I believe book reviews are often misunderstood by authors and laity alike, or in the very least underestimated in their value. If you are an aspiring author book reviews will play a critical role in marketing your work. Understanding how that happens will be just as crucial. Here I will fully explain what book reviews are, how they are governed, how to perform one properly, and what that transactional exchange looks like for you as a reader and/or author.

Reading and writing have changed. The landscape today is far different than even 10 years ago. There are multitudes of millions of books today being published like never before — all the while literacy rates are plummeting in ways that are both scary and shameful. Platforms are nearly as expansive as their endless supply of works. The internet has an abyss full of literary art that has never been read. Only a small percentage garner interest. Even fewer are actually read, even if purchased. And still fewer are prodigious enough to hit the bestseller lists. Therefore, it is expedient that you understand the magnitude a good book review offers you — both in how to request and write one. For any author, it will be the primary means by which you market your work. For any reader, it will be the primary means by which you find a work worthy of your investment. Case and point: Good book reviews are desperately needed. The industry RELIES upon them. The trajectory from writing a book to capturing an audience that will purchase it, read it, talk about it, pass it on, and beg you for more…? Well, that’s where book reviews come into play. And if you thought book reviews were good, endorsements are even better (more on this in another post).

Let’s unpack this.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Guidelines

When it comes to FTC guidelines, there are things you need to know and understand.

You should never charge a fee in exchange for an endorsement or book review. Nor should you be charged for one. No book review should ever be negotiated in exchange for monies, goods, services, favors, gifts, or rewards.

Endorsements and Book Reviews are types of testimonials used in marketing creative work, and for all practical purposes are considered an “advertisement” by the US Federal Government (Federal Trade Commission). Paid endorsements are never looked upon favorably within the industry, and by law must be disclosed. A “paid endorsement” is one gained by the exchange of monies, goods, services, favors, gifts, or rewards.

A professional opinion toward any creative work, when used specifically for marketing purposes, should never be bought as being made available for purchase (“for sale”) in exchange for any of the aforementioned. If you want to maintain integrity within the industry, abide by this moral and ethical standard both in the giving and receiving of endorsements, reviews, or testimonials of any kind.

When networking within the industry, if you ever see a review or endorsement that was obtained via any of the aforementioned, or upon seeking a review or endorsement for your work are asked to provide any of the aforementioned, please beware. Although lawful, that source and their opinion may be of questionable reputation and intent.

See this FTC link for more information.

Quick story: It was 2015. I remember working with a Christian brother who was at least 15 years my senior. He was in ministry and had a reputation with many key people all over the nation, and even the world. I trusted him irrevocably. Like me, he was a writer and author. We had talked about collaborating on a work together for a couple of years, as our writing and ministries aligned, but nothing came of it. Soon after I realized why the Lord had prevented it despite our efforts. He told me about a new book he had written and he needed not just a review — but an endorsement. One of his friends was also in ministry and was a big name, being unable to find the time to read the book or write the review as he had asked. This man told my friend to make up something and he would sign off on it. So that’s what my friend did. He wrote what he wanted this man to say about his book, and the man signed off on it. It was published. I was shocked — absolutely horrified. When I questioned the integrity of such a move my friend said, “The end justifies the means.” After that, I had nothing more to do with him. I never purchased, read, or endorsed his work. No further conversations. And the Lord blessed my decision and I was so grateful for His protection.

Please be careful of who you endorse, and with whom you align. I’m shocked at the number of people I’ve met over the years who are in active ministry who do not abide by integrity. This is not an isolated incident, and this is not the worst I’ve seen. Sometimes it takes time to expose certain things, and God is faithful. So if something is not working out with someone, He may just be protecting you. Thank Him.

The Value of a Book Review

A cracked spine is a good sign — for a book, that is. No one reviews books they have not read, regardless of purchase.

Book reviews are important for any author. They not only add validity to your work, but they can also provide an honest appeal to read it. In the very least, they offer the author constructive and critical feedback for their work that will advance them in their craft. Reviews within the industry should be sought by those within a similar niche as well as by those who write in a different camp and can offer an alternative perspective. Any author needs both to obtain a true opinion of their work within the public eye.

Although reviews may appear to be a dime a dozen, the sad truth is, legitimate reviews can be hard to obtain.

Anyone can write a book review. But are they written well? Ahem… not commonly. Let’s discuss this.

First, book reviews are a gift to the author, and to all those who would aspire to read their work. They are an investment of extraordinary time and energy, both in reading the work and writing the review. Therefore, they are one of the most common means of marketing used within the industry. They are most commonly written by readers of varying kinds, with different literary tastes and habits all who are at differing literacy levels. Not everyone who reads a book knows how to properly write a book review that is even worth their proverbial breath. So I would advise anyone reading book reviews to consider the source carefully. It is sometimes helpful if a reviewer gives a bit of information about themselves so their subjective opinions about the work are better understood and appreciated. For example, if they are a novice reader their opinion is already going to be weighed much differently than someone who is a voracious reader who has digested hundreds of works across various spectrums or niches. Case and point: not all reviews carry the same weight, quite simply because not all reviewers are of equal substance or experience. A well-written book review by an earnest reader is likely to carry some weight, and it can be easily recognized by some key points we will outline and discuss here in a moment.

Book reviews written by authors (peers within the industry) can be some of the MOST valuable, offering insights lay readers may miss. They do not, however, imply endorsement of the author or their work. Nor do they promise a high opinion of the work. Reviews are typically graded between one to five stars, with one being poor and five being excellent. If you are an author, writer, editor, or the like, and function within this industry, knowing how to craft a truly helpful review that is honest and accurate will be of invaluable worth to other readers and authors. I encourage you to critique carefully and with purpose. Authors (and readers) rely on excellent reviews not only to market their work, but to help them grow their craft. Reviews offer them critical feedback that can be enormously helpful as they continue to create successive works that garner increased interest and profit from a growing audience.

I read Christian and secular works, alike. I prefer to review books that offer their audience a compelling, positive, and life-changing story, regardless of genre. I do book reviews of my own volition on a regular basis, as well as upon request. I will review for both Christian and secular works. For a look at some of my reads and to find out what I look for in an excellent work please visit my Recommended Reading page. Five star reviews can be found here as well. If you plan to submit a request for review of your work, you will want to visit this page prior to doing so.

The Review Process

If you are an author who desires a sincere review of your work, it’s perfectly acceptable to ask. But be careful of whom you inquire. There should be no biased parties associated with you either by law or bloodline. Nor should there be any obligate parties to your work, such as a paid editor, or those employed. Although this may seem obvious, you would be surprised. When seeking a review from another author or professional in the industry (ie. editor, marketer, literary agent, etc.), they may be in your network of individuals, but must remain completely unbiased. When asking you need to be very circumspect in your choosing, as you will want individuals who read and/or write in your niche, and you will want to seek those of equal or greater skill. Otherwise, you risk them doing a disservice to your work by virtue of inexperience, lack of artistry, or literary exposure. You will also want to seek out those who are not necessarily in your niche, who can give a completely new objective point of view with fresh perspective.

Inquiries should be professional, being done in writing. Nothing should be requested verbally; via causal exchange during the course of conversation. If the individual declines your request, be gracious. Simply thank them and move on. They may not have the time, as an honest review requires a full reading of the work, sometimes more than once. There should never be any pressure, and absolutely no begging. But, should you find a willing ally, you will be expected to supply the Reviewer a complimentary copy of your finished work as it appears in stores and online. No one being requested to review your work should be obligated to purchase it, as that would be considered a breach and/or violation of FTC guidelines — and could be construed as blackmail. As an author, I perform requested reviews with a bilateral contract for this purpose. Because I’m offering a review upon request instead of my own volition, an agreement needs to be established that protects my written opinion and the said copyrighted work. If you’re an author seeking a review, I encourage you to do the same. This will serve you both well. It protects the Reviewer in their remarks, and the Requestor of the book review in their copyrighted content. It should be understood that with a review, there is never an expectation that the Reviewer will find the work favorable. In the instance that the Reviewer does not like the book, or cannot recommend it, they may choose to withdraw from writing a review altogether. At the end of the day we should not ever betray our conscience toward someone. If the book is not worthy of a favorable review, it’s best that the Reviewer make this known openly and let the Requestor know. Any points made toward the work may be discussed in confidence privately so the author can glean from that individual’s professional opinion. However, such a favor or courtesy would be at will, and is not obligate.

Please note:

♦ Book reviews are not the same as endorsements. Endorsements carry an entirely different set of legal rights and expectations within the industry. They also carry significantly more weight and validity toward a literary work.

♦ Book reviews are not to be performed on a work that is yet to be completed or published. Such would be unethical.

♦ If your work is completed yet unpublished what you need is an Endorsement.

♦ If your work is incomplete, you need a Peer Review or Literary Preview.

When book reviews come to your work organically (meaning they are not intentionally sought by you), they are usually written by laity. These reviews can sometimes seem unfair and unprofessional. And by all means, you would be right. They often are. People do not always leave reviews that accurately portray your work. I believe there are several reasons for this:

§ Personal taste in literature. It’s quite simple, really. Books are like perfume or clothing. We do best when we provide them for ourselves. Sometimes we don’t know what we’re getting — until we try it on. It’s the same with a book.

§ Illiteracy is at an all-time high. Modern readers are sadly illiterate when it comes to literary prose and cannot rightly appreciate or distinguish mature or complex works. More works are being simplified below an eighth-grade reading level than ever before. The bar is extraordinarily low. Authors who write in advanced English are increasingly rare, and their works are favored by voracious readers who are expert in literature of many kinds, including classical works. These types of readers digest expansive libraries of work over their lifetime. These readers are also more rare, as the art of reading and literacy altogether is losing traction in our society as a whole. If you are a writer, be aware of this.

§ They never really read the book. They may have cracked the spine… but they didn’t get very far. Trust me. They simply drew conclusions and made comments, which proved to be nothing more than preemptive strikes. These are the readers who reveal themselves by their stated inaccuracies about the work. Their vehement claims are empty. These are not reviews anyone should take seriously.

§ They read only a portion of the book, and never finished it.

§ They were at odds with the storyline in some manner that either chafed at them morally, experientially, or personally.

§ They just did not like the book. For whatever reason, they found it personally unsatisfactory, and not to their liking. So be it.

§ The sad part is, some people are not fair in their reviews. Instead of speaking toward the work in a balanced way that honestly portrays the good and bad elements, they just complain. We’ve all read the ‘scathing review’. They can be quite heartless and cutthroat. And complainers or haters can feel justified in writing it. They are often aggravated that they invested so much time (and money) toward a story or work they thought they would love, but then found it so disappointing. There can be a lot of excitement in that, only to feel let down later. Unfortunately, that can often come across in a bad or unfavorable review. People often write reviews at the height of their emotion when they need an outlet for it — and that’s precisely what we experience on the receiving end. It’s unfettered, it’s raw, and consequently it can be quite a blow. So, with that said, let’s all take a lesson right here and refrain from writing any book review in such a scathing and unhinged manner.

How To Properly Perform a Book Review

Good and bad reviews are both useful and worth writing — for readers and authors alike. But they must be written properly if they are going to be effectual.

People read for pleasure. We have all read works we did not like, or were disappointed in the end. Emotions in a reader can be so passionate they run off the rails. Reading is not only an investment of time, but also deep emotion. Remember, readers can suffer what is called a ‘moral injury’ by the author. For example: an ending that was unjust or performed a disservice to the entire story leaving you wanting, a scene that is inaccurate historically and therefore inappropriate, and perhaps there are biases within the author that play out in the script which can be cause for insult or injury, and of course we’ve all suffered the cardinal sin of writing our favorite character out of the story. And there are many more. For whatever the reason, irrespective of the quality of the writing, books can leave us with a bitter taste in our mouths. Committed readers can even suffer a broken heart of sorts.

However, bad reviews are indeed worth writing. But only when done properly. If the book did not meet your expectations, it will be important to explain why. It’s also important to say if you could not finish it, and why you chose to abandon. That can be very justified. Reading a literary work is a huge investment of time and energy (not to mention money). If a book is not worthy of that, spare other readers from the same mistake. In doing so, it will be expedient for you to explain why your reaction was justified. Make your points clear. Don’t just vomit your emotions. Let your review clarify your experience with the book for other readers, as well as the author, so they come away with something truly valuable by which they can learn, grow, and improve.

When we read a good book by an expert author who knows what they’re really doing — we can’t stop thinking about it. And there is no other alternative than to want more. When the last page is turned we are left bereft of its pleasures. Such books that are clearly life-changing; that are transportive, consumptive, being so wonderful and rare: these deserve a review that accurately and clearly portrays their joy, delight, amusement, brilliance, and wonder.

With that said, a proper book review should take into account the following key elements:

♠ Literary artistry within its prose and/or poetry. The creative use of words, idioms, allegories, similes, metaphors, ‘color’, and language. Sentence structure, linguistics, flow and form — it all matters.

♠ Its combined effect upon the reader’s emotions, life opinions, transactional experience, and lessons learned — all which are afforded by the characters, the storyline, and circumstances portrayed within.

♠ Writing style: Was there any depth? Imagination? Was it concrete or whimsical?

♠ Storyline: Was this recycled fluff? Or was it something brilliant, unique, and wholly authentic? Was it daring? Did it push the boundaries of the common narrative? Did it actually deliver? Or did it drop dead and fall off the cliff?

♠ Characters: Were they believable? Were they ‘real’? Did they have personalities, or were they all the same? Were they shallow, bland, boring, and dull? Or were these people exciting, personable, lovable, likable, and furthermore — were they sentient human beings you wish you could meet and do life with? Did the author convince you they were real? Did you miss them when the book was done? Did you laugh or cry? Were you able to feel what they felt? Did you emotionally connect with them? If not, the characters were flat.

♠ Was the story balanced? Was the emotional payload appropriate? There needs to be good and evil; allies and adversaries; truth and fiction. Was there an undercurrent of mystery and intrigue that kept you? Was there a lure?

♠ What was the takeaway? What value did the book add to your life? Did it allow you to experience another realm or era of time? Did it bring other cultures into view? Did it offer understanding, insights, education, a life lesson, or perhaps even a longing to explore more of something, more of somewhere, or more of someone or a type of people? Did you learn anything new? Did you just read the book, or did you experience it?

Remember, when reviewing a work professionally, you want to be fair and honest. There is a lot of work that goes into publishing a book. There’s also a lot of investment in reading one. It’s important to share your thoughts and feelings, as well as give an accurate literary assessment.  Both are important to help other readers, as well as affording the author literary points by which they can grow.

With any review, whether it be good or bad, refrain from doing the following:

¶ DO NOT give away the story. Rather, explain how the story affected you.

¶ DO NOT be mean-spirited in your review. This is known as “book-burning”. No haters are needed to accurately convey disappointment, disinterest, or disapproval. You can hate a work — and even say so — and yet choose words and candor in such a way that is respectful and with tact. You can still be gracious, and speak the truth in love. You can still be kind although you disliked or even ‘hated’ the work. It’s best to convey why those intense reactions and emotions were stirred to help others understand the precise content that kindled them.

¶ DO NOT be inconsistent or unfair in its evaluation by using vague generalities, or words that are imprecise such as “kind of”, “maybe”, “sort of”, “always”, “never”, etc. Try to be diplomatic and perhaps pragmatic in your points. A beautifully written book can still be something unfavorable in its content. And vice-versa: a horribly written work can have an amazing story line. Both exist in the literary world, and are more common than one might think. If you find one, say so.

¶ DO NOT be too long-winded. It’s best to be modest in your words. People don’t want to read a rant. They want valuable information that is genuinely helpful.

¶ AVOID hyperbole and unnecessary embellishments. They can immediately appear disingenuous and/or inflammatory. That is not your goal. Such reviews do not favor you or anyone else who is sincerely wanting to know the effect of the work. Be measured in your choicest words, carefully explaining yourself. Accurate word choice is key. Be kind even when explaining an unfavorable opinion, outcome, or reaction that is passionate and justified. Likewise, when you are overjoyed, use language that conveys that. When it is honest, people will know by any supportive evidence you’ve given in key points outlined.

Review Ratings

Book reviews typically come with a one to five star rating. My personal ratings are as follows, which I believe may be helpful to you:

Five Stars (Excellent) : This is considered a work of literary excellence in every respect, being one I would not only recommend, but possibly read again and further pass along to others. It absolutely begs to be read and shared. These are works that don’t ever leave my library, as I may one day want to read it again.

Four Stars (Good): This work is good, but it could be better. It’s worthy of reading, but may need some attention in specific areas to truly shine.

Three Stars (Fair or Nominal): This is a nominal book (and the industry is glutted with them). It sits on the proverbial fence. It’s not good, but it’s not bad either. Someone may benefit from it, but it’s not beckoning to be read. Take it or leave it.

Two Stars (Unsatisfactory): This has not made the grade either in storyline or literary artistry, and is not one I would recommend.

One Star (Poor): This is a failing work. Sadly and regrettably, it should have never been published.

Regardless of where your book may stand in the end, it’s important to understand that book reviews are entirely subjective. If the review is not complimentary please understand they are never to be construed as a personal attack upon the author or their work. If I agree to review your book, I will indeed read it — cover to cover — and give an honest opinion that is constructive, even if it may be critical. You should be able to benefit from that review in a way that will offer you growth in your craft.

In conclusion, book reviews are an enormous investment. They are a gift to the author as well as other readers. If you request or write a book review, do so with these points in mind. Do the book justice. Be fair, accurate, and honest. Speak kindly even when you need to express disappointment or dislike.

If you are going to perform a review upon request for someone, I encourage you to outline an agreement or bilateral contract in writing. You may even want to have them sign a waiver stating that any unfavorable opinion of their work cannot be used against you, and likewise is not meant to harm them. In doing so, they waive the right to protest any unfavorable review should you choose to publish it.

Finally, make sure to properly thank the individual who reviews your work upon request — irrespective of their opinion. Their gift of time and emotional energy is extraordinarily valuable to you, and many others who aspire to read your work. Write them and express your sincerest gratitude. Remember: no gifts, favors, etc. should be exchanged. A hand-written thank you note is all that is needed.

Book reviews are the most common means by which an author is able to market their work. But ultimately, a book review is for readers. When writing a proper review, cover all these bases so other readers can make a well-rounded decision in whether or not they should invest the money, time, and emotional energy into any given literary work.

If you would like me to perform a book review or endorsement for your work, please contact me. I’d be more than happy to visit with you. I hope this has been helpful, and God bless you in your literary journey.

Cheers & Shalom,

Featured Image Credit: Ninocare | Pixabay

Updated: May 24, 2026 (expounded content, and editing)

Did you enjoy this post? Please share it!