How to Get More Without Begging for Them
Book reviews matter more than most authors realise. They provide social proof, influence buying decisions, and impact a book’s visibility on platforms like Amazon. A book with a high number of positive reviews is more likely to attract new readers, while a book with few or no reviews often struggles to gain traction.
Readers trust other readers more than they trust an author’s marketing efforts, and many won’t take a chance on a book unless they see that others have read and enjoyed it.
However, while reviews are crucial, many authors go about getting them the wrong way—either by begging for them, offering incentives that violate retailer policies, or simply assuming they’ll happen on their own. If you want to get more book reviews without resorting to desperate measures, you need a strategy that encourages authentic, organic feedback.
One of the most important things to understand is that most readers won’t leave a review unless you ask them to. Not because they don’t enjoy the book, but because leaving a review isn’t something most people naturally think to do.
Even readers who love a book often finish it, set it down, and move on to the next one without ever considering that the author could benefit from a review. This is why a simple, direct call to action can make a big difference.
The easiest way to do this is by including a polite review request in the back of your book. A short note thanking readers for their time and asking them to share their thoughts can significantly increase the number of reviews you receive.
The way you phrase your request matters. Instead of saying, “Please leave a review,” make it personal and reader-focused:
“If you enjoyed this book, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Reviews help other readers decide if this book is right for them, and I truly appreciate every single one.”
This approach makes the request feel more like an invitation than an obligation. Readers are more likely to leave a review when they feel like they’re helping others rather than doing a favour for the author.
Another effective way to encourage reviews is by building an engaged reader community. If readers feel connected to you, they’re far more likely to leave a review because they see it as supporting an author they care about.
This is why having an email list or reader group can be so valuable. When you send out a book release announcement to your email subscribers, include a friendly reminder that reviews make a big difference.
If you have a Facebook group or online community, engage with your readers regularly, discuss books, and naturally encourage them to share their thoughts when they finish reading.
Advanced Review Copies (ARCs) are another great way to gather early reviews before your book officially launches. Many successful authors send out free copies to select readers, book bloggers, and reviewers in exchange for an honest review.
The key here is never to require a review in exchange for a free copy, as that violates Amazon’s review policies. Instead, make it clear that if they enjoy the book, you’d appreciate them sharing their thoughts.
The best way to do this is by creating an ARC team—a group of readers who consistently get early copies of your books and leave reviews when they can. Over time, a solid ARC team can help ensure that your book has a strong foundation of reviews on launch day.
Another way to get more reviews without begging is by using reader magnets and review swaps—strategically. Offering a free bonus, like an exclusive short story or additional content, in exchange for joining your email list can help you build a relationship with readers who are more likely to leave reviews.
However, avoid the common mistake of offering direct incentives for reviews, as this goes against Amazon’s guidelines. Instead, think of it as building an audience that naturally wants to support your work.
While review swaps can be helpful, they should always be authentic and organic. If you’re part of a writing community or author group, you can casually discuss each other’s books and review them if you genuinely enjoyed them—but avoid arranged “you review mine, I review yours” deals, as Amazon can detect and remove these. The best reviews come from real readers who genuinely connect with your book.
Encouraging reviews on Goodreads and BookBub can also help build momentum. Goodreads is a hub for book lovers, and many readers who leave reviews there will later cross-post them to Amazon.
Engaging with Goodreads readers, participating in discussions, and listing your book in relevant groups can help increase visibility and naturally generate more reviews. BookBub, another powerful platform for book discovery, allows users to leave recommendations that can help drive additional interest in your book.
Social media can also be a subtle but effective way to encourage more reviews. Instead of directly asking for them, highlight reader feedback in a way that inspires others to share their thoughts.
If someone leaves a great comment about your book, share it and thank them. If you receive a thoughtful email from a reader, ask if you can quote them (with permission). When people see others talking about your book, they’re more likely to join in and leave their own reviews.
One mistake authors often make is assuming that negative reviews are something to fear. While it’s natural to want only glowing five-star reviews, having a mix of reviews actually makes your book appear more legitimate.
Readers are suspicious of books with only perfect reviews—it makes them wonder if they’re real. Constructive criticism can also help you improve as a writer. The key is to focus on getting more reviews overall, rather than obsessing over individual negative ones.
A long-term strategy for generating more reviews is to keep publishing consistently. Authors with multiple books tend to get more reviews because readers who enjoy one book will often review another.
The more books you release, the more opportunities you create for readers to leave feedback. This is why successful authors don’t just rely on a single book but work on building a backlist that continually attracts reviews over time.
It’s also important to remember that quality matters more than quantity. A handful of detailed, thoughtful reviews are more valuable than dozens of generic, one-line reviews. Encourage readers to share what they liked about your book, how it made them feel, or what stood out.
These insights not only help potential buyers decide but also signal to retailer algorithms that your book is engaging readers, increasing its visibility in search results. Book reviews do matter, but getting them doesn’t have to feel like begging.
By creating a strong call to action in your book, engaging with your readers, leveraging ARC teams, and consistently publishing, you can build a steady stream of organic reviews. The more genuine connections you make with your audience, the more likely they are to support you by leaving feedback, helping you sell more books in the long run.
Until The Next One
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