The Secret Power of Book Reviews: Why They Matter and How to Get Them

It doesn't have to be so hard to get reviews. Today, we're gonna show you how to get stacked with reviews for your next, or last, book.

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Jan 22, 2025

Hi,

A lot of you ask me about book reviews and, frankly, I kind of suck at them. I know they are important, but I just have a lot of stuff going on to manage them. However, my friend Rossana Corniel from Booksprout lives for book reviews.

So, I met with their team at Author Nation, I invited Rossana to talk to you about how to get more reviews…something readers tell me is one of their biggest sore spots when it comes to building their author career.

Have no fear. We’re about to walk you through the process and get you stacked with reviews.

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Note that there is an affiliate link in this post, it won't cost you anything and anything I receive from the affiliate goes to my coffee fund.

Hi,

Can you remember the last time you shopped online and didn’t check the reviews first? I honestly cannot. If you do this regularly, you’re not alone. In fact, according to a study by Nielsen, 90% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. That’s saying a lot!

Reviews are important for any product sold online, but they are especially important for books because of the unique role they play in readers' lives. This is because books are experiences, which make them uniquely different from products. Reviews not only boost visibility but also help potential readers feel confident that your story will resonate with them. Let’s explore why book reviews matter so much and how you can use them to set your next release up for success.

How reviews boost your book's visibility

Platforms like Amazon, Apple Books, and Goodreads use reviews to decide where to position your book—like a giant Pac-Man gobbling reviews to rank your book higher. More (and better) reviews often mean more visibility. This isn’t unique to books, it’s how reviews work for pretty much any product sold online. And as a self-published author, understanding this will help you make sure you leave no stone unturned when marketing your books.

Book reviews as marketing tools

Reviews are literally testimonials, and you can use them to bring your book to life across all platforms. A short, standout quote from a review can make an excellent hook for a social media post, draw attention in a newsletter, or shine on your book’s product page. Including snippets like “a page-turner I couldn’t put down” or “a fresh take on the genre” can immediately grab a potential reader’s attention. Reviews also add substance to your marketing materials—anyone can say their book is great, but when real readers say it, the message carries a lot more weight. Leveraging positive reviews in your marketing strategy helps build momentum and keeps the buzz around your book alive long after launch day.

Books Are Different: Why Reviews Matter Even More

With books, readers are even more into checking reviews. This is because books aren’t tangible products. Their quality and enjoyment vary a lot from person to person, and readers know it. Whether it’s a shining 5-star rating or a 2-star review saying, “Too much spice!”—it all helps readers decide if your book is right for them. Time is precious, and reviews help readers invest in stories they’ll love.

Book reviews make a bigger impact on a book’s performance than typical online product reviews for several key reasons:

Choosing a new book is a big commitment: Readers want to be sure they’re investing time in something they will enjoy. When a book has enough reviews, readers can decide if it's the right book for them. They look at both positive and negative reviews to help them decide!
Reading is a part of a person’s identity: People who love certain genres enjoy connecting with others who share their interests. Reviews help signal whether a book will hit the right beats to keep them interested. This is why niche book clubs have become so popular lately. Readers want to connect with others who love the same kinds of books, and thoughtful reviews help them do that. They help readers find their community.

Here's a visual example of a few of the niche reader groups that can be found on social media, where their main focus is discussing books in their favorite genres.

Building credibility and community: When a book accumulates reviews, especially a mix of thoughtful feedback, it feels like a community conversation, creating buzz and credibility. This social proof reassures readers they’re not taking a risk on an unknown title; they’re picking up a book that others have read, discussed, and enjoyed. A strong set of reviews can help your book stand out, encouraging readers to join in and see what the excitement is all about.

Promoting your book on paid sites: There are several book promo sites (sites where authors can advertise their books) like Book Barbarian, Digital Book Today, Reading Deals, and others, that require your book to have a minimum amount of reviews before you can submit it for a promotion.

Let’s get into how bestselling authors get reviews—and, more importantly, how you can use those reviews to elevate your marketing strategy.

How Do You Get Book Reviews?

If you’re launching your first book, getting reviews can be tedious at first. But as you go through the process a few times with each new book you launch, you’ll find that it gets easier and easier. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but most review strategies fall into one of three categories: Organic Reviews, Targeted Review Campaigns and Book Review Sites.

First though, even before asking for reviews, take these two critical steps. They can make or break your review process:

Step I: Make Sure Your Book Is Ready for Reviews

There’s nothing worse than receiving a low-star review for something avoidable, like typos, grammar issues, or plot holes. To prevent this, ensure your book is professionally edited, proofread, and reviewed by a few beta readers before subjecting it to public reviews. Also, be sure to include trigger warnings in the front matter. Reviews live forever online, so set yourself up for success by checking these boxes first.

Step II: Identify Your Ideal Readers

The best reviews come from readers who love books like the one you're writing. Take some time to figure out who your ideal reader is and where to find them. Findbooks, or connect with your existing email list and social media followers. Pay attention to what they post about, the authors they mention, and the reviews they write. This will help you understand how to connect with them through your marketing efforts.

Taking Reviews into Your Own Hands

Ok, now let’s say your book cover is amazing, your blurb is something that will grab the attention of your ideal reader and your book has been professionally edited. Now it’s time to go after those reviews and these are the three ways to do just that:

I. Organic Reviews

These are the reviews that come naturally from readers who discover and love your book. Organic reviews tend to trickle in slowly. As a general guideline around 5% of customers who purchase a product will leave an online review, so for every 20 sales, you might expect to receive one review.

While you can’t guarantee a reader will leave a review, you can increase the chances by asking in a friendly, thoughtful way. Include your request for reviews in key places, such as the front and back matter of your book, your newsletter, or on social media. For example, you could write: "Enjoyed the story? Your review would mean the world to me—it helps other readers discover the book and motivates me to keep writing. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts!"

Pro Tip #1: When you tell readers why reviews are important, it makes your request more meaningful and encourages them to help. People love feeling helpful, so let them know how much their review means to you. Be sure to thank them in advance—it goes a long way. Here are some reasons to give them that may resonate with you:

Reviews help other readers discover my book.
Your review motivates me to keep writing.
Seeing your feedback brightens my day.
Reviews are critical to my growth as an author.
Positive reviews help my book gain visibility on major platforms.
Reviews build my connection with readers like you.

II. Targeted Review Campaigns

This includes managing your own dedicated team of readers, hitting up bloggers and influencers, and distributing ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) to generate reviews and buzz. It’s all about building relationships with the people who will support your book.

Street Teams (a.k.a. ARC Teams, Review Teams, Launch Teams): These are groups of loyal readers who support your books by leaving reviews when you have requested them. You can recruit readers to your review team by inviting them through your email list and posting on social media. Building a street team is about connecting with readers who are already invested in your work. Pay attention to readers who reach out with thoughtful comments or questions—they’re often great candidates for your team. You can also use automations in your email welcome sequence to ask new subscribers if they’d be willing to join your review team.
Blogger Outreach: Reach out to book bloggers or genre influencers who review books like yours. Start by researching niche blogs or social media accounts that align with your genre and send a friendly pitch offering a free copy for an honest review.

Pro Tip #2: Major platforms, like Amazon, have strict terms of service for reviews. For example, you’re prohibited from offering incentives like payments or gift card raffles for reviews. The only thing allowed is providing a free copy of your book in exchange for an honest review. Fortunately, there are countless readers happy to review under these conditions, and this article focuses entirely on leveraging that approach.

III. Book Review Sites

Book review sites connect authors with readers who love discovering new books and provide reviews in exchange for free copies. These platforms make it easier to distribute ARCs, track reviewer feedback, and gather early reviews before or during your book launch.

Not all review sites are the same, so take the time to research which one fits your goals. Look for platforms that cater to your genre, have active reader communities, and offer tools to track review progress.

One of the leading book review sites is Booksprout. It helps streamline the entire process by connecting you with readers, managing review copy distribution, and letting you track reviews easily. It even lets you send private thank-you messages to readers, helping you build a loyal review team without the hassle of spreadsheets or endless follow-up.

Pro Tip #3: If you’re considering a platform like Booksprout, make sure you’re prepared with these steps:

1. Have Everything Ready: Your book cover, sales blurb, and formatted book should be complete, and links to review sites should be ready to share.
2. Research Keywords: Choose keywords that help your book stand out in search results. On platforms like Booksprout, keywords are essential for ensuring your book reaches the right audience.

Other Book Review Platforms to Evaluate

BookSirens: Connects indie authors with readers who leave thoughtful, honest reviews.
Hidden Gems: Matches authors with readers in their genre, focusing on quality feedback.
NetGalley: Publishers and authors share ARCs with a large community of reviewers.
StoryOrigin: Helps authors find readers through targeted online book fairs. It also offers tools to grow your mailing list and collaborate with other authors.

Book Reviews Are Non-Negotiable for Your Book Launch

Reviews should never be an afterthought because they matter too much to the overall marketability of your books. They impact visibility, credibility, and help you build a genuine connection with readers. Many of the most successful authors use all three strategies—organic reviews, targeted review campaigns, and book review sites. Take the time to research how to best implement each one.

Building a steady stream of reviews takes time and persistence and every single review your book receives is a step toward building your author brand. Have an open mind with some of the feedback and take it into consideration when it makes sense to, while celebrating the glowing reviews as you go. There are readers out there just waiting to read your book and reviewers are key to helping them connect with your story. You’ll find them!

If you have any questions for the Booksprout team, feel free to drop them below or email us at help@booksprout.co, and someone from the team will be happy to get back to you! If you want to try Booksprout and get the second month free, click here.

Rossana Corniel leads marketing efforts at Booksprout, combining her passion for helping authors with her love for reading and writing romance novels, along with children’s books. As an author herself, Rossana understands the unique challenges faced by writers and enjoys creating tools and strategies that empower them to reach their audiences. When she's not working on Booksprout campaigns or her next romantasy novel, you’ll likely find her lost in a book or brainstorming new ways to support the indie author community.

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So, what do you think?

Do you have a better handle on reviews?
Can you see how to short circuit the review system and get in front of reviewers?
What is your review process like?

Let us know in the comments.