Do you have a book that you would like reviewed? I thoroughly enjoy reading and writing book reviews, but due to the volume of requests I receive, I may not be able to read and review every request. Nevertheless, I will do my utmost to read as many as possible.
Please send all book review requests to gemma@gemslittlebookshelf.co.uk, stating Book Review Request in the subject line.
If you have a deadline, please make that clear when requesting a review.
Accepted Formats
Accepted formats for review:
- Hard copy (with advance warning of mailing)
- Kindle Formats
- Audiobooks (Children’s books only)
- E-books (no PDF or sword files will be accepted)
Book Review Submission Guidelines
- Please address your request to me, Gemma, and not to Gem’s Little Bookshelf. I’ll even accept Gem (within reason). Please send all book review requests to gemma@gemslittlebookshelf.co.uk.
- When writing a book review request, be sure to customise each submission according to the respective blog’s guidelines. Don’t just copy and paste the same message across multiple blogs; make sure you are familiar with their submission policies and tailor the book review request for each one.
- Please include publisher and general book information (such as release date, how many pages, and target audience).
- It is essential to ensure that the blurb of the book you are submitting for review is well-crafted and concise. It should consist of no more than 2-5 short paragraphs that offer an overview of the genre rather than giving away all the details of the plot. Think about what elements make you excited to read a book and highlight those aspects in the summary.
- Please state the genre clearly. If it crosses genres, let me know what they all are.
- Don’t forget to specify what format you are offering and how I will be able to access it.
- Please state whether you want your book review to be included on Amazon, Goodreads or NetGalley.
- Include author details – home page, blog, social media, photograph (if appropriate)
On some occasions, I may not be able to review your book submission due to various reasons. These could include bu,t are not limited to, the quality of the work, my current workload at the time, or the genre it belongs to. I will try to notify all who will have made submissions within two weeks. If you have not heard back from me in that timeframe, then it is likely that I have had to decline your submission.
Book Reviews will include:
- Book Cover
- My summary and review, along with the rating. My rating system for reviews is listed below.
- Publisher information
- General book information (hardback/paperback, pages, target audience).
- Author information and contact details
- Links to buy the book are Waterstones, Bookshop.org, and Amazon (Kindle only).
My Rating System
5 * – Amazing & awesome is one of the best books I have read.
4 * – Excellent, couldn’t put it down.
3 * – Good, would recommend
2 * – Average, take it or leave it
1 * – Bad, not my cup of tea
DNF – Couldn’t bring myself to finish it!
I strive to read and review books to the best of my ability, including those that don’t quite meet my expectations. I will publish reviews of all books I read, even if it’s less than three they are. Here at Gem’s Little Bookshelf, I provide honest and balanced book reviews. If a book falls below my standards, I may choose not to finish it; however, any criticism will remain constructive (I am not here to bash an author’s hard work). No matter the rating, all reviews will be featured on this blog as well as Goodreads, Amazon or Netgalley (at least two).
How long does it take to review?
I can provide a timely and thorough assessment of your work. Please let me know if you have any specific deadlines so that I can ensure that I can meet them. As a general rule, I strive to complete reviews within four weeks of receiving the book.
Genres I will review:
I am open to reviewing all genres of books, but I prefer to read the following:
- Romance/Dark Romance
- Humour
- Historical Fiction
- Murder mystery
- Mild thriller
- Spiritual
- Erotica
- Low fantasy
- Young Adult
- New Adult
- Non-fiction/fiction about other countries and cultures
- Travel Guides
- Short Stories
I am available to review children’s books geared for any age, from babies to young adults. I have experience reading stories to my own children, making me an ideal candidate for this job!
I prefer not to read the following:
- Political
- Strong religious themes
- SciFi
- Violence
- Poetry
- Horror
- Christian
- Paranormal
What happens after submission and acceptance
- When sending a book for review to a blogger like Gem’s Little Bookshelf, please acknowledge that everyone reads the work differently. No author or publisher should try to influence a reviewer in how they experience the book, as reviews are usually based on honest opinions without predetermined bias. My review will be concise and will provide an impartial assessment of the material.
- Once reviewed, your book will appear on this blog, Goodreads, Amazon, or Netgalley (at least two). The review will remain the same on all sites.
- Maximising the impact of your book review can require an active effort. Engaging with other readers who comment on it or sharing it on social media sites are two ways of increasing its reach and making sure that more people come to know about the reviewed book.
- Requesting a change or addition to an already posted book review is not allowed.
- If you offer continued support for this blog through other promotions, a future book review or roundup post may feature you or your work, depending on the circumstances, such as a new release.
Congratulations on taking the first step to getting your book reviewed! Although I cannot guarantee it will result in many-star reviews, having your book accepted will depend on factors such as genre, writing quality, blurb, and how well you market your work.
One final note, (nearly there I promise) Please note that I reserve the right to make the final decision as to whether or not I will review the book. Please send all book review requests to gemma@gemslittlebookshelf.co.uk, stating Book Review in the subject line.
If you decide to submit a book for review, you will receive an email to confirm receipt! This is not an email confirming acceptance! If you haven’t received a reply, do check your spam box, as sometimes they find themselves in there.
If you’d prefer to participate in The Coffee Break Interview. Please head over there and check out how it works.
Thank you for reading