The most reliable way to get book reviews is to combine three sources: a professional review you can quote in your marketing, ARC (advance reader copy) reviews from readers, bloggers, journalists, and librarians, and organic reviews from readers after your book is published. Ask for honest reviews only, never pay for ratings, and follow each retailer's rules.
This guide explains each kind of review, what the rules allow, and a step-by-step path from finished manuscript to a book page with real reviews. Each section links to a full article when you want more detail.
Read in this order for the full picture, or jump to whatever you need right now:
Most readers decide what to read based on someone else's opinion. We ask people we know for recommendations because we want something that is quality, entertaining, and enjoyable. A review does the same job for a book: it gives it credibility and makes an author look professional, and a positive review can nudge someone who is on the fence into trying it.
Reviews are also marketing material. A good review can be quoted on a book listing, on your website, in social media posts, in an email signature, on a poster or flyer at an event, and even on your cover. See How to Use a Book Review in Your Marketing.
A professional (editorial) review is written by a reviewer you pay to read your book, and it's meant to be quoted on your book page, website, and marketing. An ARC review comes from readers, bloggers, journalists, and librarians who receive an advance copy, and it's more about early buzz and independent opinions than a polished quote. A customer review is posted by an ordinary reader who buys or borrows the book, and it functions as social proof on your sales page. It's also the one type that can never be bought.
Each does a different job, and most authors end up using all three. For a full comparison, see Professional vs. ARC vs. Editorial Reviews.
Reviews only help if they're real. Two sets of rules matter most.
The short version: you can pay for a professional editorial review or for help getting your book in front of reviewers, but you can never pay a reader for a rating or ask for only positive reviews. For details, see Are Paid Book Reviews Legitimate? and Amazon's Review Rules for Authors.
Reviewers will judge the book they read, so it should be as strong as it can be. Beta readers can show you how a real reader experiences your story before you publish, and editing and proofreading should come next. A reviewer may catch typos, but your text should be print-ready before you order a professional review. See the Complete Guide to Beta Reading.
Professional reviews take time, so plan ahead. At Entrada, a standard review takes 5 to 8 weeks, and a rush review takes 3 to 4 weeks. Ordering early means you have a quotable review ready by launch.
Advance copies let readers, bloggers, journalists, and librarians read your book before or around publication, so reviews can appear when your book goes on sale. See What Is an ARC?
Ask readers to leave an honest review, and make it easy. Never ask for positive reviews, and don't offer anything in exchange. Do include a polite request at the back of your book and in your newsletter.
Reviews aren't only a launch task. Keep the request in your book, on your website, and in your newsletter, and keep your ARC outreach going as your book continues to find readers.
Add professional review quotes to your listings, website, and marketing materials, and keep the byline intact.
Not every review will be glowing. Honest reviews, including lukewarm ones, add credibility, and there are smart ways to respond.
Professional book reviews. A professional reviewer reads your complete book and writes a review of 250 to 350 words. Standard reviews are $289 and take 5 to 8 weeks, and rush reviews are $389 and take 3 to 4 weeks. Reviews are honest and unbiased, so a positive one isn't guaranteed, and if yours isn't positive, you can choose not to have it published. Once it's done, it's yours to use, as long as you keep the byline intact when you quote it. We accept fiction and nonfiction in most categories, and prefer .epub or PDF files.
ARC reviews for media, bloggers, journalists, and librarians. For a one-time fee of $155, similar to services like NetGalley, we make your book available for review to bloggers, journalists, librarians, teachers, and other influencers whose interests match your genre. You review and adjust your book's summary before it goes out, and we personally respond to everyone interested in reading it. No set number of reviews is guaranteed, but requests typically go to hundreds of qualified members of our list, sometimes thousands depending on genre, and we keep coordinating reviews for as long as your book continues to generate requests.
Get Reviews for Your Book
Start with a professional review you can quote in your marketing, and add ARC reviews to reach bloggers, journalists, and librarians.
Get a Professional Book Review — $289 →
Learn About ARC Reviews — $155 →
Not ready for reviews? Start with beta reading.
Combine a professional review, ARC reviews from readers and reviewers, and honest requests to your readers after publication. Never pay for ratings or ask for only positive reviews.
You can pay for a professional editorial review or for a service that puts your book in front of reviewers. You can't pay a reader in exchange for a review. See Are Paid Book Reviews Legitimate?
Before launch. Professional reviews take several weeks, and ARC reviewers need time to read, so start weeks before your publication date.
Not necessarily. An honest review may not be positive, which is what makes reviews credible. With Entrada's professional reviews, you can choose not to have a review published.
There is no official number, and advice varies. Focus on getting honest reviews steadily rather than hitting a target.
Beta readers first. They help improve the book before it's finished, while reviews help you promote a finished book.