An Indie Author's Guide to Getting Book Reviews - With 9 places to get them

Reviews. We all know they're the engine that drives a book's success. As a self-published author, you're not just writing the book—you're the entire marketing team, and reviews are your most valuable currency. They build trust with potential readers, boost your book's visibility on retail sites, and provide the social proof needed to convince someone to hit "buy."

But the question remains: how do you get them? It's a hustle, but thankfully, there are some incredible services out there designed specifically for authors like us. Here’s a breakdown of the services and strategies I've used to build a strong review base.

1. Harness the Power of ARC Services (Advance Reader Copies)

​This is the best way to get a surge of honest reviews right around your book's launch date. An ARC is a digital copy of your book given to a reader in exchange for their honest review. While you can manage your own team, using a service streamlines the process and gives you access to a dedicated pool of reviewers.

• BookSirens: I've had great success with BookSirens. It’s a clean, user-friendly platform where you upload your book and reviewers who are vetted and matched to your genre can download it. Their system is fantastic because it encourages reviewers to read and post a review before they can download another book, which leads to a higher review rate.
• NetGalley: This is one of the big names in the industry. It gives your book exposure to a vast network of librarians, booksellers, and professional reviewers. While it can be more of an investment, a positive review here can lead to a huge boost in credibility, and some authors find it's a great way to get their book in front of industry professionals.
• Booksprout: Similar to BookSirens, Booksprout automates the delivery of your ARC to a large community of over 75,000 active reviewers. One of its standout features is the ability for reviewers to post on multiple sites, including Amazon, Goodreads, and even BookBub, which can be a game-changer for your promotional efforts.

2. Invest in Professional Editorial Reviews

While not technically "reader reviews," editorial reviews from respected publications can be a powerful marketing tool. These are often paid services that provide a professional, unbiased review you can use in your book's description, on your website, and in marketing materials. Amazon even has a dedicated section for them.

• Kirkus Reviews: A review from Kirkus carries significant weight in the literary world. While their services are an investment, a positive review can be a major selling point. Their reviews are respected by readers and industry professionals alike.
• Self-Publishing Review (SPR): SPR focuses specifically on indie authors and offers different review packages. They provide a professional, detailed review that you can use on Amazon and other promotional platforms.
• IndieReader: This is another well-known service that specifically caters to self-published books. A review from IndieReader can be a great way to gain credibility within the indie author community.

3. Connect with Book Bloggers and Reviewers

Beyond the big services, there are countless individual bloggers, BookTubers, and social media influencers who are passionate about specific genres and would love to discover a new favorite.

• Reedsy Discovery: This platform is a great way to connect with professional reviewers who are paid to read and review new indie books. Their reviews go live on the author's launch day, giving your book immediate visibility to a large audience.
• The IndieView: This site is dedicated to connecting indie authors with reviewers and interviewers. It's a fantastic resource for finding people who are specifically looking to champion self-published work.
• Independent Book Review: This publication celebrates indie and self-published books and offers a place for your book to be reviewed and promoted among a community that values independent literature.

My Pro Tip for Getting More Reviews

My biggest takeaway from this journey is that getting reviews isn't a one-and-done task; it's a continuous process. Use a combination of these services to get a good initial push, then build on that momentum by engaging with readers on social media, adding a call-to-action in the back of your book, and continuing to seek out reviewers who genuinely love your genre.
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Every review, whether it's a single star rating or a glowing five-star write-up, is a step toward building a successful and sustainable writing career.