Reviews & awards
Paid review
A review the author or publisher pays a fee to receive, from a service such as Kirkus Indie or BlueInk. The fee buys a review, not a favorable one. Paid reviews are labeled as such by the outlet and are read differently by librarians and booksellers than editorial reviews the outlet chose to run.
- When you’ll meet it
- Deciding on a review plan for a self-published or hybrid book
- Usually handled by
- Author or publisher
Why it matters to you
Knowing which reviews were paid for, and disclosing it where required, keeps your book's record honest and your submissions eligible.