Reviewer FAQ
Who qualifies for a free Advance Reader Copy?
• Writers and editors who cover book releases for newspapers, magazines or newsletters (print or digital)
• Bloggers with 50 or more followers
• Readers who intend to post reviews in two or more of the following venues:
Amazon
Goodreads
NetGalley
Library Thing
Facebook
Book review blog comments
Special interest forums relating to the subject matter
What are my obligations if I accept a free Advance Reader Copy?
To read the book and give it an honest review within three months of receiving it.
What if I don't like the book? Do I have to give it a good review?
No. You can give it an honest review (even a mixed/negative one) or no review at all. (If you choose not to review it, please let us know, so we know you took the ARC in good faith and want to stay on our reviewer list for our next release.)
Do I have to reveal that I didn't pay for the Advance Reader Copy?
No. It's standard publishing industry practice for reviewers to receive free ARCs, because publishers hope that the books will be reviewed, thus publicizing the book and growing its readership. If you are qualified to receive an ARC (see our requirements above), you are officially a reviewer.
If I know the author (either in person or online), should I reveal that?
No, unless that fact keeps you from giving the work an honest review.
What should a good review include?
A quality review addresses one or more of the following points, in any order:
• What you enjoyed most about the book.
• Why you liked/didn't like it
• Your opinion about what the author does best.
• What kind of person would most enjoy this book and/or who you'd recommend it to.
• If there's a rating system, your best estimate of where the book stands, between the best book you ever read in its category and the one you liked least.
• Writers and editors who cover book releases for newspapers, magazines or newsletters (print or digital)
• Bloggers with 50 or more followers
• Readers who intend to post reviews in two or more of the following venues:
Amazon
Goodreads
NetGalley
Library Thing
Book review blog comments
Special interest forums relating to the subject matter
What are my obligations if I accept a free Advance Reader Copy?
To read the book and give it an honest review within three months of receiving it.
What if I don't like the book? Do I have to give it a good review?
No. You can give it an honest review (even a mixed/negative one) or no review at all. (If you choose not to review it, please let us know, so we know you took the ARC in good faith and want to stay on our reviewer list for our next release.)
Do I have to reveal that I didn't pay for the Advance Reader Copy?
No. It's standard publishing industry practice for reviewers to receive free ARCs, because publishers hope that the books will be reviewed, thus publicizing the book and growing its readership. If you are qualified to receive an ARC (see our requirements above), you are officially a reviewer.
If I know the author (either in person or online), should I reveal that?
No, unless that fact keeps you from giving the work an honest review.
What should a good review include?
A quality review addresses one or more of the following points, in any order:
• What you enjoyed most about the book.
• Why you liked/didn't like it
• Your opinion about what the author does best.
• What kind of person would most enjoy this book and/or who you'd recommend it to.
• If there's a rating system, your best estimate of where the book stands, between the best book you ever read in its category and the one you liked least.