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The Book Review Companion: An Author’s Guide to Getting and Using Book Reviews
The Book Review Companion is a handy reference guide, loaded with feedback from authors and real-world experience. It includes step-by-step instructions for getting and using book reviews.
- Proven review strategies applicable to any book, and any author
- The ten major sources for reviews, including sixty resources
- Amazon review policies demystified and clarified
- A complete guide to soliciting and using endorsements and blurbs
- Detailed instructions and resources for contacting book bloggers
- A special bonus section written specifically for new authors
No matter where you are in our author journey—traditionally published or self-published—you’ll find yourself returning to this guide again and again. Get The Book Review Companion.
- Proven review strategies applicable to any book, and any author
- The ten major sources for reviews, including sixty resources
- Amazon review policies demystified and clarified
- A complete guide to soliciting and using endorsements and blurbs
- Detailed instructions and resources for contacting book bloggers
- A special bonus section written specifically for new authors
No matter where you are in our author journey—traditionally published or self-published—you’ll find yourself returning to this guide again and again. Get The Book Review Companion.
- GenresWriting
204 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2019
36 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
David Wogahn
11 books21 followersDavid Wogahn is the founder and president of AuthorImprints, and has taught self-publishing classes for Writer's Digest University, Jane Friedman, the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), and the Santa Barbara Writers Conference, among other publishing professional organizations.
David is the author of six books about self-publishing, including the Countdown to Book Launch® series. In 2012, he became the author of the first LinkedIn Learning course on the topic of self-publishing (Lynda at the time).
He has worked for the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, and was co-founder and COO of the first online publisher of sports team branded websites known today as the CBS College Sports Network.
David is the author of six books about self-publishing, including the Countdown to Book Launch® series. In 2012, he became the author of the first LinkedIn Learning course on the topic of self-publishing (Lynda at the time).
He has worked for the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, and was co-founder and COO of the first online publisher of sports team branded websites known today as the CBS College Sports Network.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 16, 2020
Subtitled ‘An Author’s Guide to Getting and Using Book Reviews’, this is manual designed to do what the title suggests. Unfortunately, in common with a number of other books offering similar advice, it has little new to say about fiction, concentrating mainly on nonfiction. This isn’t a fault of the book; it’s an issue with the marketplace. I was hoping I might find something new here, but I’ve come to the conclusion there is no more to be said on the subject of promoting fiction through reviews.
The process is time-consuming, frequently ineffective, and can be expensive.
For those who write nonfiction, there is a good deal to be found here, some of it new.
The advice given for fiction writers is exactly what I’ve come across in other books on the topic, so I’ll waste no more time on new titles on the subject. Having tried most of the advised routes, I understand I lack the dedication to promotion, the necessary concentration on selling, and the generous funds needed to make these things work for my novels.
If you write nonfiction, and I suspect you wouldn’t be interested unless you are a writer of some sort, you’ll find useful information here, hence the start rating.
The process is time-consuming, frequently ineffective, and can be expensive.
For those who write nonfiction, there is a good deal to be found here, some of it new.
The advice given for fiction writers is exactly what I’ve come across in other books on the topic, so I’ll waste no more time on new titles on the subject. Having tried most of the advised routes, I understand I lack the dedication to promotion, the necessary concentration on selling, and the generous funds needed to make these things work for my novels.
If you write nonfiction, and I suspect you wouldn’t be interested unless you are a writer of some sort, you’ll find useful information here, hence the start rating.
May 8, 2025
Must read for new authors.
The Book Review Companion contains vital information for marketing self-published books. In addition to step-by-step directions, it contains multiple links to very useful information. While there were parts that seemed repetitive, I highly recommend this book to any Indie author publishing and marketing their own book as well as those who use a publisher but want to grow their reviews.
The Book Review Companion contains vital information for marketing self-published books. In addition to step-by-step directions, it contains multiple links to very useful information. While there were parts that seemed repetitive, I highly recommend this book to any Indie author publishing and marketing their own book as well as those who use a publisher but want to grow their reviews.
November 21, 2019
I received a free copy of this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.
I've been enjoying reading some non-fiction books about (self)-publishing among other topics this year, so when I got the email about this book I grabbed the chance to read it. I think reviews can be very important to a book's success, so I thought it would be interesting to read a book about how authors can get reviews. And I was hoping this would be a good resource for that.
It's clear the author has been around the publishing industry for a long time and know what's he talking about. There is some good information in this book about getting reviews and multiple sources, sites and ideas of where to start. It's definitely a good starting point for any (new) author who wants more reviews, but doesn't know where to start or how to go about it.
On the other hand for some reason this book didn't work as well for me personally. I didn't really care for the writing style or tone of the book. Not quite sure what exactly, but it wasn't as pleasant of a read as some of the other non-fiction books about (self) publishing that I've read. Some of the author's ideas or tips don't align with what I would recommend to authors. For example he seems to almost diminish the value of negative reviews, while I believe that both for authors and readers those negative reviews can be very valuable in making sure the right people pick up the book. ofcourse you do want more positive than negative reviews, but those negative ones have their place as well.
Then there are some things like how he suggest gifting reviewers a gift card to buy your book. I am not sure if it's actually against Amazon's TOS, but it comes very close to compensating someone for reviews. Which as the author himself points out in this book is okay, but only for the editorial reviews, not for customer reviews. So you have to be careful there. Same goes with adding your existing contacts to a mailing list like Mailchimp which he mentions later in the book, I think it's always best to explicit get permission for this as you need to have permission to add them to such a list.
I also felt the author was trying too much to have the book be accessible for all kinds of authors, traditional, indie, new ones and authors who already have a few books out. And in doing so I think it missed a more specific focus. Some of his advice is more applicable for one group or another. And there are certain strategies like ARC teams which I think can be great for authors to set-up, which he doesn't touch upon at all. There was a strong focus on networking. I think this is a good practice, but at times it felt the author focused a bit too much on that point.
There was a whole part about getting promotional blurbs from other authors, bookbloggers or review publications that was mostly new to me. It was interesting to read about this as I knew little about it, as my knowledge mostly comes from indie authors and most of those don't seem to focus as intensely on this or mostly give out copies to other authors in their genre. I hadn't expected the topic of blurbs to be in this book, but I do think it fit the overall topic as the process is close to getting reviews. I thought the inclusion of information about editorial reviews and the difference with customer reviews also was good info to have. And I was glad to see the author recommended starting early in advance with contacting people for reviews, which I think is very important if you want some reviews on release day. And it gives reviewers more time to read the book before then.
I thought the structure of the book was a bit weird sometimes, not sure what exactly, but sometimes it just didn't feel quite intuitive to me the way the topics followed each other. There also were some specific examples he used that didn't really illustrated much in my opinion. And the interview with one reviewer at the end of the book felt like it missed it's mark as I would rather have had advice or opinions of multiple reviewers for a more broader viewpoint.
To summarize: While this book didn't fully work for me I do think it has some good information especially for new authors who don't know where to start the process of gathering reviews. It's clear the author knows a lot about the industry and the topic and there is some good advice and sources to get you started on getting reviews. For me personally it didn't have as much information I didn't know yet, but there were some parts about networking, editorial reviews and gaining blurbs that was new to me. The writing style didn't fully work for me and I thought the way the book was organized didn't feel always as intuitive somehow. There also were some practices or things he recommend that don't fully mesh with the best practices that I personally would recommend to authors. I thought the book tries to focus a bit too broadly on traditional, indie, new and advanced authors and misses some specific tips for each audience due to that. And there are also tips that work best for only some of those groups. All in all I do think it's a good starting point especially for new authors who want to know more about gathering reviews, it just wasn't fully the book for me or what I had hoped for in this book.
I've been enjoying reading some non-fiction books about (self)-publishing among other topics this year, so when I got the email about this book I grabbed the chance to read it. I think reviews can be very important to a book's success, so I thought it would be interesting to read a book about how authors can get reviews. And I was hoping this would be a good resource for that.
It's clear the author has been around the publishing industry for a long time and know what's he talking about. There is some good information in this book about getting reviews and multiple sources, sites and ideas of where to start. It's definitely a good starting point for any (new) author who wants more reviews, but doesn't know where to start or how to go about it.
On the other hand for some reason this book didn't work as well for me personally. I didn't really care for the writing style or tone of the book. Not quite sure what exactly, but it wasn't as pleasant of a read as some of the other non-fiction books about (self) publishing that I've read. Some of the author's ideas or tips don't align with what I would recommend to authors. For example he seems to almost diminish the value of negative reviews, while I believe that both for authors and readers those negative reviews can be very valuable in making sure the right people pick up the book. ofcourse you do want more positive than negative reviews, but those negative ones have their place as well.
Then there are some things like how he suggest gifting reviewers a gift card to buy your book. I am not sure if it's actually against Amazon's TOS, but it comes very close to compensating someone for reviews. Which as the author himself points out in this book is okay, but only for the editorial reviews, not for customer reviews. So you have to be careful there. Same goes with adding your existing contacts to a mailing list like Mailchimp which he mentions later in the book, I think it's always best to explicit get permission for this as you need to have permission to add them to such a list.
I also felt the author was trying too much to have the book be accessible for all kinds of authors, traditional, indie, new ones and authors who already have a few books out. And in doing so I think it missed a more specific focus. Some of his advice is more applicable for one group or another. And there are certain strategies like ARC teams which I think can be great for authors to set-up, which he doesn't touch upon at all. There was a strong focus on networking. I think this is a good practice, but at times it felt the author focused a bit too much on that point.
There was a whole part about getting promotional blurbs from other authors, bookbloggers or review publications that was mostly new to me. It was interesting to read about this as I knew little about it, as my knowledge mostly comes from indie authors and most of those don't seem to focus as intensely on this or mostly give out copies to other authors in their genre. I hadn't expected the topic of blurbs to be in this book, but I do think it fit the overall topic as the process is close to getting reviews. I thought the inclusion of information about editorial reviews and the difference with customer reviews also was good info to have. And I was glad to see the author recommended starting early in advance with contacting people for reviews, which I think is very important if you want some reviews on release day. And it gives reviewers more time to read the book before then.
I thought the structure of the book was a bit weird sometimes, not sure what exactly, but sometimes it just didn't feel quite intuitive to me the way the topics followed each other. There also were some specific examples he used that didn't really illustrated much in my opinion. And the interview with one reviewer at the end of the book felt like it missed it's mark as I would rather have had advice or opinions of multiple reviewers for a more broader viewpoint.
To summarize: While this book didn't fully work for me I do think it has some good information especially for new authors who don't know where to start the process of gathering reviews. It's clear the author knows a lot about the industry and the topic and there is some good advice and sources to get you started on getting reviews. For me personally it didn't have as much information I didn't know yet, but there were some parts about networking, editorial reviews and gaining blurbs that was new to me. The writing style didn't fully work for me and I thought the way the book was organized didn't feel always as intuitive somehow. There also were some practices or things he recommend that don't fully mesh with the best practices that I personally would recommend to authors. I thought the book tries to focus a bit too broadly on traditional, indie, new and advanced authors and misses some specific tips for each audience due to that. And there are also tips that work best for only some of those groups. All in all I do think it's a good starting point especially for new authors who want to know more about gathering reviews, it just wasn't fully the book for me or what I had hoped for in this book.
December 20, 2022
I chose this book to check on my own strategies regarding book reviews.
The author has created an easy-to-follow, quick read with excellent bullet points that zero in on step-by-step avenues to use reviews to the fullest, and where to capture a likely reviewer. The don'ts in obtaining reviews are also sprinkled here and there to keep the promoter from making too many mistakes along the way. Listed throughout are websites and places to find bloggers, tour companies, and reviewers. Solid information for the new or seasoned indie author who does their own marketing!
The author has created an easy-to-follow, quick read with excellent bullet points that zero in on step-by-step avenues to use reviews to the fullest, and where to capture a likely reviewer. The don'ts in obtaining reviews are also sprinkled here and there to keep the promoter from making too many mistakes along the way. Listed throughout are websites and places to find bloggers, tour companies, and reviewers. Solid information for the new or seasoned indie author who does their own marketing!
December 17, 2019
This is a simple, straightforward guide to the importance of getting reviews for your book with tips and suggestions on how to do so. It's short but that's because it doesn't waste your time getting to the point. The author's tone is friendly and clear and the advice given is easy enough, though the implementation is harder and more work than it may seem on the page. Chasing down reviews is WORK but Wogahn gives you a great foundation of how and where to start focusing your efforts so that work is going to the right place.
If you're just starting with self-publishing, this is a great book to read before you go into your final publications and marketing stages (any later and you'll just want to kick yourself for not getting started with this stuff earlier!). From everything to seeking out book bloggers to leveraging your existing contacts for blurbs and other advanced reviews, there's plenty of tips for indie authors of every level to pick-up within. For the price, you really can't go wrong!
FYI, in the same author's Book Reviewer Yellow Pages (which I also own), there is a section about the importance of getting reviews for your book and some tips for seeking those out and The Book Review Companion is essentially an expanded excerpt of that content. While there's value to having this info collected in a volume all its own and it does go into much greater detail in this volume, if you own the other title, understand that a lot of this book is repeated from there.
I was given a free copy of this book for the purposes of review but I also bought a copy because I can appreciate the irony of having to seek out reviews... for a book about seeking out reviews.
If you're just starting with self-publishing, this is a great book to read before you go into your final publications and marketing stages (any later and you'll just want to kick yourself for not getting started with this stuff earlier!). From everything to seeking out book bloggers to leveraging your existing contacts for blurbs and other advanced reviews, there's plenty of tips for indie authors of every level to pick-up within. For the price, you really can't go wrong!
FYI, in the same author's Book Reviewer Yellow Pages (which I also own), there is a section about the importance of getting reviews for your book and some tips for seeking those out and The Book Review Companion is essentially an expanded excerpt of that content. While there's value to having this info collected in a volume all its own and it does go into much greater detail in this volume, if you own the other title, understand that a lot of this book is repeated from there.
I was given a free copy of this book for the purposes of review but I also bought a copy because I can appreciate the irony of having to seek out reviews... for a book about seeking out reviews.
May 18, 2020
I've been in the PR industry for 13+ years and I'm working on my first book marketing project. I read Joanna Penn's book How to Market a Book which provided a good overview, but David's book goes into greater detail surrounding how to get reviews, who to ask, who you shouldn't ask, how to ask, how to find book bloggers, pros and cons of editorial reviews, etc. There are eBook promotions that you can secure without having any reviews, which I was previously looking into, but David shared some great advice that has changed our strategy. This is a very helpful book for anyone new to book marketing like myself. Added bonus that he offers useful resources (checklists, guide for asking for reviews, etc.).
June 22, 2020
Writing book reviews is a challenge for many indie authors. Yet, it is an essential skill to learn early on in any publishing venture. In The Book Review Companion: An Author’s Guide to Getting and Using Book Reviews, David Woghan explains the process of getting reviews and why they are essential in a step-by-step manner. From finding the right reviewers to rules and ethics of the game, this guide is requisite in all publishing endeavors.
September 7, 2020
Interesting and informative about reviews
Out of the three books in this series, I felt like it was more universal rather than U.S based, which made it so much easier for me to be able to plan ahead for what would need to happen marketing/review wise for when the time to publish comes. The book has some good insights on what to do and has easy to follow ideas on how to get those reviews.
Out of the three books in this series, I felt like it was more universal rather than U.S based, which made it so much easier for me to be able to plan ahead for what would need to happen marketing/review wise for when the time to publish comes. The book has some good insights on what to do and has easy to follow ideas on how to get those reviews.
October 25, 2020
One of the Best
I've read tons of books on marketing for authors, and this was one of my top favorites. It covered a small element of the marketing effort, but it did so in sufficient detail that I now believe I actually know how to implement the ideas. I wish more marketing books were like this one!
I've read tons of books on marketing for authors, and this was one of my top favorites. It covered a small element of the marketing effort, but it did so in sufficient detail that I now believe I actually know how to implement the ideas. I wish more marketing books were like this one!
October 28, 2020
Wouldn't it be ironic if I didn't leave it review on this?
This was a very detailed and incredibly helpful Manual for self publishing writers, especially people new to self-publishing. Every chapter is very detailed and very helpful!
This was a very detailed and incredibly helpful Manual for self publishing writers, especially people new to self-publishing. Every chapter is very detailed and very helpful!
September 19, 2020
A good reference book. Dry but packed with a lot of information.
November 10, 2020
This book was practical, up-to-date, and easy to both understand and implement. I can't wait to put some of these steps into action!
February 13, 2021
Very informative and the best book on getting reviews I have read so far to date.
June 15, 2021
Some useful information.
September 24, 2022
Serviceable
Read
January 23, 2023Good info here
I see that I have a lot of work to do before I publish my next books - and that I need to use the tips here to get more reviews of my existing works.
I see that I have a lot of work to do before I publish my next books - and that I need to use the tips here to get more reviews of my existing works.
February 24, 2023
Excellent book for first time authors trying to get reviews. Good resource and time saver.
October 12, 2020
The Book Review Companion is an excellent read for authors looking for ways to get more reviews and endorsements. The book is well organized and very thorough. I found lots of worthwhile tips on getting reviews. Well worth the read.
February 10, 2020
The reading is easy and didactic. Detailed content is a guide for beginners and intermediate level. I did not consider the importance of book reviews until I read this one. Extremely useful for authors who are self-publishing. I highly recommend this book.
December 18, 2019
This book puts in one place all that the author needs to know about book reviewing and the logistics behind it. Some aspects of the book reviewing phase that may be confusing, especially for beginning authors unaware of how to navigate the waters, are demystified and laid out in simple steps that they can follow. This is not to say that the work of lifting a book up for the world to see is suddenly made easy by using this book. It simply means that the path toward success in the book reviewing phase is made much clearer.
Wogahn not only explains the book reviewing process, he also offers some great resources and information that take years of experience to gather. This book is a beginning (and also veteran, if you’ve never handled this process yourself) author’s dream. A lovely addition to any authorpreneur’s collection.
Wogahn not only explains the book reviewing process, he also offers some great resources and information that take years of experience to gather. This book is a beginning (and also veteran, if you’ve never handled this process yourself) author’s dream. A lovely addition to any authorpreneur’s collection.
December 29, 2019
"The Book Review Companion" is a wonderful resource that has informed me why book reviews are essential. Although I'm an author, I truly wasn't aware how essential they are until after I read this book. I really liked the analogy of the full parking lot and book reviews. It's true, if you go to a restaurant, for example, and the parking lot is empty, then you wonder if the food will be any good. The same is true for book reviews. This book is so very thorough that an author can use it again and again as the author plans a marketing and promotion campaign. Additionally, the chapter summary at the end of each chapter provides the information in bite-sized chunks if you don't have time to digest everything at a particular moment.
November 16, 2019
David lets us know that reviews are the key to creating credibility for you and your book. More reviews increase your chances of making the sale. But how do you get reviews? This book answers that question in detail. Use it as a handbook to make it happen, step-by-step. David's experience in the business comes through as he answers virtually every question you'll have.
Remember that people must be able to discover and see value in your book. The writing must be good, but it's your marketing that will make your book a success. The Book Review Companion will teach you this important part of the marketing process.
Remember that people must be able to discover and see value in your book. The writing must be good, but it's your marketing that will make your book a success. The Book Review Companion will teach you this important part of the marketing process.
August 23, 2020
For newbie authors and those who've been flailing around trying to figure out what you're supposed to do after the writing dust has settled, here it is. The Book Review Companion is another practical, sensible, and clearly written book by David Wogahn. David makes the distinctions between customer reviews, editorial reviews, and blurbs, and explains the benefits and pitfalls of each.
This book is real world advice from someone you wish you had sitting at your side as you plow through the complex world of book marketing.
Disclosure: I'm an author who has no affiliation with David Wogahn. I happened across his books while searching for information on imprints and ISBN's.
This book is real world advice from someone you wish you had sitting at your side as you plow through the complex world of book marketing.
Disclosure: I'm an author who has no affiliation with David Wogahn. I happened across his books while searching for information on imprints and ISBN's.
October 22, 2019
This book is pretty comprehensive for the subject. It details why reviews are important, ways to get them (including a wealth of resources), and how and why to write reviews. The advice on how to write reviews was a bit too formulaic for my tastes, but it'll be worth referencing when I don't know what to say. The part I found most helpful was the resources on finding reviewers and how to approach them.
I received a free ARC from the author and am leaving a voluntary review. I'm on the author's mailing list, but I'm otherwise unaffiliated with the author and my opinions are my own.
I received a free ARC from the author and am leaving a voluntary review. I'm on the author's mailing list, but I'm otherwise unaffiliated with the author and my opinions are my own.
November 6, 2019
Great Book on the subject of how to get Book Reviews
Before reading this book I knew nothing of the importence of having book reviews, or how to get them. Now I know. Every author, or person who want's to become an author must read this book. Thank you for a great book Mr. Woghan.
Before reading this book I knew nothing of the importence of having book reviews, or how to get them. Now I know. Every author, or person who want's to become an author must read this book. Thank you for a great book Mr. Woghan.
November 15, 2019
great info for newbies
Good info for newbies like me. I have the "Yellow pages of Book Review" and found some of those links in here too but don't know if there all the same. A lot of stuff I booked marked and will be going back to. I found some of the stories of marketing with book reviews interesting and worthwhile. Just got to keep getting those reviews.
Good info for newbies like me. I have the "Yellow pages of Book Review" and found some of those links in here too but don't know if there all the same. A lot of stuff I booked marked and will be going back to. I found some of the stories of marketing with book reviews interesting and worthwhile. Just got to keep getting those reviews.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews