Review outlets
Review outlets: who chooses, who guarantees one, and who just delivers the copy.
Trade outlets choose which books they review, so coverage isn't guaranteed. Paid-review services guarantee a review, not praise. Advance-copy platforms get books to reviewers but don't review the books themselves. This directory keeps those models separate and shows who can submit, when, what it costs, and who may see the result.
This directory feeds the checklist step Build the trade review submission plan. Set a status on any outlet and it joins your checklist.
Still deciding whether to bother? How review submissions actually work and Is a paid review worth it work through it.
- Editorial considerationFee: $25 per title submitted for review consideration (effective March 24, 2025); publishers with a PW site-license subscription are exempt. The fee does not guarantee a review.
Publishers Weekly
Booksellers, librarians, agents, and publishing professionals
- Who submits
- Publisher or freelance publicist through GalleyTracker; self-published or subsidized titles go through BookLife instead
- When
- Adult titles three months, preferably four, before the first day of the publication month; children's titles at least four months before publication
- Checked
- September 13, 2026
Traditionally published - Editorial considerationFee: $25 per book submitted for Publishers Weekly review consideration. The fee does not guarantee a review.
BookLife submission to Publishers Weekly
Booksellers, librarians, and publishing professionals who read Publishers Weekly
- Who submits
- The author, or a publicist working from the author's BookLife account
- When
- Before or after publication; allow six to twelve weeks for a decision, so submit at least three months before you need a review in hand
- Checked
- September 13, 2026
Self-publishedHybrid publisher - Guaranteed paid reviewFee: $399 per review. Expedited delivery (four weeks instead of six) costs extra; the surcharge was not stated on the guidelines page, so check the order form. Printing the review in Publishers Weekly is a separate optional purchase.
BookLife Reviews
Independent authors who want a professional review on a known timeline; readers and retailers who see the published review
- Who submits
- The individual author or illustrator through a BookLife account
- When
- Any time before or after publication; allow six weeks for delivery, or four weeks with the expedited option, plus up to one week of slack
- Checked
- September 13, 2026
Self-publishedHybrid publisher - Editorial considerationFee: No fee is stated for an editorial review. Not confirmed on an official page, because the guidelines are not publicly readable.
Booklist
Public and school librarians selecting books and audiobooks
- Who submits
- Publisher
- When
- Prepublication. Booklist's current guidelines are not publicly readable, so no lead time is stated here. Do not calculate a deadline from a third-party figure.
- Checked
- September 14, 2026
Traditionally publishedHybrid publisher - Editorial considerationNo fee
Library Journal
Public and academic librarians buying adult books
- Who submits
- Publisher or an authorized submitter
- When
- Review copies should arrive about 6 months before publication
- Checked
- September 13, 2026
Traditionally publishedHybrid publisher - Editorial considerationFee: No fee is mentioned on the official submissions page.
School Library Journal
School and public youth librarians selecting books for children and teens
- Who submits
- Not stated in so many words. The process is publisher-facing: you request an account and upload titles.
- When
- Not stated on the official submissions page. Submit before publication, but do not calculate a deadline from a third-party figure.
- Checked
- September 14, 2026
Traditionally publishedHybrid publisher - Editorial considerationNo fee for the editorial program
Kirkus Reviews (editorial program)
Booksellers, librarians, agents, film and rights scouts, and book media
- Who submits
- Publisher only; hybrid titles need a national distributor and must be submitted by the publisher
- When
- Digital galley at least four to five months before the publication date
- Checked
- September 13, 2026
Traditionally publishedHybrid publisher - Guaranteed paid reviewFee: Traditional review $450 standard or $599 express; Expanded review $599 standard or $750 express; Picture Book review $399 standard or $450 express (USD).
Kirkus Indie
Independent authors and publishers who want a Kirkus-branded review; readers and retailers who see the published review
- Who submits
- Author or independent publisher
- When
- Any time before or after publication; allow seven to nine weeks for standard delivery, or four to six weeks for express
- Checked
- September 13, 2026
All publishing paths - Editorial considerationNo fee for magazine review consideration
Foreword Reviews magazine
Booksellers and librarians who follow independent and university press publishing
- Who submits
- Independent or university press, hybrid publisher, or an author whose book qualifies
- When
- At least four and a half months before publication; late submissions are not considered
- Checked
- September 13, 2026
All publishing paths - Guaranteed paid reviewFee: $579 per review on the official Clarion page. A co-branded IngramSpark landing page shows a lower figure, so confirm the price at checkout if you came through a partner.
Foreword Clarion Reviews
Independent authors and publishers who want a professional review; booksellers, librarians, and readers who encounter the licensed review
- Who submits
- Author or publisher
- When
- Any time, including backlist. The official page says the four to six week turnaround starts when your book arrives. That is delivery time, not a deadline.
- Checked
- September 14, 2026
All publishing paths - Editorial considerationNo fee
Choice Reviews
Academic librarians and faculty selecting for undergraduate and college collections
- Who submits
- Publisher
- When
- Send a finished copy as soon as it is available and within three months of publication
- Checked
- September 13, 2026
Traditionally publishedHybrid publisher - Editorial considerationFee: Free for two finished print copies. A $50 Reader Fee applies to ebooks, PDF files, prepublication manuscripts, galleys, uncorrected proofs, and advance reader copies.
Midwest Book Review
Community and academic librarians, booksellers, and general readers of its online review publications
- Who submits
- Small press, self-published author, academic press, or publicist
- When
- Primarily after publication for finished print books; allow 12 to 14 weeks for the free track. Prepublication files are accepted only with the $50 Reader Fee and take about 10 to 12 weeks.
- Checked
- September 13, 2026
All publishing paths - Editorial considerationFee: No fee is stated for audiobook submissions on the Kirkus guidelines page. Kirkus Indie, the paid service, does not review audiobooks.
AudioFile Magazine (now part of Kirkus Reviews)
Librarians, audiobook producers, and listeners who follow audiobook reviews
- Who submits
- Not stated for audiobooks. The Kirkus guidelines page addresses its other categories to publishers, but the audiobook line names only an editor and a file format.
- When
- Not published for audiobooks. Kirkus states a 4 to 5 month lead time for digital galleys and ebooks, but that line is not written about audio, so do not calculate an audiobook deadline from it.
- Checked
- September 14, 2026
All publishing paths - Editorial considerationNo fee
The Horn Book
Children's and young adult librarians, educators, and booksellers
- Who submits
- Publishers, in the words of the official page
- When
- In advance of the publication date, preferably three months, in the words of the official page
- Checked
- September 14, 2026
Traditionally publishedHybrid publisher - Editorial considerationNo fee
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Children's and young adult librarians, educators, and award committees
- Who submits
- Publisher, including small and alternative presses
- When
- Review copies at least three months before the publication date
- Checked
- September 13, 2026
Traditionally publishedHybrid publisher - Advance-copy platformFee: Publishers pay a set-up fee and a monthly subscription based on the number of active titles; terms are provided on request. An independent-author package exists, and partner organizations offer single-title listings, but no per-title price is published on the official page.
NetGalley
Reviewers, librarians, booksellers, educators, and media who read prepublication copies
- Who submits
- Publisher, independent author (through NetGalley's author package or a partner account), or a marketing firm
- When
- List the title several months before release so review journals, library programs, and early readers can use it; four months or more is typical
- Checked
- September 13, 2026
All publishing paths - Advance-copy platformFee: $200 annual subscription plus $90 per title uploaded (effective February 1, 2025). Audio review copies are included at no additional charge; discounted bundles are available on request.
Edelweiss+
Booksellers, librarians, publisher sales reps, and media who use Edelweiss+ catalogs
- Who submits
- Publisher or an authorized marketing contact with an Edelweiss+ publisher account
- When
- Build into the prepublication sales cycle; post the DRC when the season's catalog goes live, typically four to six months before publication
- Checked
- September 13, 2026
Traditionally publishedHybrid publisher - Library recommendation programFee: No fee. Optional Publisher Partner packages exist but are not required for a book to be chosen.
LibraryReads
Public library staff and the adult readers they recommend to
- Who submits
- Library staff nominate; the publisher (or whoever controls the galley) makes the book available on Edelweiss+ or NetGalley and promotes awareness
- When
- Galley on Edelweiss+ or NetGalley at least two months before publication; nominations close on the first day of the month before the publication month
- Checked
- September 13, 2026
All publishing paths