Do you think it’s easy to find a book reviewer?

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s not!

Some writers/bloggers indicate it’s easy to locate willing reviewers. I’m here to tell you it is not. No not easy at all.

I’m not sure if finding reviewers is different that finding people to review a children’s book.

While following all the tips I could find on getting a valuable review, I still found it difficult.

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So what have I learned?

  • Don’t ask a quid-per-quo. You read mine, I’ll read yours.
  • Writers are busy writing. To stop and read my book takes time from their writing.
  • Blogs dedicated to book reviews are swamped with requests. I found most have a “no longer accepting” note on the blog.
  • Contacting a generalized and not to mention lengthy list from Amazon is exhausting. Results are a shotgun effect.
  • To move the needle and generate book sales, you need a lot of reviews.
  • My best source was my readers here at Jean’s Writing. I can’t thank Y’all enough!

What will I do next time?

  • List my book on blogs that connect readers with authors. Amazon frowns on this practice.
  • Use social networks more. Like Reddit, StumbleUpon as well as Twitter and Facebook to search for reviewers.
  • Google! I don’t know why I didn’t think of using this search engine for reviewers. I use it for everything else.
  • Reach out to friends, family and my readers here.

Click and read 10 places to find reviewers for your self-published book by .

Leave a comment and tell me which tips worked for your books? 

What things did you try that didn’t work?

Do you have any successful tips for getting willing reviewers?
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Is a children’s book reviewer different from a fiction novel?

 

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23 thoughts on “Do you think it’s easy to find a book reviewer?”

  1. I get at least one unsolicited review request a day,. It’s usually worded like they are doing me a favor by letting me review their book. It is very annoying, and very unprofessional.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Pingback: Do you think it’s easy to find a book reviewer? – TheKingsKidChronicles

  7. I guess you were playing nice not to mention some of Amazon’s tight restrictions on reviews. And I’m sure the recent amendments last year won’t be the last of that. If their regular reviews received the same scrutiny as their book reviews do, maybe they would carry some better products. Not that I’m firing any anger toward them, they’re reacting to user feedback, and their book audiences are loud.

    I find that the best way to get reviews is at book signings and public events, by interacting directly with local readers. I think you might temper your thoughts about social platforms as well, it depends on your audience. While a facebook page might be a great place to fetch reviews, a twitter account that is followed mostly by writers isn’t going to gain you much. Reviews are definitely a complicated beast. TBH, I don’t know what I’m going to do for my next book (and I have no idea when it will come out. I was burned by my first publisher, will be looking for an agent and another publisher soon).

    What I’m doing? My horror book is about to go to beta. And whether I land an agent for it or not, I mean to put it out there because it’s a story that needs to be told. I plan on setting up an email list just for beta readers, and grow it into a list of advance readers as time goes on. I want more beta readers, more “free” readers, who I will stay engaged with. When the book releases (and right before I close that list down), I will send the final list email, asking them for two things. To join my regular mailing list if they haven’t, and to try leaving a review on Amazon, complete with special instructions about how to format the review to avoid Amazon deleting it. (Not all advance readers know that you have to mention where you got the book if you aren’t a “verified purchase”) Maybe it will work. Maybe it won’t. That a long way off at the moment.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, Amazon does frown on trading reviews. Great idea about signings, next event I think I’ll add a note inside my books asking for a review. As to social networks I think it is useful to follow people other than writers. For kids books, maybe moms groups? Good luck with your next book. Do keep me posted! Thanks for stopping by.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. I do read plenty of books, every time I think of writing a review, I say maybe later and it doesn’t happen. So I presume it’s not easy to find a book reviewer. 🙂

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    1. If I fail to write the review as soon as I finish reading a book, I’m apt to forget too. If I don’t have the time to write an in-depth review I try to at least give a star review and one or two sentences what I liked about the book. Even short reviews are better than none.

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  10. Hi Jean. I agree that it is difficult to find reviewers and even though it is not such a huge commitment on the part of the reviewer to review children’s books it seems just as difficult to find them. Because I write both for children and adults I like to keep my reading up as much as possible in the relevant genres and give a bit back to those who make the effort to review, though, as you say I never contact anyone for an actual review-swap. My giving back is just to the writing community in general and also because writers must read!
    I am starting a new feature on my blog. I want to review children’s books on Fridays. I would prefer chapter books but for younger readers (no more than 50 pages). I will pick and choose because I want these to be books I can personally recommend for readers up to around nine years.
    If any of your readers would like to contact me with their own book or a recommendation I would be more than happy to take a look!
    Good luck with finding reviewers!
    Wendy

    wendyunsworth.wordpress.com

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Wonderful to hear about the new feature! A lot of bloggers pick and choose the books to review. Unfortunately they pick from Amazon top list and not from solicitations. Thanks for letting everyone know.

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