Book Review Tips
Book reviews are a key factor in helping someone decide to buy a book. A book with no reviews is a hard sell. That first review is key, and the second is almost as important.
The goal is to reach 15 reviews on Amazon as quickly as possible. (The aim is to eventually have over fifty.)
Here are some book review tips to make leaving a review as easy as possible.
Key Info
Stars: All sites leave space for a written review, but not all require it. Sometimes you can get by with only leaving a star rating. Hopefully you can give my books five stars.
Text: If you want to post the written portion of your review, pretend you told a friend you just read a really great book. They’ll ask, “What did you like about it?” Your answer is your review. It’s that simple.
Your written review doesn’t need to be long. Only a sentence or two is enough. In fact, it doesn’t even need to be a complete sentence. Just proofread what you wrote to catch any typos before you submit it.
Headline: Some sites ask for a “headline” or “title” for your review. This is a short, catchy phrase to grab people’s attention. Don’t copy this, but an example is “Best Book Ever!”
Optional Photo: Some sites also allow you to upload a picture. This is optional, but a photo of you holding the book would be great!
Please leave a review on the website where you normally buy books. Then consider one or more other sites too. You’ve already done most of the work, so posting it a second (or third) time is easy.
Here are specific tips on various sites.
Amazon
To leave a review on Amazon, follow these steps:
- Search for Peter DeHaan or my book title in the search bar.
- Select the desired book.
- Scroll down.
- Click on “Write a Customer Review.”
- Enter your review.
- Click “Submit.”
Though you don’t need to purchase a book to leave a review on Amazon, if you buy the book before leaving the review, they’ll mark your review as a “verified purchase.”
This adds credibility to your review, and Amazon will place more weight on what you put, but buying the book is not a requirement.
Kobo
Kobo is the leading book seller in Canada, as well as many other countries. They also have a US store.
- Search for Peter DeHaan or the book title in the search bar.
- Click on the book and scroll down.
- Click on “Write your review.”
- Follow the prompts to enter your review.
- Click “Submit.”
Barnes & Noble
- At Barnes & Noble, search for Peter DeHaan or the book title in the search bar.
- Select the book.
- Scroll down to the “Customer Review” section.
- Click on the link to leave your review.
- Fill out the review form.
- Click “Post review.”
Google Play
- At Google Play, search for Peter DeHaan or the book title in the search bar.
- Select the desired book.
- Scroll down.
- Click on “write a review” and follow the instructions.
Apple Books
- Use your Apple device to access the Apple bookstore (formerly iBooks).
- Select the book you want to review.
- Tap the More button (…) beneath the book.
- Tap “Rate and Review.”
- Enter the star rating and your review.
- Tap “send.”
Goodreads
Though not a bookselling platform, booklovers search for their next book on Goodreads, and then they go to their preferred bookstore to purchase it. (If you don’t have an account on Goodreads and love to read, you might want to consider joining.)
- Search for Peter DeHaan or the book title in the search bar.
- Select the book.
- Click on the “rate this book” link under the book cover.
- Click on the number of stars (hopefully 5!) and hover over “read.”
- Then click on “leave a review.”
- Enter your review.
- Click “post.”
A bonus strategy on Goodreads is to mark all my books as “want to read.” Goodreads looks at this is a sign of interest in that book, and it positively affects their algorithms.
You can also follow me as an author on Goodreads. They will email you updates about my books
BookBub
Also not a bookselling platform, BookBub is a community of readers searching for their next book. Rating one of my books or posting a review will encourage other readers to consider it.
- Search for Peter DeHaan or my book title in the search bar.
- Select the book you want to review.
- Click “Review.”
- Enter your review in the form.
- Click “Share.”
A bonus strategy on BookBub is to follow me as an author. They will email you updates about my books and promotions.
Questions?
If you have any questions about these book review tips, just contact me.
Thank you!
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.