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7 Paid Book Review Services to Elevate Your Self-Published Book

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Are paid book review services worth the price? Below, we’ll discuss paid book review services, their pros and cons, and what to look for when selecting one. 

What is a paid review service? 

A paid review service is a company that offers book reviews for a fee. When using paid book review services, the hope is that they will create a well-written, impartial review that can push people to buy and boost sales—if it’s a good review. It can be used on social media, your website, or your product page (e.g., Amazon’s A+ Content).

What are the benefits of using paid book review services? 

For authors, the crowded book market makes getting a well-written review within your preferred time frame a challenge. Reputable paid book review services can take some of the stress out of waiting for that “perfect” review to show up from early readers. When you pay for the service, you have better control over aligning the timing of your marketing campaign. You’ll also have a higher likelihood of getting a well-written review you can use.

What are the cons of using a paid review service?

If potential buyers know the review is from a paid service, it can feel inauthentic from the reader’s perspective. It’s similar to popular magazines that run featured articles written by their journalists, but in contrast, also run featured articles that PR companies pay for. One has journalistic integrity, while the paid article can come with questions attached like “Can I trust this?” Harsh, yes, but something to consider, so make sure that any paid service you use has a reputation for being impartial.

Where can you get paid book reviews?

  • Kirkus Reviews has been around since 1933 and earned a reputation within the publishing industry as one of the go-to resources for the best books on the market. According to their website , “As an unpublished or self-published author, it can be a relentless struggle to attract a significant amount of attention to your book or manuscript. By purchasing a Kirkus indie review, authors can have the opportunity to build some name recognition and get noticed by agents, publishers and other industry influencers. Authors can expect to pay between $399-$599 for a review with a 7-9 week turnaround .
  • Reedsy – For $50/title , you can get a book review through Reedsy’s Discovery service. If you are on a tight budget, then Reedsy’s service could work for you, but a review is not guaranteed. Books that are selected for review could be upvoted on their website, featured in one of their newsletters, and seen by a large pool of readers in your genre.
  • NetGalley – Starts at $450 per title for a 6-month subscription . NetGalley is a professional review service that has been around since 2008. They offer a large community of readers and valuable feedback that can be beneficial for streamlining the book before it is published. Learn more about their service.
  • Clarion Reviews is a part of Foreword Reviews Magazine. The magazine has a limited number of reviews per issue, so they offer a 450-word review for independent authors and self-publishers for $549 . Turnaround time is 4-6 weeks .
  • Self-Publishing Review – $99-$329 – (7-30 day turnaround) . This publishing service offers a variety of options, from a 70-word review to a 500-word review. Each review is broken down by type, where it will be shared on social media, and additional perks associated with the service type.
  • Indie Reader – For $299-$399 (4-9 week turnaround based on the service selected) , authors receive a book review with a minimum of 350 words. Books that receive a 4+ star review are included in their monthly newsletter roundup, and the author will receive an invitation to be interviewed for their reader site. Reviews are distributed or made available for distribution on Amazon, Banes and Noble, IndieReader, and Ingram.
  • Blue Ink Review – $445-$745 (4-9 week turnaround depending on the service selected) Founded by a literary agent and award-winning editor, the company offers the following details about their services: “While fee-based, all BlueInk reviews are honest appraisals,  written by professionals  drawn largely from mainstream media outlets or editors who have worked at well-respected publishing houses.”

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How do you select a paid review service? What should you look for? 

If you pay for a review, get one from a reputable provider—one that has a reputation for being impartial and uses vetted reviewers who know how to properly analyze a book and give a professional review. 

If the review site publishes their reviews (e.g., Reedsy Discovery), read their reviews and ask:

  • Is the review professionally written?
  • Is it thorough without giving away spoilers?
  • Does the review persuade (or dissuade)? Does it choose a side and lead the buyer in that direction?

Public reviews won’t always align with the paid review but they should sound like they’re talking about the same book. If not, there will be a disconnect that readers won’t hesitate to mention.

How do you know if paying for a review is the best choice for you?

If you’re having trouble finding people to review your book, or you’re working with a short time frame and don’t have time to wait, then a paid review could be a smart move. Another reason to choose a paid service is if your initial reviews weren’t the quality that you were looking for. If this is your experience, a professional reviewer could give you the result you’re seeking. 

Steer clear of pop-up sites that look more like a money trap than a legitimate review site. When it comes to reviews, a company’s reputation adds value, so look for companies that have a strong reputation, not just with readers but within the publishing industry as well.  

Words matter. If you use a paid review site, make sure that they can give your book the foundation it deserves. 

Key Takeaways

Book marketing is all about strategy and making your money work for you. Don’t waste your marketing budget on a service that’s not going to help you level up as an author.  If paid book reviews are part of your marketing strategy, they should push people to buy your books. 

Look for paid review services that will get your book in front of your ideal reader. 

This might take some research, but it’s a good investment of time. 

If the reviews you find are basic, don’t persuade or dissuade the reader, and feel generic, trust your instinct. 

You want a review that’s going to move the needle in your favor. A positive review is great, but if it doesn’t work for you, it’s a waste of money. 

Strong reviews are great for social proof. If you can get a good one from a reputable site, it could help push your book sales.

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Best Paid Book Review Sites for Authors

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Reviews are the lifeblood of your book’s success. Getting them is vital throughout your author journey, starting from before until long after you launch your piece of writing. Paid services are, of course, well aware of this fact. There are so many to choose from, so if you’re wondering what the best paid book review sites are, keep reading!

Dozens and dozens of companies are happy to take your money in exchange for the promise of landing you some good reviews.

With the many book review sites out there, you might be wondering which one should you choose.

Not All Paid Book Review Sites Are The Same

You can easily find plenty of companies out there that promises reviews in exchange for dollars. But, as much as you’d want them to be, not all of them will turn out effective. In fact, you may come across some that aren’t even legit.

Rather than take you through all the options available, I’ll share the tried-and-tested ones we use to help get your search narrowed down.

Here at Book Launchers, we use:

  • BookSirens, and
  • Booksprout for our authors.

Now, you might be thinking, “ A review is a review. So why so many different sites for the same thing?”

Well, if you haven’t noticed, paid book review sites aren’t all the same. Your book category, overall strategy, goals, and who you’re targeting are essential aspects to consider before going with a review company.

Still, every review site has the same ultimate goal: increase your exposure, find new readers for your book, and bump up those review counts.

Not all sites can make sense for every author. The best course of action would be to pick those that best suit your unique needs.

Here are the four best paid book review sites you can rely on for non-fiction authors, each with its distinctive features.

#1 goodreads.

Goodreads is the most popular review site in the publishing industry today. It remains the top on-line community for book lovers and authors alike.

Amazon runs it, so it boasts some perks for authors with books in the Amazon database.

Right through the site, you can claim your profile and earn a badge that verifies your identity. You’ll also be able to access a wealth of statistical information on your books listed on KDP.

So, how do you know if Goodreads is the way to go? Well, if you want your book to go viral and gain as much exposure as possible, Goodreads could be your ticket.

Here, the strategy is to get people to add your book to their virtual bookshelves, and of course, leave some reviews on it.

This way, your book gets raised visibility. Other users can now see it in their friends’ feeds, giving it a much better chance to be added to their reading list.

Think of it as like playing a giant book-fueled game of telephone with 80 million people.

Speaking of games, did you know that we have an entire YouTube channel dedicated to guiding authors like you to create an excellent self-publishing game plan. Check it out, and if you like what you see, let’s see how fast you can smash that subscribe button.

Back to our topic, you can also run a giveaway on Goodreads, a surefire way to get book reviews. It’s something we do regularly for our clients.

All active giveaways are listed on the giveaway section of the website. Your fans can link to it and encourage their friends to enter the giveaway.

Here’s a video dedicated entirely to helping you get all the goods you can get on Goodreads.

#2 NetGalley

Next up on the paid book review site list is NetGalley. NetGalley is a service that delivers digital Advanced Reader Copies, better known as ARCs.

This service provides ARCs of your book to professional readers. We’re talking about reviewers, media, journalists, bloggers, librarians, booksellers, podcast hosts, and many others.

These professional readers use NetGalley to access digital copies of your book, making it an effective marketing tool not just for your book but for your entire brand as an author.

It allows your work to be made available to people who want to read it in their professional capacity.

A NetGalley promotion offers your ARC three months to be highlighted in their database’s recently added and read now sections. The promo also lets you showcase your book to the sections specific to your title’s categories.

By opting for this promo, all users will see your book listed on the NetGalley website.

There’s a lot more to NetGalley when it comes to figuring out if it’s the right one for you.

To help you out, we have a video that goes into all the details of this review site. We also dive deep into costs because it can be pretty expensive and may not be worth it for all books. Stick to the end of this video to make sure if this review site is for you.

The following two on this list are similar to NetGalley. These two book review sites also deliver your ARC copy to both readers and reviewers. But, they focus more on getting your ARC securely to reviewers, bloggers, and your book army.

#3 BookSirens

BookSirens boasts over 10,000 readers across various genres with an average review rate of 75%, making it an attractive site to get book reviews.

The high average review rate is because their users are vetted and accepted as serious book reviewers. Before users can get approval to join BookSirens, they must have posted at least 20 starred ratings on Goodreads.

How this works is that you first need to send your book to the BookSirens team for evaluation. They will then confirm if it is a quality book – something that they want to offer to their users. Once approved, they will add your book to its appropriate category where users can discover it, download the ARC, and start reading.

A remarkable feature of BookSirens, which leads to their 75% success rate, is that readers can only download one ARC at a time. They can’t download a new ARC until they finish reading and reviewing their active one.

This feature is pretty cool for authors because your advanced reader is much less likely to ghost you without leaving a review. And they’re entirely focused on one book at a time.

BookSirens will also give you a direct link that you can send to your book army. So, those folks can hop on over there and securely download their ARC for free.

You also have the option of choosing whether your reviews are posted on Goodreads, Amazon, or both. Now if you’re wondering about getting book reviews from your book army (And how to keep them from being removed) – check out this article .

#4 Booksprout

Booksprout is another option to consider if your main priority is a prelaunch review push.

Similar to BookSirens, Booksprout is a review site that automates the delivery of your ARC to over 40,000 users.

Their average review rate is around 79%. Even your book army will find it challenging to beat that.

Before you get all excited, we’ve been testing this one for some time, and we’re getting mixed results.

Self-Publish and Succeed , well after launch, got four reviews from a single Booksprout listing. Yet, the other books we tested did not bring any results.

Right now, we’re playing with it to figure out whether it’s a timing issue, a topic, or something else.

We’ve experienced the same thing with BookSirens. My book wasn’t even accepted by them for their reviewers. So, I only used BookSirens for ARCs, but some authors from our client base have gotten good reviews.

BookSirens Vs. Booksprout

So what’s the difference between the two paid review sites? Which one is better for you? Let’s discuss the main differences between BookSirens and Booksprout:

  • Booksprout focuses on getting reviews by a specific date, while BookSirens focuses on getting a particular number of reviews.
  • On BookSirens, you can post your book and have the reviews roll in for as long as your little heart desires. But on Booksprout, your reviewers have a time limit to read and write their review.
  • Booksprout also limits the number of reviewer downloads depending on your subscription level. The more money you spend on their service, the more downloads you can do.
  • BookSirens is a fee-per-book service, letting you choose the number of downloads from as little as 5 to as many as 250.

On the plus side, you can request Booksprout reviews posted on up to eight different sites rather than just Goodreads or Amazon. They include options like Kobo, Apple Books, Google Books, and even BookBub.

Whether you go with BookSirens, Booksprout, or both, these two book review sites are easy to use. They’re effective if you need a little help building up your audience.

If this is your first book or your book army looks a little sparse on the prelaunch battlefield, one of these two review sites, or maybe both, could be your answer.

Now that you know some of the best sites that can help you get book reviews in bulk, maybe it’s time to get in touch with us. See what we can do to help you take off even further, even months post-launch.

Here at Book Launchers we help authors like you in every stage of the self-publishing process. Whether you write the book yourself or with our help, we’re with you every step of the way.

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Stay tuned as we reveal the top book review sites for 2024!  Whether you’re in the mood for a classic drama, a modern thriller, or an enlightening non-fiction, there’s a review site that can point you in the right direction.

We’ve also included the advantages of every book review site for readers and authors. So without wasting time, let’s get started! 

Ensure your book gets the glowing reviews it deserves! Learn more

1. Goodreads

Goodreads stands out as a titan in the field of book review sites, especially in 2024. As the biggest community of readers, authors, and reviewers on the internet, you can find reviews for almost every book on Goodreads. 

You can also join reading groups, catalog books, engage in discussions with fellow readers, and follow your favorite authors. Moreover, by integrating Goodreads with your Kindle account, you can track your reading progress, get personalized book recommendations, and write reviews that get posted on both Goodreads and Amazon automatically. 

Subscription Fee: None

2. Kirkus Reviews

Present since 1933, Kirkus Reviews is one of the oldest book review websites that has earned a reputation for its authoritative and unbiased reviews. You can access quality book reviews for a variety of genres either on the website, by subscribing to the free weekly email newsletter, or by subscribing to the paid semi-monthly magazine.

The main advantages of Kirkus Reviews include access to “best of” lists across many categories and reviews about each book mentioned in the list. The only downside to Kirkus Reviews is the paid nature of the magazine, which can limit access to reviews of new bestsellers to only a few people.

Subscription Fee: Ranging from $49 to $179, based on the chosen duration of the subscription.

3. LibraryThing

LibraryThing, a book lover’s haven for cataloging books, is one of the best book review websites. It offers a robust platform for readers to explore reviews, rate books, and meticulously organize their collections by genre.

The charm of LibraryThing lies in its social features—you can connect with fellow readers, share your bookshelves, and exchange thoughts on your latest reads. It’s a cozy corner on the internet for those who take pleasure in tracking their reading journey and finding kindred spirits within the pages of their favorite genres.

Apart from these features, LibraryThing provides a feature for authors to create their own Author’s page. Besides this, LibraryThing provides readers the opportunity to meet with fellow readers and authors by releasing updates about local book events. 

4. Book Riot

Book Riot is one of the most versatile book review sites where you can access fictional and non-fictional book reviews, articles, and essays about top books across different genres. In addition to this, you can access information about discount deals for e-books and printed books and purchase from a huge variety of book merchandise.  

The one thing that sets Book Riot apart from other sites is access to podcasts, which you can listen to if you don’t feel like reading book reviews. The only downside to Book Riot is that the site’s format doesn’t provide the feel of a traditional book review experience. 

Subscription Fee: $4.99/month for authors who subscribe to Book Riot Insiders for information about new releases.

5. LoveReading

LoveReading emerges as a cherished resource among book review sites, particularly for its UK-based but globally accessible content. As one of the top professional book review sites, it allows you to access ebook and audiobook reviews across multiple genres. 

The advantages of LoveReading include access to books and debuts of the month, weekly staff picks, and yearly list features. The only downside to LoveReading is the limited availability of reviews about books published outside the UK. 

Amazon is one of the top free book review sites in 2024. It allows readers to rate books using a 1–5 star scale and receive a verified purchase tag after they have purchased books, increasing the authenticity of their reviews. Additionally, readers can engage with each other by adding comments to other reviews and stand a chance to receive a higher ranking if their reviews are well-received by a larger audience. 

7. Booklist

Booklist, a veteran publication by the American Library Association since 1905, has evolved into a premier online destination for book reviews. You can look at the reviews of many print and audiobooks from various genres on Booklist. 

The benefits of using Booklist include access to webinars and a variety of newsletters like Read Alert, Booklandia, and more. The only downside to Booklist is that it doesn’t provide a space for reader interaction or discussion, which restricts the community aspect of the reading experience.

Subscription Fee: $184.95/year

8. Publishers Weekly

Dominating the publishing world since 1872, Publishers Weekly is one of the oldest children’s mystery and romance book review sites. Apart from book reviews, it provides access to news about upcoming books. 

The advantages of Publishers Weekly are access to the latest industry news, stats, bestseller lists, and exciting podcasts about authors and contemporary books. The only downside to Publishers Weekly is that you need to pay a subscription fee to have complete access to the content present on this site.

Subscription Fee: $15/month

9. NetGalley

NetGalley is one of the top book review sites for authors and readers alike. Readers can view reviews, request advanced reader copies (ARCs), and write reviews about pre-released books by various authors. Also, readers can check out book reviews, recommendations, and the must-read section at Bookish, an editorially independent division of NetGalley. 

The only downside to NetGalley is that it can be difficult to secure ARCs of highly anticipated books due to fierce competition among reviewers. 

10. Fantasy Book Review 

This site includes various categories for book reviews such as urban fantasy, high/epic fantasy, dystopian/post-apocalyptic fiction, magic users, and heroic/ sword and sorcery, etc. Depending on the category, book reviews for the best fantasy books are added to the website. With this, the site also provides readers with a list of the top 100 fantasy books of all time, recommendations of fantasy series, and interviews with fantasy authors.  

Check out the top ten book review sites mentioned above to find your next best read, and let these curated sites lead you to memorable stories and transformative literary adventures. If you need help to create perfect book reviews or refine your book, consider our professional editing and proofreading services for assistance.

Here are some other articles you might find useful: 

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Independent Book Review

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A Celebration of Indie Press and Self-Published Books

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30+ Top-Notch Book Review Sites for Readers & Writers

Here are 30+ top-notch book review sites for booksellers, librarians, readers, & writers. Learn more about 30 bookish companies helping spread the word about the best & latest books.

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Top-Notch Book Review Sites for Readers & Writers

book review service online

Book reviews are for all of us.

Readers need to know whether books with the best covers are worth the time they’re about to put into it. They find it helpful (and fun!) to check out reviews after reading the books, too, so they can see what other real-life humans had to say about it.

Authors & publishers need to get book reviews to build buzz and credibility for their product. Librarians & booksellers need to hear from trusted sources that the book they are about to buy for their collection has the capability to get picked up & to satisfy. 

Book review sites have transformed the book-recommending landscape.

We can write reviews on product pages, on social media apps, and some of us, for publications that have been around since before the internet. Book reviewing has changed. But maybe it also hasn’t.

What kind of book review sites are you looking for? Chances are, this list has you covered.

Here are 30+ book review sites to read, write, and bookmark. 

book review service online

1. Independent Book Review

Independent Book Review: A Celebration of indie press and self-published books logo for book review sites

Does this logo look familiar? (Hint: You’re sitting on it).

IBR, the website you’re on RIGHT NOW, is all about indie books . There are so many books in the world right now, but if you feel like you keep seeing the same ones recommended over and over, start reading indie!

Independent presses & self-published authors are doing some incredible work right now. IBR reviews books, curates lists, does indie bookstore round-ups, and uses starred reviews & best-of-the-year lists to show which books are going to blow your mind.

2. Book Marks

Book Marks (Lit Hub) logo with books on outside of logo

Lit Hub rules. You already knew this.

But do you know about Book Marks? They’re a branch of the Lit Hub network, and they are an excellent way for booksellers and librarians to get shorter recaps from multiple sources and voices.

Their staff peruses book review sites and shares pull-quotes from them in book lists & more. By reading all of these sites, they can give the book a rating based on the average: “Rave, Positive, Mixed, or Pan.”

My favorite book-buying platform, Bookshop , uses Book Marks’ scale for their books’ ratings, and I love getting access to that.

3. Publishers Weekly

book review service online

Publishers Weekly has been around since 1872. By now, they’re a review churning machine. They cover so much of the book industry in so many different ways, reviewing nearly 9,000 books per year and providing publication announcements, agency announcements, industry job listings , bestseller lists, industry stats, a self-publishing partner, and more. 

4. Kirkus Reviews

book review service online

Another one that’s been around since before the internet! 1933 to be exact. Kirkus is a widely recognized publication that book buyers & librarians follow carefully. I dare you to find a bookstore or library that doesn’t have multiple books with Kirkus Reviews plastered on their front and back covers.

5. Booklist

book review service online

The American Library Association runs Booklist , a platform dedicated to helping libraries, educators, and booksellers choose books. They’ve got a magazine (since 1905!), book reviews, lists, awards, and one of my favorite bookish podcasts out there: Shelf Care .

6. Library Journal & School Library Journal

book review service online

As you might be able to guess, Library Journal & School Library Journal focus on librarians too! They review a ton of books, and they write often about library-related news, collection management, technology, programs, and more. If you’re an author hoping to land your book in libraries, these are essential targets.

7. BookPage

Bookpage is written across a background of books in this logo for IBR's list of the best book review sites

You may have seen BookPage in your local library or bookstore. Some shops provide it for free so that patrons can look through it to find which books to buy in-store. Their website is clean and intriguing and always full of the most up-to-date releases and bestsellers.

Speaking of libraries! Have you seen our gifts for librarians ?

8. Foreword

book review service online

Foreword is such an enthusiastic and dedicated champion of indie books, and they’ve been doing it since the 90s! I love how much attention university presses get here too. Their reviews are well-written & thorough, in both print & digital, and I always find something to speed-purchase once the Foreword Indie winners come out.

9. LoveReading

Lovereading logo features a heart surrounded by a folded book

LoveReading is a top book-recommendation website in the UK. They’ve got starred reviews, lists, staff picks, a LitFest , eBooks, and they even donate 25% of the cover price of their books to schools of your choice. It’s reader-friendly and apparent how much they appreciate the wonder of books. 

10. Washington Independent Review of Books

book review service online

What’s not to love about The Independent?

Back in 2011, a group of writers & editors were frustrated by newspapers dropping book review sections and decided to do something about it. The Washington Independent Review of Books is quite a lovely something! This nonprofit posts every day: from reviews to interviews to essays and podcasts. They host events too!

11. Book Riot

book review service online

Try being a reader and not finding something you love on Book Riot. Book lists, podcasts, personalized recommendations, newsletters, book deals—this site is a haven.

It doesn’t post solo book reviews like other sites, but they do share mini-reviews in book lists and talk about reading in unique & passionate ways. The Book Riot Podcast is such a winner too! I love listening to Jeff & Rebecca laugh about the latest in books & reading.

12. Electric Lit

book review service online

From novel excerpts to original short fiction & poetry, they might not only be a book review site,  but they do offer a lot in the world of book recommendations. Their Recommended Reading lit mag features unique staff picks and short, insightful book reviews.

13. The Millions

book review service online

The writing in The Millions is something to behold. They are an artful source for all things book reviews & recommendations. They write stunning essays about books & reading and long reviews of new and old books. They’ve got some of my favorite Most Anticip ated lists too.

What are the biggest benefits of reading ? 🧐

14. Bookforum

book review service online

Did you hear? Bookforum is back ! This book review magazine announced in December 2022 that they were closing, and my heart sank a little bit. This company means so much to the publishing industry and has for 20+ years, so when I saw (last week!) that they are returning, I did more than a few jumps for joy.

Welcome back, Bookforum! Can’t wait to see what you’ve got coming for us in book world coverage.

book review service online

BOMB is in it for the art. Art, literature, film, music, theater, architecture, and dance. There are reviews and interviews, and the literature section is a real delight. The reviews are like poignant essays, and the author interviews are in-depth and feature some fascinating minds.

16. The Asian Review of Books

book review service online

The only dedicated pan-Asian book review publication! It’s widely cited and features some of the best in Asian books and art, so booksellers and librarians have a source to trust to stock their collections with high-quality pan-Asian lit.

Have you seen our gifts for book lovers yet?

17. Chicago Review of Books

book review service online

I love so much of what Chicago Review of Books does. They have a clean & sleek design that features some of the buzziest books as well as plenty of hidden gems from our favorite indie presses. I’m a particularly big fan of the spotlight they put on books in translation .

18. Rain Taxi

book review service online

I love Rain Taxi ’s style! They champion unique books, publish their own fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, and put a real emphasis on art for their magazine covers . It’s a beautiful print magazine to subscribe to, but they also share free online editions & digital archives. They even run the Rain Taxi Reading Series & Twin Cities Book Festival if you’re a real-lifer in Minnesota!

19. The Rumpus

book review service online

Oh, The Rumpus ! This mostly volunteer-run online magazine publishes reviews, interviews, essays, fiction, and poetry. The reviews are in-depth and personal and heart-melting, and in addition to the site, they’ve got cool perks like the Poetry Book Club  and Letters in the Mail . The book club is where you get a pre-release book and meet the poet via Slack with other club members at the end of the month, and Letters in the Mail are actual postcards sent in the mail to you twice a month from your favorite authors.

20. Book Reporter

Book reporter is a book review site where readers and writers click.

The selection in Book Reporter is carefully curated & enticing: hot new releases, forthcoming books, major presses, & indies. And there are plenty of unique ways to learn about them, like video interviews and monthly lists & picks. It launched in 1996 and is in The Book Report Network, which includes Reading Group Guides , a super useful resource for book clubs.

21. BookTrib .

book review service online

BookTrib does such a great job of making their site browsable. The different ways you can enjoy what they offer—from book lists to giveaways to ebook deals —are difficult to keep your purchase finger off of.

23. Lit Reactor

book review service online

Writers & readers—where bookish people meet! LitReactor’s book reviews are in the magazine portion of their website, and they’ve got plenty of them! Reviews, interviews, lists, introspectives, writing tips, and reading discussions. I’ve found some really unique content on Lit Reactor, like this ranking of literary parents . The website is a haven for writers especially, as there are workshops, writing blog posts, and even a forum to participate in.

book review service online

24. Crime Fiction Lover

book review service online

Dark alleys. Stray bullets. Hard-boiled detectives. Runaway thrills. If you’re a mystery-thriller reader, you’ve got to know about Crime Fiction Lover. They’ve got a passionate group of readers and writers talking about the best books in the genre and the ones that are soon to come out too.

25. SF Book Reviews

book review service online

Speculative fiction fans unite! SF Book Reviews has been reviewing sci-fi and fantasy books since 1999, and while they’re a relatively small staff, they publish regularly, feature books of the month, and work wonders for their fantastical community.

26. Historical Novel Society

book review service online

For all you historical fiction fans out there, the Historical Novel Society has reviewed more than 20,000 books in its twenty years. This one works like a membership for “writers and readers who love exploring the past.” You get a quarterly print magazine as a member, and if you’re a writer, you can join critique groups and ask for book reviews.

27. The Poetry Question

book review service online

The Poetry Question writes about poetry published by indie presses and indie authors. They are a small passionate team dedicated to showing the world why indie presses continue to be a leading source for award-winning poetry.

book review service online

28. Goodreads

book review service online

Did you know that there are over 125 million members on Goodreads? When users review books, they can have conversations with fellow readers and follow reviewers too. If you’re looking for the biggest community, there’s no doubt Goodreads is the one. I like using sites like this because it helps you catalog books, one of my favorite ways to build a strong reading habit . 

29. The Storygraph

book review service online

A big community of active users that’s Amazon free! Come review books, use half & quarter stars (!), and complete reading challenges. You got this.

29. Bookwyrm

book review service online

Bookwyrm is small (around 5,000 members at the time of this writing), but doesn’t that sound kind of nice? There are active members and a genuine collective goal in talking books. Grow with it. I think you’ll be comfy here. There are other communities within the Bookwyrm umbrella too, like Bookrastinating .

30. Reedsy Discovery

book review service online

I hold a special place in my heart for book review sites dedicated to helping writers! I got into this business as a book marketer, and I experienced first-hand, through hundreds of books, how hard it was to get exposure & validation for small press and self-published authors. 

Reedsy Discovery is a branch of Reedsy (the author resource company) that connects authors & reviewers so that people can read free books, sometimes receive tips for it, and authors can get more reviews in the process. Readers can choose from the latest books as well as the ones that are getting the best reviews.

31. Netgalley

book review service online

Netgalley is a book review site for pre-released books. Reviewers sign up for a free account, request galleys from publishers and indie authors, and get to read them before they’re published so that they can leave reviews for the book, preferably on Amazon, Goodreads, or their blog. They also run Bookish , the editorial arm of Netgalley, which has book recommendations, interviews, and more.

32. Online Book Club

book review service online

This review site combines a bunch of cool things! The 4-million member community gives me a lot of Goodreads vibes, especially with the Bookshelves app . But Online Book Club is a place for you to get eBook deals and talk about books in reviews and forums.

What are your favorite book review sites to follow? Let us know in the comments!

Thank you for reading “ Top-Notch Book Review Sites for Readers & Writers !” If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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Check out http://www.literaryvault.com for best book reviews and author interviews. The literary Vault is a blog run and owned by a 13-year-old passionate reader who loves to share her passion and recommendations with others.

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Thank you for the information!

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Book review sites serve as invaluable resources for both readers and writers, offering insightful critiques, recommendations, and discussions on a wide range of literary works. Whether you’re seeking your next captivating read or looking to promote your own book, these platforms provide a wealth of information and opportunities for engagement. https://ghostwritersplanet.com/

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I think BookBrowse.com definitely deserves to be on this list!

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Professional Book Reviews

At BookThinkers, we understand that professional book reviews are essential for authors. Not only do they provide valuable feedback, but they also help to build credibility and boost visibility. That’s why we offer a range of book review services for authors designed to meet the needs of writers at all stages of their careers.

Book Review Services

Book reviews help readers determine if a book would be a good fit for them and help them achieve their goals. Professional book reviews can always be used as a marketing tool to generate interest in a book. Making it beneficial for authors to have their books reviewed by professional reviewers.

A professional book review is an objective, well-informed opinion of a book’s strengths and weaknesses. A well-written book review can help potential readers decide whether or not to read your book. 

Our audience is looking for new non-fiction book recommendations every day. So let’s start telling your target audience why they should invest in your book.

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OUR SERVICES

Each of our promotions is designed to highlight your book and all you have to offer.

Hugely popular among authors and audiences alike, Fun Reels average 10,000 to 25,000 views from your target audience.

Review Reels

The Review Reels average 8,000 to 12,000 views. Each one of those views is a potential new revenue generator for you.

Picture Posts

Our Picture Posts average 10 thousand to 20 thousand impressions. Each impression equals a reader looking for books in your genre. 

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Why Use BookThinkers Book Review Services for Authors?

​​Book reviews are an important part of the publishing process. But social media book reviews are an area almost completely overlooked by the traditional publishing industry. Professional book reviews on social media like Instagram and TikTok help you reach more audiences, and those readers who are eager to find your book.

If you’re ready to take your book to the next level, contact BookThinkers today and let us put our experience to work for you.

The 13 Best Book Review Sites and Book Rating Sites

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Nobody likes to spend money on a new book only to face that overwhelming feeling of disappointment when it doesn't live up to your expectations. The solution is to check out a few book review sites before you hit the shops. The greater the diversity of opinions you can gather, the more confidence you can have that you'll enjoy the title.

Which book review and book rating sites are worth considering? Here are the best ones.

1. Goodreads

goodreads

Goodreads is arguably the leading online community for book lovers. If you want some inspiration for which novel or biography to read next, this is the book review site to visit.

There's an endless number of user-generated reading lists to explore, and Goodreads itself publishes dozens of "best of" lists across a number of categories. You can do a book search by plot or subject , or join book discussions and reading groups with thousands of members.

You can participate in the community by adding your own rankings to books you've read and leaving reviews for other people to check out. Occasionally, there are even bonus events like question and answer sessions with authors.

2. LibraryThing

librarything book review

LibraryThing is the self-proclaimed largest book club in the world. It has more than 2.3 million members and is one of the best social networking platforms for book lovers .

With a free account, you can add up to 200 books to your library and share them with other users. But it's in the other areas where LibraryThing can claim to be one of the best book review sites.

Naturally, there are ratings, user reviews, and tags. But be sure to click on the Zeitgeist tab at the top of the page. It contains masses of information, including the top books by rating, by the number of reviews, by authors, and loads more.

3. Book Riot

book riot

Book Riot is a blog. It publishes listicles on dozens of different topics, many of which review the best books in a certain genre. To give you an idea, some recent articles include Keeping Hoping Alive: 11 Thrilling YA Survival Stories and The Best Historical Fiction Books You’ve Never Heard Of .

Of course, there's also plenty of non-reading list content. If you have a general affinity for literature, Book Riot is definitely worth adding to the list of websites you browse every day.

bookish

Bookish is a site that all members of book clubs should know about. It helps you prep for your next meeting with discussion guides, book quizzes, and book games. There are even food and drink suggestions, as well as playlist recommendations.

But the site is more than just book club meetings. It also offers lots of editorial content. That comes in the form of author interviews, opinion essays, book reviews and recommendations, reading challenges, and giveaways.

Be sure to look at the Must-Reads section of the site regularly to get the latest book reviews. Also, it goes without saying that the people behind Bookish are book lovers, too. To get a glimpse of what they’re reading, check out their Staff Reads articles.

5. Booklist

booklist

Booklist is a print magazine that also offers an online portal. Trusted experts from the American Library Association write all the book reviews.

You can see snippets of reviews for different books. However, to read them in full, you will need to subscribe. An annual plan for this book review site costs $184.95 per year.

6. Fantasy Book Review

fantasy book review website

Fantasy Book Review should be high on the list for anyone who is a fan of fantasy works. The book review site publishes reviews for both children's books and adults' books.

It has a section on the top fantasy books of all time and a continually updated list of must-read books for each year. You can also search through the recommended books by sub-genres such as Sword and Sorcery, Parallel Worlds, and Epic Fantasy.

7. LoveReading

lovereading

LoveReading is one of the most popular book review sites in the UK, but American audiences will find it to be equally useful.

The site is divided into fiction and non-fiction works. In each area, it publishes weekly staff picks, books of the month, debuts of the month, ebooks of the month, audiobooks of the month, and the nationwide bestsellers. Each book on every list has a full review that you can read for free.

Make sure you also check out their Highlights tab to get book reviews for selected titles of the month. In Collections , you'll also find themed reading lists such as World War One Literature and Green Reads .

kirkus

Kirkus has been involved in producing book reviews since the 1930s. This book review site looks at the week's bestselling books, and provides lengthy critiques for each one.

As you'd expect, you'll also find dozens of "best of" lists and individual book reviews across many categories and genres.

And while you're on the site, make sure you click on the Kirkus Prize section. You can look at all the past winners and finalists, complete with the accompanying reviews of their books.

reddit books

Although Reddit is a social media site, you can use it to get book reviews of famous books, or almost any other book for that matter! Reddit has a Subreddit, r/books, that is dedicated to book reviews and reading lists.

The subreddit has weekly scheduled threads about a particular topic or genre. Anyone can then chip in with their opinions about which books are recommendable. Several new threads are published every day, with people discussing their latest discovery with an accompanying book rating or review.

You'll also discover a weekly recommendation thread. Recent threads have included subjects such as Favorite Books About Climate Science , Literature of Indigenous Peoples , and Books Set in the Desert . There’s also a weekly What are you Reading? discussion and frequent AMAs.

For more social media-like platforms, check out these must-have apps for book lovers .

10. YouTube

YouTube is not the type of place that immediately springs to mind when you think of the best book review sites online.

Nonetheless, there are several engaging YouTube channels that frequently offer opinions on books they've read. You’ll easily find book reviews of famous books here.

Some of the most notable book review YouTube channels include Better Than Food: Book Reviews , Little Book Owl , PolandBananasBooks , and Rincey Reads .

man in the music book on amazon

Amazon is probably one of your go-to site when you want to buy something. If you don’t mind used copies, it’s also one of the best websites to buy second-hand books .

Now, to get book reviews, just search and click on a title, then scroll down to see the ratings and what others who have bought the book are saying. It’s a quick way to have an overview of the book’s rating. If you spot the words Look Inside above the book cover, it means you get to preview the first few pages of the book, too!

Regardless of the praises or criticisms you have heard from other book review sites, reading a sample is the most direct way to help you gauge the content’s potential and see whether the author’s writing style suits your tastes.

12. StoryGraph

storygraph

StoryGraph is another good book review site that's worth checking out. The book rating is determined by the site's large community of readers. Key in the title of a book you're interested in and click on it in StoryGraph's search results to have an overall view of its rating.

Each book review provides information on the moods and pacing of the story. It also indicates whether the tale is plot or character-driven, what readers feel about the extent of character development, how lovable the characters generally are, and the diversity of the cast.

13. London Review of Books

london review of books

The London Review of Books is a magazine that covers a range of subjects such as culture, literature, and philosophy. Part of its content includes amazingly detailed book reviews. If you feel that most modern book reviews are too brief for your liking, the London Review of Books should suit you best.

You'll gain insight into the flow and themes of the story, as well as a more thorough picture of the events taking place in the book.

Read Book Reviews Before You Buy

The book review sites we've discussed will appeal to different types of readers. Some people will be more comfortable with the easy-to-interpret book rating systems; others will prefer extensive reviews written by experienced professionals.

Although it’s easy to be tempted by a gorgeous book cover, it’s always best to have a quick look at the book reviews before actually buying a copy. This way, you can save your money and spend it on the books that you’ll be proud to display on your shelves for a long time. And check out recommendations, as well, to help you find what's worth reading.

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Excerpt of review:     Author Eve Grafton keeps her chronicle cruising at an easily readable pace.   Read Book Review

Title: Impregnation of Evil Author: Jonas Hansen Publisher : XlibrisUS ISBN: 978-1-7960-2496-8 Pages: 146 Genre: Fantasy, Fiction

Excerpt of review:   The dialogue is snappy and sarcastic; just the kind of talk you’d expect from a character like Joanna.    Read Book Review

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Write With Light Publications

Top 5 Book Review Sites Every Author Should Submit To

Top 5 Book Review Sites Every Author Should Submit To

Written By Write With Light Publications, LLC

0 comment(s), october 13, 2021, don’t rush your book.

We can’t say it enough and yet we see it happen all the time.

When on the verge of publishing a book, we see one big mistake happen, especially if the author is rushing the publication process of their book.

Many times, we see them write, edit and then publish, giving no time or space to properly market or get the word out about their book.

So how is a reader supposed to find your book if it’s not even out there yet? How will they see it without proper awareness?

Authors who self-publish for the first time (usually) are missing a crucial piece to the publishing process: Submitting their book to book review sites.

Why Do I Need to Submit My Books for Review?

Top 5 Book Review Sites Every Author Should Submit To

Submitting your book to review to a good review source can help you leverage your book before it’s even launched.

Having people review your book from these five book review sites we are talking about later, even if the reviews are positive or negative, can be powerful.

There are a few reasons all authors should be submitting their book for review.

  • You can gain quality reviews
  • Create awareness for your book
  • Book reviewers could possibly share your work with others (word of mouth marketing)
  • Can influence readers to pre-order your book
  • It’s free marketing!

Although sharing your work with others to get their opinion on your book is daunting, it’s still a necessary step to take before you even publish. Don’t forget this crucial step in the publishing and promotion process if you don’t want to sabotage your book .

How Long Does the Review Process Take?

The review copy process can take some time, which is probably why a lot of people skip the process. But if you want a good quality review from a quality source, you need to take the time to fit a book review process into your book publishing timeline.

The review copy process can take anywhere from 3-4 months. So why is that?

A majority of book reviewers and credible book review sites require at least 3-4 months after submission and before launch to review your book.

Reviewers get a lot of inquiries and a lot of books, some of which they give to two different readers for review. If they choose your book for review you need to give them 3-4 months to review it.

The downside is, you just have to be patient.

When Should I Submit My Books For Review?

Top 5 Book Review Sites Every Author Should Submit To

If you’re finished writing your book, we highly recommend getting it edited by a professional before handing it off to reviewers.

Before you even submit your books for review, edit your book. Period.

Even if you have an amazing cover with a captivating synopsis, it will mean nothing if you send a book in with a wealth of mistakes roaming freely.

Reviewers will not read through your book if there are mistakes. Only send your book out for review when it is 100% ready.

Who Should I Be Submitting Books to For Review?

If you do decide to work this book review timeframe into your schedule, there are five sites you can get started with, some of which are free and some of which are paid.

So the top 5 book review sites you absolutely should at least consider,

  • Publisher’s Weekly
  • Write With Light Publications

We’ll explain all of them and their benefits below!

It’s also important to keep in mind that there are multiple other avenues for getting book reviews including having bookstagrammers on Instagram review your work, or sending it out to other smaller publications that would fit your niche.

For now, we’ll just cover some of the essential sites that will give you actual reviews without you having to ask freelance book reviewers.

Kirkus (Paid)

Kirkus has been around since 1933 and was founded by Virginia Kirkus. Back then, she realized there was a need for book reviews not backed by the publisher themselves. Seeing this need, she started a business that would give writers the book reviews they need while also allowing American booksellers to buy products backed by unbiased opinions.

As far as book review sites go, Kirkus is one of the most prestigious and trusted book reviewers in the business and offers an unbiased assessment of your book—which could be negative or positive. But their outstanding reviews come at a price. That being said, the review is worth it to many.

Here are some of the prices for Kirkus Reviews:

  • Traditional Reviews: Costs $425 for a 250-word review.
  • Expanded Reviews: Costs $525 for a 500-word review.
  • Picture Book Reviews: Cost $350 for a 200-word review.

All of the reviews are turned around in 7-9 weeks but can be expedited for an additional fee. After receiving your review, you can add some of the best quotes to your product listings on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other sites to help promote the book.

You also have the option to publish your review on Kirkus if you like what they have to say. If you do choose to publish it, Kirkus may consider your review for publication in their magazine which reaches 50,000 users.

If you’re ready to get your book reviewed, visit Kirkus to get started .

Booklife (Paid)

To receive another guaranteed book review for a price, you can also choose Booklife .

Booklife is an extension of the popular site, Publisher’s Weekly, and provides publishing advice and assistance to find authors.

Booklife is usually great for indie authors who need a great review from a reputable source. It is also slightly less in cost than Kirkus.

A Booklife review costs $399 for 300 words.

Authors will get their review back in an estimated 4-6 weeks. The one downside of submitting for review with Booklife is there is a word count limit. Only books 100,000 words are less can be considered for a review.

The upside is the review with be featured on Booklife’s website and Publisher Weekly’s website. To learn more about the submission guidelines and get reviewed, visit Booklife’s Review FAQs page .

Reedsy (Paid)

Probably one of our favorite places to get books reviewed is Reedsy .

We love this site because it is so affordable and you get an honest book review from a professional book reviewer. See a Reedsy book review for one of our authors!

Like Booklife and Kirkus, you will get a quality book review but at a much lower price and it is guaranteed. Reedsy can also be synced with Goodreads, which allows your reviewer to publish their review before the book even launches.

Authors who choose to get their books reviewed with Reedsy will spend only $50 per book for a lengthy review from a frequent book reviewer.

The great thing is, your book is available to be reviewed by anyone who is interested. Additionally, you can contact the reviewers to ask them to review your book

On Reedsy, your book can only be reviewed once, although, we really wish they would allow more, especially if other reviewers want to take a peek.

Publisher’s Weekly (Free)

Like we mentioned earlier, Publisher’s Weekly is associated with Booklife, which is a paid review service.

Publisher’s Weekly, however, is a free review service , which will bring a smile to most indie authors who are on a tight budget with marketing.

The one downside of submitting a book review to Publisher’s Weekly is your review is not guaranteed. Publisher’s Weekly reviewers take a very slim amount of submissions for review, which means they take the elite when it comes to books.

If your book is chosen for review by Publisher’s Weekly, you’ve probably got yourself a great book. Although there is no guarantee for a book review, it’s worth submitting anyways.

To get your book reviewed with Publisher’s Weekly, check out their submission guidelines .

Write With Light Publications (Free)

We know we have a long ways to go to be as great and revered as websites like Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus. But hey! We all have to start somewhere!

At Write With Light Publications, we have a deep desire to help indie authors get their books out there in the world. One of the best ways to do that is to read your book and give you a quality review.

Our reviews are completely free to you as long as you follow our strict guidelines.

To learn more about our book reviews, check out our submission guidelines !

New More Publishing Help?

Write With Light Publications offers a variety of publishing services that are intended to support indie authors with their self-publishing endeavors.

If you’re feeling lost with marketing, publishing, or even creating your book, consider getting some assistance from us!

You can see more about our services here .

Publishing Services at Write With Light Publications, LLC

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Before you start your search you should know the title and author of the book being reviewed. The date of publication will sometimes also be required. Some databases offer a search option to limit search results to book reviews. Where not present, adding a keyword search that includes the phrase "book review" should help. Reviews of popular books are typically published close to their publication dates; find them via book-related websites and indexes that cover general interest periodicals. Reviews of scholarly books may take months to appear in scholarly journals. For more databases that cover scholarly journals, visit the Library of Congress E-Resources Online Catalog .

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Free contemporary book reviews are widely available on the web. The sources listed below are some of the most common places to find them.

  • Amazon.com External Amazon.com offers book reviews of many of the book titles it sells. Some reviews are by professionals; many are by readers. Find a book and scroll down its entry to read the reviews, where present. For balance, try a variety of positive and negative reviews.
  • Barnes & Noble External Barnes and Noble includes professional book reviews with the descriptions of many of the books it sells.
  • Complete Review External The Complete Review contains a selected listing of old and new book titles with reviews and links to more reviews.
  • GoodReads Reviews External GoodReads offers millions of book reviews contributed by its community members which include librarians, journalists, and many other readers.
  • Kirkus Reviews External Kirkus Reviews includes reviews new and forthcoming fiction, non-fiction and Young Adult (YA) books. Kirkus also has a print magazine available by subscription.
  • Library Journal Reviews+ External Library Journal reviews books on a wide array of popular and scholarly topics expected to interest a broad spectrum of libraries. Reviews from the most recent 24 months are free online.
  • LibraryThing Reviews External LibraryThing Reviews are written by members of the LibraryThing community of readers and book collectors. Reviews are grouped in various ways, including by genre or may be searched by author or title.
  • New York Times Book Review (free selections) External A free collection of book reviews published in The New York Times since 1981. A more extensive paid subscription database is also available.
  • School Library Journal Reviews+ External Features reviews from School Library Journal from the most recent twenty-four months. Browse by genre, grade level, award winners and other criteria.

Subscription databases are great sources for current and recent book reviews. Many also include historical coverage.

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  • Children's Literature Review, Vols 1-216

These more general subscription databases cover a wide array of periodicals which include book reviews. Using the phrase "book review" in your search can be effective if no check-box option for book reviews is available in the database's search function.

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Some researchers seek reviews that are decades or even centuries old, for example, to see how a book written in the 19th Century was reviewed when it was first released. This listing includes general and book review resources. For the general sources, be sure to Include the phrase "book review" in your search if no check-box option for book reviews is available.

  • African American Newspapers, 1827-1998 (Series 1 and Series 2)
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  • Early American Newspapers, Series 2, 1758-1900: The New Republic
  • Early American Newspapers, Series 3, 1783-1922: From Farm to City
  • Early American Newspapers, Series 4, 1756-1922: The Rise of Industry
  • Early American Newspapers, Series 5, 1777-1922: An Emerging World Power
  • Early American Newspapers, Series 6, 1741-1922: Compromise and Disunion
  • Early American Newspapers, Series 7: 1773-1922: Reform and Retrenchment
  • Early American Newspapers, Series 8, 1844-1922: A Nation in Transition
  • Early American Newspapers, Series 9, 1832-1922: Protest and Prosperity
  • Early American Newspapers, Series 11, 1803-1899: From Agrarian Republic to World Power
  • Early American Newspapers, Series 12, 1821-1900: The Specialized Press
  • Early American Newspapers, Series 13, 1803-1916: The American West
  • Early American Newspapers, Series 14, 1807-1880: The Expansion of Urban America
  • Early American Newspapers, Series 15, 1822-1879: Immigrant Communities
  • Early American Newspapers, Series 16, 1800-1877: Industry and the Environment
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  • Early American Newspapers, Series 18, 1825-1879: Racial Awakening in the Northeast

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C19 Index draws on the strength of established indexes such as the Nineteenth Century Short Title Catalogue (NSTC), The Wellesley Index, Poole's Index, Periodicals Index Online and the Cumulative Index to Niles' Register 18111849 to create integrated bibliographic coverage of over 1.7 million books and official publications, 70,000 archival collections and 20.9 million articles published in over 2,500 journals, magazines and newspapers. C19 Index now provides integrated access to 13 bibliographic indexes, including more than three million records from British Periodicals Collections I and II, together with the expanded online edition of the Dictionary of Nineteenth-Century Journalism (DNCJ).

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The latest edition of is live and, as always, the digital version is free to all readers! As with previous years, you’ll read our latest thoughts about comic bans and the growth of manga, but you’ll also learn how to slow down while reading this unique format, its many subgenres, and its potential in higher education. And don’t miss this year’s original comics either, of course! !

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By John Charles

Cozy mystery author, Darci Hannah, is a native of the Midwest and currently lives in a small town in Michigan. Darci is a lifelong lover of the Great Lakes, a natural wonder that inspires many of her stories.


by Donna Seaman

The very best romance novels reviewed in  over the past 12 months combine humor and serious concerns, complications and joy in stories involving apps, food, screenplays, sports, and mysterious phenomena.


by Kelly Ferreira

​Love traverses queer subversions of classic stories, rare-manga hunting, the grumpy/sunshine trope, and more with these top titles reviewed in between September 15, 2023 and September 1, 2024.


by Annie Bostrom

​Every spring and fall, we compile a list of forthcoming titles in outstanding travel-guide series along with enticing stand-alone books. This time around, we’re happy to see loads of practical and inclusive guides and plenty of choices for armchair travelers.


​By John Charles

Jesse Q. Sutanto is the author of the best-selling Aunties series,  , and .


​By John Charles

Rainbow Rowell is the #1   bestselling author of   and the Simon Snow Trilogy, as well as several other award-winning novels, short stories, and comics. Rainbow lives in Omaha, Nebraska, just like most of her characters. 

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Best Book Review Blogs in 2024

Showing 223 blogs that match your search.

http://beinganne.com/

I've been reviewing books for a great deal longer than that though. I'm now a Top 500 (352 when I last checked‰Û_) and Vine reviewer on Amazon UK, always additionally copy my reviews to Goodreads, Amazon.com and sometimes publish on the Waterstones site too.

Blogger : Anne

Genres : Crime, Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, and Mystery/Thriller

🌐 Domain authority: 32

👀 Average monthly visits: 5,000 p/mo

💌 Preferred contact method: Mail

⭐️ Accepts indie books? Yes

The Lesbrary

http://lesbrary.com/

The Lesbrary is a book blog all about les/bi/etc books. Yes, this often means lesbian books (hence the name), but includes anything in the broad ‰ÛÏdoesn't identify as a man and is at least some of the time attracted romantically and/or sexually to others who do not identify as a man‰Û category. Lesbrary books don't have to be written by a queer author, though it helps.

Blogger : The Lesbrarians

Genres : Contemporary Fiction and LGBT

🌐 Domain authority: 37

👀 Average monthly visits: 7,000 p/mo

💌 Preferred contact method: Email

9th Street Books

https://www.9thstreetbooks.com

9th Street Books is the place to go for everything about the literary life, including book reviews, lists, and more.

Blogger : Grace Pursel

Genres : Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Humor, LGBT, Mystery/Thriller, New Adult, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Science Fiction, and YA

🌐 Domain authority: 14

👀 Average monthly visits: 1,800 p/mo

💌 Preferred contact method: Website contact form

The Kindle Book Review

https://www.thekindlebookreview.net/

We are a book review and promotion site but we NEVER charge for reviews. There other other sites that have tried to imitate us. We are The Kindle Book Review dot Net. We've reviewed over 1,750 books on Amazon since 2009. We promote quality ebooks and authors, post author resources, and we've sponsored the annual "Kindle Book Awards" since 2012 with industry pros like Digital Book Today, K-Boards, Author Marketing Club, Bargain Booksy, and others.

Blogger : Amber & Team

Genres : YA, Crime, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Science Fiction, Paranormal, New Adult, Erotica, Children's, Christian, Non-Fiction, LGBT, Humor, Horror, Urban Fantasy, and Sports

🌐 Domain authority: 38

Sweet Savage Flame

https://sweetsavageflame.com/

Sweet Savage Flame is old school romance from Avon to Zebra. We review retro romance books, feature gorgeous cover art, and discuss the authors, publishers, and artists that made them great.

Blogger : Jacqueline Diaz

Genres : Romance

🌐 Domain authority: 16

👀 Average monthly visits: 2,000 p/mo

💌 Preferred contact method: email

⭐️ Accepts indie books? No

Literary Quicksand

https://literaryquicksand.com/

We’re a book blog based out of Minneapolis, MN. We feature a group of women writers from multiple countries who all come together over one thing: our love of books!

Blogger : Jolissa Skow

Genres : Children's, Contemporary Fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Humor, LGBT, Mystery/Thriller, Non-Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, and YA

🌐 Domain authority: 31

👀 Average monthly visits: 4,000 p/mo

The Creative Muggle

https://www.thecreativemuggle.com/

The Creative Muggle is a place for anyone who wants to read books. You can find fascinating reading lists to have a productive reading time in your busy life. From charming romance novels to propulsive thrillers, you are in for a literary treat!

Blogger : Stephy George

Genres : Children's, Christian, Contemporary Fiction, Crime, Erotica, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor, LGBT, Mystery/Thriller, New Adult, Non-Fiction, Paranormal, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Sports, and YA

🌐 Domain authority: 20

👀 Average monthly visits: 20,500 p/mo

Bookbugworld

https://bookbugworld.com/

Bookbugworld stays true to its promise. A fun and niche virtual space where you can discuss the books you love or find new ones to add to your TBR.

Blogger : Rejitha

Genres : Children's, Christian, Contemporary Fiction, Crime, Erotica, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor, LGBT, Mystery/Thriller, New Adult, Non-Fiction, Paranormal, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Sports, Urban Fantasy, and YA

🌐 Domain authority: 12

👀 Average monthly visits: 250 p/mo

Sports Book Guy

http://www.sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/

If you are an author who would like a book review, please send me an email and please include the following information: Your name, Title of your book, Topic of book, including the sport, Any media links, Contact information.

Blogger : Lance

Genres : Sports

Quill and Quire

https://quillandquire.com/

Quill & Quire is the magazine of the Canadian book trade. The magazine reviews around 400 new titles each year, offering the most comprehensive look at Canadian-authored books in the country.

Blogger : The Q&Q Team

Genres : YA, Crime, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Science Fiction, Paranormal, New Adult, Children's, Christian, Non-Fiction, LGBT, Humor, Horror, and Urban Fantasy

🌐 Domain authority: 57

👀 Average monthly visits: 81,500 p/mo

Long and Short Reviews

http://www.longandshortreviews.com

We accept requests from both traditionally published authors, self-published authors and publishers. We do not guarantee all books received will be reviewed. NOTE: Please do not email us after submitting your story for review to find out if it's been selected for review. If it's reviewed, you'll be notified.

Blogger : The LAS Team

Genres : YA, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery/Thriller, and Science Fiction

🌐 Domain authority: 39

Bite into Books

http://www.biteintobooks.com/

Hi there! My name is Esther, I'm a 25 year old teacher from The Netherlands. Since I started this blog, I've been getting requests to review books. I've made you a Q&A to be sure we speak the same language.

Blogger : Esther

Genres : YA, Crime, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Science Fiction, Paranormal, New Adult, Children's, LGBT, Humor, Horror, and Urban Fantasy

🌐 Domain authority: 23

👀 Average monthly visits: 3,000 p/mo

Geeky Galaxy

https://geekygalaxy.co.uk

Geeky Galaxy is a blog dedicated to science-fiction and fantasy books and games. It's run by Lorraine: a twenty-something geek from South-West England. As a sci-fi obsessed gamer and reader, she’s spent most of her life with her nose in a book, or a game controller. In 2020, Geeky Galaxy was longlisted in the UKYA Blogger and Vlogger Awards.

Blogger : Lorraine

Genres : Fantasy, New Adult, Paranormal, Science Fiction, and YA

🌐 Domain authority: 17

👀 Average monthly visits: 1,000 p/mo

Romance Rehab

http://www.romancerehab.com/

At Romance Rehab, we debunk all the ridiculous romance myths that exist out there. And for every book we read and review, we'll let readers know if it helps crush the romance stigma or perpetuate it. We LOVE the romance genre and want to help you discover the books and authors you'll adore and avoid the ones that will make you cringe.

Blogger : Jennifer

Genres : Romance and Erotica

🌐 Domain authority: 30

the wordy habitat

https://thewordyhabitat.com/

A cosy blog about books, blogging & life.

Blogger : Sumedha

Genres : Contemporary Fiction, Erotica, Fantasy, New Adult, Romance, and YA

👀 Average monthly visits: 7,500 p/mo

So you want to find a book blog?

If you’re a voracious reader, you might think of a book blog as an oasis in the middle of the desert: a place on the Internet that brims with talk about books, books, and more books.

Well, good news — we built this directory of the 200 of the best book blogs  to satiate your thirst. Take a walk around, use the filters to narrow down your search to blogs in your preferred genre, and feel free to bookmark this page and come back, as we do update it regularly with more of the best book blogs out there. 

If you’re an aspiring author, you might see a book blog more as a book review blog: a place where you can get your yet-to-be published book reviewed. In that case, you’ll be glad to know that most of the book blogs in our directory are open to review requests and accept indie books! We expressly designed this page (and our book marketing platform, Reedsy Discovery ) to be useful to indie book authors who need book reviews. If you’re wondering how to approach a book blog for a review request, please read on. 

You’ve found a book blog. Now what? 

Let’s say that you’re an author, and you’ve found a couple of book blogs that would be perfect fits to review your book. What now? Here are some tips as you go about getting your book reviews:

  • Be sure to read the review policy. First, check that the book blog you’re querying is open to review requests. If that’s the fortunate case, carefully read the blog’s review policy and make sure that you follow the directions to a T.  
  • Individualize your pitches. Book bloggers will be able to immediately tell apart the bulk pitches, which simply come across as thoughtless and indifferent. If you didn’t take the time to craft a good pitch, why should the blogger take the time to read your book? Personalize each pitch to up your chances of getting a response. 
  • Format your book in a professional manner before sending it out. Ensure that your manuscript isn’t presented sloppily. If the book blogger asks for a digital ARC, you might want to check out apps such as Instafreebie or Bookfunnel. 
  • Create a spreadsheet to track your progress. Wading through so many book blogs can be troublesome — not to mention trying to remember which ones you’ve already contacted. To save yourself the time and trouble, use a simple Excel spreadsheet to keep track of your progress (and results). 

Looking to learn even more about the process? Awesome 👍 For a detailed guide, check out this post that’s all about getting book reviews. 

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The Best Ebook Subscription Services for Every Kind of Reader

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What to Consider How to Choose an Ebook Service

Scribd app shown on mobile devices

Best Overall Everand Read more

Audible app on smartphone surrounded by books

Best for Audiobooks Audible Read more

Libby app shown on mobile devices

Best Free Service Libby by OverDrive Read more

Ebooks have not swept away traditional tomes the way streaming services for music, movies, and TV shows have slashed sales of discs. Physical book sales are booming , but ebooks and audiobooks have a dedicated, appreciative audience. If you love to read, an ebook subscription service is a great way to discover new titles, find recommendations, and read more indie books. We tried out several of the most popular options, delving into their available libraries, apps, and features to determine the best ebook subscription services and audiobook subscriptions for different people.

When you finish reading, check out the Best Streaming Services for movies and TV shows or the Best Music Streaming Apps for some tunes.

Updated December 2023: We added Spotify Premium for audiobooks and updated Scribd, which is now called Everand.

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What to Consider

While an ebook subscription might sound ideal, you should take some time to consider the pros and cons of each one. These digital reading services are often billed as the equivalent of Netflix or Spotify for books, and there are similarities, but ebook subscriptions also have some unexpected restrictions.

Content : All ebook subscription services offer limited libraries of ebooks. (This is where the Netflix comparison is useful.) They may boast more than a million titles, but that total doesn’t necessarily include any works by your favorite authors; none of the services we tested had a single title by Cormac McCarthy, for example, though some had audiobooks of his works.

The big five publishers (Penguin Random House, Hachette, Macmillan, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster) dominate the bestseller charts in the US but have had limited dealings with ebook subscription services so far. Current best-seller lists are not well represented, and the modest list of mainstream hits that appears mostly comprises older titles. Whatever service you are considering, we advise browsing the available library of ebooks and audiobooks before you commit.

Reading Habits : If you only read one or two books a month, you might be better off buying popular titles, recommendations from trusted friends, or works by your favorite authors. That way, you get to choose the best ebooks and keep them. With ebook subscriptions, you lose access the moment you stop subscribing, and the library of available books can change at any time without notice.

Voracious readers who are happy to try new and unfamiliar authors will likely get the most value from ebook subscriptions. But while these services are typically described as unlimited, they often do have hidden limits. This is where they differ from services like Spotify and Netflix. With Scribd, for example, the available library is reduced when you hit opaque limits.

Support : Make sure the devices you like to read on are supported. Most ebook subscription services offer apps for Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac, at a minimum. Languages, accessibility, and extra features like search vary, so do your research to make sure the app supports your needs. Sadly, many ebook readers, like Kindles, are not compatible with ebook subscription services other than their manufacturer’s offering. 

Audiobooks : Unlike ebook subscription services, some audiobook services offer a monthly credit system that allows you to buy audiobooks you can keep, even if you stop subscribing. Others offer apparently unlimited access to a streaming library, but there are often hidden limits that narrow your choice for that month after you’ve listened to an audiobook or two. Consider also the maximum bitrate for audio streams, as this differs from service to service and can impact the quality of your audiobook.

Best Overall

With an enormous, varied library, Everand (previously known as Scribd) is the best ebook subscription service for most people. You can read or listen via your browser on any device or use the Android or iOS apps, which are clearly laid out, fully configurable, and make for a pleasant reading experience. I had no trouble finding intriguing titles, and there’s a solid mix of classics, best sellers, indie books, and even some Originals. Progress syncs across devices, so you can pick up where you left off. You can download ebooks to read offline. Everand also includes podcasts, magazines, sheet music, and audiobooks. The subscription includes Scribd, which is now a document repository where people can upload whatever they like.

On the downside, there are limits to your monthly reading. Frustratingly, the rules are not clear. If you hit the limit, access is restricted to a smaller subset until the next month begins, and some titles are labeled  Available Soon . While the formatting for ebooks is generally good, some magazine formatting is poor. Everand has also raised prices twice since I first tried it and scrapped the perks program that gave you additional subscriptions to services like  Curiosity Stream . It is also harder than it should be to  cancel Scribd , and you don't get a warning when your free trial ends, so set a reminder.

Cost : 30-day free trial, then $12 per month

Best for Audiobooks

This slick audiobook subscription service boasts countless titles covering modern best sellers, classics, and much more. There’s also a sizable collection of exclusive Audible Originals and podcasts. With the new Audible Plus subscription, you get unlimited access to more than 11,000 titles and a 30 percent discount on everything in the Audible store. Upgrade to Premium Plus at $15 per month ($150/year) to get one credit per month to spend on an audiobook of your choice, but you get to keep whatever you buy even after your subscription ends. Audible works on Amazon’s Kindle e-readers, Fire tablets, and Alexa devices , but there’s also an app for Android, iOS, and Windows, and you can use the Cloud Player on Macs. The audiobook quality is the best I have tested (up to 64 kbps), the service is easy to configure, and progress syncs across devices.

The new Plus subscription makes Audible more affordable, and offers a more traditional subscription model where you can listen as much as you want but you do lose access when you stop paying. The pricey Premium Plus plan is the previous membership model, and you can also opt for a two credits per month plan at $23 per month ($230/year) now.

Cost : 30-day free trial, then from $8 per month

Best Free Service

Many public libraries support OverDrive’s Libby app, enabling you to use your library card to check out ebooks or audiobooks. Borrowing is on the rise , thanks to Libby's wide selection, easy-to-use service, and, of course, the fact that it doesn't cost a penny. We have a guide on how to get free ebooks with your library card to help you get started. Some libraries also offer magazines and comic books, though the formatting isn’t always great. The Libby app is quite basic, but it has a solid feature set and you can configure it to suit your needs.

Unfortunately, the titles you want are not always available. The choice depends on what your library offers and how popular things are with other readers. You also borrow titles for a limited period, just like a regular library book, and other people can request titles, which means you can’t always renew them.

Cost : Free

★  Alternatives : Project Gutenberg is a great place to find free classic ebooks, and Librivox offers many audiobooks in the public domain, although the quality on these websites can vary wildly.

Two iPhones displaying Libro.fm app homepages

Audiobooks Alternative

With an expansive library of more than 400,000 audiobooks, Libro.fm offers classics, new releases, and everything in between. A monthly subscription gets you one audiobook credit every month and a 30 percent discount on everything in the store, and you keep any purchases even after your subscription ends. There are two big reasons to opt for Libro.fm as your audiobook service; firstly, the service supports local booksellers (you can pick a store) and splits the profit from your purchases. The second enticement is the expert curation from booksellers, so you get tailored recommendations just like you would in-store. There are Android and iPhone apps, and the audiobooks you buy are DRM-free, which means you can listen to them on any device, and you don’t have to use the Libro.fm app.

This is a relatively expensive service, but the price has been reduced since I tested and the service has rolled out internationally. While the overall choice is impressive, it isn’t quite as big as Audible’s and Libro.fm lacks a library of titles for free unlimited listening. You will find frequent promotions and sale events, though.

Cost : $12 per month

Smartphones displaying Spotify Audiobooks

Audiobooks and Music

Spotify tops our best music streaming services guide with slick performance, handy music discovery algorithms, and an expansive library of over 100 million tracks and 5 million podcasts. To sweeten that pot further, Premium subscribers in the US, UK, and Australia can now access a library of more than 200,000 audiobooks and listen for up to 15 hours a month as part of their existing subscription. Open the audiobook hub, and you will find many best sellers (Spotify says 70 percent of bestselling titles) and titles from the big five publishers alongside audiobooks from independent publishers and authors. As with music, there are curated recommendations, categories, and playlists.

Audiobooks have been available for individual purchase through the Spotify web player for a while now, and you can still buy books that aren’t included in the Premium subscription (there are around 375,000 titles in total). If you’re already paying for Premium, this will be a nice extra, but there are some limitations to the audiobook service. Your 15 listening hours per month do not carry over, and for folks on Duo or Family plans, only the plan manager gets the 15 hours. You can purchase 10 top-up hours of listening for $13, to be used when your 15 monthly hours run out. Unused top-up hours can carry over from month to month and are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.

Cost : One-month free trial, then from $11 per month

Kindle Paperwhite

Best for Kindles

If you prefer to read on one of Amazon’s Kindles , Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited subscription offers seamless access to countless ebooks. While there are some popular titles and classics on offer, the bulk of the library is self-published and indie titles; best-selling authors generally only offer their back catalogs. Kindle Unlimited also includes some popular magazines, and many of the ebooks support Audible Narration. The service works beautifully on Amazon’s Kindle or Fire devices, and the Kindle app for iOS, Android, Mac, or PC is fully configurable, easy to use, and syncs across devices. You can borrow up to 20 titles at a time and simply return one to check another out.

Although there’s a wide choice of ebooks on Kindle Unlimited, I often struggled to find something I wanted to read. The collection is frustratingly difficult to browse and lacks a good recommendation system. Best-selling authors and big publishers are largely absent from the platform, so you may have to take a chance on new and unfamiliar writers (though that can be a good thing). If you’re already a Prime subscriber, check out Prime Reading for a curated list of around 1,000 free titles (sadly, the Kindle Lending Library has been discontinued).

Cost : 30-day free trial, then $10 per month

Kobo Eclipsa 2E ereader tablet on a desk next to a laptop and plants

For Kobo Owners

If you don’t want a Kindle, we think  a Kobo is the next best thing . The Kobo Plus subscription service is now available in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and parts of Europe. It currently boasts more than 1.3 million ebooks and around 100,000 audiobooks. You can use a Kobo e-reader or the slick Kobo app for Android, iOS, Windows, or Mac, and syncing across devices works perfectly. There is genuinely no limit on the number of ebooks you can read.

While the library offers a wide choice, new releases and mainstream authors are thin on the ground, and romance and thriller titles dominate. There are also some comics and graphic novels, but you won’t find magazines on Kobo Plus. The subscription comes in three tiers: Kobo Plus Read is just ebooks for $8 a month, Kobo Plus Listen is just audiobooks for $8 a month, but you can get Kobo Plus Read & Listen for $10 a month. The combo is the best deal. It is like Kindle Unlimited and Audible Plus, though the selection is smaller. Kobo does also offer a separate one-credit-for-$10-a-month deal on audiobooks that you can keep.

Cost : 30-day free trial, then $8 per month

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Best for Kids

Perhaps the largest platform dedicated to kids aged 12 and under, Epic has an interesting mix of content that includes more than 40,000 ebooks. There are some classics, a few entries from popular series, and books from big publishers like HarperCollins and Macmillan, including many educational books. There’s also a decent selection of comics and a few videos and audiobooks. We particularly liked the “read to me” option on some ebooks with voice acting, sound effects, and text that highlights as you read. Both the web interface and the mobile apps are slick and offer reward badges to encourage kids to read more. Parents can easily track their child’s progress and browse by topic. We also appreciate the free access for elementary schools in the US.

While there are well-known titles, many classics are absent. Popular series, such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid , are incomplete (Epic only has the first book in this long series). Some of the titles are of dubious quality, so while it’s safe to let your kids browse, you may find they spend a lot of time reading cartoon and video game tie-ins. The bite-sized videos, covering things like animal facts and recipes, could be a double-edged sword if you’re trying to encourage reading.

Cost : Epic Family is $12 per month or $60 per year and provides access to everything

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Best for Recommendations

Finding ebooks you want to read is an issue for every subscription service we tested. They tend to promote a small subset of their content, making it tricky to find titles that satisfy specific tastes. If you don’t want to spend ages browsing, recommendations are vital. That's what makes 24symbols worth a look. You can read as many ebooks as you like each month, but you only get access to one audiobook. The choice is quite good, with plenty of classics, some older books from big-name authors, and some indies. What elevates 24symbols is the social aspect. You can create bookshelves and follow other readers to find curated lists of suggestions, much like Spotify playlists.

Ebooks are the focus, and I found the audiobooks section quite limited. There are no magazines or other kinds of content. I also found that some of my searches, such as “Irvine Welsh,” only returned foreign language versions of his works, which was disappointing. Compared to some of our other recommendations, the 24symbols web interface and mobile apps are clunky.

Cost : $9 per month

★  Another Alternative : With TBR: Tailored Book Recommendations , you can pay $16, fill out your interests and recent books you enjoyed, and get an email with three recommendations tailored just for you from an expert bibliologist. 

ComiXology app shown on mobile devices

Best for Comic Books

While there are a few graphic novels on some ebook subscription services, the choice tends to be limited. By far the best option for comic book fans, ComiXology Unlimited gives you access to thousands of comics and graphic novels from all of the major publishers, including DC, Marvel, and Dark Horse. The website and mobile apps are straightforward and sync progress across devices. While you can read on a smartphone, you are better off with a good tablet , laptop, or desktop to enjoy the high-resolution art. The Unlimited service is a great way to discover new comics, and the app recommends titles the more you use it.

Sadly, while ComiXology Unlimited has a wide range, it lacks depth in places. Many series are incomplete, which can be hugely frustrating and leave you with little choice but to buy specific titles to fill the gaps, though they are, at least, discounted. The iOS app doesn’t include the store, so you have to go through the browser to buy titles there. Because Unlimited is within the larger ComiXology website, it can be tricky to navigate and find titles that are included in your subscription. It is only available in the US.

Cost : 30-day free trial, then $6 per month

★ Alternatives : Marvel Unlimited ($10 per month or $69 per year) carries thousands of Marvel titles with new issues landing three months after release, while DC Universe Infinite ($8 per month or $75 per year) is a similar service for DC fans.

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More Ebook Services We Like

Here are a few other ebook and audiobook services worth checking out.

BookBeat : For folks in the UK or Europe, BookBeat is a slick audiobook service with a decent choice and a unique subscription model. After 30 days or 30 hours of listening (whichever comes first) your free trial is over and it costs £6 a month for 20 hours, £10 a month for 50 hours, or £15 a month for 100 hours.

Hoopla : This is another free service that ties in with your local library to make it easy to borrow ebooks, audiobooks, comics, movies, TV shows, magazines, and even music.

Akoobooks : With a focus on African talent, this service offers audiobooks at very reasonable prices and includes content for kids.

Blinkist : Focusing on topics like parenting, career, mindfulness, money, and personal development, this service condenses core insights from nonfiction books and serves them up in 15-minute chunks for $13 per month.

Reading IQ : A kids library with more than 5,000 titles organized by age, Reading IQ offers a good mix of fiction and nonfiction for $8 per month ($40/year).

Storytel : This Swedish service offers ebooks and audiobooks in various markets from India to Brazil to Belgium. Subscriptions start from around €10 per month, but differ from country to country. Storytel has also partnered with Spotify and owns Audiobooks.com in the US.

BookBub : Sign up for free to get alerts on discounted ebooks with this service. You can specify genres and authors you are interested in and get daily or weekly emails with links to buy heavily discounted ebooks.

Bookmate : While it boasts a large library of ebooks, audiobooks, and comics, many are out of copyright. There's a seven-day free trial, then it costs $10 per month, but the choice is not as varied as with Scribd.

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September 17, 2024

Book Review: A Bold Profile of the James Webb Space Telescope

In Pillars of Creation , Richard Panek gets up close to the JWST

By Maddie Bender

Cover of the book Pillars of Creation

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing . By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

Pillars of Creation: How the James Webb Telescope Unlocked the Secrets of the Cosmos by Richard Panek. Little, Brown, 2024 ($29)

Having already chronicled a history of telescopes in his 1998 book Seeing and Believing , science writer Richard Panek boldly writes one of the first books about the telescope: the James Webb Space Telescope. Like any good profiler, Panek gets up close and personal with his subject, describing each layer of its sunshield as “the length of a long tennis lob and the width of a tissue.” Woven into the narrative is the importance of the public in shaping the mission’s trajectory, from electing leadership who fund the nation’s space agency to bestowing Internet virality on JWST’s first-released images of other worlds.

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Archbishop Di Noia's new book examines the ecclesial vocation of theology

Archbishop J. Augustine Di Noia is seen in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican Nov. 24, 2022. (CNS/Vatican Media)

Archbishop J. Augustine Di Noia is seen in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican Nov. 24, 2022. (CNS/Vatican Media)

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by Michael Sean Winters

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Cover of Theology as an Ecclesial Discipline: Ressourcement and Dialogue

As you read J. Augustine Di Noia's newly released book,  Theology as an Ecclesial Discipline: Ressourcement and Dialogue , the word that appears again and again is "received." This collection of essays by the  Dominican archbishop reminds Catholic Christians that theology starts with something we have been given, namely, revelation, and that the nature of the gift is such that it could only come to us as a gift. We could not, on our own, have discovered the truths with which theology wrestles.

All intellectual disciplines have a particular and proper scope, a set of accepted rules that guide research, traditions of learning that include hermeneutical keys that allow one to distinguish significant questions from idle ones, and so on. Di Noia, who worked for many years in the Vatican's doctrinal and liturgical dicasteries, is keen to establish the distinctive quality of Catholic theology.

"Examined independently of the assent of faith and the mediation of the ecclesial community, the texts, institutions, rites and beliefs of the Catholic Church can focus on the humanistic, philosophical and social scientific inquiries that together constitute the field of religious studies," he writes. "But Catholic theology is a different kind of inquiry. Its precise scope is to seek the intelligibility of a truth received in faith by the theologian who is himself a member of the ecclesial community that is 'the place of truth.' " The felicitous phrase "the place of truth" comes from Cardinal Walter Kasper.

The truth is revealed to us, and that revelation, received as such, places us into the divine economy of grace.

"Revelation is itself a grace," Di Noia writes. "Hence, there is a real sense in which no follower of Christ can assume the role of teacher: with respect to the divine truth, there is only one Teacher, and everyone else is a learner. This structure of human receptivity in the face of the superabundant grace of God is fundamental to every aspect of Christian communal and individual existence." 

Cardinals and bishops process out of St. Peter's Basilica after Pope Francis celebrated Mass Oct. 11, 2022, to mark the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. (CNS/Vatican Media)

Cardinals and bishops process out of St. Peter's Basilica after Pope Francis celebrated Mass Oct. 11, 2022, to mark the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. (CNS/Vatican Media)

Because the church is also a historical community, theology is always done in a kind of continuum with the work of prior generations of Christians. "We recognize that our questions have been asked before by others, some of whom have had very interesting things to say about them."

Throughout these essays, Di Noia consults that history widely and incisively. His ability to survey, engage and critique current theological and philosophic literature is also on full display throughout the volume.

Di Noia invokes more homely analogies as well. In the chapter on the authority of Scripture in sacramental theology, he compares the relationship between doctrine and theology with that between mathematics and music.

"For example, we could say that music is subalternated to mathematics, since music depends on timing, intervals (of pitch), and other qualities which are measured by mathematics," he writes. "This does not mean that doing calculus is more noble than playing the French horn, but only that musicians need arithmetic if they are to make headway in some of their own proper business, e.g., composing harmonies."

The chapter that will most engage NCR readers is cheekily titled "Taking the Cure at Yale." It was there, as a graduate student, that Di Noia came to understand and make sense of the two basic lenses through which Catholics in the United States were receiving the 1962-65 Second Vatican Council.

According to one reading, the Council was understood to commend a strong reaffirmation of Catholic Christian identity, taking the broadest possible view of its historic traditions, yet open to the cultural and religious pluralism characteristic of our times. But, in the eyes of a numerous and influential group of American theologians, such a reading reversed the true priorities of the Council. It was not restoration, but modernization, dialogue, and social commitment that Vatican II chiefly sought to cultivate in the contemporary Church.

Di Noia insists that the conciliar documents themselves demonstrate that "both programs —  ressourcement and  aggiornamento , as they came to be called — were addressed at the Council" but that the documents did not give hermeneutic priority to one or the other program.

He traces the history of  ressourcement . In the 19th century, throughout which the church was most often in a defensive posture, the recovery of scholastic sources "supplied the means to refute the errors of modernity if not always to engage its challenge. But study of the biblical, liturgical, and patristic sources afforded theologians access to the immeasurably more pluralistic pre-scholastic period."

This latter and wider  ressourcement was shunned through the mid-20th century by officials in Rome, where Neo-Scholasticism prevailed, but it took root in many German and French schools of theology. "For neoscholastic theologians," Di Noia writes, "r ressourcement had provided access to an arsenal; for biblically and patristically oriented theologians, it seemed to unlock a treasure."

Neither the aggiornamento nor the  ressourcement  proved unproblematic in the post-conciliar period. 

"Conceived simply as the updating of theology,  aggiornamento is never finished catching up; conceived more grandly as modernization, it is already far behind," Di Noia observes. "On the other hand,  ressourcement  theology has sometimes shown itself unwilling or unable to confront and resolve the conceptual problems — the  quaestiones , as Aquinas might say — that the sources themselves serve up.  Lectio is not always enough."

Di Noia's capacity for criticism of all sides, however, does not prevent him from indicating where he stands. "The priority of  aggiornamento fostered a climate in which modern criteria of rationality were perceived to be in competition with fidelity with the Christian doctrinal tradition." Some modernizing theologians adopted "correlationalist conceptions of the relation of faith and modern culture" in which "culture asks the questions to which faith provides the responses." For others, "faith tailors its claims with an eye to prevailing canons of reasonability and applicability."

He compares this modernizing theology to the Protestant liberal theology of the late 19th century — which he studied at Yale University — and reaches the same conclusion that neo-orthodox Protestant theologians in the 20th century did: "The agenda of modernization by itself turned out to be an inadequate program for the practice of Christian theology."

It is clear, however, that for Di Noia, returning to the sources cannot mean returning to the 1950s. The council did open the windows of the Vatican. 

"There was no question of reversing the tremendous gains in flexibility, in collegiality, in religious freedom, in social and political awareness, in commitments to dialogue with other Christians, other religious people, and nonbelievers, in respect for diversity within the world Church, and so on — all achieved in the name of  aggiornamento ." 

Archbishop J. Augustine Di Noia during a 2010 vespers and benediction service in Rome (CNS/Paul Haring)

Archbishop J. Augustine Di Noia during a 2010 vespers and benediction service in Rome (CNS/Paul Haring)

His critique of and his concerns with post-conciliar theology are as well-balanced as they are well-argued. In the end, the hermeneutic priority, and current fecundity of theology, are, for Di Noia, found in the  ressourcement approach.

Other chapters confront a range of issues, from his response to efforts to remove masculine conceptions of God, to the relationship of Catholic higher education and theology, to an examination of Christian humanism as it was taught in the magisterium of Pope St. John Paul II, to his theological and pastoral reflections on the sexual revolution.

The two chapters specifically on the Dominican charism, and an additional essay on Aquinas' treatment of Paul's Letter to the Romans,  Chapter 5:12-21 , will be especially poignant to those who are familiar with the  Order of Preachers .

Throughout, Di Noia delivers keen insights and wonderful turns of phrase, often together. Thus, in the chapter on John Paul II, and specifically the challenge of postmodern thought, he writes: "Once you accept the Gospel, according to some, your freedom to be yourself is constrained and your ability to explore the many possibilities that life offers is frustrated. The measure of what it means to be human — human nature — is not a socially constructed convention but a divinely created gift."

This book is not for everyone. And it suffers from the difficulty all anthologies face, namely, it is sometimes repetitive. Still, the themes are so well-argued and so foundational for the practice of theology, this book should be widely read by those studying and doing theology.

For the general reader, if you do not mind occasionally finding yourself, as I did, aware that Di Noia's analysis is several steps above one's pay grade, this book is quite accessible.

Most of all, Di Noia communicates to the reader not just his thoughts about theology but his love for "the divine plan — dare we say the divine desire — to bring creaturely persons into the communion of trinitarian life."

His love for the church, admitting its many flaws, shines through precisely because of its role in the divine plan. "It follows from the fact that God intends this communion that he has a way of effecting it, since there is no merely wishful thinking on God's part."

One of the ways God affects the plan is through lucid, well-argued and faith-filled theologians like Di Noia. At the end of the book, you may or may not agree with all of his arguments, but you will find your faith strengthened and even renewed.

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