you may run into issues, so be prepared to reach out to their help teams.
• Always order proof copies before printing your book in bulk. Print and ink quality, paper, finishing touches… These all vary from company to company.

Author services from Book Beaver

Book Beaver specialises in providing high-quality book cover design for self-publishing authors. A professional book cover can add serious value and saleability to your book, so it’s a really important part of self-publishing.

Check out the psychology behind book cover design for more information, then take a look at some of our premade book covers for an idea of what we offer.

Advice from a published writer

Alex Fisher, " Seadogs and Criminals"

It’s hard to say what the best self-publishing companies are as there are many, but there are a few important things to look out for when it comes to looking for the right one. Look for a professional website with plenty of reviews and testimonials from previous authors and see what they said about their experience working with the company.

Make sure their services are fair, varied and what you require; check that their prices are fair too. Additionally, check that they have good links with book distributors such as Amazon or Waterstones; you need your book to be readily available to potential readers.

Also, a good self-publishing company will always ask for an enquiry first and will always ask for material - a few chapters, usually - of your work to check that you and your book are ready for the next step. It is a daunting process trying to find the right one, it can be a minefield, but keep looking – there will be a self-publishing company out there perfect for you.

Drop us a message, we'll be happy to help.

"I'd like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the team for the exceptional book cover design!"

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Melania’s upcoming memoir already tops Amazon bestseller chart days ahead of release

While the former first lady rode her amazon success on friday, former first lady hillary clinton topped the new york times bestseller list., article bookmarked.

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Former first lady Melania Trump is now a bestselling author, as calculated by Amazon’s sales rankings.

Her forthcoming memoir, Melania , is the #1 seller in Amazon’s “Books” category, as of Friday afternoon. It is scheduled for an October 8 release.

Amazon calculates its bestseller list based on actual sales or downloads of its books, and says it updates the chart “frequently.” On Friday, the #2 spot was occupied by a childrens’ book penned by YouTuber Ms. Rachel, with Dr. Casey Means in the #3 position, a paean by Vivek Ramaswamy to Donald Trump’s “America First” movement at #4, followed by the deluxe limited edition of Onyx Storm by fantasy author Rebecca Yarros, whose Empyrean book series is being adapted for television by Amazon Studios.

This time last month, Melania was #1 in a variety of other categories on Amazon , including “Memoirs,” “US Presidents,” and “Political Leader Biographies.” She has promoted the book, which is #17 in Amazon’s year-to-date sales rankings, with a series of appearances and videos, in one of which she defended, apparently unprompted, her past nude photoshoots . She is also currently hawking a $600 gold “Vote Freedom” necklace, a move that has drawn mockery.

“In her memoir, Melania reflects on her Slovenian childhood, the pivotal moments that led her to the world of high fashion in Europe and New York, and the serendipitous meeting with Donald Trump, a chance encounter that forever changed the course of her life,” the book’s sales page reads. “Melania opens up about their courtship, life in the spotlight, and experiencing the joy of motherhood. She shares behind-the-scenes stories from her time in the White House, shedding light on her advocacy work and the causes close to her heart.”

The 256-page tome is being published by Skyhorse Books, an outfit that has put out works by election denialists and Trump impeachment lawyer Alan Dershowitz , along with no fewer than 35 books on the JFK assassination. It also released Disloyal , a memoir by former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen that was highly critical of his ex-boss, as well as a 2021 anti-Anthony Fauci screed by third-party presidential candidate-turned-MAGA-acolyte Robert F. Kennedy Jr .

Melania , according to Skyhorse’s marketing materials, “offers an unprecedented look” into her time in the White House, describing her as someone who has “led a remarkable life on her own terms. Melania Trump’s story is one of resilience and independence, showcasing her strength and unwavering commitment to her true self. “

Although the more granular details of Melania sales are not yet known, the Republican National Committee was raked over the coals twice in the past five years for spending several hundred thousand dollars buying up copies of Donald Trump Jr.’s two self-published books.

On Friday, the #1 nonfiction book on The New York Times bestseller list, for combined print copies and electronic downloads, was Something Lost, Something Gained , by Hillary Rodham Clinton.

A blurb from Trump on Melania ’s Amazon page pays tribute to his 54-year-old third wife, who stuck by him publicly after allegations emerged that he’d had an affair with porn star Stormy Daniels while the new Mrs. Trump was pregnant, reading, “Melania is my rock and foundation and I wouldn’t be the man I am today without her by my side.”

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David Hollanders

September 27th, 2024, a political theory of money – review.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

In  A Political Theory of Money ,  Anush Kapadia examines money’s political, social, and economic dimensions, from its hierarchical nature to its interconnection with state politics and global power dynamics. This lucid, timely book is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding money in all its forms, writes  David Hollanders .

A Political Theory of Money . Anush Kapadia. Cambridge University Press. 2023.

Well, Anush Kapadia pulls off what wasn’t supposed to be possible: a book on money that is at once meticulous, all-encompassing, lucid and timely. It is also accessibly readable, though it will probably be too condensed for those who do not theorise money for a living. For those who wisely consider reading A Political Theory of Money , it is worth highlighting four relevant complications in monetary matters that the book addresses.

In what some consider to be the good old days, money was a promise to gold. Ever since the USA aborted the Bretton Woods-regime in 1973, this is not the case anymore

A first way to approach money is considering how and why it is valuable. Kapadia points out that money indisputably and legally settles transactions. As such it is an inherent part of “the economy”, understood as an interlinked system of economic transactions and concomitant legal claims. Without money, there is, according to Kapadia, not even an economy. The same applies to debt, which escalates the number of possible transactions by promising to pay money later.

As a first complication, debt – a promise to pay money – can itself function as money. Everybody knows this, at least tacitly; bank deposits are strictu sensu not money, “only” constituting promises to hand over cash (ie, money proper) on demand. We nonetheless talk about and think of bank liabilities as money; we accept them as such when for example our employer settles its legal obligations to us by transferring our salary. It is then conceptually more fruitful – as Kapadia does throughout – to think about moneys, plural. He conceptualises a monetary pyramid, at the apex of which stands “central bank money”, which includes cash and is only issuable by central banks. Commercial bank deposits are situated one level lower, as highly credible claims to pay cash.

Whereas domestically moneys form a hierarchy, the global monetary system is a hierarchy of hierarchies.

Private banks’ deposits are credible because banks are the only societal actor that can borrow from the central bank. Commercial banks turn their deposits (ie, their liabilities) into near-money by promising to exchange them for cash at the nearest ATM, knowing that central banks will accommodate this business model by massively lending to banks if need be (as in the credit crisis, reflected in the increase of assets and liabilities of central banks). Consequently, a second complication arises that seemingly commercial “banks have been given a license to print money” (39). Central banks cannot stop commercial banks from issuing debt by creating deposits. They can only discourage private banks by increasing the interest-rate against which the latter borrow cash.

A third complication arises as not only debt, but also money itself – be it cash or not – constitutes a promise. In what some consider to be the good old days, money was a promise to gold. Ever since the USA aborted the Bretton Woods-regime in 1973, this is not the case anymore. Nowadays money is backed by both more and less – or so Kapadia proposes. It is backed by less as it cannot be redeemed for any commodity. However, the “national economy would replace gold as the reserve asset” (54). Money does not constitute a legal, but a political claim on the wealth of the nation issuing the currency. This is also why we ultimately accept money; it is embedded in a political settlement that promises that money is a material claim. The political anchoring of the currency with monetary and fiscal policy both socialises and materialises money. This, then, is the gist of the book. Money is social and material: it is political.

Here, Kapadia deviates from commodity-fetishists, as well as from social constructivists who hold that money is sustainable by the self-enforcing social praxis that we all accept money because we (anticipate that we) all accept money. The book resembles somewhat, but fundamentally deviates from, so called modern monetary theory. This approach gained traction in recent years, and holds that inflation is the only limit to a state’s ability to create money. Otherwise, states can create as much money as they like. Kapadia disagrees, stating that “We ought not to believe that mere state declaration (‘fiat’) can create value” (37). State-issued money derives its value from a monetary-political constellation, carefully crafted and sustained by the state as well as by commercial banks.

Whereas domestically moneys form a hierarchy, the global monetary system is a hierarchy of hierarchies. And this constitutes a fourth complication. The global, monetary super-pyramid is – of course – politically anchored as well; the global acceptance of the currency of the hegemon – nowadays, the dollar – is “predicated on an imperial contract de facto or de jure” (91). The hegemon has “the privilege of having its own liabilities function as world money” (175). Oil has to be paid for in dollars, and virtually all other international trade deals can be settled in dollars as well. That is an imperial privilege indeed, resulting from both economic dominance and military might.

the most informative, most lucid book on money since the credit crisis

The four complications are at the heart of A political Theory of Money , but the book casts its net wider and delves deeper. It discusses why cryptocurrency is solving the wrong problem. (It fixes money, thereby blocking debt, thus disabling “the economy”.) It vivisects the perverse situation that money has been nationalised, while banking has been privatised (“What we have presented earlier is in the end of one long argument for bank nationalisation”, 221). And it neatly weaves in the work of – among others – Marx, Weber, and Minsky.

The book is not entirely without flaws. The chapter on the euro reproduces too much the common narrative about the actions of the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European Union (EU). The ECB might have wanted to help “EU’s periphery”, but supposedly couldn’t, as “the European people do not want to be the United States of Europe” (213). Maybe they don’t, but neither did the European hoi polloi want their governments to bail out commercial bank(er)s in the financial crisis. And they also did not want the ECB to prop up commercial banks by taking over assets at inflated prices and by lending against zero interest-rate. This, however, is what happened. Kapadia does not seem to fully appreciate the sui generis character of the Economic and Monetary Union, in which monetary and fiscal policy is removed from the democratic and even the parliamentarian process, and is in the hands of the Eurogroup and the ECB.

That, however, does not affect the achievement that A Political Theory of Money represents. It is the most informative, most lucid book on money since the credit crisis. It brings home that monetary systems constitute a pyramid of hierarchical claims, held together by a political contract that is constituted by legal codifications, material claims and social practises –without being reducible to any of those pillars. In other words, money is all kind of things. And if it is one thing, it is political.

Note:  This review gives the views of the author and not the position of the LSE Review of Books blog, nor of the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Image:  Maxx-Studio  on Shutterstock

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About the author

David Hollanders is a lecturer in economics at the department of European Studies, University of Amsterdam.

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/road-safety-statistics-stats19-review-update-and-future-development-roadmap/road-safety-data-and-statistics-stats19-review-update-and-future-plans

About this document

This document outlines the road safety statistics team’s future plans for development of the department’s road safety data and statistics, including an update on progress in implementing the latest STATS19 review.   

1. Background

The main source of data on road casualties in Great Britain is the dataset of personal injury collisions reported to police, known as STATS19.  The majority of the published road casualty statistics are based on STATS19 data.  The STATS19 collection is reviewed periodically.  The most recent review commenced in 2018, with final recommendations published in 2021 and rollout of the new specification from late 2023 in some police forces areas.  Section 2 gives an update on the review implementation.

As well as changes to the STATS19 collection, the review proposed a future data strategy for STATS19, to maximise the value of other data sources and linkages and reduce burdens on police.  Section 3 provides an update on progress since the review, and planned future priorities (subject to availability of resource).

In addition, the road safety statistics team regularly reviews the publication and dissemination of the road casualty data and statistics, and consults with users on planned changes.  Section 4 summarises recent and forthcoming changes and future plans.

2. STATS19 2018 review implementation

2.1 main changes to stats19 data and statistics.

The changes to STATS19 arising from the review are summarised in the final recommendations document. In implementing the changes, a number of small amendments have been made to these recommendations.  Full details of the new specification, including variables and values are available in the updated STATS20 guidance .

As a summary, the main changes in the new specification which will relate to the published statistics include:

• all forces to adopt injury-based reporting, which will provide more granular data on collision and casualty severity, and in time, reduce the need for severity adjustments
• a change from the current contributory factors ( CFs ) to new road safety factors ( RSFs )
• a new vehicle type to record powered personal transporters, including e-scooters, which should improve the quality and consistency of reporting
• a new variable to record results of roadside drug testing, which may facilitate the development of statistics on drug-driving in future
• coding of journey purpose using values consistent with the National Travel Survey
• extending the scope of seatbelt and helmet wearing variables

There are a number of other changes which will not impact greatly on the statistics published by the department, but which will affect users of the detailed dataset (for example, as supplied via data.gov.uk).  These include combining variables related to pedestrian crossing and carriageway conditions, and changes in variable values for some fields including road type, and vehicle manoeuvre, location and direction.  There will also be better tracking of collisions which are deleted from STATS19 where they are out of scope (for example, away from the public highway).

2.2 Adoption of new specification by police forces

The new specification (the ‘2024 specification’), implementing the above changes, was first adopted by 28 forces using the CRASH reporting system from early November 2023, though some collisions reported using certain mobile devices or online by the public are still based on the older specification (the ‘2011 specification’).  During 2024, a further 3 forces have adopted the 2024 specification.

It is currently hoped that the remaining 14 forces will adopt the new specification by early 2025, though this could be impacted by IT deployments in some cases.   

This phased rollout means that the majority of the data for 2023 was collected using the pre-2024 specification, 2024 data (scheduled for publication in 2025) will have a mixture of data for the two specifications and 2025 data (scheduled for publication in 2026) will be largely, though probably not entirely, based on the 2024 format. 

Timescales for inclusion of data from the new specification in published data and statistics are outlined below.

2.3 Progress in implementation of the 2018 review changes

As noted above, the vast majority of the data for 2023 was collected under the 2011 specification, so that the impact on published data is currently minimal.  However, in preparation for 2024, we have made a number of changes to the published data and statistics.  The main ones relate to:

Injury based reporting :  A majority of police forces are already using injury-based reporting.  We publish high level statistics on type of injury for these forces, and for 2023 have added the more granular breakdown of injury severity into the open datasets where it is available.  In future years, as the data becomes more complete, we will extend the reporting on detailed severity and injury type while retaining the legacy severity (killed, serious or slight) for consistency over time.

Road safety factors : In preparation for the change from contributory factors to road safety factors, we have presented an initial analysis by mapping from data collected as CFs to the new RSFs .  The data tables based on CF data are now also shown for RSF categories, and we have use the new RSFs to explore the ‘fatal 4’ factors in a new factsheet . 

In addition, subject to resources, we will present an initial look at other new variables (for example on powered personal transporters) for the first 6 months of 2024, alongside the provisional in-year statistics in November.

2.4 Future STATS19 reviews

STATS19 reviews are managed by the Standing Committee on Road Injury Collision Statistics (SCRICS), and typically take place every 5 to 10 years.  However, given the complexity of rolling out changes across different police forces, the timing of any future review will depend on the value of proposed changes set against the costs of implementation.  At this stage no date has been set for a future review.  This position will be reviewed annually by SCRICS.

The 2018 review adopted an approach of ‘digital first’, seeking to gather data automatically to reduce the burden of collection on police officers. As more forces adopt digital systems such as CRASH , it may be possible that changes to STATS19 can be made more easily on an annual basis, without formal reviews.  In the meantime, we will continue to record issues raised and proposed changes to STATS19, seeking to address these via other data where possible.

A summary of areas where we have received requests for changes to STATS19 are given in the table below.  We will add to this if any further suggestions are received.

Table 1: Issues raised for consideration in any future STATS19 review

3. Future data strategy

Alongside the changes to the STATS19 collection, the review contained as ‘future data strategy’ report recommended exploration of additional data sources which could address some of the limitations of STATS19.  We have begun to assess the feasibility of accessing some of these, and aim to build on this further in the coming years.

3.1 Work since the STATS19 review   

The STATS19 review recommended the linkage of STATS19 to other data sources, both to reduce the burden on police officers, and to gather additional insights which may not be feasible for a police officer to collect as part of an initial assessment.  A number of suggested data sources were proposed for exploration.

Since the publication of the review report we have completed exploratory work on:

• Trauma data : we have completed a feasibility study linking STATS19 to data from the Trauma Audit Research Network (TARN), and used this to analyse vulnerable road user casualties .
• Fire services data : we have completed an initial feasibility study exploring linking STATS19 to Home Office data on road collisions attended by the fire service.
• Contributory factors data recording : we have worked with police to explore how the recording of STATS19 contributory factors may differ if based on information known following more in-depth investigation

In addition, we continue to work on developing statistics on drug driving collisions , with initial work focused on fatalities.

3.2 Future roadmap   

we hope to build on the initial work done in the next few years – ahead of any future STATS19 review. In addition to the above, there were a number of other datasets suggested for exploration in the review, for example data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).  There may be emerging needs arising from legislation on AVs and road safety policy and strategy.

Alongside the roll out of the new specification, we have set out our priorities for work over the next few years in a future data roadmap .  We have published this to provide users of STATS19 data with an overview of our current priorities, subject to resources and data access.  We intend to review this roadmap and feedback on the proposed priorities, or any suggestions for further work, is welcome.   

We have aligned potential work to the safe system pillars, with priorities including:

• Roads : seeking to add enhanced geospatial features through road network matching
• Vehicles : exploring DVLA and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) vehicle data
• Road users : exploring DVLA driver data
• Post collision response : developing initial work to link STATS19 to trauma care and fire service data

We have also identified a number of areas where we hope to improve the understanding of STATS19 data quality and completeness, and the dissemination and sharing of STATS19 data, which are noted as part of the roadmap and also covered in the following section.

4. Dissemination of road casualty data and statistics

The STATS19 review and exploration of related datasets relate to data collection.  This section outlines recent changes and future plans related to publication and dissemination of the statistics produced from this data.

4.1 Overall approach

We anticipate that the future approach to dissemination of road casualty data and statistics will remain broadly as currently, including

• high-level provisional statistics published twice per year, 5 months after the end of the time period to which they relate (in November and May)
• final annual statistics and data, 9 months after the end of the year to which they relate (in September)
• annual statistics on drink-drive approximately 18 months after the end of the year to which they relate

We will continue to monitor user feedback on the frequency and timeliness of publications and seek opportunities to make improvements when possible, though there are no firm plans to make changes to the current arrangements at present.

We will also regularly review the content of the publications and datasets and seek user feedback on how the statistics could better meet their needs, as well as any proposed changes.

4.2 Recent changes to published data and statistics

Following a recent request for feedback on proposed changes in May 2024, we have made a number of changes to the published data and statistics which include:

• adding additional variables to our open datasets , including the more granular collision severity, and distance between collision location and driver home
• new analyses presented using the new road safety factors classification, in our fatal 4 factsheet
• new data tables on journey purpose and propulsion type (which includes electric vehicles)
• a change to the calculation of local authority casualty rates in table RAS0403
• no longer publishing e-scooter factsheets based on provisional data

We are still considering the best approach to revising STATS19 data, and have made no changes to the current approach for the time being.

4.3 Longer term plans

Rollout of new specification in published statistics and data.

Given the adoption of the new specification outlined above, we anticipate that the published road casualty data and statistics will evolve over the next few years to reflect the changes in the data collected. The following is our current expectation, which may change depending on when the final forces adopt the new specification.

In September 2024:

• we have published data tables and analysis covering the new road safety factors, based largely on mapping from existing contributory factors data

In November 2024, alongside the provisional mid-year statistics:

• we intend to present a brief summary of other new variables based on data for the first half of 2024 (for example, on use of the new powered personal transporter (PPT) code)

In September 2025:

• we intend to publish statistics for 2024 aligned to the new specification, mapping from the previous one where necessary, and adding new tables on PPT and drug tests
• statistics on road safety factors will replace those on contributory factors (which will be archived), though the data will require merging data collected using both approaches
• some degree of severity adjustment will likely still be required as injury-based data for some police forces is likely to be limited
• time series in the published statistics may be aligned to new categorisations, but historic data will be left as originally collected meaning a few breaks in time series within the open dataset

In September 2026:

• we expect to be able to publish final statistics for 2025 based largely on data from the new specification
• we anticipate that all forces will be providing injury-based data so that the severity adjustments will be required only for historic data

Over the longer term:

• subject to data quality, we will explore the scope to produce statistics on drug-driving equivalent to what is currently done for drink-driving
• we expect to fix the severity adjustments for historic data so that they do not change as new years of data are added (subject to validation of this approach)

Severity adjustments

Following the introduction of injury-based reporting, figures for serious and slightly injured casualties are presented in published data tables both as reported by police, and adjusted to allow for changes in severity recorded.  Further details are in our guide to severity adjustments .

Currently, when new data are available, adjusted figures for forces not using injury-based reporting (including historic data for forces which subsequently move to an injury-based system) are updated which results in changes to previously published data.  This can impact on, for example, baseline periods used to monitor progress in casualty reduction.

As part of the 2018 STATS19 review, all police forces are required to adopt injury-based reporting, and we currently expect that this will be the case from the start of 2025.  This means that from the publication of the 2025 data (during 2026), it is possible that injury-based figures for all forces will be available.  At this point, it would be possible to fix the historic adjustments, so that historic data does not change each year, and it is our intention to do this subject to the data being sufficiently robust. This planned approach is subject to change, should the adoption of injury-based reporting in any police force be delayed past the start of 2025.

Data dissemination

In recent years, we have reduced the number of spreadsheet data tables included as part of the final statistics, and introduced a new data download tool and dashboard to allow users to access a wider range of more tailored extracts of the data. 

Alongside the 2023 final statistics, we have published new interactive tools which the road safety statistics should be able to maintain and develop.    

In future we expect to develop the new tool further, including:

• adding data on contributory and road safety factors
• adding exposure data to allow calculation of casualty rates where possible
• adding further maps and visualisations

In general, we anticipate making more use of the interactive tool with a smaller number of spreadsheet tables in future.

5. User feedback

We welcome feedback on any aspects of this roadmap, STATS19 data or the published road casualty statistics, which can be provided via the contact details below.

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8. Contact details

Road safety statistics

Email [email protected]

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